Saw a Spurs fan who has lived in Bilbao for 23 years post some advice on Reddit about the city and people in general:
Hi everyone, a 50+ Spurs fan here(fav player Ledley King) who has lived in Bilbao for more than 23 years. As I know a lot of you are coming ,I thought I'd give some general advice. I'm not here to troll or get grief, just to offer some friendly info. I'll try and respond to any queries in the threads. No, I can't fix you up with tickets or accommodation, sorry.
Bilbao is a friendly,generally safe and cool city. There are a few things you should know. Play by the rules and be polite and you will have an amazing time,wanting to come back.
1. Identity. Although Bilbao is in Spain, a lot of people consider themselves Basque. You will see a lot of Ikurriñas- the Basque flag- which is a red white and green Union Jack style. Most folk here are middle and working class. Humble,hard working and very family orientated. Older people are respected and kids are everywhere,including in pubs. Speaking about football, the people here respect fast flowing,skillful and entertaining styles. You will be surprised how many locals will support Spurs.
2. Flags. Recently, Rangers came here and some ignorant fans took to waving or having on them Spanish flags. This is a quick fire way to provoke and upset the locals. Furthermore, there are a lot of Palestinian flags. That's not to say people here are antisemitic, rather that they are antizionist and anti war. I'd recommend not showing Israeli flags or such, to avoid trouble from both Athletic Ultras,who consider themselves anti fascist, and a substantial North African Arabic population.
3. Police. The police here are generally chill and not antagonising, but they will absolutely respond to aggressive behaviour and are not to be messed with. You could find yourself in a lot of trouble if this happens. I suggest avoiding any bother in the street by moving away from it.
4. Language. Bilbao is mostly Spanish speaking, but more and more speak English. If you speak to any groups of young people, chances are they will speak some English.
5. Food. Bilbao is famous for its cuisine but it will be very difficult to find Vegan and Kosher foods. It's slightly easier to find Halal, and Ital. Even if you are vegetarian, it's worth double checking because some dishes have been known to contain ham.
6. Alcohol. It's worth knowing that there are not strict licensing laws here. You can pretty much get it at any time. This means there is a more laid back approach to drinking. People here do drink a lot imo, but it's drawn out over the night. Getting visibly smashed in public is viewed badly.
7. Some Basque words to say. I'll write these phonetically, as you should say them.
Thank you= A skerry gas co
Sorry( if you bump into someone) = Pa cat oo
Please= Mercedes( like the car)
Hello= Ow pa
Goodbye = A roo
These will go a long way ,it doesn't matter if you mispronounce them as the locals will be happy you've tried.
Finally, I really hope fellow fans have a great time here. It's a chance to show Europe how good Spurs supporters are. Plus,you never know if Tottenham will be back here next season with champions league. Coys!!
If there's any questions you have,ask. I won't respond to NSFW topics