The Santiago Bernabéu is the home of Real Madrid, the club that has won more European Cups and Champions Leagues than any other. It stands on the Paseo de la Castellana in the Chamartín district and is one of the city's most visited sights. After a long renovation it has become one of the world's most modern arenas, with a wraparound metal skin, a retractable roof and a pitch that retracts underground to free space for concerts and events. It is part of the Madrid guide.
A little history
The stadium opened in 1947 on the initiative of president Santiago Bernabéu, who gave it his name in 1955 and built modern Real Madrid, the team of five consecutive European Cups between 1956 and 1960 with Di Stéfano, Puskás and Gento. It hosted the 1982 World Cup final, won by Italy 3-1 against West Germany, and several European Cup and Champions League finals. The great renovation, begun in 2019, was completed in 2024.
The tour and museum
The Bernabéu Tour is a self-guided route lasting about an hour and a half:
- the panoramic view from the top of the stands;
- the museum, with the European Cups and Champions Leagues, the Ballon d'Ors, historic shirts and multimedia installations;
- the presidential box;
- the dressing rooms, the players' tunnel, the dugouts and pitchside;
- the press room and the official shop.
Tickets are sold on the club's official website, with prices varying by date; on match days the tour is shortened or suspended. Virtual reality experiences and guided tours are also available.
Seeing a match
Watching a match at the Bernabéu is a thrill. La Liga tickets go on sale on Real Madrid's website a few weeks ahead: for games against smaller teams they are easy to find, while for the derby, the Clásico against Barcelona and big Champions League nights they are almost impossible without a season ticket. Beware of unauthorised resellers. Fixtures are confirmed only a few weeks in advance, and many games are played late in the evening or on Sundays.
Atlético de Madrid
The city's other big team is Atlético de Madrid, the colchoneros, with fiercely loyal fans and a more working-class identity. Since 2017 it has played at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano (formerly Wanda Metropolitano) in San Blas, to the east, reached by metro line 7 to Estadio Metropolitano. There is a tour with museum here too, and match tickets are usually easier to get. The Madrid derby is one of Spain's most heated; when Real win, fans celebrate at Cibeles, when Atlético win, at the Neptune fountain a few hundred metres away.
Madrid also has Rayo Vallecano, a small neighbourhood club from Vallecas with an old-fashioned ground, and Getafe and Leganés in the southern suburbs.
Other sports
Real Madrid has one of Europe's best basketball teams, playing at the Movistar Arena (formerly Palacio de los Deportes) near Goya. In late April and early May the Caja Mágica on the Manzanares hosts the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament. Since 2026 Madrid has also hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix, on a circuit around the IFEMA trade fair district.
Getting there
- Bernabéu: Santiago Bernabéu metro (line 10), right outside the stadium; buses along the Castellana.
- On match days the metro is packed: arrive early and keep an eye on your wallet.
- Around the stadium are bars and restaurants popular with fans, and the Moda Shopping mall.
For more activities see what to see in Madrid and events and festivals in Madrid.