I may not be the world’s most serious football (soccer) fan. Or the world’s 100-millionth most serious football (soccer!) fan. But I know to recognize where history happened, where history happens, or where history will happen. Madrid‘s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is all three and I was looking forward the tour of Real Madrid home stadium. It is well-known to be a great tour so well worth the cost to go in. Bernabéu, which seats over 80,000 fans, is the seat of Real Madrid, a football team over 100 years old (the stadium dates from 1947). Real Madrid is the most valuable football team in the world, valued at over $3B. Yep, that is a “B.” And this is their home.
Doing a Tour of Real Madrid’s Home
To go, you can buy tickets in advance on the team’s website or just approach the ticket window by Gate 7 which is what we did. The stadium is opened just about every day of the year for tours which is nice as sometimes as a tourist you don’t know the local holidays m(but watch out for game days!). There is an option to get an audioguide which helps understand what you are looking at though many things do not need an explanation… easy savings of 5 euros if you don’t use it. Do note that wheelchair access is not possible through every bit of the tour due to stairs, etc. Price may change over time but assume around 25 euros for an adult.
Getting to Bernabéu
Getting to the stadium is pretty easy: it is next to a metro stop of the same name! (Santiago Bernabéu). We walked from our hotel along the main boulevard on which the stadium is located (Paseo de la Castellana). Doing so gave us time for a nice walk and enjoy the diverse architecture of that part of Madrid.
What You Will See on a Tour of Bernabéu
The tour takes you through the history of the club showing famous trophies, shoes and other items in a multi-media and interactive setting.
The museum really helps emphasize, though its interpretation, the glory of the Real Madrid club. Beyond this, the visitor gets to see the field of play as spectators do from a high vantage point and, later, as players do: right from the field and from their bench!
The tour takes the visitor back door through the locker room and other spots before leading the visitor, surprise, to the stadium store – of course.
Bernabéu is an incredible place, I am sure, to watch a match. I hope to re-visit it one day as a spectator but, in the meantime, a tour of Real Madrid’s stadium will have to do!
This is one amazing place to check out in Madrid! Pin to your travel board!
To visit Real Madrid’s website, go here.
Check out these other posts about what else to see in Spain!
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