Visiting the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is the primary soccer arena in Madrid and the home turf of Real Madrid.
The iconic home of Real Madrid
Opened in 1947, the stadium is named after the club president who served from 1943 to 1978 and commissioned its construction. It sits in the heart of the city along the paseo de la Castellana (Castellana Promenade), one of the major thoroughfares in the Spanish capital.
The facility was built to replace the stade Chamartín, which had become too small to handle the demand. It was originally called the Nouveau stade Chamartín (New Chamartín Stadium) before taking the name of its creator in 1955. The stadium has hosted the 1964 European Championship, the 1982 World Cup, and the 2018 Copa Libertadores final. In 2007, UEFA designated the venue as an Elite Stadium.
A stadium of the future with the latest upgrades
Launched in 2019 and slated for completion by late 2024, massive renovation efforts estimated at 1.2 billion EUR (about $1.3 billion) have pushed the Bernabéu into a new era. Beyond increasing capacity from 81,000 to 85,000 seats, the home of Real Madrid is transforming into a multipurpose arena capable of hosting varied events year round without compromising its status as a soccer temple.
The stadium is now equipped with a retractable roof and field, along with technological improvements designed to enhance the spectator experience. Dedicated e-sports zones have been added, and a 360-degree screen is mounted within the structure.
These projects are designed to boost revenue for Real Madrid and solidify the global standing of the most decorated club in Europe.
Visiting the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium outside of match days
Self-guided and guided tours are available daily. On match days, tours stop 5 hours before kickoff.
A tour of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium gives you access to iconic Real Madrid spaces, including the trophy room, the locker rooms, the player tunnel, and the club museum.
Since November 2024, this legendary club has looked to expand its brand presence by opening the first theme park dedicated to a soccer team: Real Madrid World Dubaï.
Opening hours
*Information subject to change
Every seat is expensive, giant screens are used, among other things, to broadcast ads, and VIP areas lack any atmosphere while taking up so much space. You can really feel that this stadium is designed to generate max revenue for Real Madrid, the richest club in the world.
Once you have said that, you have to admit that the architecture is impressive!