Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Guide: What to Expect and Why It Matters
- Mar 25
- 8 min read
Whether you live in Madrid or you're just visiting, there's a good chance that you'll have a reason to go to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. You might not have thought so. Read on to find out whether this should be on your itinerary and if so, how you might get there.
But first, take a few seconds to view the photos above. The cover photo and the first two photos in the gallery were from a visit we made to the stadium in 2014 to see El Clásico, a La Liga rivalry match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona. The last one is a view of the current exterior of the stadium following extensive improvements in recent years.
El Clásico happens twice each season, once in the fall and once in the spring, each team with a home and an away match. We lucked out because we'd been planning our trip to Madrid and learned that El Clásico was going to take place in Madrid during our stay. What great fortune! Anyway, I digress. The fourth photo is much more recent as the stadium has been undergoing a massive billion-euro renovation. The main part of the renovation was completed by mid-2023. But, as you will learn below, as of this writing there are ancillary projects that are still underway that will continue to transform the stadium, bringing more features to please the whole crowd.
The Bernabeu Tour
Before we jump into the soon-to-be-added features, we should give you some logistical information in case you want to go there. At this point you might be asking yourself, when are we going to find out why we would go there if not to see a match. Well, there is an incredible tour that most will enjoy even if they're not Real Madrid fans or even soccer / European football fans. The tour only lasts an hour or so and you can get tickets ahead of time at the Real Madrid website. There are now three choices, Classic, Flexible Classic, and Premium. Pick the one that works best for you and go. You'll enjoy it and you'll want to buy some merch in the official store at the end of the tour. We've done the tour three times and plan to do it again soon. They do a good job of changing the tour to keep it relevant and engaging.
Shop for Real Madrid Merch
If you just want to go to the official store, you can do that. The entrance is on the east side of the stadium, if memory serves me. There are a few other official Real Madrid stores around the city. The other one we've shopped at is on the Gran Via, not too far from the entrance to the Metro.
Attend a Concert or Event
Another reason you might want to go is to see a concert. The one that is on our radar right now is the Taylor Swift Eras tour playing this stadium on May 29th and May 30th 2024. Lastly, it is a very impressive landmark for a photo opportunity.
Departing the Match or Event
After a match or event, depending on the score, things can be a bit rowdy in the immediate area. You can imagine the crowds of people leaving the stadium. It holds more than 80,000 people and events sell out. Some of these people may have driven and parked nearby. This is how I went to my first Real Madrid match back in the late 1980s (as a passenger). Most, however, are going to try to take the metro, a taxi, an Uber, a bus or just walk. No matter which means of transportation they take, getting home or back to the hotel is probably going to be much more of a challenge than getting there. Some people arrive earlier than others, spreading things out a bit. So, how long will it take you to get there and how should you go? Let's dive into each method briefly.
Transportation Options
Should I walk? that depends. But the answer is probably no unless you are staying somewhere nearby. Many visitors stay in a more central location, maybe near La Puerta del Sol. So, we'll use that as our starting point (for brevity we'll call it Sol). The route is relatively straight forward. You walk east to the Paseo de la Castellana, turn left and head north for about an hour (Google says it's one hour and 12 minutes from the start of your walk). The one plus is that you know approximately how long it will take you. And it won't cost you any euros. But there are other ways that can get you there much more quickly without expending as much energy. And you probably won't blow your budget.
The Cercanías (regional) train is another option. You can get a Cercanías train in Sol (enter like you're going to the Metro and look for the red upside-down C sign). Take that train to Nuevos Minesterios, go out to the street (you want to exit on the east side of La Castellana) and take bus 27 in the direction of Plaza de Castilla. Or, you can skip the bus and just walk from Nuevos Minesterios to the stadium. This will take you 20 to 30 minutes depending on whether you took bus 27 or walked. On the way back to Sol this might not be the best option. There will be crowds and the Cercanías trains only run until midnight. This will probably be less crowded than just taking the metro from the Santiago Bernabéu station because of all the crowds and the proximity to the stadium.
The Metro can be the most efficient way to make this trip. From Sol you take the light blue line (#1) in the direction of Pinar de Chamartín. In two stops you change at Tribunal and get the dark blue line (#10) in the direction of Hospital Infanta Sofía. Then four stops later you get off at Santiago Bernabéu. This trip will take about 25 minutes getting there. But getting back to Sol will be challenging just like the Cercanias. The metro runs until 1:30 AM which is helpful. So, you might have a better chance timing-wise with the Metro, even if you have to wait. You could walk south and east to find a less crowded metro station. I recommend having a schematic of the metro handy for just this purpose.
Another way is to just take the bus. Bus 150 is the bus you would take from Sol to Santiago Bernabéu. This bus is near and dear to us as we rode it many times as students years ago. It has a stop directly across the street from the building we lived in. The EMT busses are easy to figure out and they use the red Transportes card just like the metro.The bus will take about 30 minutes. Busses have their own lane on the Paseo de la Castellana. So, my guess is that the return trip would take the same amount of time. But you can only get on the bus if there is space and there will probably be a lot of people at the bus stop. If you are heading south to Sol, maybe try to game the system and walk north to an earlier bus stop and get on there before the crowds. Either way, make sure you're on the west side of the Paseo de la Castellana when you get on the bus if you are headed south toward Sol.
Taxis can be great. They cost more than mass transportation. But, the cost is pooled among the group. So, it might work out to be similar economically. The downsides are that, if there is traffic, the taxi can take much longer than taking mass transit and finding one after the event will seem impossible. You might have to walk several blocks east or west and find one more easily. The neighborhoods are generally safe.
We're guessing Uber will have its own issues after the event. You can expect surge pricing, and availability will be a consideration. So, you could reserve an Uber for the return trip. Just remember to allow plenty of cushion to get to the Uber after the event. And the Uber driver might have difficulty getting super close to the stadium. So, you'll want to keep that in mind.
Bernabéu Market
Recently opened, Bernabéu Market is a food hall of sorts in the base of the stadium. It’s 3,000 square meters (a little more than 3,000 square yards) with 25 stalls offering national and international foods. It’s a little more random than the typical grid‑iron food hall, modeled to evoke the feeling you might get in parts of Tokyo or Hong Kong. The food is on the upscale side. On game days, a portion of the food hall may be closed to the public for team use and the rest accessible to visitors. The rest of the year, it’s open to everyone, whether or not you have an event ticket.
KO by 99 (Rooftop Japanese Dining)
The KO by 99 restaurant, specializing in Japanese cuisine, recently opened on the rooftop of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, marking a major milestone in its ongoing transformation. As the first business to launch on the stadium’s rooftop, it offers panoramic views of the pitch and reinforces the venue’s push to become a year‑round entertainment hub.
Arzábal (High‑End Spanish Dining)
KO by 99 joins other high‑end dining spots already operating inside the stadium, including Arzábal, which continues to anchor the culinary lineup with its upscale Spanish comfort food and strong local following.
Plaza Mahou (In‑Stadium Brewery Experience)
Another standout is Plaza Mahou, featuring a unique in‑stadium brewery concept that has become a signature part of the Bernabéu’s hospitality offering. Together with Puerta 57 and the newly opened KO by 99, it contributes to the stadium’s food and beverage revenue having quadrupled in just one year.
The Skybar
They’ve built a super‑exclusive nightclub in the stadium too, but unresolved contractual issues have kept the Skybar from opening. As of March 2026, no new opening date has been announced.
Other Projects (as of March 2026)
Now, about the ancillary projects still underway to further enhance the venue: they are adding underground parking, redoing the Metro station, and adding a high‑end night club. If you plan to visit soon, none of these will be complete. So, you’ll have one more reason to return to Madrid. Let’s dig in to each.
Parking can be a major hassle near such a big stadium. So, they are adding two underground parking lots, one on either side of the stadium. The one on the west side will have about 1,200 spaces and the one on the east side just over 600. The expected completion date for both was originally October 2025, but construction continues into 2026 with no firm public timeline.
The Metro station remodel is now underway and isn’t expected to be completed until early 2027.
While these projects are underway, you’ll see evidence of it such as dust, debris, and construction equipment. Imagine the people who live in this neighborhood, enduring the past five years of construction and facing three more. So remember to smile and be kind to everyone you meet.
Whether you’re a die‑hard (European) football fan, a curious traveler, or just someone looking for a great experience in Madrid, the Santiago Bernabéu has something for you. From exciting matches and immersive stadium tours to major concerts and upcoming renovations, this iconic venue is evolving into a multi‑purpose entertainment destination. No matter how you get there, it’s worth the trip.
Have you ever been to a match or event at Bernabéu? What was your experience like? Let’s chat in the comments!
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