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Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is the iconic home of the legendary football team Real Madrid. Whether taking in a game or visiting on a tour, it’s well worth seeing in person.
Introduction to Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
The very first place I visited on my first trip to Madrid was Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. This iconic 85,000 seat stadium has witnessed some of the most important moments in football history. It’s named for Spanish footballer and club president Santiago Bernabéu (1895-1978).
The stadium has been remodeled and expanded over the years but the original design was made by Pedro Muguruza (1893-1952) and Javier Barroso (1903-1990). Interestingly, both architects played goalkeeper for crosstown rival Atlético de Madrid. Construction took place between 1944 and 1947 and opened on December 14, 1947, with a match between Real Madrid and Os Belenenses of Portugal. Since then, it has hosted the 1957, 1969, and 1980 European Cup Finals; the Euro 1964 Final; the 1982 World Cup Final; the 2010 Champions League Final; the 2018 Copa Libertadores Final; and countless concerts and other events.
Note: The stadium has been completely remodeled and even the façade has changed since my visit. I’ll update this post next time I have a chance to take a tour.
Tours of Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Self-guided tours of the Bernabéu are available daily on timed entries for €38 at the box office and €35 when purchasing online (as of June 2024). Flex-timed tours are €43 at the box office and €40 when purchasing online (as of June 2024). Guided tours are €50 at the box office and €47 online (as of June 2024). On some days, access is limited to certain areas only. Check the official website for more information.
To get to the stadium, take the metro to the Santiago Bernabéu stop. I walked up to Gate 7 of the stadium and bought my ticket at Box Office 10.
A few new features have been added since my tour, but the majority hasn’t changed. Visitors can see the museum, the field, and the inner workings of the stadium. I also didn’t get the chance to visit the Presidential Box.
Panoramic Views Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
At the beginning of my self-guided tour, I rode up the lift to get a panoramic view of the stadium. I look forward to going back in the future to see how the stadium has changed since my visit.
Real Madrid Museum
Next was a walk through the Real Madrid museum. This is where most of the additional interactive features have been added. On my visit, I was able to see a list of championships won by the football and basketball team to date followed by a timeline of club history. There was also an official Real Madrid shirt used in 1920.
From there, I was able to look at several ID cards used by Real Madrid football players over the years. I was able to find Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Iker Casillas, and Raúl.
Trophies
The tour continued with a seemingly endless amount of trophies to admire. First were the trophies won by the basketball teams. Then came the Best Club Ever Room which holds trophies won by the football team.
The Spanish Super Cup (Supercopa de España), La Liga, and Copa del Rey were on display as well as the Champions League trophies. Other trophies for different club competitions and exhibition games were also on display.
Next were the individual player trophies. Ballon d’Ors, Golden Shoes, and other awards given to some of Real Madrid’s greatest players were proudly shown.
Some of the interesting Ballon d’Ors I found belonged to Zidane (1998), Luis Figo (2000), Kaká (2007), and Cristiano Ronaldo (2008). There was also Raúl’s 2001 bronze award for FIFA World Player of the Year.
Hall of Players
The Hall of Players, including photos of Real Madrid players over the years, was followed by game-worn items.
Boots worn by Gonzalo Higuaín, Raúl, and Kaká, along with gloves used by Iker Casillas, were among some of the items on display.
Souvenir Photo
Before leaving the museum, I had the opportunity to take a photo with a Real Madrid player of my choice. It would show me standing with the player I chose, who happened to be Raúl. The photo was available for sale in the team store after the tour.
Features of Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Finally, it was time to see the stadium. I followed the tour route through the seating area to get different views of the field.
Next, it was a walk along the perimeter of the field to the bench area. I was able to sit on the benches to get a feel for how the reserve players see the field before walking down the tunnel.
Dressing Rooms
The tunnel led to an area with the crest of Real Madrid on the carpet. The Real Madrid dressing room was off limits, but the visitors dressing room was open for all to see.
I was able to enter the dressing room and see the training table and jacuzzi.
The showers and bathroom area were also open.
Press Room
The final part of the tour was a stop in the press room. Some guests sat behind the table and pretended to give interviews after a big match. The tour finished in the team store where I purchased my photo with Raúl.
My Thoughts on Touring Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Overall, it was an enjoyable tour at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The trophy room was incredible and stepping onto the field gave me goosebumps. Later that night, I returned to enjoy the Spain vs Germany semifinal game of the 2010 World Cup. As I mentioned earlier, I would love to take the tour on my next trip to Madrid to see the new features of the stadium.
