Football stadiums in Spain: Inside the country’s sporting cathedrals

There is a long-standing rivalry between Spain’s two football capitals, Madrid and Barcelona. So, if you are planning a trip to Barcelona, be sure to add the Spotify New Camp Nou Stadium in the Les Corts neighbourhood to your travel list. It is currently the biggest football stadium in Europe, with a capacity of 99,354 and home to Barcelona FC, or Barça as it is known affectionately by fans. 

The museum, Barça Immersive Tour, is located directly in front of the newly renovated stadium and takes fans on a tour of the club’s history through giant screens, memorabilia and even virtual reality headsets that make it feel like you are another member of the team. If you fancy pushing the boat out further, you can upgrade your tour ticket to include behind-the-scenes areas of the stadium and the chance to walk on the pitch. A match day tour with a match included is also another way for fans to live the true Barça experience on their holidays. 

Whether you are a fan or not, a trip to a Madrid football stadium is an iconic thing to do while staying in Madrid. In Spain’s capital, football is a way of life, with Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid dominating the football scene. 

There is something quite thrilling about visiting the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, even if you arrive with a passing interest in football. This is Spain’s crown jewel and the shining star of La Liga, holding over 81,000 fans. This football stadium in Spain’s capital underwent a large renovation project from 2019-2024, transforming it with a space-age retractable roof and retractable pitch system, a 360º video board and a modern, sleek, steel facade. 

Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Sergio Ramos and Raúl have all played for Real Madrid, and the star-studded list goes on. The best way to learn about the club’s history is by booking a Real Madrid stadium tour, which can also be combined with a match. Discover the team’s memorabilia at the club museum, admire the inner workings of the newly renovated pitch, visit the changing rooms and dugout and take a photo next to the European Cup. 

The Riyahd Air Metropolitano Stadium, now referred to as the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium for sponsorship reasons, stands as Madrid's rival to the Bernabeu. Atlético fans know that this stadium represents a new era for the club, replacing the previous site, Estadio Vicente Calderon. Book onto a self-guided tour (audio guides are available) and step inside the shoes of your favourite player, visiting the same route they would follow on match days. Head to the first-team locker room, the player tunnel and the benches before gazing out over the pitch from the presidential box. 

Continue your tour at the interactive museum, where you cover the history of the club from its origins in 1903 to the present day. The passion of the red and white fans can be felt in the details of the tour. Expect surround sound karaoke of the club’s match day chants for you to learn, an old phone booth where you can dial into the players and hear their stories and fans can pay extra to take a kick off on the pitch. Top tip: If you want to see a grassy pitch during your tour, plan your visit around May through to August, as that is when the stadium is used for concerts.

Visiting the Abanca-Balaídos Stadium is to walk through nearly a century of Galician football history. Built between 1925 and 1928 and inaugurated on 30th December of that year, Balaídos has been home to RC Celta de Vigo ever since, witnessing the club’s highs, lows and evolution into a mainstay of La Liga. Its capacity is just under 25,000, and the stadium has received numerous renovations over the years, bringing the fans closer to the pitch, while always preserving the historic character of one of the most famous football stadiums in Spain.

Tours here offer glimpses of the pitch itself, the players’ tunnel and changing rooms, and evocative moments where you can almost hear the cheers from past European nights. Originally expanded for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, when it hosted three group fixtures, Balaídos also doubles as a cultural hub for concerts and events in Galicia, and a must-visit when on holiday in Vigo.

One of the largest football stadiums in Spain, holding around 60,000 people, the Real Betis Stadium is a must-visit for fans on holiday in Seville. This stadium is full of history, dating back to its creation in 1929, for the Ibero-American Exposition held in Seville that year. Originally a general stadium, national matches were played here before it got severely damaged in 1948 by a flood. Real Betis bought the stadium in 1961 and in 1982, it hosted the World Cup. But it wasn’t until 1998 that the club decided to completely rebuild the stadium, with renovations happening on and off until 2017. Today, explore the stadium from the inside out and imagine the roar of passionate fans on match day as you pass through the locker room, trophy room and head out onto the pitch as if you were a Real Betis player. 

Alternatively, football fans in Seville can show their support for Seville Fútbol Club, widely considered to be the most successful team in the south of Spain. Their stadium, the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, offers an intimate, emotionally charged encounter with Spanish football. It has played witness to Sevilla FC’s rise from domestic mainstay to European heavyweight, hosting unforgettable UEFA Europa League nights that still seem to echo in the stands.

Expect the stadium tour to lean into the club’s vivid history, taking visitors through the players’ tunnel, dressing rooms and pitchside areas. Highlights include the access to the trophy displays charting Seville’s modern dominance in European football and moments on the touchline that make it clear why this ground is revered not for its size but its intensity. 

If you are staying in Cadiz, it will be hard to ignore the wave of Cadiz CF fans in the city on match day. Curious to see inside their world? Head to the Nuevo Mirandilla Stadium. Originally christened Estadio Ramón de Carranza in 1955 and built on the site of the old Mirandilla sports ground. Perhaps the most noticeable adaptation is the transformation from being an oval arena with a running track to a fully-fledged football-only stadium.

Book onto a tour and let a guide delight you with facts about Cádiz's history, the significance of the legendary Carranza Trophy, and the moments that shaped the club, like the only time that Pelé and Johan Cryuff went head to head in the Carranza Trophy tournament. Explore special areas, closed to the general public, like the players’ dressing rooms, the press room, the tunnel and the pitch itself, the birthplace of the penalty shootout. The tour is also made interactive with 360º virtual reality headsets, bringing this football stadium in Spain to life.

As a football fan, no holiday to Valencia is complete without a Mestalla Stadium tour. Valencia CF are giants in La Liga, competing with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona and their stadium, dating back to 1923, is one of the oldest in Spanish football. Soon to be replaced by the New Mestalla stadium. The club has organised a tour called Mestalla Forever, which offers fans an access all areas experience of this iconic stadium.

Guides regale fans with historic highlights and the history of Valencia Club de Fútbol. Meanwhile, visitors can explore the press room, player areas and the pitch, imagining what it must be like set against a crowd of roaring fans on match day. Take special note of the giant black back on an orange background made out of chairs on one side of the stadium. This is the club’s emblem and appears on the crests of both the city of Valencia and the club. 

If you are looking for a football stadium in Spain that respects tradition and roots, Athletic Club de Bilbao’s, in the Basque Country, is perhaps one of the best. They are so faithful to their roots that their new San Mamés stadium, built in 2013, is located right next to where their previous stadium, La Catedral, stood for almost a century. Curious to step inside the new stadium while visiting Bilbao? The San Mamés Museum and Tour combines the club’s history with modernity, telling the story of Athletic Club de Bilbao through touch screens and memorabilia like old football boots.

Walk down the iconic pyramid-shaped corridor and see the names of all the Athletic Club members, get to the pitch and you will find the bust of the team’s legendary star, Pichichi. Don’t leave without trying to score a goal in the penalty simulator against Bilbao’s iconic goalkeeper Iribar. Of course, since Bilbao is famous for its food, the stadium’s dining scene is not to be missed and with three different restaurants to choose from, with unbeatable views of the pitch, you are spoiled for choice.