Getting to Madrid for the football

Fly direct into Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas, about 11 km from the ground, then base yourself in the centre and take Metro Line 7 to Estadio Metropolitano, beside the stadium. Away fans sit in the upper Fondo Norte, the North End; La Liga allocations are small, from 300 up to 3,000-plus for big games.

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Madrid is a major hub airport in its own right, so the fly-to-a-hub-and-train-across trick does not apply: everyone flies straight into Barajas and the ground sits near the airport. The real trade-off is a cheap budget seat versus a pricier flag-carrier one, and which London airport you use. All routes finish the same way, Metro Line 8 from the terminal then Line 7 out to Estadio Metropolitano, roughly 35-45 minutes. Costs are return-flight estimates and move with demand and how early you book.

Getting into Madrid: airport and main stations

Fly into Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas, which is close to the ground: the stadium sits in the Rosas area of the San Blas-Canillejas district, in the northeast of the city near the airport.

From Barajas, Metro Line 8 runs from all terminals to Nuevos Ministerios, where you change onto the rest of the network. A metro single plus the compulsory airport supplement applies.

The cheapest airport route is the Cercanias (Renfe commuter) line C-1 from Terminal 4 only, running direct to Chamartin, Nuevos Ministerios, Sol and Atocha for about €2.60. Other terminals need the free inter-terminal shuttle to Terminal 4 first.

Madrid's two main rail hubs are Atocha (Puerta de Atocha, for AVE high-speed south) and Chamartin (long-distance and north/AVE), both connecting straight into the Metro and Cercanias network.

Getting out to the stadium (Riyadh Air Metropolitano)

The direct option is Metro Line 7 to Estadio Metropolitano station, right beside the ground, under a minute's walk. It is one of Madrid's largest stations, built to absorb matchday crowds.

Approximate Line 7 journey times are Avenida de America 19 min, Sol 26 min, Goya 29 min and Moncloa 40 min.

To avoid the crush at Estadio Metropolitano after the whistle, alternative stations within walking distance are Las Musas (Line 7), Las Rosas (Line 2) and Canillejas (Line 5).

On matchdays the EMT runs special circular buses from Canillejas interchange every five minutes, from two hours before kick-off until 90 minutes after full time. Reinforced regular lines include 28, 38, 48, 140 and E2.

A taxi from the airport to the stadium runs roughly €30-€40.

Getting around the city

The metro is the fastest way between the centre and the ground, given the stadium is well out of the centre. Most away-fan guides advise basing your day in the centre and using Line 7 rather than looking for much around the stadium.

A single metro ticket in Zone A costs €1.50 for 1-5 stations, rising to €2.00 for 10 or more stations; the airport supplement adds €3.00 on airport journeys.

Tickets load onto a reusable contactless Tarjeta Multi (red card), a one-off €2.50. Multi-trip tickets loaded onto it work out better value than singles. The match ticket does not include free travel, so budget the normal fare each way.

Where to stay

Base yourself centrally rather than near the ground, which sits in a quiet residential and business zone with little to do before or after. La Latina, Sol, Malasana, Chueca and the area around Atocha all put you on the metro with a straight run out on Line 7, plus tapas bars, food and a night out on the doorstep.

Where to drink

Because the ground is well out of the centre with limited options nearby, the standard advice is to eat and drink centrally first, then take the metro out: La Latina (Cava Baja has dozens of tapas bars), plus Sol, Plaza Mayor, Chueca and Retiro. A caña runs €1.80-€3 in a normal bar, more on the tourist terraces.

• James Joyce, near Plaza de las Cibeles: long-standing Irish pub with all-day food, live sport in English and the odd bit of live music, a reliable pre-match muster point.
• O'Connell St, just off Gran Via: classic Irish pub, big screens and a friendly international crowd, easy to find and centrally placed.
• O'Brien, by Plaza de Canalejas: 18 screens and two projectors showing La Liga and Champions League, so a decent bet if you want the earlier kick-offs on.
• Triskel Tavern, Malasana: Irish-themed bar with plenty of screens and a younger, mixed crowd in a lively barrio, pints at normal Madrid prices.
• Finnegans, Plaza de las Salesas: another central sports pub popular with visiting fans, handy for Chueca.
• Bar El Tapi and Bar La Previa 1903, out near the Metropolitano: basic matchday bars for a quick one by the ground if you head out early, but options thin out fast up there.

There is no single hostile area flagged for visiting fans, but keep colours sensible around the home ends, the busier tourist squares and any bar full of Atletico ultras. Watch your pockets on the terraces around Plaza Mayor, which are pricey and a known pickpocket spot.

Inside the stadium and allocation

Away fans are in the upper Fondo Norte behind the goal, with empty seats buffering the home sections. La Liga allocations are small by Premier League standards, from a minimum of 300 up to 3,000-plus for the biggest fixtures, and the Grada Visitante agreement caps the price at €30 for participating clubs.

By Spanish law, no alcohol is sold to general fans inside the ground: concourse bars serve zero-alcohol beer only, with real drinks confined to hospitality areas.

Money and safety

Spain uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted. A caña (small draught beer) is typically €1.80-€3 in a normal bar, though tourist terraces around Plaza Mayor charge far more; a caña plus a couple of tapas plates runs about €10-15.

Madrid rates as a safe city overall, with the main risk to visitors being pickpocketing, worst in crowded tourist spots like Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor and on busy metros.

Be especially alert to pickpockets on Metro Line 8 to and from the airport, where thieves often work in distraction teams; keep bags closed and to the front.

The area around Atocha station is a busy transport hub by day but quieter and worth extra care late at night.

Where to eat

The local classics are the bocadillo de calamares (a fried squid sandwich) and cocido madrileno (a slow chickpea, meat and vegetable stew served in courses), plus tortilla espanola, croquetas and patatas bravas across the tapas bars.

• La Campana, Calle Botoneras by Plaza Mayor: the go-to for a bocadillo de calamares, a near-century-old stand-up bar doing them for about €4.50, cheap and quick before you head out.
• Casa Rua and Casa Toni, around Plaza Mayor: the other well-known squid-sandwich stops on the same run if La Campana is heaving.
• Juana la Loca, La Latina: reckoned by many madrilenos to do the city's best tortilla espanola, a good sit-down tapas spot, mid-priced.
• Taberna La Concha, Cava Baja: relaxed, long-running tapas taberna with fair prices and a proper local feel, ideal for a crawl down the street.
• La Posada de la Villa, Cava Baja: a 17th-century roasting house for a proper sit-down lunch of roast lamb or cocido, the pricier end but worth it.
• Cava Baja itself: the can't-miss street for a tapas crawl, dozens of bars where a caña and a couple of plates comes in around €10-15.

What to do

If you are making a day or two of it, Madrid packs its big sights into a walkable centre either side of the match.

• Prado Museum: Spain's national gallery and one of the world's great painting collections, with Velazquez's Las Meninas and rooms of Goya.
• Reina Sofia: the modern-art museum, home to Picasso's Guernica, completing the Golden Triangle of Art with the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza.
• Royal Palace of Madrid: Europe's largest working royal palace by floor area, with the Throne Room, the Royal Armoury and grand state rooms open to visitors.
• Retiro Park: the city's big green escape, once royal grounds, good for a stroll, a rowboat on the lake or the glass Palacio de Cristal.
• Plaza Mayor: the grand arcaded 17th-century square at the heart of old Madrid, and the launch pad for the calamari-sandwich bars.
• Puerta del Sol and Gran Via: the city's central square and its main boulevard of shops, theatres and grand facades, the busiest streets to wander.
• Mercado de San Miguel: a restored iron-and-glass market by Plaza Mayor, now a busy hall of tapas and wine stalls, touristy but a fun graze.

Common questions

How do you get from the airport to the stadium?

Madrid-Barajas is about 11 km from the ground, so it is close. A taxi is roughly €30-€40. By public transport, take Metro Line 8 from any terminal to Nuevos Ministerios and change onto Line 7 out to Estadio Metropolitano, roughly 35-45 minutes all in.

Which airport do I fly to for Atletico Madrid, and is there a direct flight?

Fly to Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas. Madrid is a big hub, so there is no need to route via another city: Manchester has direct flights of about 2h35 and London airports fly direct in around 2h30. That makes this one of the easier away trips to reach.

Where do away fans sit?

In the upper Fondo Norte, the North End, behind the goal. Empty buffer seating separates the away section from the home stands. It is high up in one corner of the North End rather than at pitch level, so expect a decent view but a fair climb.

What is the away allocation?

It varies with the fixture. The minimum is around 300, rising to 3,000-plus for the biggest games, in line with the roughly 5% of capacity that La Liga typically offers. The Grada Visitante agreement caps away tickets at €30 for clubs that signed up.

What time should I get to the ground?

Give yourself plenty of time. Estadio Metropolitano station handles huge crowds and security checks take a while, so aim to arrive an hour or more before kick-off. Line 7 from the centre is 19-40 minutes depending on where you start, before you add the queue at the turnstiles.

Can you drink in the ground?

No. By Spanish law, alcohol is not sold to general fans inside the stadium: concourse bars serve zero-alcohol beer only, and real drinks are limited to hospitality boxes. Do your drinking in the centre before you head out on the metro.

How much is a beer in Madrid?

A caña (small draught) is usually €1.80-€3 in an ordinary bar. Tourist terraces around Plaza Mayor charge much more for the same glass a couple of streets away, so step off the main squares. A caña plus a couple of tapas plates runs about €10-15.

Is Madrid safe for away fans?

Yes, Madrid rates as a safe city overall; the main risk is pickpocketing rather than trouble. It is worst in crowded tourist spots and on busy metros, and Line 8 to and from the airport is a known hotspot for distraction teams. Keep bags closed and to the front, especially in matchday crowds.

Which areas and pubs are away-friendly?

Drink centrally in La Latina (Cava Baja), Sol, Plaza Mayor, Chueca and Retiro. Irish and sports pubs popular with visiting fans include James Joyce and Finnegans; nearer the ground, options thin out to Bar El Tapi and Bar La Previa 1903. Keep colours sensible around home ends.

Does the match ticket give free transport?

No. Unlike some European leagues, the match ticket in Madrid does not include free public transport. You pay the normal metro fare each way: a Zone A single is €1.50-€2.00, loaded onto a reusable Tarjeta Multi card costing a one-off €2.50.

How far is the stadium from the centre?

It is well out of the centre in the northeast of the city near the airport. By Line 7 it is roughly 26 minutes from Sol and 29 from Goya. There is little around the ground itself, which is why the standard plan is to stay and drink centrally and use the metro out.

Where should away fans stay?

Stay central, not near the ground. La Latina, Sol, Malasana, Chueca and the area around Atocha all sit on the metro with a straight run out on Line 7, and put you among the tapas bars and nightlife. The stadium district is quiet and residential with little open before or after the match.

How do you beat the crush after the match?

Estadio Metropolitano station is heaving at full time. To avoid it, walk to Las Musas (Line 7), Las Rosas (Line 2) or Canillejas (Line 5), or take the EMT circular buses from Canillejas, which run until 90 minutes after full time. A short walk usually beats the queue at the ground itself.