Santiago Bernabéu away guide

Madrid has direct flights from Manchester and every main London airport, so there is no hub detour to worry about. Land at Madrid-Barajas, take Metro Line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios, then walk about 15 minutes up the Paseo de la Castellana or use the free replacement bus, because the stadium's own Line 10 station is shut for rebuilding. Away fans sit in the top tier of the Fondo Norte, allocation around 4,000 for European ties.

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

There is no hub-and-overland workaround here: Madrid-Barajas is one of the best-connected airports in Europe and every option below flies straight in, then the same Metro Line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios and a 15-minute walk or free bus to the ground. So the real choice is which origin, and whether you go budget or full-service. Manchester has direct flights with Ryanair, easyJet and Iberia (roughly 2h35), and all four main London airports fly direct, with Iberia and British Airways from Heathrow the most frequent (FlightsFrom, Skyscanner, Google Flights London to Madrid).

Costs are estimates and swing with how early you book and which matchday you travel. Budget fares are cheapest but tie you to Stansted, Luton or Manchester Terminal 3 and awkward hours; Iberia and BA cost more but give you Heathrow, better times and a checked bag.

Getting there from the airport

From Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, take Metro Line 8 from the terminals to Nuevos Ministerios (Rome2Rio). Because the Santiago Bernabéu station is closed for rebuilding, get off at Nuevos Ministerios, then either walk about 15 minutes north up the Paseo de la Castellana or take the free replacement bus to the ground (amerigo-now).

Madrid Metro adds a €3 airport supplement on journeys starting or ending at the Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 and T4 stations, so buy the correct ticket (Metro de Madrid).

Getting there from the city centre and stations

The stadium sits on the Paseo de la Castellana. Its own metro station, Santiago Bernabéu on Line 10, is closed for rebuilding through the end of 2026 with reopening targeted for early 2027, so the practical route is Line 10 to Nuevos Ministerios and the last stretch on foot or by the free replacement bus (Cronica Norte, amerigo-now). From Nuevos Ministerios it is about a 15-minute walk north up the Paseo de la Castellana.

Several city buses stop near the Bernabéu, including routes 27, 40, 43, 126, 147 and 150 (Football Ground Guide). Walking from central Madrid, around the Atocha area, takes over an hour, so public transport is the better option (Football Ground Guide). The stadium is roughly 4 to 5 km north of Puerta del Sol, about 10 minutes on the metro.

Where to stay

Most travelling fans base themselves in the centre, around Sol, Gran Vía or Chamberí, and ride the metro up to the ground. That puts you within walking distance of the bars, restaurants and sights, and a short hop from the Bernabéu on matchday. Staying right by the stadium in Chamartín is quieter and handy for the ground, but you will trek back into town for the atmosphere.

Away section, tower and turnstiles

Away fans are housed in the top (fourth) tier of the Fondo Norte, wrapping around the north-east corner of the ground, accessed via Tower D (Football Ground Guide). Away allocations for European fixtures have been in the region of 4,000 seats. For the Manchester City play-off, City received 3,913 tickets priced at £50 each (Football Ground Guide).

The away end is set high and far from the pitch, which travelling fans say makes them harder to hear, and netting is often put up across the front, which can distort the view (Football Ground Guide). Despite the height, the steep design means you do not feel as far from the action as at some other grounds with high away ends.

What you can bring in

You may bring a plastic water bottle of no more than 50 cl, with the cap removed (Real Madrid FAQs). Bag rules depend on each event's access policy, so only small bags such as handbags, clutches or transparent bags are safe to bring, and all bags are subject to a security check (Real Madrid FAQs).

Alcohol, drugs, glass, metal, ceramic or wooden containers and any food or drink item over 500 ml/g are prohibited, as are flares, smoke devices, flags with poles, selfie sticks, large backpacks and professional cameras with detachable lenses (Real Madrid stadium rules PDF). There is no cloakroom inside the stadium, so travel light (Real Madrid FAQs).

Where to drink

Beer in Madrid is cheap by UK standards. Order a caña, the small draught glass, and you will pay roughly €1.50 to €2.50, often with a free tapa; a full pint in an Irish bar runs closer to €5 (Expatistan).

• Birra Bernabéu: modern bar a few steps from the stadium, packed with fans of all clubs before and after the match, good for a pre-match pint.
• Cervecería Tasco: right by the ground, vibrant, does tapas and drinks, handy for a quick one on the way in (Traveling for Sports).
• The Irish Rover: big sports bar and pub a few blocks from the Bernabéu, shows the football, mixed local and visiting crowd, reliable atmosphere.
• Bar Steinlager: about 15 minutes' walk from the ground, pool tables, darts and screens, relaxed and unpretentious.
• José Luis: smart tapas bar beside the stadium, better for a sit-down beer and a plate than a rowdy pre-match session.
• Central Madrid: for atmosphere before you head north, the bars around Plaza de Santa Ana and Barrio de las Letras are lively and used to visitors.

Madrid is generally easygoing, but the sensible advice is to keep club colours covered until you are at the stadium and to steer clear of any bar that is obviously a home ultras' local (Football Ground Guide).

Where to eat

The local dishes to try are cocido madrileño, a slow-cooked chickpea, pork and beef stew served in three stages, and the bocadillo de calamares, a crusty roll stuffed with fried squid rings that is a Madrid institution around Plaza Mayor (Devour Tours, Visit Madrid).

• Bar La Campana: near Plaza Mayor, one of the best-known spots for a cheap, proper bocadillo de calamares.
• Mercado de San Miguel: Madrid's famous food market by Plaza Mayor, dozens of stalls for tapas, jamón and a glass of wine; touristy but good for grazing.
• Taberna La Bola: century-old taberna serving traditional cocido madrileño, a sit-down feed worth the trip.
• Lhardy: historic, more formal restaurant famed for its cocido; book if you want the full experience.
• Casa Toni or the tabernas of Chamberí: the neighbourhoods around the stadium have plenty of no-nonsense tapas bars for callos, tortilla and a caña before kick-off.
• Chocolatería San Ginés: for churros con chocolate after the game, open very late and a Madrid classic.

What to do

Madrid rewards a day or two either side of the match. Everything below is a short metro ride or walk apart in the centre.

• Museo del Prado: one of the great art museums, heavy with Velázquez, Goya and El Greco (Visit Madrid).
• Reina Sofía: modern art, home to Picasso's Guernica.
• Retiro Park: the city's green lung, with a boating lake and the glass Crystal Palace, a UNESCO-listed royal garden.
• Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor: the historic heart, the bear-and-strawberry-tree statue, and the grand arcaded square.
• Royal Palace of Madrid: the vast official royal residence, open to visitors, near the cathedral.
• Santiago Bernabéu tour and museum: the club runs a stadium tour and trophy museum, worth booking on a non-match day.
• Gran Vía and Mercado de San Miguel: the main shopping and cinema strip, and the market for food and a wander.

Common questions

How do I get from the airport to the Santiago Bernabéu?

Take Metro Line 8 from the Barajas terminals to Nuevos Ministerios. The stadium's own station is closed for rebuilding, so from Nuevos Ministerios either walk about 15 minutes north up the Paseo de la Castellana or take the free replacement bus. Note the €3 airport metro supplement (amerigo-now, Metro de Madrid).

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

Fly to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas. There is no need for a hub: Manchester has direct flights with Ryanair, easyJet and Iberia, and all four main London airports fly direct with British Airways, Iberia, easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz, taking roughly two and a half hours (FlightsFrom, Airport Overview).

Where do away fans sit at the Bernabéu?

In the top (fourth) tier of the Fondo Norte, at the north-east corner of the ground, reached via Tower D (Football Ground Guide). It is high up, and netting is often placed across the front, which some fans find distorts the view.

How many tickets do away fans get and how much do they cost?

European allocations have run to around 4,000. For the Manchester City play-off, City received 3,913 tickets priced at £50 each (Football Ground Guide). Prices vary by fixture, so check with your own club's ticket office.

What time should I get to the ground?

Give yourself plenty of time. With the Line 10 station shut, the last leg is a walk or replacement bus from Nuevos Ministerios, and away searches at the Bernabéu are thorough. Aim to be at Tower D at least an hour before kick-off, and factor the 15-minute walk in on top of your metro journey.

Can I get a drink inside the stadium?

Alcohol is prohibited inside the Bernabéu under the club's stadium rules, so any pre-match beers happen outside (Real Madrid stadium rules PDF). You may bring a 50 cl plastic water bottle with the cap removed (Real Madrid FAQs).

How much is a beer in Madrid?

A caña, the small draught glass locals order, is about €1.50 to €2.50 and often comes with a free tapa. A full pint, mainly found in Irish pubs, is closer to €5 (Expatistan). Ordering cañas is both cheaper and the Spanish way to drink.

Is Madrid safe for away fans?

Madrid is a generally safe, relaxed city and trouble at the Bernabéu is rare. The usual sense applies: keep club colours covered until you are at the ground, watch for pickpockets in busy tourist spots and on the metro, and avoid any obvious home ultras' bar (Football Ground Guide).

Where are the away-friendly areas to drink?

The bars right by the stadium such as Birra Bernabéu and Cervecería Tasco fill with visiting fans, and the Irish bars a few blocks away are a safe bet. For atmosphere before you head north, the central squares around Plaza de Santa Ana and Barrio de las Letras are lively and used to travelling supporters (Traveling for Sports).

Does my match ticket include free public transport?

No. Unlike some German grounds, a Real Madrid ticket does not cover the metro or buses. Buy a single fare, about €1.50 to €2.00 in the central zone, plus the €3 supplement if you are travelling to or from the airport (Metro de Madrid).

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

The Bernabéu is roughly 4 to 5 km north of Puerta del Sol, about 10 minutes on the metro on a normal day. With the Line 10 station closed you get off at Nuevos Ministerios and finish with a 15-minute walk or the free replacement bus (amerigo-now).

Where should I stay?

Most fans base themselves in the centre around Sol, Gran Vía or Chamberí, close to the bars, restaurants and sights and a short metro ride from the ground. Staying in Chamartín right by the stadium is quieter and handy on matchday but a trek from the nightlife.

What is the nearest metro station right now?

Officially it is Santiago Bernabéu on Line 10, but that station is closed for a major rebuild through the end of 2026, with reopening targeted for early 2027. Until then, use Nuevos Ministerios and walk about 15 minutes, or take the free replacement bus (Cronica Norte).