Travel guide for Real Madrid and Santiago Bernabéu

Below you will find your perfect guide for going to Spain to watch Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu!

Headlines from the travel guide:

  • Real Madrid Honours

    La Liga: 35 (last 2022)

    Copa del Rey: 20 (last 2023)

    European Cup/ Champions League: 14 (last 2022)

    UEFA Cup: 2 (last 1986)

    FIFA Club World Cup: 5 (last 2022)

    Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

    Capacity: 81,044

    Pitch: 105 x 68 m
    Opening match: December 14, 1947 (Real Madrid – Os Belenenses 3-1)

    BERNABÉU ADDRESS
    Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
    Avda de Concha Espina, 1
    28036 Madrid

    Bernabéu HISTORY

    When Santiago Bernabéu became president in 1943, he was convinced that the club needed a new stadium. The building cost 37 million pesetas and four years later he opened the new Estadio de Chamartín arena which could then hold 75,300 spectators. After a third tier was built in 1953, the capacity increased to 120.000.

    The stadium’s name was changed to Santiago Bernabéu after a decision in the club’s General Assembly, on January 4, 1955. It is said that the president only reluctantly accepted this honour …

    Before the World Cup in 1982, the stadium was renovated and 90,000 people were able to see the Italians defeating West Germany in the final. Ten years later it was time for a new conversion and extension. The capacity was increased to 106,500 and the exterior was given its present appearance.

    The protracted battle with arch rival Barcelona over who had the largest stadium was settled in the late nineties. UEFA requirements that all standing places would be removed meant that Santiago Bernabéu could accommodate ‘just’ 74,300 spectators.

    The stadium has just undergone a major renovation to incorporate more seats, and include a retractable roof and pitch.

    BERNABÉU DIRECTIONS

    Metro:
    Line 10 to Santiago Bernabéu

    Bus: 
    Lines 14, 27, 40, 43, 120, 126, 147 or 150

    Check out www.ctm-madrid.es – Consorcio Regional de transportes de Madrid

    MADRID BARS

    Some of the most popular bars around the stadium include Chiquifru (Calle de Marceliano Santa Maria, 8) and Birra (Concha Espina, 6). On Chiquifru, besides drinks, there is even a cool collection of old match tickets.

    Food is on my wishlist, and this can be satisfied at places such Las Bravas Pasaje (Pasaje Matheu, 5 – near Plaza Santa Ana) which includes spicy potatoes. Or maybe a piece of ham at El Museo de Jamón (c / alcala 155).

    If hunger pangs strike immediately after the final whistle, the fish restaurant La Dorada (c/Orense 64) is just a couple blocks from the stadium.

    Some other tips: Chantarella (Luisa Fernanda, 27), which serves Spanish cuisine or Viuda de Vacas (Cava Alta, 23), intimately mixed with classic dishes, small tables and counter-bar. For all seafood lovers, El Condado de ointment terra (Calle Berruguete, 2).

    The world’s oldest restaurant has delighted guests for almost 300 years: Sobrino de Botin (Calle de los Cucilleros, 17).

    The city’s own Casillas offer four recommendations for a hearty meal: Casa Lucio (Cava Baja, 35), Meson Txistu (Pl. Angel Carbajo, 6), De Maria (Felix Boix, 5) and Asador Donostiarra (Infanta Mercedes, 79) .

    BERNABÉU TOUR

    The tour includes a visit to the club’s exhibition of all their trophies – and it is well known that there are a lot ..

    Monday to Saturday: 10:00 – 19:30
    Sunday: 10:30 – 18:30

    Matchdays have a shortened tour up to five hours before kick off.

    Tickets at the Puerta 7 (slot 10) and online at www.realmadrid.com. The tour starts at Torre B (Paseo de la Castellana)

    Prices (2023):
    €18.00 – adults
    €15.00 – children under 14 years

    REAL MADRID STORES OPENING TIMES

    Bernabéu
    Estadio Santiago Bernabéu Calle Padre Damián, Puerta 57
    Tel: +34 914 587 259

    Monday – Saturday: 10:00 – 21:00
    Sunday: 11:00 – 19:30

    El Carmen
    Calle Carmen 3
    Tel: +34 915 217 950

    Monday – Saturday: 10:00 – 21:00
    Sunday: 11:00 – 20:00

    Gran Via
    Gran Via, 31
    Tel: +34 917 554 538

    Monday – Saturday: 10:00 – 21:00
    Sunday: 11:00 – 20:00

    REAL MADRID TRAINING GROUND

    Ciudad Real Madrid is in Valdebebas near Madrid Barajas airport, a facility opened in 2005 after a 70 million euro investment and is home to the club’s youth academy.

    Here are 12 training fields (including eight with artificial turf) and the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano with seating for 6,000 spectators. This arena is home to the reserve team Real Madrid Castilla.

    • REAL MADRID CLUB HISTORY

      Real Madrid are founded

      The story of Real Madrid begins on March 6, 1902 when Madrid Football Club were formed. It was also decided that the club would play in white shirts and white shorts – hence the nickname Los Merengues (meringues).

      Two months later they played their first match against arch-rivals FC Barcelona (who had six foreign players in the team) – they lost 3-1.

      In 1903 they played the Madrid Cup final against Athletic Bilbao and lost 3-2. Immediately after the game Madrid’s captain suggested a new game would be played the next day … Madrid had to wait two years for their long awaited revenge. But on April 18, 1905 they beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in the cup final and the club won their first major title.

      The following year these teams met in the cup final and once again Madrid won, this time 4-1. They defended this for two further years: in 1907 beating Viscaya and in 1908 against Sporting de Vigo.

      Real Madrid: Campo de O’Donnell

      After playing matches at smaller venues here and there the club decided in 1910 to hire Campo de O’Donnell. The rent was 1,000 Pta and two years later the club put a fence around it. The official opening took place on October 31, 1912.

      A few lean years were followed by two more cup finals: defeat against Athletic Bilbao in 1916 and victory against the Arenas Club the following year.

      In 1920 the club got the Spanish king’s blessing to call itself royal and the club name was changed to Real Madrid. In the same year the team went on an international tour to Portugal and Italy. The budget was small and the team was forced to look for the cheapest restaurants!

      Real Madrid: Estadio de Chamartín

      The Estadio de Chamartín was opened on May 17, 1924, the inaugural game was played before 15,000 spectators against English FA Cup winners Newcastle United who were beaten 3-2.

      The twenties also saw some more international adventures for Real Madrid, first a tour to England, Denmark and France in 1925 and four years later they crossed the Atlantic. For three and a half months they travelled all round the Americas to Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Cuba, Mexico and the United States.

      The next decade began with a record transfer: Real Madrid paid Español 150,000 pesetas for the legendary goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora, also called ‘the divine’. With this man between the posts the club won the league two years running – seasons 1931/32 and 1932/33.

      In the first cup final against FC Barcelona, Madrid – who lost their status as ‘Real’ when Spain became a republic in 1931 – won 2-1 at Mestalla in Valencia. Once again Ricardo Zamora made a match-winning save.

      When Franco and his fascist coup-makers shattered the Spanish democracy during the bitter civil war the club once again became royal. The King’s crown popped back up on the club shirts and the present name – Real Madrid Club de Fútbol – was adopted on January 1, 1941.

      Real Madrid: Alfredo Di Stefano

      A brilliant period in Real Madrid’s history began with the recruitment of Argentine Alfredo Di Stefano in 1953. In Di Stefano’s first season the league championship was recaptured after 21 years and the new acquisition was top scorer with 29 goals.

      The following year the European Cup was launched. After eliminating Servette, Partizan Belgrade and Milan, Real were pitched against Stade Reims in the final in Paris on June 13, 1956. Despite being 2-0 down they turned the match around and won the first European Cup final 4-3.

      The title was defended in 1957 at home. Fiorentina were beaten 2-0 on May 30 after Di Stéfano had scored the first goal from a penalty in the 70th minute.

      The following year Milan drew the short straw in the final. Gento decided the game for Real Madrid in extra time as they won 3-2 at  Heysel Stadium in Brussels.

      Stade Reims were opponents again in 1959’s final. Di Stefano, who now received the Golden Ball for two consecutive years, was one of the target shooters when Real won 2-0.

      There would then be a fifth successive European Cup win. In a classic match against Eintracht Frankfurt at Hampden Park in Glasgow on May 18, 1960 Real Madrid won 7-3 with four goals from Puskas and three from Di Stefano. The first European Cup was brought home to Madrid for good.

      Real Madrid: Five league titles

      And as the icing on the cake – or maybe jam on meringues – the club won also the Intercontinental Cup. Penarol from Montevideo survived 0-0 at home but were then beaten 5-1 in Madrid.

      After five straight European Cup titles, it was time to line up five league titles: Real Madrid were champions every season from 1960/61 to 1964/65. This feat was repeated more than 20 years later: five straight victories from 1985/86 to 1989/90.

      A new European Cup was brought home in 1966 – again from Heysel Stadium in Brussels where the club beat Partizan Belgrade 2-1. It was a new generation of players but the one remaining from the fifties triumph was Francisco ‘Paco’ Gento who won his sixth European Cup title – something that no-one has repeated since.

      The side did not emulate this success on the international stage during the sixties and seventies. At home, however, they achieved 13 league titles and four cup wins over the two decades. In 1961/62 and 1974/75 the club won both league and cup.

      During the eighties, it was time to lift the UEFA Cup for the first time. Real went on to win this trophy for two consecutive years: beating Hungarian side Videoton in 1985 and FC Cologne in 1986.

      Real Madrid: Champions League

      The club’s seventh European Cup triumph – in a tournament which by now had been renamed the Champions League – came on May 20, 1998 against Juventus in the Amsterdam Arena, Pedja Mijatovic scoring the only goal of the game. And two years later, they won it again: Valencia were defeated 3-0 at the Stade de France in Paris.

      Real Madrid’s centenary was celebrated with the club’s biggest international successes ever – three wins out of a possible three: Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen (2-1) after a volley from Zinedine Zidane, the European Super Cup against Feyenoord (2-1) and Intercontinental Cup against Club Olimpia from Paraguay (2-0).

      In 2011 the club won the Copa del Rey in an El Clasico meeting with Barcelona at the Mestalla in Valencia. The only goal came from Cristiano Ronaldo in extra time. Los Blancos supporters had waited a long time for a Spanish Cup gold, 18 years in fact.

      Real Madrid: La Decima

      An even more long-awaited achievement was conquered in 2014: La Decima, ie the tenth time Real Madrid won the European Cup / Champions League. The final was a Madrid derby played in Lisbon. Atlético took the lead in the first half and it was only after 93 minutes when Sergio Ramos levelled. In the end, Real added three more goals to secure victory.

      With Zinedine Zidane at the helm and Cristiano Ronaldo as a spearhead, Real Madrid became the first club to win the Champions League for two consecutive years: 2016 and 2017. This time the losing sides were Atlético Madrid (1-1 then 5-3 in the penalty shoot-out) and then Juventus (4-1). Carlo Ancelotti returned in 2021 and went on to win another Champions League in quite spectacular fashion, despatching PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City before toppling favourites Liverpool in the final.

      REAL MADRID FACTS

      A 16 year old named Santiago Bernabeu debuted on March 3, 1912 in a friendly against English Sports Club. The debut was successful: Real won 2-1 and Santiago Bernabeu scored the winner. This was the first step in a long career – Santiago Bernabéu later became Real Madrid’s president and held this post for 35 years.

      Madrid and Barcelona played a classic cup semi final in 1916. Four matches were required to determine the battle.

      In the first game Barcelona won 2-1 at home. The return match was won 4-1 by Real. Two more games were played in Madrid: the first 6-6 and then 4-2. During the last match Barcelona’s players left the field with seven minutes left to play in protest against the referee who awarded a goal they believed to have been preceded by an offside.

      Classic encounter

      Another classic encounter between these arch rivals took place in 1943. Again, this was a cup semi final. Barça came to Madrid with a convincing home win in their bag: 3-0. But at Chamartín Real Madrid were 8-0 ahead at halftime and won 11-1 in a scandal-ridden game that was preceded by threats and violence. In the wake of the game the government intervened and forced both club presidents to resign …

      In the derby against Atletico Madrid on November 23, 1947 Real was the first Spanish team to wear numbered shirts. The Spanish Football Association felt that this was a good idea and introduced shirt numbering in a decree the following year.

      When Real celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1952 the program included, in addition to a soccer tournament, also basketball, handball, chess, horse racing, wrestling – and bullfighting.

      Real vs Real B

      In the 1980 cup final,  the club’s supporters felt confident of victory. In the final Real met their own B team – Castilla. On the way to the finals Castilla had knocked out four teams from the first division. But the Real ‘a’ side showed where the cup would be going and won the final 6-1.

      On December 23, 2000 FIFA awarded Real Madrid the title “The 20th Century’s best football club” – a welcome and well deserved Christmas present …

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