Madrid is Spain’s largest city and capital, and is also one of the largest cities in all of Europe. Madrid is also the countries soccer capital. There are more soccer stadiums in Madrid than in any other Spanish city. There is a permanent, heated debate across the country regarding which team is the best ever: Real Madrid or Barcelona. But, in regards to which city is the “soccer capital” there is no discussion, Madrid wins by a landslide despite FC Barcelona is a super club too! You can learn more about Barcelona stadiums in this section.
Spain is divided into Autonomous Communities in the same way the US is divided into states. Although Madrid is the largest city in the country, the autonomous community to which the city belongs (also named Madrid) is one of the smallest. But this hasn’t stopped Madrid from producing 4 teams in Spain’s top league, the most of any other autonomous community. That is 20% of the teams that currently compete in the national league!
The 4 teams from Madrid that currently play in the Liga Santander or La Liga as its known are: Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, C.D. Leganés and Getafe C.F. Plus there are three other clubs that play in the Spanish second division: Rayo Vallecano, A.D. Alcorcón and C.F. Fuenlabrada.
Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid are 2 of the world´s best soccer teams.
Stadium Santiago Bernabeu is located at the heart of the financial district in Madrid. It is even strange to find the stadium here. When it was first built this area in Madrid was basically empty. The Bernabeu stadium is one of Madrid´s most visited tourist attractions. The Wanda Metropolitano is Atletico del Madrid current stadium. This new, impressive stadium is located far from the Vicente Calderon stadium where Atletico played for decades. These two scoccer stadiums in Madrid are amongst the citie´s top tourist attractions.
You can also find the location of these stadiums in our Madrid interactive touristic map as well as restaurants and other attractions you can combine with their visit.
We also recommend you to have a look at our Madrid city guide where you will get lots of inside information on Madrid and things to do adapted to your travel style.
You can find additional information about Real Madrid and updated team and players information i n the Real Madrid club website
The Santiago Bernabeu soccer stadium in Madrid is the home of one of the top sports teams in the world: Real Madrid. This imposing coliseum is located in the heart of the city, right on the Castellana, Madrid’s main artery. The Stadium is named after Real Madrid’s first great super star: Mr Santiago Bernabéu.
Mr. Santiago Bernabéu de Yeste was born in Albacete in 1895. He began his career as a goal keeper but transitioned to the forward position. He joined Real Madrid’s first team in 1914 (which was then named the Madrid Foot-ball Club), and he was an immediate success. He became the teams leading scorer and the perfect running mate for Real Madrid’s other super star René Petit. Bernabeu played until 1927 for Real Madrid. He retired as the Clubs highest scorer and as one of the teams toughest players. During his time as a player the team won 10 titles and he would go on to the clubs front office.
Bernabéu held the position of team director for 35 years, the longest tenure of any Real Madrid director. During his time at the Helm the team won 16 Spanish league titles, 6 Spanish cup titles and 6 European cups and becoming one of the top teams in Europe. The club also excelled in basketball during this period wining 19 Spanish league titles and 6 European cups. But, perhaps, Bernabeu’s most lasting contribution to the history of the Real Madrid Football Club was the construction of the stadium that carries his name. More information on Real Madrid here.
The Wanda Metropolitano is home to one of Europe’s top teams and the second best team in Madrid: Atlético de Madrid. Of course, Real Madrid and Atlético have an intense, cross-city rivalry and is considered to be Madrid “blue colar” team.
Atlético just recently moved to this ultra-modern stadium from the mythic Vicente Calderon stadium that was located in the center of town. The Wanda Metropolitano stadium is located slightly outside the city center where it enjoy easier access and parking and can offer a wider variety of events and spectacles.
The Vicente Calderón had been the teams stadium since 1966 Atlético de Madrid made the move in 2017 and hasn’t looked back.
There has been a stadium in the same place where the Wanda now stands since 1994, but is wasn’t until 2017 that the installation was properly renovated that the team made the permanent move. The stadium currently sits 68,456 fans, the third largest in the country and second largest in the city of Madrid.
The Wanda Metropolitano offers visits to to the stadium and the teams museum, you can even walk out onto the pitch and see the stadium as the players do. More on Atletico de Madrid here.
The soccer stadiums in Madrid are among the country´s top tourist attractions. But Madrid has a lot more to offer than just football!. You can find here more information about Madrid tourist attractions.
Madrid and its “Paseo del Arte” (The local name given to the distance between the top 3 art galleries in Madrid (The Prado Museum, the Thyssen Bornemiza and the Reina Sofía museum) set Madrid amongst the top art destinations in the world.
Besides this 3 top museums, there are other smaller art galleries which would stand out at most cities in the world: The Real Academis de San Fernando, the Lazaro Galdiano museum he Casa Sorolla museum and the Cerralbo Museum.
Madrid is one of the few cities in the world, if not the only one, that can claim to enjoy so many Unesco heritage sites at less than 1 hour drive from the Capital.
Fascinating medieval villages where local gastronomy remains unspoilt, top palaces and gardens (El Escorial, Aranjuez, La Granja) or one of the world´s most impressive medieval walls in Avila. Add the famous hanging houses of Cuenca, the wines of Ribera del Duero, the windmills of Don Quixote, or the elegance and beauty of Salamanca and you will start to consider Madrid as a perfect base from where to enjoy day after day amazing destinations.
We have left to the end of this list Segovia and Toledo, 2 of the World´s bes preserved medieval cities and, in both cases, ancient capitals of Spain.
Each 15th of May in Madrid is the festival of San Isidro, the patron of Madrid. For a period of five days, locals take to the streets to celebrate their pilgrimage in the Pradera of San Isidro and also to enjoy music, dancing and Madrid cuisine in the gardens of the Vistillas.
The day before the party, in the streets of downtown Madrid, you can hear the excitement from the Parade of Giants, announcing the arrival of the Proclamation that occurs on the afternoon of the 14th on Plaza de la Villa.
