The Santiago Bernabéu is a truly spectacular football stadium with a rich history of iconic sporting moments. For many sports fans around the world, planning a trip to the Santiago Bernabéu to see Real Madrid play live is a bucket list experience.
A football game only lasts for 90 minutes (although all of us sports travelers know that it’s really a whole-day event), which gives you plenty of time to check out the rest of the sights and sounds of Madrid.
So, what else should you do while you’re in town? Where should you go once the final whistle blows? If you’re planning a trip to Madrid to see Real Madrid play, here are the 10 best things to do near the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid.
The 10 Best Sights Near the Santiago Bernabéu
There are plenty of attractions around the Santiago Bernabéy, some within walking distance and others further afield. Whether you’re looking for a museum to spend a few hours before kickoff, somewhere to hang out after the game, or other sights to see during your stay in Madrid, this is the list to enhance your Real Madrid match experience.
- Tour Bernabéu
Can’t get enough of Real Madrid? That’s understandable. If going to a game at the Santiago Bernabéu isn’t enough to satisfy your football appetite, you should definitely pay a visit to Tour Bernabéu. This is your ticket to a self-guided tour of the stadium, including the museum, the trophy cabinet, and of course, the official store.
If you’re traveling to Madrid during the regular season, the tour usually also includes access to the changing rooms, the benches, the presidential box, and the press room. If you’re visiting during the off-season and not actually going to a Real Madrid game, the tour is sometimes shortened as repairs and renovations are scheduled during most off-seasons. Make sure you check the website before buying tickets so that you know exactly what’s included for your specific dates.
- Santuario de Santa Gema
Another thing you can do near the Santiago Bernabéu (it’s just a 10-minute walk from the stadium) is pay a visit to Santuario de Santa Gema. If you’re looking to kill some time on game day and you appreciate old churches and architecture, this is the stop for you.
This Modernist church has a sacred relic of the Italian saint Gemma Galgani, who was canonized in 1940. There are more grand and more spectacular churches in Madrid, but none as close to the stadium or the many places to eat near the Santiago Bernabéu.
- Berlin Park
If the weather in Madrid is cooperating (it usually is), why not spend a sunny afternoon relaxing in a park? It’s a great way to relax and recharge before the game, or to unwind after the match ends. There are lots of lovely, leafy parks in Madrid, but Berlin Park is one of the closest to the Santiago Bernabéu – it’s just a 15-minute walk away.
Berlin Park is a huge city park, featuring a lot of different walking trails, sports facilities, and even an outdoor escape room. There are lots of trees for shade, playgrounds if you’re traveling for sports with kids, a separate dog park, water fountains, and, somewhat bizarrely, fragments of the Berlin Wall.
- Legends: The Home of Football
For sports lovers, no trip to Madrid is complete without a visit to Legends: The Home of Football. Legends is a huge football museum, possibly the largest in the world. It spans seven floors, and has some incredible artifacts as well as plenty of interactive games and activities. There’s also a rooftop restaurant.
Geek out over the old, match-worn shirts, experience the 4D cinema, explore the immersive experiences, and visit the gaming area, complete with VR tech, to cap off your visit. Discover how jerseys have evolved, what old football boots were made from, and how much more technical a ball now is. You’ll never view the game the same way!
- Plaza de España
The Plaza de España is a huge square in the middle of Madrid. It’s very busy and quite touristy, but still a great place to go and check out what the city has to offer. At night, it’s lit up beautifully, and there are lots of cafes in the area where you can sit and watch the world go by.
Also, Gran Via, the most famous street in Madrid and the main road for tourist activities and shopping at the city’s many department stores, runs almost a mile to its end at Plaza de España. There are also lots of museums in this area, including the Cerralbo Museum, so it’s an easy area to kill a whole day in.
- Mercado de San Miguel
If you’re traveling to Madrid to see Real Madrid play at the Santiago Bernabéu, you should definitely set aside some time to visit the Mercado de San Miguel. This fresh food market has been around for more than a century, and it’s a total hub of activity. For food lovers, this is an absolute must-visit. You’ll find the best Iberian ham, incredible fresh seafood, more cheese than you know what to do with, and so much more.
The Mercado de San Miguel also has plenty of places where you can get pre-prepared food and drinks, including restaurants and food carts. Make sure you get a meal here at least once! Local favorites include the sangria, the many tapas options, the jamon, and the paella. The prices can be on the higher end, but so is the quality of the food.
- Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena
When I mentioned the Santuario de Santa Gema, I said there were more grand and famous cathedrals in Madrid than that, and this is one of them. The Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena is a Baroque Catholic cathedral known for its colorful chapels, plus a Romanesque crypt and museum. If you have headphones, you can access an audio tour while you’re in the cathedral.
You can enter the cathedral for free, although a small donation of €1 per visitor is recommended. Entry to the museum is separate, while the crypt can be visited with a guided tour only. The tour costs €4 per person, and tickets must be purchased ahead of time. The add-ons might be worth it if you’re a history buff and really interested, but the cathedral itself is worth visiting for its spectacular interior and grand design.
- Cibeles Fountain – Where Real Madrid Fans Celebrate
Who doesn’t love a good fountain? The Cibeles Fountain, constructed in 1782, is a prominent symbol of Madrid. It is situated at the center of the square that bears its name, surrounded by notable buildings such as the Buenavista Palace (Army Headquarters), Linares Palace (Casa de América), Cibeles Palace (formerly the Post Office and now the Madrid City Hall), and the Bank of Spain.
The fountain features the Roman goddess Cybele, a symbol of the earth, agriculture, and fertility, riding a chariot drawn by two lions, the mythological figures Hippomenes and Atalanta. For football lovers, Cybele has an extra special meaning – she has become an icon for Real Madrid fans, symbolizing the team’s victories and the achievements of the Spanish national football team. When there’s something to celebrate, this is where the Madridistas gather.
- Museo de Cera
The Museo de Cera is Madrid’s famous wax museum. It’s a fun one for all ages, with plenty of lifelike wax figurines on display. For football lovers, you can get a selfie with a freakishly realistic Christiano Ronaldo. As well as CR7, the Museo de Cera has sculptures of other sporting stars like Spain’s own Rafael Nadal, as well as Taylor Swift, Leo DiCaprio, Barack Obama, and so many more.
The Museo de Cera is open daily from 11 am until 8 pm. Tickets cost €19 for adults and €14 for kids. If you’re touring the Santiago Bernabéu as well, there are often deals and discounts where you can purchase a bundle of both tickets together at a lower price.
- Museum of Spanish Football Team
It’s not as cool as Legends, but the Museum of the Spanish Football Team is still worth a visit for football lovers. If you’re at all interested in Spanish football, this is a great place to learn more about the history of the Spanish national team and admire the trophies that this hugely successful program has won over the years.
The museum is located northwest of Madrid, right outside the national team’s training headquarters. In the distance, you can see the training fields and clubrooms the players use when they’re on Spanish national duty. A non-guided tour of the museum only is €8 for adults and €5 for kids. For an additional fee, you can also tour the training facilities.
Explore the Best Attractions Around the Santiago Bernabéu Before the Game!
As you can see, there’s so much to do around the Santiago Bernabéu! If you’re traveling to Madrid to catch a Real Madrid match at the Bernabéu, make sure you set aside some time to check out the other attractions near the stadium! From the incredible football museum Legends to the mouthwatering local foods at the San Miguel Market, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this stunning city.
