Madrid has two great football clubs, and if you have done the Bernabeu you will want to see the other side of the city's rivalry. Atletico de Madrid, the club of the red-and-white stripes, plays at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, known until recently as the Wanda Metropolitano and still listed under that name in places. It stands on Avenida de Luis Aragones in the San Blas-Canillejas district on the eastern side of the city, and it opened in 2017 as the club's new home, holding about 70,000 spectators. A tour takes you through the stadium and into the club's museum, and the operator lists several formats. The self-guided option includes an audio guide and museum entry. A live-guided version runs for about an hour for groups of up to 30 in English or Spanish. A premium tour runs about two hours for groups of up to 20 and includes breakfast in the private box used by the club's manager, Diego Simeone, and an honorary kick-off experience is also sold. Daily opening of 11:00 to 18:00 is listed, though match days and events can change access, so confirm for your date. The Metropolitano is a smaller story than the Bernabeu, with a younger stadium and a club whose identity is built around resilience and a loud, proud following.
Why visit
The Atletico story is as much about character as trophies. The club was founded in 1903 and has long positioned itself as the working-class alternative to its neighbour, and the museum explains how that identity developed. The stadium itself is a contemporary bowl with a distinctive sweep of roof, and the tour gives you the usual behind-the-scenes insights: the stands, the pitch-side views and the spaces where players and staff prepare.
Football fans who know the rivalry will enjoy seeing the contrast with the Bernabeu, and even neutral visitors will find the architecture and the atmosphere worth the trip.
Choosing a format
If you are happy to go at your own speed, the self-guided audio tour is the best value and the one with the most review volume on the operator's page. The live-guided tour is better for questions and for first-time visitors to Spanish football, while the premium option suits fans who want something special. Bundles with the Bernabeu are also sold if you want both stadiums in one trip, though the two sites are on opposite sides of the city and need separate travel time.
Making it work
Check the club's fixture list before you choose a date, because match days restrict access and are best avoided for tours. Allow time to get to San Blas-Canillejas by Metro or taxi from the centre, and combine the visit with a relaxed lunch in the neighbourhood or a trip back to the centre for tapas. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a camera for the pitch-side views, and expect the museum to take as long as the stadium walk if you are a keen fan.
For football fans, a good plan is to visit this stadium and the Bernabeu on separate days, so that each gets your full attention and you can compare the two clubs' stories properly. Children who play the game often enjoy the pitch-side perspective most, while adults tend to linger over the trophies and the club's history. If you are visiting in the football season, a glance at the fixture list will help you pick a quiet day.
What to expect
The experience
A stadium tour of Atletico de Madrid's home ground with museum entry: self-guided with an audio guide, live-guided for about an hour, or a premium two-hour version with breakfast in the manager's private box.
Best time
Non-match days, with listed daily opening from 11:00 to 18:00. Check the fixture list, as match days affect access.
How long
About one hour for the standard tours; about two hours for the premium tour.
Tips
Choose the self-guided option for value and the live guide for context. Allow travel time from the centre and avoid match days.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Football fans who want the other half of Madrid's rivalry, or a modern stadium and club museum.
- Families
- Good for children who follow football; the audio tour keeps things flexible.
- Couples
- A non-standard daytime activity if one of you is a football fan.
- Pair with
- The Bernabeu on another day, or tapas in the centre afterwards.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours including travel.
Good questions
What tour formats are available?+
The operator lists a self-guided tour with museum entry and audio guide, a live-guided tour of about an hour, and a premium tour of about two hours with breakfast in the manager's private box. A kick-off experience is also sold.
Is it called the Wanda Metropolitano or the Riyadh Air Metropolitano?+
Both names appear. The stadium has been renamed, and older listings still use Wanda Metropolitano. It is the same ground.
Where is the stadium?+
On Avenida de Luis Aragones in the San Blas-Canillejas district on the east side of Madrid.
What are the opening hours?+
The booking page shows daily opening from 11:00 to 18:00, but match days and events can change access.
Can I combine it with the Bernabeu?+
Yes, a bundle with the Santiago Bernabeu is sold. The two stadiums are on opposite sides of the city, so allow separate travel time or visit on different days.
