Step 1: Check the Schedule and Plan Your Trip
Start by checking the fixture list on Atlético's official website (atleticodemadrid.com). La Liga runs from August to May; the Champions League group stage spans September to December.
La Liga matches are typically scheduled between Saturday 14:00 and Sunday 21:00 local Spanish time. For fans in the UK, that translates to Saturday 13:00–Sunday 20:00 (GMT) or one hour later during CEST. A 21:00 kickoff in Spain means a late finish — factor in recovery time if you have an early flight the next day.
Search for flights on Skyscanner or Google Flights. There are no direct flights from most non-European destinations, but connections through Paris, Frankfurt, Istanbul, or London are common. From major European cities, flight time to Madrid is roughly 2–3 hours. Budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet serve Madrid-Barajas from many European hubs at reasonable fares, especially when booked early.
For accommodation, the Sol district in central Madrid is an excellent base. It offers easy metro access to the stadium and sits within walking distance of major attractions. Book through Booking.com or Expedia.
Step 2: Buy Your Tickets
Always buy tickets from the official website. Unofficial resale sites carry a real risk of counterfeit tickets.
Here is the step-by-step process. Go to atleticodemadrid.com and select "Entradas" (Tickets) → "Primer equipo masculino." Choose "General" for general admission, then tap "Comprar Entradas" for your chosen match. You will be asked to select a seating area: Fondo Norte (North Stand), Fondo Sur (South Stand — the ultras section), Lateral Este (East Stand), or Lateral Oeste (West Stand). Within each area, choose from Grada Alta (upper tier, cheapest at €30–70), Media (middle tier, €50–80), or Baja (lower tier, €50–120).
One tip for the personal information form: Spanish names include a second surname (the mother's family name). Since most non-Spanish visitors don't have one, simply enter "Nada" — Spanish for "nothing." Payment is by credit card. After completing the purchase, an e-ticket will arrive by email.
Tickets typically go on sale about two weeks before the match. Register your email under "Avísame" (Notify me) on the official site to receive an alert when sales open.
Metropolitano holds approximately 68,000 spectators, with around 61,000 seats reserved for season-ticket holders. Even so, general-sale tickets are relatively easy to obtain for most matches. Derbies against Real Madrid or clashes with Barcelona sell out fast, so secure those early.
For a discount, consider joining "Atleti Red & White," the club's international fan membership. At €25 per year, it offers ticket discounts and savings at the official store.
Step 3: Getting to the Stadium
Riyadh Air Metropolitano sits roughly 10 km northeast of central Madrid, close to Barajas Airport.
The metro is the most convenient option. The nearest station is Estadio Metropolitano on Line 7 — step off the train and the stadium is right in front of you. From Sol station, take Line 2 to Canal, transfer to Line 7, and you are there. Total journey time including the transfer is around 40–50 minutes.
Metro tickets use a rechargeable IC card. The card itself costs €2.50 on first purchase. A 10-trip ticket (€12.20, or €1.22 per ride) offers the best value. A Tourist Card (from €8.40 per day) is also available. There is no fixed timetable — trains arrive every 4–5 minutes, much like the Tube in London or the subway in most major cities. The last train departs at 1:30 AM, so even after a late kickoff you can still get home by metro.
Here is a tip the club itself recommends. After the final whistle, Estadio Metropolitano station gets extremely crowded. The alternative is Las Rosas station on Line 2, a 15–20 minute walk from the ground. It is far less busy, and because Las Rosas is a terminus station, you have a good chance of getting a seat. Better still, Line 2 runs directly to Sol and Ópera with no transfers — so the total journey time can actually be shorter than fighting through the crowds at Metropolitano. If you have the energy for a short walk, this is the smarter route.
Step 4: Inside the Stadium
Gates open approximately one hour before kickoff. Check the gate number printed on your ticket and head to the correct entrance. There will be a body search and a bag check at the gate — travel light. And note this in particular: you may bring a plastic water bottle into the stadium, but the cap will be confiscated at the security checkpoint.
Inside, you will find a main kitchen and six food stands. The menu centres on burgers, olives, nuts, and popcorn. A beer bar called "Brindis" serves draught beer and light snacks. Be aware, however, that most other stands inside the stadium serve only non-alcoholic beer — Brindis is the exception.
The pre-match player introduction is a Metropolitano signature. The lights go out, the roof flashes red and white, and AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" blasts through the speakers at full volume. No screen or stream does this justice — it is something you have to experience in person.
Chants and Spanish Phrases to Know
Learn these three chants before you go and your matchday experience will be transformed.
First, the "Himno" — Atlético's official anthem, sung multiple times during every match. Search "Himno Atletico Madrid" on YouTube to find lyric videos. Second, "Ole Ole Ole Cholo Simeone♪" — a simple melody that repeats throughout the game and is easy to pick up. Third, "Te quiero Atleti lololo~♪" — meaning "I love you, Atleti." The "lololo~" inflection takes a little practice, but once you are in the stadium surrounded by 60,000 voices, it comes naturally.
As for Spanish, four phrases will carry you a long way. "Hola" (oh-la) = Hello. "Gracias" (gra-thee-as) = Thank you. "Perdón" (pair-don) = Excuse me. "Sí / No" (see / no) = Yes / No. Greet the security staff with a smile and a "¡Hola!" at the body check — it changes the atmosphere completely.
Madrid Food You Shouldn't Miss
Eating well before and after the match is part of the experience. Madrid's bars serve drinks and tapas at very reasonable prices. Two dishes stand out. Arroz Negro is a paella-style rice dish cooked in squid ink — it looks jet black but tastes extraordinary. Bocadillo de Calamares is a fried calamari sandwich on a baguette, and it is a Madrid institution.