Prices in this guide are generally current as of March 2026; transport fares and operating information were checked on 15 July 2026. Check official sources before travelling for the latest details.
Your first match at the Metropolitano
Just before kick-off the music starts over the stands and the roof flickers red and white. The air vibrates in a way you cannot get through a screen. Going to a match at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano is the quickest way to understand Atlético de Madrid. This guide takes you through a first visit, from planning the trip to matchday inside the stadium.
Check the schedule and plan your trip
Start by checking the fixture list on the official site (atleticodemadrid.com). La Liga typically runs from August to May. The Champions League league phase takes place from September through January.
La Liga matches are spread across Friday to Monday, with kickoff times in Spain generally ranging from 14:00 to 21:00. For UK visitors, that is 13:00–20:00 UK time all year round. The exact kickoff time is confirmed about two weeks before the match, so build some flexibility into your travel plans.
For flights, Skyscanner and Google Flights are the usual search engines. From the UK, budget carriers like Ryanair and EasyJet fly direct to Madrid-Barajas in around 2–2.5 hours. From further afield, common connections run through Paris, Frankfurt, Istanbul, or London.
For accommodation, the Sol district in central Madrid works well: it has good metro access to the stadium and doubles as a base for sightseeing. Book via Booking.com or Expedia. Sol is not the only option, and the guide to where to stay in Madrid weighs it against the Line 7 districts, where you can ride to the stadium without changing lines.
Buy your tickets
You buy tickets through the official website (atleticodemadrid.com). The fixture list runs on Fever, which puts a "Powered by fever" mark at the top right of it, and the seat map and payment then move to OneBox on a separate domain. Avoid unofficial resale sites: counterfeit tickets are a real risk.
For most fixtures that is all you need: the general sale usually has seats, and it is the cheapest way in. The matches that close early are the derby against Real Madrid and the visit of Barcelona. If your flights are already booked and one of those has sold out, official packages through P1 Travel are the fallback, covered at the end of this section. Booking through the agency links in this article may earn Cholismo Lab a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Here's how the purchase works on the official site. From the top navigation bar, select "TICKETS." On the category page, choose "Men's first team" (or "Primer equipo masculino" on the Spanish site), then tap "General admision" (sic — that is the site's own spelling). You'll see the fixture list.
The button under each fixture shows where its sale stands. A match on general sale shows "BUY TICKETS" ("COMPRAR ENTRADAS"); one still in the members' window shows "TICKETS FOR MEMBERS" ("VENTA PARA SOCIOS"); and a match not yet on sale shows "NOTIFY ME" ("AVÍSAME") instead. VIP (hospitality) seats are a separate stock: when they are open, "BUY VIP TICKET" ("COMPRAR ENTRADAS VIP") sits alongside the general-sale or members' button rather than replacing it. Fixtures whose date is not fixed yet read "Unconfirmed" ("Sin confirmar") where the kick-off time would be.
"BUY TICKETS" takes you into a Queue-it waiting room first. For a quiet fixture you pass straight through; for a big one the estimate can read "more than an hour." The waiting page states that once your turn comes you have 10 minutes to enter the site (checked on the Real Madrid derby, 2 September 2026).
Out of the queue, the stadium overhead map opens. You'll be prompted to log in, but you can select "Continue as a guest" to proceed without creating an account.
Seat selection works in three stages. First, choose your area: South End (Fondo Sur), North End (Fondo Norte), East Side (Lateral Este), or West Side (Lateral Oeste). Each shows the number of remaining tickets and the starting price. Then pick a specific block within that area, listed under names like "GRADA ALTA 510B A 512." Finally, use the 3D seat view to tap on an individual seat.
Not sure which stand suits you? The Riyadh Air Metropolitano seating guide compares the Laterals, Fondos and seating tiers by view, atmosphere, family needs and budget.
Once you confirm a seat, it goes into your cart with a roughly 10-minute countdown. If you don't complete payment in time, the seat is released, so have your personal details ready beforehand.
The "Buyer data" form asks for your Name, Surnames, Second surname, document type and ID number, email, phone, date of birth, country, zip code, and nationality. The "Second surname" field is clearly marked "Optional," so non-Spanish buyers can leave it blank. The next screen, "Attendee data," requires only Name, Surnames, and ID for each ticket holder. Accept the terms and conditions, then click "Pay" to proceed to payment by credit card. After completing payment, a digital ticket is issued. Entry methods include Apple Wallet / Google Wallet (NFC), QR code, and PDF ticket (displayed on your mobile screen). If you cannot add the ticket to your Wallet, follow the instructions in your confirmation email or the official app. Wallet entry has been available at the Metropolitano since the 2024-25 season, alongside physical tickets and cards. If you are going in on your phone, make sure it is fully charged.
Note that Fondo Sur Grada Baja (the lower tier housing the Grada de Animación) is reserved for club members only. Tickets there are nominative, non-transferable, and require ID (DNI) verification at the gate. By contrast, Fondo Sur Grada Alta and Grada Media are generally available for public sale.
Ticket prices vary significantly by fixture. Standard league matches may offer seats from €30–70, but for high-demand games like Barcelona or Real Madrid, even Grada Alta (upper tier) seats start at €60–90+, and Lateral (side stand) seats can exceed €140. A small service fee (Fees) of a few euros is added on top.
When general sale opens varies a lot by fixture. In 2026-27 the club released matches in batches: the league fixtures up to Valencia in mid-December went on general sale on 26 August, and the Champions League game against Bayern on 3 September, after a two-day members' window. For a match that has not opened yet, the "NOTIFY ME" ("AVÍSAME") button lets you register for an alert.
Separate guides go through the sale block by block for Bayern and Barcelona.
The Riyadh Air Metropolitano holds approximately 70,000 spectators, of which around 61,000 seats are occupied by season-ticket holders.
For discounts, consider joining "Atleti Red & White," the club's international fan membership. At €20 per year, members receive an official online store discount, a welcome kit with their first online store order, exclusive draws and events, and a discount on the Tour & Museum. Note that the club's own FAQ says discounted match tickets and the 48-hour presale window are benefits for socios, not for Red & White members.
If general sale is already closed for the match you want, or you prefer to lock in guaranteed seats, official Atlético ticket packages are also sold through P1 Travel, typically priced above face value in exchange for confirmed allocation. This season's sale dates, the members' windows and the authorised agencies are covered in How to Buy Atlético de Madrid Tickets (2026-27).
Getting to the stadium
The Riyadh Air Metropolitano is located roughly 10 km northeast of central Madrid, near Barajas Airport.
The easiest option for most visitors is the Metro. Estadio Metropolitano on Line 7 is the nearest station and sits beside the stadium. From Sol, one straightforward route is Line 2 to Canal followed by Line 7, but the best route depends on your actual starting point and live service conditions. Check the official Metro de Madrid or CRTM journey planner before leaving.
Fares checked on 15 July 2026: the reusable Tarjeta Multi costs €2.50, while a Metro Zone A single costs €1.50–€2.00. The ten-trip Metro Zone A/EMT/ML1 ticket is €7.30 under an extraordinary 40% discount scheduled through 31 December 2026. A one-day Zone A Tourist Travel Pass costs €10.30 and includes the initial card and airport Metro supplement. Metro normally operates from 06:00 to 01:30 every day, but that does not guarantee every final connection until 01:30. Matchday frequency may be reinforced, but do not assume that operating hours will be extended without an official announcement.
Large crowds use Estadio Metropolitano station after full-time. Atlético also identifies Las Rosas on Line 2 and Canillejas on Line 5 as alternatives, each roughly a quarter-hour walk from the stadium. Neither station is guaranteed to be quieter, to provide a seat or to save time. Choose according to your destination, the movement of the main queue, your ability to walk and the time remaining before your final connection.
For route choices, late kick-offs and a practical post-match exit plan, see the complete transport guide to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Inside the stadium
Bags and personal belongings may be inspected at entry. Do not bring bottled drinks, beverage containers, alcohol, or rigid containers made from metal, glass, ceramic, wood or similar materials. The 500g/500ml threshold is not a blanket ban: it applies to items that could be used as projectiles. Match-specific security arrangements may be stricter. See the full Riyadh Air Metropolitano bag policy guide.
Inside the stadium, a 700 m² main kitchen and six satellite kitchens across different zones serve a range of matchday food; burgers, olives, nuts, and popcorn are the staples. Spanish law prohibits alcohol sales in general spectator areas of football stadiums, so the concession stands serve non-alcoholic beer only. For a proper draught beer, head to "Brindis", a beer bar on the stadium's outer perimeter, outside the security line. It serves tank beer and snacks, and you don't need a match ticket to enter. A giant screen broadcasts the game. Many fans have a beer here before going in.
Just before kickoff, the stadium goes dark. The 16-million-colour LED roof flashes red and white as AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" blasts through the speakers and the player introductions begin.
Chants and basic Spanish to know
Learn three chants before you go.
First, the "Himno", Atlético's official anthem, sung multiple times during the match. Search "Himno Atletico Madrid" on YouTube to find lyric videos. Next, "Ole Ole Ole Cholo Simeone", a simple tune that is easy to pick up and comes back again and again during the game. Finally, "Te quiero Atleti lololo", meaning "I love you, Atleti." The "lololo" rhythm takes a little practice, but surrounded by 70,000 voices, it'll come naturally.
Four Spanish phrases will get you through: "Hola" (Hello), "Gracias" (Thank you), "Perdón" (Excuse me), and "Sí / No" (Yes / No). A smile and a "¡Hola!" to the security staff helps.
What to eat in Madrid
Before or after the match, eat in one of Madrid's bars, where the tapas are excellent and reasonably priced.
Start with the Bocadillo de Calamares, fried squid rings in a baguette and a Madrid classic. You'll find them at bars around Puerta del Sol. In winter, try Cocido Madrileño, Madrid's signature chickpea, meat, and vegetable stew, traditionally served in three courses: broth, vegetables, then meat. If you're a seafood fan, Arroz Negro (squid-ink rice) is also widely available in Madrid's restaurants, though it originates from the Valencia coast. It comes out jet black, but the flavour is delicate.
Visiting without a match?
If your trip does not coincide with a home match, the Atleti Tour & Museum is still a good way to see the stadium from the inside. What each ticket includes, the hours through the year, the weeks with no grass on the pitch and where to book are in the Atlético Madrid stadium tour guide. Book through Atlético’s official website.
Why go to the Metropolitano
The sections above cover the logistics. The reason to go is the moment "Thunderstruck" hits 70,000 people, which is where you understand why this club makes "standing firm through suffering" its identity.