Prices and transport information in this guide are current as of March 2026. Check official sources before travelling for the latest details.
The Stadium Is Calling
The intro to "Thunderstruck" explodes above 70,000 heads as the ceiling flickers red and white. There's a physical vibration that no screen can convey. Attending a match at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano is the shortest route to understanding Atlético de Madrid. This guide covers everything you need for your first visit — from travel planning 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 translates to 13:00–20:00 GMT (one hour later during CEST). 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 go-to 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 is ideal — it offers excellent metro access to the stadium and doubles as a base for sightseeing. Book via Booking.com or Expedia.
Buy Your Tickets
The primary way to buy tickets is through the official website (atleticodemadrid.com). You can also purchase through the club's official ticketing partner, entradas.com (futbol.entradas.com), but the steps below cover the official site. Avoid unofficial resale sites — counterfeit tickets are a real risk.
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 Admission." You'll see a list of upcoming fixtures with available tickets. Tap "BUY TICKETS" on your chosen match to open the stadium overhead map.
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. Finally, use the 3D seat view to tap on an individual seat.
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. The Metropolitano has adopted digital-only entry from the 2025-26 season, so make sure your phone 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.
General-sale tickets usually become available one to two weeks before the match. Club members get priority access before that, so for high-demand fixtures the best seats may already be gone by the time the public window opens. An "Avísame" (Notify me) alert option is sometimes available on the official site and is worth using so you do not miss the start of sales.
The Riyadh Air Metropolitano holds approximately 70,000 spectators, of which around 61,000 seats are occupied by season-ticket holders. For most fixtures, general-sale tickets are relatively easy to come by, but big matches against Real Madrid or Barcelona require early action.
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, 48-hour priority access to ticket sales, and additional exclusive benefits.
Getting to the Stadium
The Riyadh Air Metropolitano is located roughly 10 km northeast of central Madrid, near Barajas Airport.
The metro is the most convenient option. The nearest station is Estadio Metropolitano on Line 7 — step off the platform and you're right at the stadium. From Sol, the simplest route is Line 2 to Canal, then transfer to Line 7. Total journey time including the transfer is around 40–50 minutes.
Metro fares are loaded onto a reusable "Tarjeta Multi" smartcard. The card itself costs €2.50. A 10-trip ticket is currently €7.30 (€0.73 per ride) thanks to transport discounts from the Comunidad de Madrid extended through December 2026 — well below the standard price of €12.20. If you plan to make many journeys, a Tourist Card (Zone A, from €10/day) gives unlimited travel on metro, bus, and commuter rail.
Metro trains run roughly every 4–5 minutes with no fixed timetable, much like the Tube in London. The last train is normally at 01:30, though extra services and extended hours are common on match days.
An insider tip worth knowing: Estadio Metropolitano station gets extremely crowded after the match. The club itself recommends two alternative stations: Las Rosas (Line 2) and Canillejas (Line 5), both a 15–20 minute walk from the stadium. Las Rosas is the terminus of Line 2, so you're more likely to get a seat, and it runs directly to Sol with no changes. In many cases, walking to Las Rosas and riding in comfort is faster door-to-door than queuing at Estadio Metropolitano.
Inside the Stadium
Gates open approximately one hour before kickoff. Check the gate number (Puerta) on your ticket and head to the correct entrance. There's a body check and bag inspection at entry — travel light. The official rules prohibit items over 500 g (including bottled drinks and solid food), so buying food and drink inside is the standard approach. Small water bottles with the cap removed are sometimes tolerated in practice, but officially they're not allowed.
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 located near Gate 46 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. Having a beer here before heading inside is the local ritual.
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. It's the Metropolitano's signature moment — a full-body experience that no broadcast can replicate.
Chants and Basic Spanish to Know
To fully immerse yourself on matchday, learn three chants in advance.
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 melody that's easy to pick up and erupts repeatedly throughout 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 goes a long way.
What to Eat in Madrid
Pre- and post-match meals are part of the experience. Madrid's bars offer excellent tapas at reasonable prices.
The must-try is the Bocadillo de Calamares — a fried squid ring sandwich stuffed into a baguette, and a Madrid original. 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 looks dramatic but tastes remarkably delicate.
Why Go to the Metropolitano
How to buy tickets, which metro line to take, four Spanish words to remember — that's everything this guide set out to cover. But what you receive in person exceeds the sum of the information. The moment "Thunderstruck" hits 70,000 people, you understand — not through words but through the air itself — why this club makes "standing firm through suffering" its identity. The Metropolitano is the place to experience Atlético.