The Bernabéu sits right on Paseo de la Castellana, and on a match night the avenue fills with supporters in white. A bernabeu matchday is easy to enjoy and easy to get slightly wrong: this autumn the stadium’s own Metro station is shut, the bag rules are stricter than most visitors expect, and re-entry is allowed only once, on conditions.
This guide covers getting there, what you can and can’t bring, the gate rules, where to eat beforehand and what to expect inside the renovated stadium. If you haven’t got tickets yet, start with our guide to buying Real Madrid tickets; for the stadium tour on a non-match day, see the Bernabéu tour guide; and for Madrid’s other clubs, our football in Madrid guide. Transport notices and stadium rules were checked in October 2026 against the transport authority’s and the club’s own pages.
Bernabéu Matchday at a Glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Address | Avenida de Concha Espina 1, 28036 Madrid |
| Metro | Santiago Bernabéu station is closed with Line 10 between Cuzco and Nuevos Ministerios, a suspension scheduled to last until the end of 2026 |
| Instead | Free S10 replacement bus for Metro passengers, or EMT buses 27 and 147 |
| Bags | No suitcases, pushchairs or bulky items, and no luggage storage at the stadium |
| Drinks | Plastic water bottles up to 50 cl, without the cap; no alcohol |
| Re-entry | Once, if you scan your ticket on the way out |
Getting There: The Metro Is Closed This Autumn
Line 10 to Santiago Bernabéu is the usual way to the stadium. Through autumn 2026 you can’t take it. Line 10 is suspended between Cuzco and Nuevos Ministerios from 28 March until the end of 2026, according to the Madrid transport authority (CRTM), and Santiago Bernabéu station is on that stretch. Check CRTM’s service notices before you travel in case the dates change.
The S10 replacement bus
While the line is closed, an EMT replacement bus, the S10, runs between Plaza de Castilla, Cuzco, Santiago Bernabéu and Nuevos Ministerios, and Metro passengers ride it at no extra charge. Its stadium stops are on Paseo de la Castellana:
- Southbound (towards Nuevos Ministerios): stop 41, at Paseo de la Castellana 93, Plaza de Lima.
- Northbound (towards Plaza de Castilla): stops 42 and 44, at Paseo de la Castellana 136 and 140.
Ordinary EMT buses
CRTM also lists EMT routes 27 and 147 as alternatives for the closed section. Check where they stop near your hotel; our guide to Madrid’s buses explains fares and how to pay.
Walking
From Nuevos Ministerios, the stadium is a straight walk up the Castellana. On a match night you will have plenty of company. Use a journey planner for the time from your hotel; our Metro map guide shows which open stations are nearest.
What You Can and Can’t Bring
Every event at the Bernabéu has security checks at the entrance. The club’s rules for football are specific:
- No suitcases, pushchairs or bulky items. And there is no luggage storage at the stadium for football, so leave bags at your hotel. If you are going straight from the airport or a train, find a left-luggage service in town first.
- No hard containers. Food and drink containers made of metal, glass, ceramic or wood are banned.
- Nothing over 500 ml or 500 g, and nothing that could be thrown as a projectile.
- Water is fine in plastic: bottles up to 50 cl, with the cap removed.
- No alcohol brought in from outside.
- No smoking, vaping or e-cigarettes inside the stadium.
Rules on backpacks and bag sizes depend on the event. If you need to bring more than a small bag, check the match’s own access information or ask the club before you go.
At the Gates
Arrive early
The club recommends arriving early, in line with the gate-opening time on your ticket. With security checks at every entrance and the Metro station closed this autumn, give yourself a generous margin, especially for a big game.
Re-entry: once, and only if you scan out
You can leave and come back once, on two conditions:
- Scan your ticket at the exit turnstile on the way out. Leave without scanning and you can’t get back in for that event.
- If you leave before or during the first half, you can return only from half-time, and only before the access controls are taken down.
Keep your ticket
Hold on to your ticket, digital or printed, for the whole match: staff can ask to see it, and you have to sit in the seat it shows. Everyone needs a ticket, whatever their age, and children at a football match must be with a responsible adult. Wheelchair users need a ticket for the reduced-mobility areas.
Inside the Renovated Bernabéu
The rebuilt stadium has two features first-time visitors notice at once. The roof is retractable, so it can be closed over the stands and pitch. And the pitch itself is kept underground between events and raised to the surface for matches. Above the stands, a 360-degree video scoreboard called the Halo runs all the way round the inside of the roof.
You may also notice the name. The club now brands the stadium simply as the Bernabéu, though the Metro station is still called Santiago Bernabéu.
Can you do the stadium tour on a matchday?
Partly. On match days the tour runs only until 5 hours 30 minutes before kick-off, and the dressing rooms and benches are closed on the match day and the day before. For the full tour, go on another day; our tour guide has the details.
Where to Eat Before the Match
- José Luis, at Calle Rafael Salgado 11, is directly opposite the stadium: a Basque and international restaurant with pinchos and covered, climate-controlled terraces. Check its hours directly before a match.
- Puerta 57 is inside the stadium itself, but it doesn’t take reservations to watch the football, and on match days its bookings are adjusted around the game: it is generally cleared two hours before kick-off.
On match nights the bars nearest the ground fill up early, so eat early, or a few streets away, if you want a seat.
Matchday Checklist
- Ticket downloaded to your phone, with the battery charged.
- Route planned for the S10, EMT 27 or 147, or the walk from Nuevos Ministerios.
- No suitcase, no pushchair, no hard bottles; water in a 50 cl plastic bottle without the cap.
- At the gates well ahead of kick-off.
- If you step out, scan your ticket at the exit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Santiago Bernabéu Metro station open?
Not in autumn 2026. Line 10 is suspended between Cuzco and Nuevos Ministerios, including Santiago Bernabéu, from 28 March until the end of 2026. The free S10 replacement bus stops at the stadium.
Can I leave the Bernabéu and come back in?
Once, if you scan your ticket at the exit turnstile. If you leave before or during the first half, you can come back only from half-time.
Can I take a bag into the Bernabéu?
Small bags are subject to security checks and event-specific rules. Suitcases, pushchairs and bulky items are banned, and there is no luggage storage.
Can I bring water into the Bernabéu?
Yes, in a plastic bottle of up to 50 cl with the cap removed. Glass, metal and other hard containers, and alcohol, are not allowed.
Does the Bernabéu have a roof?
Yes. The renovated stadium has a retractable roof, and the pitch is stored underground and raised for matches.
Related Madrid Guides
- How to buy Real Madrid tickets
- Bernabéu stadium tour tickets
- Football in Madrid
- Madrid buses and public transport
- Madrid Metro map guide
Photo Credits
Bernabéu interior with the roof and pitch: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (53988637843) by Daniel from Glasgow, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Santiago Bernabéu Metro entrance: Entrada Metro Madrid Santiago Bernabéu by Estrecho1602, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Santiago Bernabéu Metro platform: 201803 Platform of Santiago Bernabéu Station by MNXANL, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Night match at the Bernabéu: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. by User:miguelangelgc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.