Spain
Madrid
Away-day guide
Madrid is an easy away trip once you accept its late hours: the Metro covers all three major grounds, central neighbourhoods provide plenty of affordable food and drink, and airport links are straightforward. Stadium arrangements differ sharply, so wait for the visiting club's final instructions before choosing a matchday meeting point.
Public transport
Metro is normally the quickest option, backed by EMT buses and Cercanías suburban trains. A Metro single starts at 1.50 and rises with the number of stations travelled; airport journeys require a supplement. Most visitors use a reusable Tarjeta Multi, bought from Metro machines, and load singles, ten-journey tickets or a Tourist Travel Pass onto it. One Multi card can hold suitable shared products, but each traveller needs their own tourist pass. Zone A tourist passes cover the main city network and are available for consecutive periods from one to seven days; they can be worthwhile if you are making several journeys and include the airport Metro supplement. Cercanías is useful between Atocha, Sol, Nuevos Ministerios, Chamartín and Terminal 4. Use the official Metro de Madrid and EMT Madrid apps for disruption information; Citymapper and Google Maps are convenient for combined routes. Metro generally closes overnight, while night buses called búhos leave from central hubs including Cibeles.
Typical prices
- Beer (0.5L)
- EUR 4
- Coffee
- EUR 2
- Meal, mid-range
- EUR 16
- Taxi from airport
- EUR 33
- Single transit ticket
- EUR 1.5
✈ Airports & cheaper alternatives
- Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport MAD primary 13 km Metro line 8 runs from all terminals to Nuevos Ministerios; an airport supplement applies unless it is covered by your pass. Cercanías trains C-1 and C-10 serve Terminal 4, while EMT express bus 203 runs around the clock between the airport and Atocha/Cibeles. The official taxi fare to destinations inside the M-30 is fixed. Madrid's only practical airport. Fares can vary sharply by terminal and airline, so compare the full journey rather than looking for a distant alternative airport.
🍺 Supporters' pubs
Real Madrid CF
Home fans: Home supporters fill the bars on Calle de Marceliano Santa María, Calle del Padre Damián and Avenida de Concha Espina. La Esquina del Bernabéu area and nearby cervecerías are particularly busy before kick-off.
Away fans: The Irish Rover, north-west of the stadium, is used by mixed football crowds but may operate ticket checks or fixture-specific restrictions. Large away groups are usually safer meeting in central neutral bars around Sol or Huertas and travelling together. Avoid displaying away colours in tightly packed home bars on Calle de Marceliano Santa María and immediately around the ground.
Police arrangements for major European ties can include a designated gathering point and escorted Metro or bus transfer. Follow the visiting club's instructions rather than relying on a usual pub.
Club Atlético de Madrid
Home fans: Atlético supporters drink around Las Musas, Canillejas and Avenida de Luis Aragonés. Some fans also retain the pre-match habit of meeting around Pirámides and the former Vicente Calderón area before travelling east.
Away fans: Central Madrid is normally easier for visiting groups than the small bars beside the stadium. Around the ground, use ordinary bars towards Canillejas or Avenida de Aragon discreetly and avoid any premises visibly packed with organised Atlético groups. Fixture-specific police meeting points take precedence.
The Metropolitano is outside the traditional centre and the immediate approaches become heavily controlled. Allow extra time for ticket and passport checks.
Sourced from supporters' forums — always follow your club's and police advice for the fixture.
Nightlife
Malasaña is best for compact bar-hopping, indie music and late bars, with Tribunal and Noviciado as useful stations. Chueca has busy cocktail bars and LGBTQ+ nightlife. Huertas and the streets between Sol and Plaza de Santa Ana suit mixed groups wanting pubs and late bars in one area, though prices are higher. La Latina is strongest for afternoon and early-evening tapas, especially around Calle de la Cava Baja. Lavapiés is cheaper and more informal, with multicultural food and small bars. Argüelles and Moncloa have student-oriented bars and generally lower prices. Madrid starts late: bars become busy after 23:00 and clubs much later.
Food & drink
Try a bocadillo de calamares around Plaza Mayor, cocido madrileño, callos, tortilla, croquetas and huevos rotos. Churros with thick hot chocolate are the standard late-night or early-morning finish. A caña is a small draught beer; ordering one often brings a small tapa, although the size and generosity vary. Vermut de grifo is popular around La Latina and Chamberí. Avoid eating directly on Plaza Mayor if price matters: the side streets towards Tirso de Molina and Lavapiés are better value.
Cheap eats & beer
For a cheap central feed, Museo del Jamón has several branches serving ham rolls, plates and beer without much ceremony. The 100 Montaditos chain is useful for inexpensive little sandwiches and jugs, while El Tigre, near Gran Vía, is known for putting substantial tapas out with drinks but becomes extremely crowded. Casa Labra, just off Puerta del Sol, is good for standing-room croquetas and battered cod. Lavapiés, especially Calle de Argumosa and the streets around Tirso de Molina, generally offers better-value beer, kebabs and set meals than Plaza Mayor or Gran Vía. Around the Bernabéu, walk west into Tetuán for cheaper neighbourhood bars rather than drinking on Avenida de Concha Espina. For Atlético, Canillejas and the streets west of Las Musas have ordinary local bars; choices immediately beside the Metropolitano are busier and dearer on matchdays. At Vallecas, Avenida de la Albufera and the streets around Portazgo have inexpensive bars and bakeries, although strongly Rayo-aligned bars should not be treated as away pubs. Neutral Irish-style pubs in the centre are generally the simplest meeting point for groups, but check club or police instructions because designated away-fan meeting places can change by fixture.
Staying safe
Pickpocketing is the main visitor problem, particularly on crowded Metro trains, escalators and around Sol, Gran Vía, Plaza Mayor and Atocha. Keep phones and wallets out of back pockets and do not hang bags on bar chairs. Use licensed white taxis with a red diagonal stripe or established ride-hailing apps. Street drinking can bring police attention or fines, and glass bottles are a particularly bad idea near grounds. Keep away colours covered when drinking in strongly home-supporting areas, especially around derby or high-risk matches. Madrid is walkable late at night, but groups should agree a meeting point because mobile service can struggle around full stadiums. Carry photo ID, but keep a separate copy stored securely.
On matchday
Carry the original ID matching the name on the ticket; European away tickets are often checked against passports. Enter only through the gate and sector stated by the visiting club, as segregation is enforced and stewards may refuse entry from the wrong approach. Away supporters are commonly held back after the final whistle. Glass, cans, large bags, professional cameras and power banks may be restricted, and alcohol controls are tighter around high-risk fixtures. At the Bernabéu, pedestrian controls can affect Concha Espina and Padre Damián and Santiago Bernabéu station becomes packed. At the Metropolitano, police may hold or redirect passengers at Estadio Metropolitano station and close roads around Avenida de Luis Aragonés. At Vallecas, access around Calle Payaso Fofó and Avenida de la Albufera is cramped and Portazgo station may be managed or temporarily restricted. Allow at least 45–60 minutes at the ground, more for a high-risk tie, and follow the visiting club's final travel bulletin.