It's probably the most cliché, but also the most classic football trip there is: A visit to Camp Nou and FC Barcelona. It still has a touch of magic, especially when you wander off the beaten track in the Catalan capital.
The stadium has to be renovated in 2022, but Camp Nou will probably never lose its magic. Even the name alone captures the heart of millions of football fans all around the world. Over the last decades, the stadium has become an almost mandatory part of a tourist trip to Barcelona. Only the famous Sagrada Familia tops it. On non-match days the stadium is crowded too, especially during the summer holidays. In front of Camp Nou, an FC Barcelona-themed park with fan stores, and tourist stands has been created.
Do you want to catch a glimpse of the players before the match? Go to Hotel Sofia, a little north of Camp Nou on Avenida Diagonal. The hotel has been Barça's unofficial headquarter for years. On match days, the lobby is crawling with football agents and officials, and the players usually gather at the hotel as well. You can sleep there as a normal tourist too, but bear in mind that it's not cheap.
Between Hotel Sofia and Camp Nou you can still find the old villa of La Masía, the former headquarter of FC Barcelona's famous academy. It's a beautiful old building which unfortunately you can't access, but given the historical significance, you should still walk around. The sculpture garden is beautiful, the Catalan flag is waving proudly and the old iron gates just breathe history. The former, nearly antique, team bus in the front yard is also quite cool.
Please note: Since 2011, Barcelona's youth doesn't play here anymore. They have moved to the new Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, a giant modern training complex, eight kilometres west of Camp Nou. There is a 'La Masía' as well, but it's a contemporary accommodation for youth players, built of glass.
Right next to Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper is the Estadi Johan Cruyff, named after one of football's greats who played such a crucial role in the history of FC Barcelona too. The stadium is often open to fans as well. The women's team and highest youth ranks play their matches here.
Those who want to see a lot of stadiums in one city usually go to London, but in Barcelona, there's a lot to explore as well. Of course, you can go to the modern stadium of city rivals Espanyol in Cornellà-El Prat, or to the classical Olympic Stadium on the hill of Montjuïc. But the Camp Municipal Narcís Sala is also recommended, which is a tiny stadium of UE Sant Andreu in the north of Barcelona. It's beautifully situated between the tower blocks, just around the corner from the metro station Onze de Setembre.
Lionel Messi has moved to Paris, of course, but he still owns his house in the area of Bellamar, in the hills of Castelldefels. A lot of other top players of Barcelona live here too, close to the beach and surrounded by privacy and luxury. Messi used to like visiting a real Argentinian steakhouses in the neighbourhood, like La Pampa along the C-31 road. A real classic and they also have 'Leo' wine there, a Malbec named after Messi.
Do you like to read about football history? Visit the 'Centre de Documentació i Estudis FC Barcelona on Travessera de les Corts 65-71, a library and study centre about the famous football club. Obviously, it's a big plus if you're able to read Catalan.
Tickets for FC Barcelona are usually easy to buy on the club's official website. But do you want to ensure your tickets months before or specifically to the Clásico against Real Madrid? Consider a official reseller of tickets as well.
Please note that in Spain, the exact dates and kick-off hours aren't definitive until just a couple of weeks before the match, because of major influencers of tv-channels. So plan your weekend a little bit longer and don't fly home before Monday, certainly because Barcelona usually plays on Sunday night.
Visiting Camp Nou is something you do best by metro. On the north side of the stadium is station Palau Reíal, which you can reach by metro line 3. On the south side, you'll find station Badal, metroline 5. From both stations, it's not more than a couple of minutes to the stadium. Don't want to take a busy metro? Take one of the thousands of taxis in Barcelona.
Images: Shutterstock, BSR Agency
