Camp Nou in Barcelona

Camp Nou has been the home stadium of FC Barcelona since 1957. With a seating capacity of over 99,000, it is the largest football stadium in Europe and a true mecca for football fans. Camp Nou is renowned as one of the most impressive stadiums in the world, and even when there’s no match, a visit to Camp Nou is highly recommended.

Note: In the 2023-2024 season, FC Barcelona will not play in Camp Nou, but in the Olympic Stadium on Montjuïc due to major renovation work. The FC Barcelona museum will also temporarily move, but to the Palau de Gel (Ice Palace), a short distance from Camp Nou.

The Stadium of FC Barcelona

Spotify Camp Nou is the legendary football stadium of FC Barcelona and one of the most iconic sports venues in the world. Here are some key features and background information about Camp Nou:

1. Capacity and Size: The stadium has a capacity of over 99,000 spectators, making it one of the largest football stadiums in the world. It accommodates a vast number of fans and creates a remarkable atmosphere during matches.
2. History: Camp Nou opened in 1957 and has since witnessed numerous historic moments in football. The stadium has hosted UEFA Champions League finals, national and international tournaments, and has also been the home base for legendary FC Barcelona footballers.
3. The Name: Since 2001, the official name of the stadium is Camp Nou, but some people confuse it with Nou Camp, as the adjective “Nou” (new) in Catalan can be placed before or after the noun “Camp” (field).
4. Location: The stadium is located in the Les Corts district of Barcelona. It is part of the FC Barcelona infrastructure and an essential part of the club’s identity.
5. El Clásico: Camp Nou has been the venue for numerous editions of “El Clásico”, the famous football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. These matches attract massive global audiences due to the rivalry and the caliber of players in action.
6. Facilities: Besides the football field, Camp Nou offers extensive facilities, including VIP boxes, press areas, medical facilities, and a museum and store for fans.
7. Expansion Plans: In recent years, there have been plans for the renovation and expansion of Camp Nou to meet modernization requirements and enhance the viewing experience. These plans include improved amenities for fans and a larger, more modern stadium. During the work, the players are at the Olympic stadium.

What to See and Do at Camp Nou

The home stadium of FC Barcelona is one of the biggest attractions in Barcelona, and for good reason. Sports fans can visit Europe’s largest football stadium and follow the footsteps of great football stars such as Messi, Romario, or Cruyff. Even when Barça isn’t playing a match, a visit to Camp Nou is an experience.

Visiting the Camp Nou Stadium

A must for every sports enthusiast is to visit the stadium of FC Barcelona, the Spotify Camp Nou. You can visit during a stadium tour or during a match.

What’s special about this stadium is that it’s the largest football stadium in Europe, accommodating more than 99,000 spectators.

The red and blue seats plus the yellow letters with the club motto “Més que un club” are some of its most famous features. The stadium also houses the club offices, several VIP areas, a press room, and even a small chapel where players can pray before a match.

It’s a place where memorable matches have been played, as well as large-scale concerts.

Note: Due to the renovation of Camp Nou, the stadium is currently not accessible, but you can experience the Barça feeling during the Barça Immersive Tour.

Visiting the Club Museum

Anyone going to Barcelona with even a slight interest in football should especially do the Barça Immersive Tour. The Barça Immersive Tour is a guided tour and visitor experience offered at the FC Barcelona museum.

During this tour, you visit the club museum and learn about the history of one of the world’s greatest football clubs. You’ll see all of FC Barcelona’s trophies, an extensive collection of memorabilia and historical artifacts, plus interactive displays and exhibitions that provide insight into the club’s history.

👉 Read more about visiting the Camp Nou tour here.

Seeing Barça Players

During a visit to the Barça museum, you can also get to know some of the players who have played for Barça. Football greats such as Kubala, Romario, Ronaldo, Maradona, Messi, and Neymar have made history here.

If you want to see the Barça players in real life, the best way is to visit Camp Nou during a match or try to spot the players during their training at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.

Tip: Don’t miss the statues placed outside Camp Nou for two of Barça’s greatest players, Kubala and Johan Cruyff.

Visiting La Masia

Next to Camp Nou stands La Masia, traditionally the place where all the young talents of FC Barcelona have trained and attended school. This is where players like Xavi, Messi, and Pujol have been taught. For many, this is an institution that must be seen.

Note: Nowadays, all the young talents are at the new training complex Ciutat Deportiva Joan Gamper, where a new “masia” has been built called La Masia-Centro de Formación Oriol Tort.

Buying Barça Souvenirs

Finally, during your visit to Camp Nou, take a look at the fanshop, the FCBotiga Megastore. There you’ll find everything in Barça’s club colors: ashtrays and lighters, mugs and watches, scarves and backpacks, vintage shirts and football boots…

You can also buy an original Barça shirt with the name of your favorite player or even have your own name and number printed on the shirt. A real must-do for all Barça fans!

Attending a Match at Camp Nou

The moment when Camp Nou is at its best is, of course, during an FC Barcelona match. Always check Barça’s schedule in advance and try to experience the stadium during a match at least once. It’s an unforgettable experience and a dream for every football fan!

👉 Read more here about purchasing tickets for FC Barcelona.

Some useful tips for attending a match at Camp Nou:

• Try to buy your match tickets in advance to ensure you can see the game.
• Arrive early to the game as it can get busy at the entrance.
• Outside the stadium, you’ll find stalls where you can buy last-minute Barça shirts, scarves, or caps.
• At the start of each match, supporters sing the Barcelona club anthem with gusto.
• Buy a bag of pipas (sunflower seeds) and a warm sandwich (like a hotdog) at the stadium to fit in with the locals.
• You’ll see people with a small radio or earbuds watching the match: they’re not just watching but also following the game on the radio. This is useful, as often it’s hard to understand what’s happening on the field amidst all the noise in the stadium.
• Join in the ‘ola‘, or the wave, which often starts when the match is less exciting. Groups of people alternately stand up and sit down, usually with their arms in the air. It’s a fun activity during the match.

Ice Skating

Particularly fun for children is the skating rink next to Camp Nou. It’s open all year round (closed only in August). The FC Barcelona skating rink has been the venue for many children’s birthday parties. It also hosts hockey matches and has a skating school for children.

The price to skate here is €13.40 (€8.70 if you bring your own skates).

Opening hours are: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10:00 to 18:00. Wednesday from 10:00 to 14:00. Friday from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00. Saturday, Sunday, and holidays from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 20:30. Closed in August.

Note: For groups larger than 10, you need to contact them first to make a reservation.

Restaurants Near Camp Nou

Near Camp Nou, you can find various bars and restaurants to grab a bite or even watch a football match. Some suggestions:

• Bar Estadio (Travessera de les Corts, 140): a typical Spanish bar where you can have a great coffee or beer, with a wide assortment of sweets, sandwiches, and homemade tapas.
• La Nueva Marquesa (Carrer del Pintor Tapiró, 10): a modern family restaurant with a good lunch menu during the day.
• Futballárium Barcelona (Carrer de Benavent, 7): a lively bar with a football theme, sports memorabilia, Hungarian food, and draft beer..

Tip: Visit the Barça Bus for a quick bite in a photogenic spot! This double-decker is adorned in Barça’s red and blue colors and offers a variety of sweets in the club colors.

Hotels Near Camp Nou

If you’re considering staying near Camp Nou, perhaps because you have tickets for a match, check out my tips below:

• Hotel SOFIA Barcelona
• Catalonia Rigoletto
• NH Barcelona Stadium
• Aparthotel Atenea Barcelona

History of Camp Nou

The construction of Camp Nou began in 1954, as the stadium in Les Corts had become too small. Camp Nou, which can be translated as “new field” in Dutch, was opened on September 24, 1957, during the celebrations of La Mercè, the patron saint of Barcelona.

At the opening, a match was held against a selection of players from Warsaw. Barça won 4 to 2 in its first match at Camp Nou, and Eulogio Martínez scored the first goal.

Originally, the stadium was officially named Estadi del FC Barcelona, but it quickly became known as Camp Nou, which literally means “The New Field,” because the stadium replaced the old football field of Les Corts. It wasn’t until 2001 that the name of the stadium officially changed to Camp Nou.

Camp Nou initially had a capacity of 93,053 spectators. The total cost of Camp Nou was 288,088,143 pesetas. Today, Camp Nou is the stadium with the most seats in Europe, with a capacity of 99,354 spectators.

Besides football matches, Camp Nou has also been the venue for various concerts, such as those by Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, U2, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, and Julio Iglesias. On November 17, 1982, Pope John Paul II preached to more than 120,000 people in Camp Nou.

On September 24, 1982, next to Camp Nou, the Mini Estadi was opened, the football stadium where Barça B played. The Mini Estadi had a capacity of 15,276 spectators and, because its field was slightly smaller than that of Camp Nou, it was named “mini estadi” (small stadium). In 2019, the Mini Estadi was replaced by a new stadium at the FC Barcelona training complex in Sant Joan Despí, the Estadi Johan Cruyff.

Since 2022, Camp Nou has been officially named Spotify Camp Nou, following a commercial agreement with the Swedish music streaming company.

Between 2023 and 2026, a major renovation is planned at Camp Nou. The club wants to renew the stadium and enlarge and transform the surrounding public space into the brand new “Espai Barça.”

Facts About Camp Nou

• Camp Nou hosts only the football matches of FC Barcelona’s first team. Players like Messi, Xavi, Kubala, Ronaldinho, Romario, Ronaldo, Maradona, and Cruyff have played here.
• The stadium also houses the club’s offices and the club museum.
• Recognizable features of this football stadium include the red and blue stands with the slogan “Més que un club” (more than a club).
• Camp Nou has a stadium chapel, a small religious place where players can pray before the Virgin Mary of Montserrat before the game.
• The most fervent supporters of the club, also known as the “hardcore” fans, are located on the southern side directly behind the goal, the Gol Sud.
• Camp Nou also offers a fantastic view of the city from its high stands.
• Some people refer to Camp Nou as “Nou Camp,” and while both terms are correct, the official name of the stadium is “Camp Nou.” The reason for this confusion is that in Catalan, the adjective “nou” (new) can be placed before or after the noun, in this case, “camp” (field). Therefore, both “Camp Nou” and “Nou Camp” were technically correct until “Camp Nou” was recognized as the only correct form in 2001.
• The stadium is currently being renovated to expand to 105,000 seats.

How to Get to Camp Nou

Camp Nou is located in the Les Corts district, slightly outside the center of Barcelona. You can get there by metro, bus, taxi, tram, or car.

By Metro to Camp Nou

The metro is by far the easiest way to reach Camp Nou. You can choose from two metro lines to get to Camp Nou, the blue line or the green line.

If you take the green metro line, L3, get off at Palau Reial or Les Corts. If you take the blue metro line, L5, get off at Collblanc or Badal. From the metro station, you’ll have to walk for about 10 – 15 minutes to reach Camp Nou.

Tip: If Barça plays late at night, there’s usually a late metro service to take you home. Otherwise, there’s the night bus N12 that travels to and from the center of Barcelona.

Parking at Camp Nou

If you’re coming by car to Camp Nou, you can park for free at entrance 14 on Carrer d’Arístides Maillol during the opening hours of the FC Barcelona museum. On match days, you can park here until 4 hours before the game.

For parking during an FC Barcelona match, try the Parking Saba Carles III garage, about 400 meters from the stadium.

Free parking is also available at Avinguda Doctor Marañón or a bit further, around Carrer dels Cavallers, where there are free street parking spots (although these are scarce).