Madrid

Madrid has two host stadiums, the Santiago Bernabéu (a candidate for the final) and the Metropolitano, an intercontinental airport (Barajas) and the heart of the Spanish high-speed rail network: Barcelona in 2 h 30 min, Seville in 2 h 40 min, Zaragoza in 1 h 35 min.

Expect hotels to be expensive and to fill up fast during the tournament: book early, and also look at the towns less than an hour away by train (Toledo, Segovia, Guadalajara).

Getting there

High-speed trains from Barcelona, Seville, Málaga, Valencia and Zaragoza (three competing operators and four brands: Renfe (AVE, Avlo), Ouigo, Iryo — Madrid–Barcelona from €9 if you book early). Bilbao and San Sebastián have no high-speed line: 4 h 45 min to 6 h by train, or an ALSA bus from €12.90.

From Lisbon: 1 h 20 min by plane (16 to 19 flights a day, from $36 observed), 5 h 50 min minimum by bus (from $21), 8 to 9 hours by train with changes — there is no direct train in 2026, and a daytime Renfe–CP Intercity service is planned with no confirmed date.

Getting around

A dense metro network, single ticket €1.50 to €2.00 in zone A, ten-journey carnet €7.30. The tourist travel card (€10.30 for one day, €43.20 for 7 days) includes the €3 airport supplement.

Bernabéu: metro line 10 (the Nuevos Ministerios–Cuzco section is closed until the end of 2026, with a free SE10 shuttle bus). Metropolitano: line 7, Estadio Metropolitano station.

Don’t miss

• Prado Museum — Velázquez, Goya, Bosch: one of the greatest collections in the world (museodelprado.es).
• Royal Palace — The largest royal palace in western Europe, a few steps from the Almudena cathedral.
• Retiro Park — UNESCO-listed together with the Paseo del Prado; perfect between matches.