Even if you’ve failed to get into the footballing spirit this summer (let’s face it, if you were following England, you didn’t have too much to get excited about) the Nou Camp Stadium is still a pretty awe-inspiring place to visit if you’re off to Barcelona. We visited there earlier this year, and were struck by the sense of history and occasion. Watching children and adults jostling for position with their Nikons, there’s such an infectious atmosphere and you can’t help but get swept away by it.
I must admit that football isn’t really my bag but Craig was pretty insistent we go, and I’m pleased he talked me into it. By the time I got to the stadium I’d had snippets of club history drummed into me and was expecting something pretty big from the world’s most successful football team. And, big it was. Craig had been really keen to talk up the size of the stadium and its 100,000 capacity, but nothing can prepare you for it until you see it. It’s HUGE.
The view from the media area
From the outside it’s nothing to write home about, but once you’re inside there’s plenty to see and do. Although we didn’t have the kiddies with us, the stadium is surprisingly child-friendly if you’re after a family orientated day out. The experience is self-guided so you can explore at your pace and there’s plenty to inspire little minds.
Our tour kicked off in the museum room. Seeing all the trophies and medals on display was a little breathtaking (there were just soooo many) and there’s lots of opportunities to take photographs. Not limited to silverware, there was much more besides. From iconic player’s shirts, to goalie gloves, to a letter from Barack Obama’s office. The multimedia area was also impressive with banks of screens showing the club’s biggest achievements.
Trophies in the museum
Wandering around the stadium itself was my favourite bit. Views out over the pitch are seriously impressive, especially from the media area at the top of the stadium. Here you get a panoramic uninterrupted view of just how sizable the stadium is and it’s the simply the best place for selfies. The pitch is just immaculate and there’s even a cordoned-off area where you can step out onto it.
You can’t fail to feel the hairs on the back of your neck prickling when you walk through the players tunnel either. You can also take in the atmosphere from the dugout, VIP stand and press commentators box. Great for football fans, but equally enjoyable for WAGs! The only slightly disappointing thing for Craigy was that you only got to view the away team’s dressing room.
The dugout
Like any tour, parts of it did come across consumer-driven. You enter the stadium through the shop and everything was pretty pricey. But you’re not under any obligation to buy memorabilia - we didn’t. There’s also an opportunity to take a green screen picture with one of the “team” (they CGI him next to you, we didn’t meet anyone gush-worthy). I’ve checked on trip advisor for the prices for this given we didn’t plump for it - It seems 1x piccie is 15 euros which this seems extortionate to me, but this is actually among the cheaper pieces of memorabilia you can take away with you.
Overall, we had a brilliant time and I’d thoroughly recommend it. If you’re planning a visit to Barcelona, it’s a must-see. AttractionTix have heavily discounted tickets if I’ve tempted you!
