Is Attending a Barcelona Match at the Estadi Olímpic Worth It?
- Sports Travel Tom
- May 6
- 10 min read
As Barcelona wait until the revamped Camp Nou is ready, is it worth seeing them play at the Estadi Olímpic?
Tuesday 22nd April, 2025
The day begins at 6am. After experiencing an RCD Mallorca match, I'm now heading to another La Liga match on the mainland of Spain.
I'm intrigued to see if attending a Barcelona match at Estadi Olímpic is worth it.
I have an 8.30am ferry to catch from Palma de Mallorca to Barcelona. I had looked for flights, but as Mallorca are the team playing Barcelona in this evening's 9.30pm kick-off it seems every single seat has been taken by away fans.
So, as dawn breaks, I'm sat outside Palma de Mallorca's passenger ferry terminal with a coffee in hand and excited to be travelling by sea, for the first time since I travelled from Newcastle to Amsterdam to watch Newcastle United play in Dortmund in 2023.
I enjoy sea travel, a tradition from my childhood summer holidays with my parents, taking cross-channel ferries to France.
We used to take the Southampton or Portsmouth routes over to the likes of Le Harve or Cherbourg. I found it all incredibly exciting, to the point of going to the travel agents on the high street to get the brochures for the ferry operators and research what ship we would be on and what there was to do onboard. I still do that today, although now it's a quick Google search to find the information I'm looking for.
The liner that will take me to Barcelona today is the GNV operated Sirio. An Italian built cruise ferry that was once involved in an in-port collision. But everything seems to be ship-shape as I board this morning.
As soon as I'm onboard through the rear foot passenger entrance, I head straight to the deck. There are three great moments when travelling by sea. The one where you're leaving port and you get a unique view of a destination, the one where land can be seen no more and you are surrounded by ocean and the one when you arrive into a new port and the sights, smells and noise of a new city lights up your senses.
Palma de Mallorca is a wonderful city to sail away from. The view back to the city is mesmerising with its Cathedral de Santa Maria Mallorca the focal point, and soon the backbone of the island of Mallorca, the Tramuntana mountains stretch out north eastwards.
I spot a few RCD Mallorca fans onboard heading to tonight's Barcelona game. They too clearly missed out on flights. A journey that would have taken 45 minutes in the air, for us, will take 7.5 hours to reach match day, but with the wind in our hair and nothing to do other than sit back and relax, it's one of life's 'switch off' moments. (Not for me of course, I'm busy capturing content of the journey for my latest YouTube video which you can watch here).
It's a smooth crossing, and not long after Mallorca goes completely out of view, mainland Spain comes into view, although there is a brief spell in which land can't be seen in any direction. I have lunch, read on deck for a while, walk around the ferry's interior and take a nap, all in all, the crossing passes quickly. The onboard wifi doesn't seem to be working, so I even enjoyed the all-to-rare moment of not having a phone to keep me occupied for a while.
I paid just 50 euros for the journey, and that included an airline style reclining seat to get some sleep, plus a 30 euro food and drinks voucher. If you have the time, it's a pretty great way to travel. You can get tickets here if you would like to book the ferry between Mallorca and Barcelona.
Arrival into Barcelona's port is a slow exercise, one that required precision manoeuvring and snail-like speeds. As you enter the port, the cargo docks appear to the left and the oil tankers slightly further ahead. The cruise ships then come into view on the right full of party- goers and sunbathers on the their cabin balconies. Planes fly overhead at low levels on final approach into Barcelona's airport, a reminder of a quicker mode of transport, but not one that gives you the fun of sharing waves with the cruise ship passengers settling into life onboard.
Once docked, a bus is ready to pick up foot passengers and take us to the terminal. I have arrived in Barcelona. It's time to explore Barcelona pre-match.
I'm staying at Hostal Lausanne, right by the Placa de Catalunya. Whilst hostal is it's name, it doesn't feel like one. A grand staircase takes you the first floor where a clean. andtidy reception awaits. The rooms are modern, comfortable and clean whilst the shared bathrooms are kept in very clean conditions. It's a perfect place to call home if you are just needing a bed for the night.
Attending a Barcelona Match at the Estadi Olímpic
What to do pre-match before seeing Barcelona play at the Estadi Olímpic
Whilst Barcelona is a city with many highlights, I'm going to concentrate on the pre-match routine that has to be done if you are attending a Barcelona match at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, or Estadi Olímpic for short. Because it is unique with some brilliant highlights along the way.
To begin, get yourself to the Parel-lel Metro station in the city. It's here you can jump on the funicular railway which takes you up to Parc de Montjuic. Trains depart every 10-minutes and it's a unique way of travelling to a football stadium. If you can, get a spot at the very front of the train and you will be able to see the incline you are climbing as well the moment the downhill train passes.
I actually can't think of another football match I have got to by using a funicular railway, if you can, let me know in the comments. Although I do remember using a funicular railway in Pittsburgh and the journey provided me with a jaw-dropping view of the city and it's great sports stadiums such as PNC Park where the Pittsburgh Pirates play & the Acrisure Stadium, where the Steelers play.
The best part about the funicular railway in Barcelona is when you arrive at the top, at the station called Parc de Montjuic you can then cross over the road where you will find one of the most spectacular bars you can get on any walk up to a stadium.
Bar Marcelino it is called and it has the most incredible setting. It's somewhere you should absolutely schedule in on your journey to the match. It's essentially an outdoor kiosk serving food and drinks with a number of tables dotted around but the real highlight is the view you get of the city of Barcelona.
It's stunning. An incredible photo opportunity and a highlight in itself. The whole city is spread out in front of you, framed by an opening in the trees and just to capture the beauty of sports travel, a football pitch in the foreground. It's well worth your time stopping here for an hour, grab a drink and soak it all in.
From Bar Marcelino, it's a 5-minute walk to the Estadi Olímpic. You'll arrive at the corner where the tower that once held the Olympic flame is, an iconic moment as you remember the history that this stadium has provided.
Estadi Olímpic is of course famous for hosting the Barcelona '92 Olympic Games, and has had a long history of hosting sport.
The stadium was constructed in 1929 and renovated in the 1980's. Whilst it fell into dis-repair in the 19070's, it was used as part of the Spanish Grand Prix with the stadium acting as the paddock. Perhaps this is where Miami got the idea of using it's Hard Rock Stadium as an F1 paddock? Barcelona's other team, Espanyol used the ground as their home from 1997 - 2009 and now Barcelona have chosen it as their temporary home whilst the Camp Nou revamp takes place.
Much like the Camp Nou, the stadium's pitch is beneath ground level, meaning the stadium feels quite small when walking around the outside of it. It's facade is not particularly high, but then you walk through the gates and into the stadium itself, a footballing wonderland covered in Barcelona branding and filled with noise opens up.
What is a Barcelona match day like at Estadi Olímpic
Estadi Olímpic was not designed like modern stadiums, that have fan zones and a mixture of bars and restaurants and club shops circling it. There really isn't much in the way of anything to do outside the stadium itself. Other than decide whether you are going to pay way over the odds for a beer from one of the street sellers. They only accept cash, and you can't get a beer inside the stadium, so that's a choice you can decide upon.
The lack of outer stadium entertainment, other than taking note of the history that surrounds you, is okay though, it means you can quickly get into the stadium itself and soak up what is undoubtedly one of football's great day's out, seeing Barcelona play live.
I walk through Gate 4, a ticket inspection and a quick search and a few steps further on, I'm in. I first see the pitch, spread out in front of me, behind the goal is huge Barcelona branding covering up what used to be the running track, and songs are being played out on the tannoy along with the stadium announcer getting fans ready for the game.
It's a 9.30pm kick-off for this Barcelona V Mallorca match tonight which means the floodlights are beaming down onto the Olympic Stadium.
About 35 minutes before kick-off the kiosks for food and drinks have long lines, but as it is an open concourse where you can see the pitch as you walk around it, you don't miss any of the atmosphere. If you don't want to queue though, you are better off waiting until the game begins before going to the kiosks, when there will be no queue, but you can still see the pitch.
Food and drinks are a little inflated, 13 euros it has just cost me for a sandwich and drink. You can get non-alcoholic beer inside the stadium if you wish.
My seat is effectively behind the goal on the lower tier in the stadium's south stand. The grandstands are long shallow slopes, and some distance already to the pitch created by the fact the stadium was built for multi sport events such as the Olympics. You do feel a little far away from the action, especially when the ball is at the other end.
Think the old Wembley where behind the goal you felt miles away. Because of this, the first 15 rows or so are cordoned off, the view from that low down would almost be nonexistent for a football match.
Also on the concourse, you'll find pop-up club shops selling Barcelona shirts and merchandise. Even the popcorn comes in Barcelona boxes, and this reminds me, Barcelona really is a commercial juggernaut.
As much as I promote sports travel, and there is nothing more I like to do than experience a new destination through its sporting events, a Barcelona football match feels much more like a tourist attraction rather than a sports event. Don't get me wrong, they do it well and the global appeal is clear to see, but if it's an authentic football experience you are looking for, Barcelona perhaps is not the one for you.
I say that, but I am firmly of the belief, just to experience a Barca game is something that needs to be ticked off, and it's a lot of fun.
I hear more English accents than anything else as I walk around and I think to myself how Barcelona manages it's tickets. The Camp Nou before the re-development began was close to 100,000 in capacity, whilst Estadi Olímpic is closer to 50,000. I'm intrigued as to how Barcelona can still fit so many tourists in, when surely a large majority of their season ticket holders have been left out. Feel free to enlighten me in the comments.
The large amount of tourists doesn't harm the atmosphere mind. Chorus's of "Barca! Barca! Barca!" ring out across the stadium throughout the match. With the floodlights on, the team have made the stadium a fortress as they glide to the La Liga title, have a Copa del Rey final coming up and power on in the Champions League.
As well as the match, which Barcelona won by a goal to nil, the stadium itself is a brilliant piece of history as I look around. High up behind me is the original Olympic scoreboard whilst the main west stand is showing its age, as well as it charm.
Despite the many tourists, you will be in a sea of Barcelona shirts. It seems everyone is wearing at least one piece of Barcelona merchandise. Whether that be a home kit, an away kit, a cap, a scarf, a wrap-around flag over the shoulders... the lot. It's a wonder how Barcelona so often finds themselves in financial difficulties.
They are the masters of the up-sell.
Even as I booked my ticket on the Club's website, which you can do here, as soon as I had purchased, I was being asked if I wanted to 'upgrade'. A better seat, add on a stadium tour, get tickets to the Barcelona museum. I'm surprised they stopped short of saying I could pay for 5 minutes in the team during the match.
The whole experience of booking a Barcelona match ticket is a little like going into McDonalds, ordering a Big Mac meal, clicking confirm and then being tempted into buying some nuggets on the side, then perhaps why not add a milkshake? You opted for a medium, why not just make it a large meal?
The only difference is I don't pay 160 euros for a Big Mac meal, which is what I paid to see Barcelona play.
Was it worth it though? Of course it was, it's magical. This is Barcelona playing at the city's iconic Estadi Olímpic, there's only a small period of time in which you can do that. Once they are back at Camp Nou, that will that for another 100 years.
I got to see Lamine Yamal kick a football in the flesh, I got to discover the incredible Bar Marcelino and I went on a funicular railway to a football match.
They've all been vital ingredients to a good sports travel journey. Not to mention the ferry. Who else has travelled to a football match by ferry, then a funicular railway?
Right, talking of ingredients and at this time of night, it's going be a McDonalds on the way home isn't it? I'm starving so will probably be sucked into saying yes for the extra nuggets, you may as well add in a milkshake, oh, go on then, make it a large... oh just take all my money why don't you?!
Thanks for reading this blog post, leave a comment below if you have been to see Barcelona and what your experience was like.
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