Camp Nou

A group of football fans led by the Swiss player Joan Gamper founded FC Barcelona in 1899. For decades the club played at Les Corts, until the crowds grew too large. Camp Nou, which means "new field", opened nearby in 1957. During the long years of the Franco dictatorship, when the Catalan language and flag were restricted, the stadium became one of the few places where Catalans could gather and show who they were. That is the origin of the club motto, "Més que un club", more than a club.

The club's modern story runs through a few great eras. Johan Cruyff starred as a player in the 1970s and came back as coach to build the "Dream Team", which won the club's first European Cup at Wembley in 1992. In 2009, a side built around Lionel Messi and players from the club's own La Masia academy won six trophies in one calendar year. More recently, the women's team has become one of the strongest in the world and has won the UEFA Women's Champions League several times.

In 2023 the club started a full rebuild of the stadium, with a new roof and more seats, and played its home games at the Olympic Stadium on Montjuïc while the work went on. The stadium now carries the name Spotify Camp Nou.

The visit starts in the FC Barcelona Museum, which you explore at your own pace. The trophy displays hold the club's European Cups and league titles. Along the way you see shirts of famous players, old photos and films of great matches, and displays about the women's team and the club's other sports, such as basketball and handball.

An immersive room surrounds you with images and sound from the stands. The visit also includes the Barça Virtual Dream experience. The Construction Viewpoint looks over the new stadium as it takes shape, so every visit during the rebuild shows something a little different.

Both tickets include an audio guide in many languages. The Total Experience adds the Robokeeper challenge, three shots against a robot goalkeeper, and a digital video of your visit. Most people spend about one and a half to two hours. The main Barça Store is next to the stadium, so allow extra time if you want a shirt.

Weekday mornings are the quietest time. Weekends, holidays and the summer months are the busiest, so book a few days ahead in high season. Tickets are for a set day, so choose your date before you plan the rest of your trip around it.

On match days and on the day before a match, parts of the visit can change or close early. Check the club's match calendar before you choose your date. If you want to see a game as well, plan the tour for a different day.

Camp Nou pairs well with other sights in the west of the city. The Pedralbes Monastery, a quiet Gothic cloister, and the gardens of the Palau Reial de Pedralbes are both a short walk or bus ride away.