You have no doubt heard the comparisons between football and organised religion.
In Europe alone, hundreds of thousands of supporters congregate at stadiums every weekend to worship the greatest talents in the beautiful game, and so it stands to reason that these places of worship should be some of the most marvellous feats of architecture in the modern world.
Here are some of the most impressive, elegant and historically resonant stadiums to grace the continent.
1. Camp Nou – Barcelona
• Club: FC Barcelona
• Capacity: 99,354
• Opened: 1957
The largest football stadium in Europe and the second largest in the world (North Korea’s Rungrado May Day Stadium takes first prize), the three-tiered Camp Nou in Barcelona is an iconic sporting venue and one of the oldest on our list.
Going to see a live game is an essential for any Barcelona travel list, the atmosphere when the world-class FC Barcelona are playing is unparalleled. The air is supercharged with cheering fans, and the pitch itself is absolutely immaculate.
It’s tough to beat over 60 years of history, and Camp Nou has refined its atmosphere over many, many years, making it a must-visit for any football fan.
2. Signal Iduna Park – Dortmund
• Club: Borussia Dortmund
• Capacity: 81,360
• Opened: 1974
Located in Dortmund, Signal Iduna Park (formerly known as the Westfalenstadion) may not boast the sleek futuristic design of many of its peers, but it is nevertheless eye-catching with its clean, symmetrical façade and bright yellow supporting pylons.
What it lacks in aesthetics it more than makes up for with character; Borussia Dortmund’s passionate fans make the stadium one of the most atmospheric on the continent. It is also the largest football stadium in Germany.
3. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – Madrid
• Club: Real Madrid
• Capacity: 81,044
• Opened: 1947
The iconic home of Real Madrid has seen a few facelifts over the years as the club works tirelessly to ensure that the stadium remains one of the most prestigious in the world.
It may not boast the capacity of the Camp Nou, home of Real Madrid’s arch-rivals, but what it lacks in seating it makes up for in class and atmosphere.
In 2022 the Bernabéu underwent a huge renovation and now has a sleek finish to rival many modern stadiums. Be sure to visit on any Madrid itinerary.
4. Allianz Stadium – Juventus
• Club: Juventus
• Capacity: 41,507
• Opened: 2011
Everything about Juventus’ Turin stadium oozes class, from the ergonomic stadium roof to the chequered platform surrounding it. It’s the ‘youngest’ stadium on this list and so it stands to reason it’s the most modern.
It’s also the smallest stadium on this list: it seats well less than half than Camp Nou’s almost-100,000. Given the prestige that Juventus has as a club, the smaller size certainly works against it.
5. Allianz Arena – Munich
• Club: FC Bayern Munich
• Capacity: 75,000
• Opened: 2005
The vivid shell of Bayern Munich’s stadium has become a famous landmark not just in Germany but in the footballing world as a whole. The exterior is made up of 2,874 panels that all light up independently and can change colour depending on which team is hosting the game.
Previously the stadium was dually owned by both Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich, meaning that the interior was devoid of colour to alleviate bias, which let down the marvel that is the casing of the arena.
However, Bayern Munich acquired sole rights to the stadium and renovated the interior to display their red team colours, which gives the stadium just as much personality inside as there is outside. Combine a live game with some of the hidden gems of Munich to make your trip extra special.
6. Metropolitano Stadium – Madrid
• Club: Atlético Madrid
• Capacity: 67,703
• Opened: 1994
It may seem prejudicial to have two stadiums from Madrid on this list, but the recent renovations of this stadium are such that it simply can’t not make this list.
While it was originally built in the mid 90’s as part of the city of Madrid’s failed bid to host the World Athletics Championships, it changed hands to Atlético Madrid in 2013 and was subsequently renovated in 2017.
Atlético Madrid have truly made the stadium their own, and it’s certainly pretty: the base of the stadium is smooth, polished stone, and the roof resembles a canvas lid with its gentle angles and light texture.
It’s just as gorgeous inside, giving spectators the opportunity to not only admire the brilliance on the pitch, but around the whole arena as well. It’s also hosted the 2018-2019 Champions League final.
7. Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium – London
• Club: Tottenham Hotspurs
• Capacity: 62,850
• Opened: 2019
In 2021 Tottenham Hotspurs moved into a huge brand new stadium which has been described as the best sporting venue in the world.
With distinct aesthetic quality and modern facilities, it really is one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world and really needs to be visited. The stadium also has a fully retractable pitch and is the first purpose-built home for the NFL in Europe.
8. San Siro Stadium – Milan
• Club: A.C. Milan; Internazionale
• Capacity: 80,018
• Opened: 1926
The San Siro is one of the oldest stadiums in Europe, and the oldest on this list. Hosting both A.C. Milan’s and Internazionale’s home games, the stadium sees a fair amount of action.
Aesthetically, it’s held up rather well too: it’s not modern by any means, but there is a timeless charm about the spiralling support columns and the industrial roof supports. It’s not beautiful, but its robustness is certainly eye-catching.
Watching a live game is one of the top things to do in Milan – the air in the stadium on game-day is electric – the atmosphere is so intense that you can even get a sense of it just from looking at pictures. There is history and prestige here, and the hordes of supporters that flock here know it.
9. Stade Vélodrome – Marseille
• Club: Olympique de Marseille
• Capacity: 67,394
• Opened: 1937
Having been renovated in 2014, the Marseille stadium can be described as a perfect blend of the Allianz Arena and the Metropolitano Stadium.
It has the pristine, flowing roof of the Metropolitano and can put on striking lightshows to rival the Allianz Arena. A band around the base of the stadium can light up in various colours, and one side of this band even acts as a projector screen, making this one of the most technologically advanced stadiums in the world.
It’s just as elegant inside, with the curving roof leaving an imprint on the sky. Marseille’s supporters are some of the most passionate in the world, ensuring that this stadium is not just a dazzling spectacle on the surface, but full of character as well.
10. Stadio Olimpico – Rome
• Club: A.S. Roma; S.S. Lazio
• Capacity: 70,634
• Opened: 1937
There’s a squat simplicity about Rome’s largest stadium; it’s certainly modern and there is a definite flourish to it, but it doesn’t possess the sleekness of many other contemporary arenas. This works in its favour, however, as it is truly reminiscent of a colosseum. Where better to have a modern colosseum than the birthplace of gladiators?
Inside, the atmosphere can be just as electric as if the teams going head to head were truly battling to the death. Like the San Siro, it hosts the home games of two teams, and so sees double the action of most stadiums. And while it may not boast the historical significance of many of Rome’s other landmarks, it’s just as much a part of the landscape as the Trevi Fountain or St. Peter’s Basilica.
While this list certainly isn’t exhaustive, these were just a few of the stadiums we find the most striking. If you’re planning a visit to one of them, stadium tours are available for all, or for live games search dates and tickets in advance especially for the larger fixtures which usually sell out.
