Dave and I both love football and regularly go to watch our local team, Southampton, play. So we thought we’d take the opportunity to have a look at the largest stadium in Europe and see how it compared to our own humble St Mary’s. We took the train to Sants Estacio and then hopped on the metro to Les Corts, which, according to our map was the closest to Camp Nou. We didn’t need the map for long because the stadium was quickly visible to walk to.

It really was an impressive sight. With a capacity of 98,787 it is the eleventh largest stadium in the world and dwarfs even Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and the new Wembley Stadium.

Although it was free to go inside and have a look around away from the pitch, tours of the stadium cost €17 (a great deal more than the £6 we had paid to tour St Mary’s a few years ago). I was content to stop for a drink in the cafe and let Dave take the tour. The tour itself was unguided, a kind of follow the arrows affair, so no chance to see the cells or the hospitality suites. Having said that, the facilities are second to none, with a museum, trophy room and chapel.
Personally I found the prices in the cafe a bit high and the staff quite off hand and unfriendly. I suppose with a club as big as Barcelona the personal touch is a bit much to expect.

www.stadiumguide.com/noucamp.htm
www.spanish-fiestas.com/football/museum.htm

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For the key games it is better to book in advance as Barcelona v Real Madrid or v Espanol can get sold out. For other games you can usually buy on the day. The Barcelona v Madrid game though is too popular and buying through a website is worth doing if you are desperate to see the game.

www.barcelonafootballtickets.com

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Watching a football match here is an utterly brilliant thing to do on an evening in Barcelona. Best to get tickets in advance from the ticket office though be careful when you buy them, as ours were not seated next to each other.

We sat together anyway, like everyone else in the stand but there was a lot of confusion as to what to do. So make sure when you get your tickets that the seats are next to each other. Otherwise it was a top night.

Avinguda Aristides Maillol www.fcbarcelona.com
Nearest Metro: Collblanc - it is about a ten minute walk from the station.

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It's quite easy to go to a match at the Camp Nou, and far better than the tour. Tickets can be bought at the stadium itself or at many ATMs, although one needs rudimentary Spanish for the ATM option. They're cheaper than most Premiership grounds, and available for most La Liga games.

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This is a great bar in Barcelona. The clientelle is a mixture of Brits and Catalans enjoying an exotic Guinness and a natter on the terrace or in the wood panelled rooms. It’s a 15 minute walk from the Ramblas so it avoids the stag and hen party trawl that has infested a lot of other English bars in the city and, as it’s a haven for expats, it’s also a great venue to get tips on other places to go.

The staff are really helpful and friendly and add to the mixture of families and friends that hang out there.

When I lived in Barcelona I spent far too long here and made friends for life so I may be biased but if you say I sent you they’ll treat you kindly. No, really.

Avda Allada-Vermell, 16; tel: 932 683 338; nearest metro: Jaume;
www.pubblackhorse.com

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It's the place where Barcelona fans gather after big victories. It is good fun after any major win but delightful chaos after they reach any final, win any trophy or beat Real Madrid or Espanyol.

Top of the Ramblas, at the entrance to the Placa Catalunya metro station

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Whichever football team you follow, a visit to this stadium will at least make you keep half an eye on Barcelona’s future results. Regular guided tours around the stadium are available, and after seeing all the behind the scenes stuff you get to walk down the players' tunnel and out onto the edge of the pitch. The stadium is a stupendous sight from here; the fans who occupy the uppermost seats must be impervious to vertigo. The tour ends with an opportunity to have your photo taken with a replica European Cup.

Avda de Aristides Maillol;
Nearest metros: Maria Cristina, Collblanc; www.fcbarcelona.com

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