FC Barcelona is one of the world’s most famous football clubs, playing in one of the world’s most visited cities. As such, the club attracts huge numbers of tourists and visitors to its home matches. Here’s a look at how to buy FC Barcelona tickets if you’re planning a visit to Catalonia.
How to buy FC Barcelona tickets online
To get Barcelona tickets as a tourist, the easiest way is to purchase via the ticketing page on the club’s official website.
You can then see a list of all the upcoming Barcelona home matches and you have the option to purchase tickets for any where there is availability, which should be most if not all LaLiga fixtures. Champions League knockout games are more likely to sell out.
In each case, you can choose between Basic, Basic Plus and VIP tickets. Basic covers just a regular seat for the game. Basic Plus also includes entry to the museum and a gift pack. FC Barcelona VIP tickets, which are considerably more expensive, include a range of extras such as access to the VIP lounge and pre and post match catering, as well as some of the best seats in the house.
You may see Barcelona tickets sold elsewhere on some third party websites, but there is no real reason to purchase from those with prices often inflated, particularly when it’s rarely difficult to buy via the official club channel.
You can also buy tickets for Barcelona women matches via the club website. Most games are played at the 6,000 capacity Estadi Johan Cruyff on the outskirts of the city.
Barcelona ticket & hotel packages
If the football is a big reason for your visit to Barcelona and you don’t want the hassle of searching for accommodation, you may prefer to book a ticket and hotel package.
Sportsbreaks.com are an official supplier of FC Barcelona ticket and hotel breaks with prices starting at around £200 or €235 per person for two night breaks in the Catalan capital including a ticket to catch the football.
The Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys
One very important thing to note is that Barcelona are not currently playing at their usual home with Camp Nou undergoing extensive redevelopment work.
Their home matches are currently at the Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys which was the main stadium of the 1992 Olympics. It’s located on Montjuic Hill which overlooks the centre of Barcelona, close to Plaça d’Espanya and features on many Barcelona travel guides thanks to its “magic fountain” and panoramic views.
The Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys is nowhere near as big as Camp Nou with a capacity of around 54,000 and in truth it’s not a brilliant place to watch football with a slightly dated feel and an athletics track meaning fans are a long way from the pitch.
Barcelona members were given the option of not renewing their season tickets during this period and not losing their place in the queue for season tickets when the club returns to Camp Nou. With the team struggling on the pitch, many local Barca fans have stayed away and attendances have not been huge with only 34,568 there for the showdown with Atletico Madrid in December for example.
Stadium tours & club museum
Given the redevelopment work, there are obviously no tours of Camp Nou right now but the club museum is still open and tickets start at €19. The cheapest tickets include access to the museum, an audio guide and a viewpoint of the construction work on the new stadium.
There are a number of optional add-ons while match day tours of the Estadi Olimpic are also possible from €69. These offer guided behind the scenes access to areas that are usually off limits, although it is again worth pointing out that the stadium does not compare to Camp Nou in terms of its size or historical significance. It was actually most recently the home of FC Barcelona’s local rivals Espanyol between 1997 and 2009 before their move to the RCDE Stadium.
FC Barcelona tickets – FAQs
Why aren’t Barcelona playing at Camp Nou?
Despite significant financial problems, Barcelona went ahead with extensive redevelopment work at Camp Nou which closed its doors at the end of 2022/23 season.
The old stadium was inaugurated in 1957 and while it remained an iconic football stadium, Europe’s largest, the decision was made that it was in need of modernising to bring it in line with other rival venues that have been built in the 21st Century.
When are Barcelona moving back to Camp Nou?
Barcelona plan to return to Spotify Camp Nou in November 2024 with an initial capacity of 65,000 while the rest of the work is completed. However the exact date of their return is subject to change and will depend on how quickly the work progresses.
How big will the new Camp Nou be?
When complete, the new Camp Nou will have a capacity of 105,000 making it one of the largest sports stadiums in the world.
How do you get to the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys?
Despite its central location, the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys has been criticised for its lack of accessibility, chiefly because it is situated on top of a large hill.
It’s a twenty minute walk from Plaça d’Espanya which has a rail and metro station. While it is uphill, there are escalators that make it a bit easier for those with mobility issues, although there are also free shuttle buses to the stadium for anyone with a match ticket.
How easy is it to get tickets for Barcelona matches?
You can buy Barcelona tickets without membership and most Barcelona LaLiga matches do not sell out despite the limited capacity of the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Champions League tickets may sell out though, while it can also be a struggle to get Barcelona vs Real Madrid tickets, although it’s likely that the next Clasico will be played at Camp Nou rather than the Olympic Stadium.
When Barcelona do move back to Camp Nou, it may initially be more challenging to get tickets as a visitor to the city as members are likely to take up the option to renew their season tickets for the 2024/25 season. However once the redevelopment work is complete and the stadium is operating at full capacity, it should be easy to get tickets for almost any match.
How far in advance do Barcelona tickets go on sale?
Unlike Real Madrid who only put tickets on general sale a week or so in advance, Barcelona release there’s much further in advance. At the time of writing, you can buy tickets for any league match in the 2023/24 season.
However it is worth noting that if purchasing tickets for later in the season, you’ll be doing so without knowing the exact date and kick-off time. While the weekend will not change, the match could fall at any point between 14:00 on Saturday and 21:00 on Sunday. Technically, Friday and Monday games are also possible, although it’s rare the big clubs are scheduled to play on those nights.
LaLiga normally confirms kick-off dates/times approximately a month before, although it’s much later for the final two weeks of the season as matches are scheduled to take place simultaneously when clubs are fighting for European places or against relegation.
How much do Barcelona tickets cost?
Barcelona tickets start at 74 Euros for league matches in the cheapest seats and go up to 174 Euros for grandstand views. These are some of the most expensive tickets in LaLiga.
What is the best way to buy FC Barcelona tickets?
It’s recommended to stick to the official channels and buy tickets via the club’s website.
The FC Barcelona ticket office is located at the Camp Nou site rather than the Estadi Olimpic, but it’s simpler to buy online.
Do you have to print tickets?
You can enter the stadium just by showing the PDF ticket on your phone.
