Football tours are usually about staring. This one lets you do something.

You start with a VIP-style walk through the parts of the matchday machine you usually only see on TV—locker rooms, the mixed zone, and the players’ tunnel—then you get to experience the real rush by stepping onto the pitch for an honorary kick. I also like how the experience doesn’t end at grass level: the Interactive Museum uses large projectors, virtual reality, and games to connect Atlético’s history from 1903 to today, plus trophies and historic jerseys. The main consideration: to access the honorary kick-off area, you must wear footwear without cleats or heels, or you won’t be admitted.

Timing matters with this one. You choose your start time during booking, and about 30 minutes later your guide meets you at the field to run the honorary kick experience. After that, you can continue your stadium tour at your own pace, then work your way through the interactive museum—meaning you can move fast if you’re excited, or slow down if you want to linger.

Key moments you shouldn’t rush

• Honorary kick on the Riyadh Air Metropolitano pitch so you’re not just looking at famous grass
• First-team areas up close including the locker room, mixed zone, and players’ tunnel
• Sit on the players’ bench for the pre-match feeling (or at least the cosplay version)
• Guide photo and video capture so you leave with proof you were actually there
• Interactive Museum with projectors and VR tied to Atlético’s story from 1903 onward
• Official club souvenir included which helps make the value feel more complete

Getting there and choosing your timing

This is a timed experience, not a “show up whenever” museum visit. When you book, you pick the time that starts your stadium tour. Then, roughly 30 minutes after that start time, the guide meets you at the field for the honorary kick-off segment.

That structure is useful. It prevents that awkward scramble where everyone arrives at once and the staff has to herd people. It also means you should arrive on time—present your ticket at the Territorio Atleti reception, where staff can coordinate your visit details.

If you’re trying to plan around other Madrid sights, treat the experience like a clean block: it’s listed as 2 hours total. You’ll want to build in a little buffer if you’re taking public transit, because this is one of those tours where being late can make you miss the kick-off window.

Entering Territorio Atleti and getting your bearings

Your entry point is the Territorio Atleti reception. You’ll present your ticket there first, which is where the staff sets the stage for how your kick-off timing connects to your museum and tour flow.

The practical win here is that you’re not guessing what comes next. Since the guide meets you on the field about 30 minutes after your start time, the reception moment is essentially your checkpoint. If you’re traveling with someone who’s more into logistics than football folklore, this setup tends to keep everyone calmer.

Also, the ticket process includes skipping the ticket line, which matters in a busy stadium venue. Fewer steps in the arrival routine means more time for the parts you came for: the pitch, the interactive museum, and the matchday corridors.

The VIP stadium walk: locker rooms, mixed zone, and tunnel

Once you’re moving through the stadium experience, the focus is clearly on the matchday spaces you usually only see in highlight reels. You’ll visit:

• the first team’s locker room
• the mixed zone
• the players’ tunnel

This is where the tour stops being “tourist sightseeing” and starts feeling like a behind-the-scenes production. Locker rooms and tunnels have a specific atmosphere—quiet pressure, gear laid out, the sense that something is about to happen. Even if you don’t know every fixture detail, you can still read the vibe.

One bonus: the tour is described as happening at your own pace for the stadium tour portion. That means you’re not locked into a non-stop conveyor belt of rooms. If you like photos, you can take them. If you prefer looking around first and then shooting, you can do that too.

The bench moment: what it feels like before stepping out

You’ll also have time to sit on the players’ bench. It’s a small detail on paper, but it’s an emotional one.

Sitting there changes your perspective. Instead of watching football from the crowd, you’re experiencing the point of view of the substitutes. You can almost see the next decisions forming—who warms up, who adjusts gear, who checks tactics.

This is one of the best “I can’t believe I’m doing this” points of the whole experience, especially if you’re going with a friend or family member who loves the drama of matchday. It also gives you a natural spot for photos, because you’re literally in the football rhythm.

Honorary kick-off on the pitch: the main event

Then comes the headline act: you step onto the field and perform the honorary kick by launching a ball.

This part is about more than a photo op. The tour is set up so you walk to the centre of the pitch for the moment, which makes it feel like an event rather than a quick step onto grass. You’ll be close to the action in the way TV never quite captures—distance changes, texture matters, and the scale hits you.

The staff also captures impressive photos and videos of your experience. That’s a smart inclusion because it solves a common problem on tours: you’re too busy being in the moment to reliably document it.

Footwear rules (this is not optional)

To access the honorary kick-off experience, you need appropriate footwear: no spikes and no heels. The guidance is clear: wear sneakers with a flat sole.

If you show up in the wrong shoes, you won’t be admitted to the activity and there’s no refund of the amount. That’s the biggest “read this twice” note on the entire experience. If you’re visiting in winter boots or you planned to wear something fashionable, bring a simple flat-sole pair and change on site.

The Interactive Museum: projectors, VR, and matchday storytelling

After the pitch moment, you continue with the interactive museum. This is where the tour adds depth without turning into a slow history lecture.

What you can expect:

• large projectors for big-screen storytelling
• virtual reality experiences
• games that let you participate instead of just watch
• a timeline experience that connects Atlético’s foundation in 1903 to the present day
• a collection of valuable objects, trophies, and historic jerseys

The value of this museum portion is pacing. The pitch part gives you an adrenaline spike. The museum cools you down while still keeping things interactive. If you like sports history but hate museum boredom, this tends to work because it uses tech and play.

It’s also a smart fit if you’re going with different personalities. One person might want the tunnel and centre circle moment; another might prefer spending more time reading and looking at trophies. Since the stadium tour is at your own pace, you can lean into what you care about.

And yes—this is the section where you can easily justify slowing down. The projectors and VR are meant for time spent, not quick glances.

Price and value: does $88 make sense for 2 hours?

At $88 per person for a 2-hour experience, you’re paying for a very specific mix:

• VIP access to the pitch
• an honorary kick on the field
• matchday-area access (locker room, mixed zone, tunnel)
• ability to sit on the bench
• interactive museum with VR/projectors/games
• official club souvenir
• guide capture of your kick moment

So, the real question isn’t whether you’re “just” buying a tour. You’re buying access to stadium spaces that normally aren’t part of standard sightseeing, plus a participatory activity (the kick) and an entertainment-style museum.

Is it pricey? It can feel that way if you expect a long, full-day, ultra-detailed behind-the-scenes experience. One downside you may run into: the pacing can feel a bit fast, especially if you’re the kind of person who loves lingering and deep photo stops.

On the other hand, if you want an experience that packs “field + iconic spaces + interactive tech” into a tight window, the price can feel more fair than it first looks.

My practical take: if stepping onto the grass for an honorary kick is on your list, this is the kind of ticket that turns that list into a memory. If you mostly want museum browsing and don’t care about the pitch, you might feel the cost more than the benefit.

Who this tour is best for (and who should skip it)

This is ideal if:

• you want to feel close to the football matchday setup
• you’re traveling with a partner or family member who enjoys interactive experiences
• you like tech-based museums (projectors + VR + games)
• you can follow footwear rules without stress

It’s not a fit if:

• you need accessibility support for mobility impairments (it’s listed as not suitable)
• you don’t want to follow strict footwear requirements
• you hate timed experiences and short bursts of activity

If you’re a die-hard football fan, you’ll likely appreciate the matchday locations more than generic stadium photos. If you’re a casual fan, the bench + kick + interactive museum can still deliver fun and a good return on time.

Practical tips to make the most of the experience

A few things will improve your odds of a smooth, enjoyable visit:

• Bring flat-sole sneakers and plan to wear them for the kick-off area.
• Arrive with enough buffer time to present your ticket and stay ready for the ~30-minute field meet-up.
• If you care most about photos, treat the kick moment and bench time as your priority spots.
• If the weather is cold or damp, consider wearing layers you can manage while you’re inside the stadium areas; you’ll spend time near the pitch environment.
• Since the overall duration is 2 hours, don’t schedule a long walk right after—give yourself a clean exit plan.

Should you book it?

Book it if your goal is one thing: to go from spectator mode to doing mode. Stepping onto the pitch for an honorary kick, seeing the first-team spaces, sitting on the bench, and then switching to VR/projector storytelling is a strong package for a two-hour window.

Hold off if you’re very sensitive to pacing or you mainly want a slow, detailed stadium walk with no “timed event” pressure. Also, if you can’t easily meet the footwear rule, it’s a hard stop.

If you’re on the fence, I’d frame it like this: this tour earns its value when you want the pitch moment and the interactive museum in one tidy block. If that’s your kind of day, it’s a good bet.

FAQ

How long is the Atlético de Madrid Stadium Tour with honorary kick-off?

The experience is listed as 2 hours.

Where do I meet for the tour?

Present your ticket at the Territorio Atleti reception.

How much does it cost?

The price is $88 per person.

What do I get to do on the field?

You get VIP access to the pitch and the chance to step onto the field to perform an honorary kick.

Do I get access to matchday areas beyond the pitch?

Yes. The experience includes visits to the first team’s locker room, the mixed zone, and the players’ tunnel, plus time to sit on the players’ bench.

Is the rest of the stadium tour guided the whole time?

The stadium tour is described as something you can do at your own pace. The honorary kick-off part is where your guide meets you at the field.

How does the timing work after I choose my start time?

The time you choose during purchasing is the start of your stadium tour. About 30 minutes after the start time, your guide meets you at the field for the honorary kick-off experience.

What’s included besides the pitch access?

Included features are an official club souvenir, entry to the Stadium Tour at your own pace, and entry to the Interactive Museum.

What kind of footwear is required for the honorary kick-off?

Appropriate footwear without spikes or heels is essential. Visitors with inappropriate footwear will not be admitted to the activity, without a refund. The recommendation is sneakers with a flat sole.

Is transfer included, and is it suitable for mobility impairments?

Transfer is not included. The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.