The Best Football Stadiums in Spain - Ranked

From the sun-baked, roofless bowls of Andalusia to the intimidating atmospheres and mountain-ringed venues of the Basque country, Spain has its fair share of the world's most attractive and impressive stadiums.

Old and new, they play host to some of the best football and fans on the planet.

Here are the top 10 stadiums in La Liga - ranked.

10. Nuevo de Los Cármenes (Granada)

Proving that small is beautiful, the 20,000-capacity Estadio Nuevo de Los Cármenes manages to be one of Spain's best looking stadiums, without any of the really flashy stuff.

Built in 1995, it is far from your typical, modern identikit stadium, while Granada's home also has one of European football's best backdrops in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

9. Reale Arena (Real Sociedad)

Renovation work completed in 2019 gave Anoeta a much-needed facelift while adding a bunch of new seats to take capacity up to 39,500.

Most importantly, however, the reconstruction removed the running track, which used to be in place at the edge of the pitch and had been a bone of contention for La Real fans.

8. Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán (Sevilla)

Opened in 1958, Sevilla's 43,000 capacity Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán may have seen better days but it is still one of Spanish football's great venues, with its exterior mosaics a particularly attractive feature.

The Spanish national team has not lost any of the 22 games played at La Bombonera de Nervión.

7. La Cerámica (Villarreal)

La Cerámica, once known as La Madrigal, may only have a capacity of 23,500 but that is enough to seat half the town of Vila-real.

Recent renovation on the stadium of Spain's great over-performers saw the exterior clad in striking yellow tiles, while there is a statue of a yellow submarine outside the ground in honour of the club's nickname.

6. Benito Villamarín (Real Betis)

Though less successful than their neighbours, Betis can lord it over Sevilla when it comes to stadiums.

With a capacity of 60,000 green seats, the Benito Villamarín is Spain's fourth-biggest ground and has the fiery atmosphere to suit Europe's hottest city.

5. Mestalla (Valencia)

While the new Mestalla remains on hold, the old one, with its 55,000 capacity, is still pretty spectacular.

Like the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, its creaks and cracks can be forgiven for the scale and beauty. Features include the seemingly impossible seating gradients, a low slung roof and the iconic Valencia bat across an entire stand.

4. Santiago Bernabéu (Real Madrid)

A symbol of Spanish football, the 80,000-seater Bernabeu is one of sport's grandest arenas.

However, it is set for a makeover, with a €500m renovation project already underway which will completely change the face of one of the the most recognisable stadiums around.

It is the only stadium in world football to have hosted Champions League, Copa Libertadores, European Championships and World Cup finals.

3. San Mamés (Athletic Club)

The old San Mamés, which held its last game in 2013, played host to one of European football's best atmospheres.

The new €210m venue, built next to the original site and inaugurated in 2013, has managed to pull off that rarest of feats of combining modern design with old-world acoustics and ambience.

The 53,000-seater stadium, which like Bayern Munich's famous Allianz Arena, can be lit up from outside, will be Spain's ground for next summer's European Championships.

2. Wanda Metropolitano (Atletico Madrid)

Opened in 2017, the 68,000 Wanda Metropolitano can claim to be one of football's most advanced, sustainable stadiums and is a home fit for one of Europe's elite.

Key features of the Metropolitano include the 'Walk of Legends', which honours Atleti players past and present with commemorative plaques, and LED lighting which augments match atmosphere with impressive visual displays.

The new ground has already hosted the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals.

1. Camp Nou (Barcelona)

Attracting upwards of 30 million tourists in a normal year, while playing host to some of the best footballers ever to grace the planet, Camp Nou is both football's coliseum and its Mecca.

With a capacity of near 100,000, it is Europe's largest football stadium and an icon every bit as synonymous with the city of Barcelona as la Sagrada Familia.

Like the Bernabeu, Barça's home is set for major renovations which will add even more seats, as well as a new roof.