Benfica Lisbon stadium tour (Luz Stadium Tour)
The football cathedral of the Red Devils
The city of Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, is considered one of the most lively and fun cities in Europe. The city boasts traditional charm alongside modern innovation, from the pastoral streets of the old quarter of Alfama to the trendy cafes and boutiques of Chiado. In the city you will find a host of iconic landmarks such as the Jerónimos Monastery, Belen Tower and the amazing Lisbon Cathedral, each of which will expose you to a different chapter in Portugal's glorious past.
Next to the old Lisbon Cathedral that attracts crowds of visitors, there is another cathedral, which is not a Christian cathedral but a soccer cathedral. Meet the Estádio da Luz, a temple that showcases the passionate passion of the city of Lisbon for the beautiful game of football.
The soccer cathedral "Benfica Lisbon Stadium of Light" – the story behind the stadium:
Estadio de Luz, or in its official Portuguese name Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, is a magnificent football stadium located in the city of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, and it serves as the home stadium of the beloved Benfica Lisbon team (Lisboa e Benfica). The stadium is considered the largest in Portugal, and one of the largest in Europe, as it boasts a number of seats of over 65,000.
The original Stade de Luz was inaugurated as early as 1954, and was then considered the largest stadium in Europe, with an audience capacity of 70,000 enthusiastic spectators. The stadium was well liked by the local crowd, and was often called "the cathedral" or "hell of light", due to the lively and crazy atmosphere that prevailed during the games.
Over the years, the old stadium hosted unforgettable matches and became a household name in the world of football.
As the years passed, the Estadio de Luz became outdated and did not meet modern safety standards. In 2004, Portugal was chosen to host the UEFA Euro Games, and it was decided to destroy the original stadium and build a modern and magnificent stadium in its place.
The old stadium was destroyed in 2002, and the new one was inaugurated at the end of 2023, with a friendly match between Benfica and the Uruguayan national team, in which Benfica won 2-1 and signaled a promising future for the magnificent stadium.
Since then, the stadium has hosted a large number of important matches, including the Champions League final in 2014 and 2020.
Benfica Lisbon Football Club:
The football club in Benfica, or in its full name Sport Lisboa e Benfica, is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in the magical country of Portugal. The club was founded in 1904, and since then continues to conquer peaks in the country and in Europe and manages to put Portugal on the world football map.
The successful club is considered the most decorated club in Portugal, and has won the title of Portuguese Premier League champions 38 times to date, and has won the Portuguese Cup in football, the "Tasa de Portugal" and the Portuguese Supercup tournament several times.
Banfica also made its mark internationally, winning the European Cup twice, the only Portuguese club to achieve this feat. The team has also participated many times in the UEFA Champions League matches, the leading football competition in Europe.
The Benfica team served as home to some of the greatest soccer talents, including Eusébio, nicknamed the "Black Panther" and considered one of the best soccer players in history. Eusebio played for Benfica between 1960 and 1975, during which time he was a central player in a significant part of the club's successes.
Apart from the legendary Eusebio, the Benfica team was home to other notable players such as Roy Costa and Luis Figo, alongside Jan Oblak and Joao Felix, who managed to move to other clubs.
The Benfica team is much more than just a football club, and is widely credited with shaping Portuguese culture. The team's fans, known as Benfiquistas, are considered one of the best fan bases in the world, and the beloved team was awarded the title of "World's Most Popular Team" by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2006, after the team's dues-paying members' club counted more than 160,000 passionate fans.
Guided tour of Benfica's Stadium of Light:
A tour of Estadio de Luz will take you on an immersive journey that perfectly combines football, history and culture. Whether you are die-hard Benfica fans, football enthusiasts or travelers looking for a unique and captivating experience, the tours of the iconic stadium guarantee you an unforgettable experience.
There are several tours that depart from the stadium, among them tours that focus only on the stadium itself, and some of the tours that will also take you to a museum in Nfika, which we will expand on later. The tours will take you to discover the behind the scenes of the stadium, alongside fascinating tutorials on the history of the stadium, the Benfica team and the connection between the world of football and Portuguese culture.
The fascinating tour usually starts at the impressive main entrance of the stadium, where you are greeted by a huge eagle statue, the symbol of the Benfica team.
From there, you will continue into the stadium where one of the highlights of the tour is revealed to you upon entering, and is the spectacular view of the field boasting an advanced architectural design and a huge number of seats.
The tour will take you to the spaces that are usually closed to the general public, such as the players' tunnel that leads the football legends to the field at the start of games, and the press conference room where commentary and interviews are held after the games. During the tour you will also visit the well-equipped dressing rooms, where the players prepare before important matches. In many of these places you will receive interesting guidance and hear entertaining stories that will enrich your knowledge about the world of football and the legendary Benfica team.
Benfica Museum (Damião Museum):
Most guided tour packages also include entry to the Benfica Museum, known as the "Cosma Damio Museum". The museum is located inside the stadium complex, and is named after one of the founders of the successful club, Cosme Damião. The museum deals with the presentation of the glorious history of the club alongside its tremendous achievements throughout the years of its existence.
The museum was inaugurated in 2013 and since then has attracted football and history buffs, who come to see the museum's extensive collections including the club's trophy collection, photographs of historic moments and a host of exhibits that tell the story of the club and its influence on the world of football and Portuguese culture.
In the innovative museum you will find three floors, and more than 20 spaces in which different exhibitions about the fascinating group. Besides the world of football, in the museum you will also find spaces dedicated to other sports in which the club participates, such as athletics and basketball.
Among the iconic exhibits at the museum are some you won't want to miss. The first exhibition worth a visit is the European Cup exhibition, which commemorates Benfica's two wins in the European Cup, in 1961 and 1962.
Another popular exhibition is the Eusebio Exhibition, a tribute exhibition to Benfica's greatest player, where you can find the Ballon d'Or he won in 1965.
The museum also offers a fascinating interactive experience that allows visitors to relive some of the club's greatest moments, such as multimedia screens or virtual reality that will make you feel for a moment between the pages of history.
Tickets for football matches of Benfica Lisbon / Sporting Lisbon
A tour of the stadium in Nafika - important information:
A tour of the Benfica stadium usually takes between two and three hours.
The tour is a guided tour in English (you can choose Spanish/Portuguese on some tours).
On match days of the Benfica team, it is not possible to visit the stadium. Also, during Europa League matches, it is not possible to visit the stadium the two days before the match and the day after the match.
The tour tickets must be ordered in advance!
Banfika Stadium - location and directions:
Location: The stadium is located in the Benfica neighborhood, which is located in the northwestern part of the city of Lisbon.
The stadium can be reached by convenient public transportation from around the city. The convenient way is the metro line to the Colégio Militar/Luz station which is near the stadium. In addition, several bus lines arrive at the stadium station and nearby stations, including lines 750, 753, 764, 767 and 799.
In conclusion, even if you are not die-hard football fans or "Red Devils" fans, visiting Benfica's stadium is an extraordinary experience, which is much more than just visiting a football stadium. The tour will take you on a journey through the culture and history of Portugal, and introduce you to the authentic spirit of the city of Lisbon. So order tickets, put on your red clothes and go discover Benfica's Stadium of Light.
