Allianz Arena away guide

Bayern Munich play at the Allianz Arena on the northern edge of the city, by the Fröttmaning heath. Manchester and London both have direct flights to Munich Airport (MUC), so no hub detour is needed. From the airport take the S1 or S8 into town and change to the U6 north to Fröttmaning, then walk 10 to 15 minutes. Away fans sit in the upper tier of the north-east corner, blocks 339 to 347, entering through the 'Gäste' (guest) entrance (Football Ground Guide).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

This is one of the easy ones: Munich Airport (MUC) has direct flights from both Manchester and London, so the quick way in is a straight flight and the S-Bahn plus U6 (FlightsFrom). The alternative worth weighing is the budget play: Ryanair flies into Memmingen (FMM), about 110km west, so the fare drops but you add a coach or train of roughly 1 hour 40 into the city before you even reach the U6 (Rome2Rio). Here are the real options and roughly what each costs and takes.

Costs and times are estimates and swing with how far ahead you book and the kick-off time. The Manchester to Memmingen flight runs only about once a week, so the cheap route often hinges on the fixture date lining up.

Getting there from the airport

Munich Airport (MUC) has no direct line to the stadium, so you change in the city. Take the S-Bahn S1 or S8 into the centre, then switch to the U6. The S8 reaches München Hauptbahnhof in roughly 41 minutes and the S1 in about 46 minutes (Traveling for Sports). From there you join the U6 north to Fröttmaning. Allow 45 to 60 minutes airport to stadium, door to door, on public transport (Traveling for Sports).

Getting there from the city centre

The U-Bahn is the easiest way in. From Marienplatz in the centre, take the U6 northbound (direction Garching-Forschungszentrum or Garching-Hochbrück) to Fröttmaning (Allianz Arena). Marienplatz to Fröttmaning is about 15 to 16 minutes on the U6 (Football Ground Guide). Public transport is not included in the match ticket, so buy an MVV Zone M single before you travel (Traveling for Sports). The U6 gets extremely crowded in the last 30 to 40 minutes before kick-off, so travel early.

Nearest station and walk to the ground

Fröttmaning (U6) is the stadium station, and from the platform it is roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk to the arena (muenchen.de). Home and neutral fans reach the ground via the Esplanade, a wide raised walkway leading from the station to the stadium forecourt (Wikipedia). Away fans are routed differently: on leaving Fröttmaning, follow the signs and the footpath alongside the Fröttmaninger Heide, on the opposite side of the tracks from the Esplanade, to the guest entrance (Football Ground Guide).

Inside the stadium and the away allocation

The away section sits in the third tier of the stadium's north-east corner, across blocks 339 to 347. When a visiting club sells its full allocation, middle-tier blocks 242 to 246 are opened as well (Football Ground Guide). Typical away allocations are around 3,000, though European ties require a minimum of 5% of capacity (roughly 3,750 seats) and Bundesliga games can run to 10% (around 7,500) (Football Ground Guide). It is high up, but the bowl is steep enough that you do not feel far from the pitch. Turnstiles for away fans sit at blocks 342 to 345 and only away-allocation ticket holders can use the Gäste entrance (Football Ground Guide).

Bags are limited to roughly A4 size, with larger bags, liquids and bottles refused, and the rules tighten per fixture, so check the official guest information for your match (Allianz Arena). The whole shell is wrapped in 2,760 ETFE-foil air panels that glow red for Bayern home games, a landmark you can see across the heath on the approach (Wikipedia).

Where to stay

Most away fans base themselves in the city centre rather than out by the ground, which is a park-and-heath site with little around it. The area around the Hauptbahnhof and Altstadt (Marienplatz) puts you on the U-Bahn, close to the beer halls and a straight U6 run north to the stadium. Fröttmaning itself is not a place to stay or linger.

Where to drink

The good drinking is in the centre, not by the stadium. Beer is a serious business here: a half-litre in a beer hall runs roughly €4.50 to €5, a full Maß (one litre) around €9 to €11 (Culture Trip).

• Hofbräuhaus (Platzl 9): the famous state brewery hall, touristy and rammed but a rite of passage, oompah band and litre steins (Culture Trip).
• Augustiner-Keller (Arnulfstraße 52): the oldest brewery-owned beer hall in the city and, for many locals, the best beer in Bavaria, with a 5,000-seat garden in summer (Culture Trip).
• Augustiner-Bräustuben (Landsberger Straße 19): a working brewery tap known for its Schweinshaxe, less touristy than the Platzl (munich.travel).
• Viktualienmarkt beer garden: the market's central garden, relaxed and open-air, a good pre-U-Bahn spot in decent weather.
• Killian's Irish Pub and Ned Kelly's (Kennedy-Platz, near the Frauenkirche): English-speaking, sport-on-the-telly bars that are used to away crowds (Football Ground Guide).

Beer is sold in the away section: Paulaner is the pour, around €5.50 per pint (Football Ground Guide). Munich is a low-hassle city for football, but keep colours sensible around the Hofbräuhaus tourist crush and do not wander onto the heath paths alone late at night.

Where to eat

Bavarian food is heavy and cheap-to-mid by UK standards. The dishes to try: Weisswurst (white veal sausage, a morning thing, with sweet mustard and a pretzel), Schweinshaxe (crispy pork knuckle), Schweinebraten (roast pork) and Leberkäse in a roll (munich.travel).

• Bratwurstherzl am Viktualienmarkt: a gasthaus since 1633 behind the market, open beechwood grill, some of the best Weisswurst in the city (munich.travel).
• Viktualienmarkt stalls: quick, cheap Leberkäse rolls, sausages and pretzels to eat standing up before you head north.
• Augustiner-Bräustuben: sit-down Schweinshaxe done properly, away from the tourist prices.
• Hofbräuhaus: hall food (roast pork, dumplings, pretzels the size of a plate) alongside the litre steins.
• Ratskeller München (under the New Town Hall on Marienplatz): vaulted-cellar Bavarian classics, central and reliable.
• Gaststätte Großmarkthalle: a no-frills workers' canteen in the wholesale market serving fresh Weisswurst from 7am, if you want the local morning ritual.

What to do

Munich rewards a day or two either side of the game.

• Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel: the central square, with the New Town Hall's carillon show at 11am (and midday, and 5pm in summer).
• Viktualienmarkt: the old food market just off Marienplatz, good for a graze and a beer.
• English Garden (Englischer Garten): one of the largest city parks in the world, with the Eisbach standing wave where surfers ride year-round, plus the Chinese Tower beer garden.
• BMW Welt and BMW Museum: north of the centre near Olympiapark on the U3, BMW Welt is free entry, the museum a paid ticket; easy to fold into a stadium day as both are up north (munich.travel).
• Olympiapark: the 1972 Olympic site, tent-roof architecture and a tower with city views, next door to BMW Welt.
• Deutsches Museum: the world's largest science and technology museum, on an island in the Isar, huge and worth a half-day if it rains.
• FC Bayern Museum: the club museum inside the Allianz Arena itself, trophies and history, worth timing with a stadium tour on a non-matchday.

Common questions

How do I get from Munich Airport to the Allianz Arena?

There is no direct line. Take the S-Bahn S1 or S8 from the airport into the centre (around 41 to 46 minutes to the Hauptbahnhof), then change to the U6 northbound to Fröttmaning and walk 10 to 15 minutes. Allow 45 to 60 minutes door to door on public transport, longer close to kick-off (Traveling for Sports).

Which airport should I fly to for Bayern Munich?

Munich Airport (MUC) is the one, and it has direct flights from 10 UK airports including Manchester and London, so no hub change is needed (FlightConnections). The only alternative is Ryanair into Memmingen (FMM) around 110km west, then a train or coach of roughly 1 hour 40 into the city.

Where do away fans sit at the Allianz Arena?

In the third (upper) tier of the north-east corner, blocks 339 to 347, entering through the Gäste (guest) entrance with turnstiles at blocks 342 to 345. For high-demand games, middle-tier blocks 242 to 246 are opened too (Football Ground Guide).

How big is the away allocation?

Typically around 3,000. European ties carry a minimum of 5% of capacity, roughly 3,750 seats, while Bundesliga away allocations can reach 10%, around 7,500 (Football Ground Guide). The exact number depends on the fixture and how much your club sells.

What time should I get to the ground?

Get on the U6 early. The line gets extremely crowded in the last 30 to 40 minutes before kick-off, and away fans face a separate walking route and security check from the Esplanade crowd (Football Ground Guide). Arriving 60 to 90 minutes before kick-off spares you the crush at Fröttmaning.

Can I drink beer inside the stadium?

Yes. Unlike English grounds, German stadiums sell beer in the stands, including the away section. Paulaner is the house pour at around €5.50 a pint, with soft drinks and a white-wine spritzer also on sale (Football Ground Guide). Some European fixtures restrict alcohol, so check for your specific game.

How much is a beer in Munich?

In the beer halls a half-litre runs roughly €4.50 to €5 and a full Maß (one litre) around €9 to €11 (Culture Trip). Inside the ground reckon on about €5.50 a pint (Football Ground Guide). Oktoberfest prices are much higher and not a guide to the rest of the year.

Is Munich safe for away fans?

Yes, it is a low-hassle city for football. Stewarding at the Allianz Arena is described as professional and generally fair (tfcstadiums). Normal city sense applies: keep colours sensible in the tourist crush around the Hofbräuhaus and stick to lit paths on the heath after dark.

Where are the away-friendly places to drink?

The central beer halls (Hofbräuhaus, Augustiner-Keller, Augustiner-Bräustuben) and the English-speaking sports bars near the Frauenkirche, Killian's Irish Pub and Ned Kelly's, are all used to visiting fans (Football Ground Guide). There is very little by the stadium itself, so drink in town and head up on the U6.

Does the match ticket include free public transport?

No. Unlike some German clubs, the Bayern match ticket does not cover local transport, so buy an MVV Zone M single before you board for Fröttmaning (Traveling for Sports).

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

About 10km north of the centre. On the U6 it is roughly 15 to 16 minutes from Marienplatz to Fröttmaning, then a 10 to 15 minute walk to the turnstiles (Football Ground Guide).

Where should I stay?

Base yourself in the centre, around the Hauptbahnhof or the Altstadt near Marienplatz. That keeps you on the U-Bahn, close to the beer halls and food, with a direct U6 run to the ground. Fröttmaning and the stadium area have nothing to stay for.

What can I bring into the ground?

Bags up to roughly A4 size only, with larger bags, liquids and bottles refused. Selfie sticks and professional cameras are prohibited, and power banks are restricted. Flags on short poles, drums and megaphones are sometimes allowed for away fans but vary by fixture, so confirm the official guest information for your match (Allianz Arena).