BayArena away guide

Fly direct from the UK to Cologne Bonn (CGN) or Düsseldorf (DUS), then take a direct train to Leverkusen Mitte (about 32 to 45 minutes), which sits an 8 to 10 minute walk from the ground. Away fans stand in the south-west corner, blocks SG1 to SG3, entering via Gate G & SG, with a typical allocation of around 2,000 NUFC WHUST.

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

There is no hub detour needed here, as both nearby airports take direct UK flights. The real choice is Cologne Bonn (CGN), usually the cheaper fare with a slightly longer train, against Düsseldorf (DUS), which has more frequent flights and a quicker train but often costs a little more FlightsFrom MAN-DUS FlightConnections MAN-CGN. From either airport a single direct train runs to Leverkusen Mitte with no changes Rome2Rio.

Costs and times are estimates and swing with how far ahead you book and which day you fly.

Getting there from the airports

The two nearest airports are Cologne Bonn (CGN) and Düsseldorf (DUS). Both have direct trains to Leverkusen Mitte, the stadium's nearest station, with no changes needed Rome2Rio.

Düsseldorf Airport to Leverkusen Mitte is about 31 minutes on average by direct train, the fastest services around 23 minutes, with roughly 56 services a day Trainline. From Cologne Bonn Airport it is about 45 minutes on average, fastest around 32 minutes, with roughly 58 services a day Trainline.

Leverkusen Mitte sits on the Cologne to Duisburg line and is served by the RE 1 (NRW-Express) and RE 5 (Rhein-Express) regional trains, both of which run via Cologne and Düsseldorf Wikipedia.

From the city and by train to the stadium

The nearest station is Leverkusen Mitte, served by S-Bahn line 6 between Cologne and Düsseldorf plus the RE 1 and RE 5 regional trains Bayer 04. The ground is visible from the station and is about a 10-minute walk from the S-Bahn stop WHUST.

From the platform at Leverkusen Mitte, follow the signs marked STADION or BAYARENA. Away fans reach the away entrance in around 8 to 10 minutes on foot because their section is the corner nearest the station NUFC. The club lists Leverkusen Mitte as roughly a 20-minute walk to the main stadium entrance, so the shorter away-fan estimate reflects the away corner being closer than the main entrance Bayer 04.

After the match, trains from Leverkusen Mitte back to Cologne and Düsseldorf run until around 2:00am WHUST.

Where to stay

Leverkusen itself is a quiet industrial town, so most travelling fans base themselves in Cologne, about 15 minutes down the line, or in Düsseldorf, both of which have far more hotels, bars and things to do Wikipedia. Cologne is the natural pick given the S-Bahn S6 runs late and links the two directly. If you want to be walking distance from the ground, a handful of hotels sit around Leverkusen Mitte, but book early because rooms are thin on a matchday.

By car, parking and buses

The club recommends the park-and-shuttle option rather than driving to the ground, as stadium parking is limited FGG. On matchdays there is free parking at Kurtekotten, by the Chempark S-Bahn station, with shuttle buses running to the BayArena from two hours before kickoff until two hours after the final whistle Bayer 04.

For public transport to the ground, bus lines 203, 207 and 222 serve the BayArena stop, with additional matchday shuttle buses from surrounding districts Bayer 04.

Inside the stadium and the away section

Away fans are housed in the south-west corner of the BayArena, the corner nearest as you walk from Leverkusen Mitte, in blocks SG1 to SG3, entering via Gate G & SG NUFC. The allocation is in the lower tier and is safe standing, with an unrestricted view close to the pitch, and a typical visiting allocation is around 2,000 WHUST. The stadium opens two hours before kickoff WHUST.

You may not bring food or drink into the stadium, and large bags and power banks are not allowed. A bag-storage facility takes small items only for a €1 fee, but it cannot hold bulky luggage or suitcases NUFC WHUST.

The BayArena is cashless, so only Girocard, credit card and mobile payment via Google Pay or Apple Pay are accepted at kiosks NUFC. Drinks are served in reusable cups with a €2 returnable deposit, and food outlets including a McDonald's are inside WHUST. Visibly intoxicated fans can be breathalysed and refused entry WHUST. The loudest home support is in the North Stand, and for its compact size the ground is known for choreo displays and noise, with average attendances near capacity at close to 30,000 FGG.

Where to drink

• BAX Biergarten, Bismarckstraße, next to the ground. The main away-fan meeting point, relaxed and used to visiting supporters FGG.
• Brauhaus Janes, Bismarckstraße, also a short walk from the stadium. A proper brewhouse pouring local Kölsch, good for a pre-match pint FGG.
• Das Brauhaus Schlebusch, in the Schlebusch district. A traditional German brewhouse with hearty food and Kölsch by the 0.2l glass, worth the short hop out from the centre Tripadvisor.
• Cologne Old Town brewhouses if you base in the city. The Kölsch houses around the cathedral pour a fresh 0.2l Stange for roughly €2 to €3, topped up until you cover your beer mat Tripadvisor Cologne.

Expect a small 0.2l Kölsch to run about €2 to €3 in the city, with larger 0.5l pours nearer €4 to €5 in bars. There is no notorious no-go area near the ground, but as with any away trip keep colours sensible on public transport and around mixed home crowds.

Where to eat

• Winner's Place, near the BayArena. Casual and quick, handy for a bite before you go in FGG.
• Haus am Park, close to the ground. Sit-down German cooking a step up from the fast-food stalls FGG.
• Pizzeria Da Franco, near the stadium. Reliable, cheap and fast if you want feeding before kickoff FGG.
• Das Brauhaus Schlebusch, Schlebusch. Brewhouse plates like Haxe (pork knuckle) and schnitzel, not expensive Tripadvisor.
• Wacht am Rhein, by the river at Neuland Park. A terrace facing the water serving local dishes like Himmel un Ääd OrangeSmile.

The local food is Rhineland comfort cooking. Try Rheinischer Sauerbraten (marinated sweet-and-sour pot roast with red cabbage and dumplings), Himmel un Ääd (mash and apple sauce with fried blood sausage) and a Halver Hahn (a rye roll with a thick slice of Gouda), all made to go with a Kölsch OrangeSmile.

What to do

• Japanese Garden (Japanischer Garten), Leverkusen. A former Bayer project widely rated among Germany's prettiest gardens, with koi ponds, maples, lanterns and a teahouse Culture Trip.
• Neuland Park, on the Rhine. A big riverside park with themed gardens, a mini-golf course and bridges over the Dhünn, a short walk from the town centre Trip101.
• The Bayer Cross (Bayer-Kreuz). The giant illuminated red-and-white Bayer logo overlooking the town, the local landmark and a nod to the club's industrial roots Trip101.
• Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), 15 minutes down the line. The vast Gothic cathedral is the region's headline sight, with tower climbs over the Rhine; standard entry is €12 from July 2026 Cologne Cathedral.
• Hohenzollern Bridge, Cologne. The railway bridge beside the cathedral, thick with love-locks and the classic Rhine-and-Dom photo Cologne Cathedral.
• Cologne Old Town (Altstadt). Cobbled lanes, the riverside and a string of Kölsch brewhouses, the obvious base for a night before or after the match Tripadvisor Cologne.
• Düsseldorf Altstadt. The other end of the S-Bahn, its Altbier bars and Rhine promenade make an easy alternative day out Wikipedia.

Common questions

How do you get to the BayArena from the airport?

Take a direct train to Leverkusen Mitte with no changes. From Cologne Bonn Airport it is about 45 minutes on average, fastest around 32 minutes; from Düsseldorf Airport about 31 minutes on average, fastest around 23 minutes. The ground is then an 8 to 10 minute walk Trainline CGN Trainline DUS.

Which airport should I fly to for Bayer Leverkusen?

Cologne Bonn (CGN) is closest, but Düsseldorf (DUS) is only marginally further by train and often has more choice. Both take direct UK flights, so there is no hub detour here: pick whichever gives you the better time and price. Manchester and London both fly direct to each Kayak CGN Kayak DUS.

Where do away fans sit at the BayArena?

Away fans are in the south-west corner in blocks SG1 to SG3, in the lower tier as safe standing, with an unrestricted view close to the pitch. Entry is via Gate G & SG, the corner nearest as you walk from Leverkusen Mitte NUFC WHUST.

What is the away allocation?

A typical visiting allocation is around 2,000, in the lower-tier safe-standing section of the south-west corner. The exact figure varies by competition and opponent, so check your own club's official travel information before you book WHUST.

What time should I get to the ground?

The stadium opens two hours before kickoff, and the away corner is a short walk from the station, so there is no need to rush in. Arriving 45 to 60 minutes before kickoff is comfortable, though allow extra if there is a bag check or you want a drink at BAX or Brauhaus Janes first WHUST.

Can you drink inside the ground?

Yes, beer is sold inside, served in reusable cups with a €2 returnable deposit. The ground is cashless, so you will need a Girocard, credit card or Apple/Google Pay at the kiosks. You cannot bring your own food or drink in NUFC WHUST.

How much is a beer?

In the city a small 0.2l Kölsch runs roughly €2 to €3, with larger 0.5l pours nearer €4 to €5 in bars. Prices inside the stadium are a little higher and are cashless, and remember drinks carry a €2 cup deposit you get back on return Tripadvisor Cologne.

Is Leverkusen safe for away fans?

Yes. The club actively works to make visiting fans welcome, and bars near the ground such as BAX Biergarten are used to mixed crowds. There is no notorious trouble spot near the stadium. Take the usual sensible away-day precautions, keep colours low-key on busy transport, and note that visibly drunk fans can be refused entry WHUST.

Where are the away-friendly areas to drink?

Nearest the ground, BAX Biergarten and Brauhaus Janes on Bismarckstraße are the away-fan meeting points. If you base in Cologne, the Old Town brewhouses around the cathedral are relaxed and welcoming. Nothing near the BayArena counts as an area to avoid FGG.

Does the match ticket include free local transport?

No. Unlike some German grounds, the BayArena ticket does not double as a free travel pass, so buy your S-Bahn, regional train or bus ticket separately. Cologne and Düsseldorf both sit on the same line, and buses 203, 207 and 222 serve the ground Bayer 04.

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

The BayArena is a short walk from Leverkusen Mitte, effectively in the town. Leverkusen itself is small, so most fans treat Cologne, about 15 minutes down the S6 line, as their base for hotels, food and nightlife, with Düsseldorf a similar hop the other way Wikipedia.

Where should I stay?

Cologne is the popular choice: more hotels, a lively Old Town and a direct late-running S-Bahn to the ground. Düsseldorf works just as well. If you want to be on the doorstep, a few hotels sit around Leverkusen Mitte, but book early as matchday rooms are limited Wikipedia.

How do you get home after the match?

Trains from Leverkusen Mitte back to Cologne and Düsseldorf run until around 2:00am, so an evening kickoff is easy to get away from. The away corner sits right by the station, meaning a quick walk to the platform once you leave the ground WHUST.