Estádio José Alvalade away guide

Lisbon has direct flights from Manchester, London and most large UK airports, so no hub or connection is needed (The Getaway Lounge). From Humberto Delgado Airport take the Red Line metro to Alameda, change to the Green Line to Campo Grande, the stop beside the ground, around 40 minutes (Lisbon Metro Red Line). Away fans sit in area A9, north-west corner, allocation roughly 2,500 (Football Ground Guide).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

There is no hub to route through and no overland leg to plan. Lisbon is one of the best-connected European away days from the UK, with year-round direct flights from Manchester, all four London airports and most large regional airports (The Getaway Lounge). So the real choice is not how you get there but who you fly with: the budget carriers on fare, or full-service on more slots and day-of-match timings. The onward leg is the same for everyone, the metro straight from the airport to Campo Grande.

All costs and times are estimates and swing with matchday demand and how far ahead you book.

Getting there from the airport

Take the metro. Humberto Delgado (Lisbon Portela) Airport has its own station, Aeroporto, on the Red Line, just outside arrivals (Lisbon Tourism). Ride the Red Line to Alameda, one of the main interchanges on the network, change to the Green Line and stay on it to Campo Grande, the stop right beside the stadium (Lisbon Metro Red Line).

The airport is in Zone 1, so a standard single fare applies. That is €1.90 on the reusable Navegante card (the card itself is €0.50), or you can now tap a contactless bank card straight at the barriers (Lisbon Tourism). By taxi, Uber or Bolt the stadium sits roughly 7 km from the centre, with the exit signed for Campo Grande (Football Ground Guide).

Metro, buses and walking time

The nearest and easiest stop is Campo Grande, served by both the Green and Yellow lines and next to the stadium. The club's own guidance sends fans to Campo Grande (Sporting CP FAQ), and it is a short walk from the platforms to the turnstiles. Note that the separate Alvalade station on the Green Line is a longer walk and is not the closest, despite the name (Wikipedia).

Bus lines 717, 736, 750 and 767 also stop near the ground. Matchday parking is limited and fills quickly, so public transport is strongly recommended (Football Ground Guide).

Where to stay

Most travelling fans base themselves in the centre and ride the Green Line up to the match. Baixa, Chiado and around Rossio put you on the metro and within walking distance of the bars and restaurants. Cais do Sodré and Bairro Alto are the nightlife districts if you want to stay near the drinking. All of these are 15-25 minutes from Campo Grande by metro. Staying up near the ground itself is quieter and has little going on outside matchday.

Inside the stadium and allocation

The visiting section is area A9 in the north-west of the stadium, and it can be extended into sectors A7, A11, B7, B11 and B13 depending on demand (Football Ground Guide). Away allocation is typically around 2,500 tickets for Champions League fixtures (Football Ground Guide).

Four gates serve the away area: Gates 1, 2, 12 and V. Police normally direct visiting fans through Gate V or Gate 1. Always check your ticket for the correct turnstile (Football Ground Guide).

Leave outside food and drink behind, both are prohibited for security reasons, with exceptions for children's food and prescribed medication. Professional photography and filming kit is banned, and personal cameras are only allowed with a lens under 150mm. If you turn up with restricted items, there are free left-luggage rooms ("Guarda Objectos") near Gates 2 and 3, with items collectable up to 30 minutes after the whistle. Children under 3 cannot enter, and under-12s must be with an adult (Sporting CP FAQ).

Alvalade rates highly among Portuguese grounds, with good sightlines throughout. Expect a loud, intense home crowd, especially on European nights (Football Ground Guide).

Where to drink

Lisbon is easy-going and cheap by UK standards. A standard draught is an "imperial", a small 20cl measure, and you rarely get a full pint. Reckon on €1.50 to €2.50 for an imperial, with the average beer around €2.40 (Expatistan).

• Cheers, Bairro Alto: the biggest of the Bairro Alto pubs, split into match-watching and drinking areas with several big screens (LiberoGuide).
• The Couch Sports Bar, Cais do Sodré: big-group friendly with a strong screen setup, made for Champions League nights (LiberoGuide).
• Park Bar, Bairro Alto: a rooftop on a multi-storey car park with the best sunset views in the city, good for a relaxed pre-match (LiberoGuide).
• Pensão Amor, Cais do Sodré: an eclectic bar in a former bordello on Pink Street, more atmosphere than football but a Lisbon institution (LiberoGuide).
• Pink Street (Rua Nova do Carvalho), Cais do Sodré: the riverside strip of bars where most away groups end up before and after; buzzy and central.

Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré are the away-friendly districts to head for. There is no notably hostile fan zone for visitors, but keep club colours sensible near home ends around the ground, and Pink Street gets rowdy late, so watch your belongings rather than the locals.

Where to eat

Portuguese food is cheap and good. The dishes to try are the bifana (marinated pork sandwich), pastel de nata (custard tart), prego (steak sandwich) and pastéis de bacalhau (cod fritters), with bacalhau (salt cod) the national staple (Devour Tours).

• As Bifanas do Afonso, Baixa: a standing counter near Praça da Figueira doing the city's best bifana for under €4 (Devour Tours).
• Time Out Market (Mercado da Ribeira), Cais do Sodré: a big food hall gathering many of Lisbon's best kitchens under one roof, easy for a mixed group (Devour Tours).
• Traditional tascas in Alfama and Baixa: family-run taverns where the prato do dia (daily special) runs €7-12 for a main, side and sometimes a drink (Devour Tours).
• Pastéis de Belém, Belém: the original custard-tart bakery, worth the trip if you are already seeing the monastery.
• Cervejarias: beer-hall style seafood spots for grilled fish, prawns and a cold Sagres, a proper sit-down feed if you have the evening.

What to do

• Belém Tower: the UNESCO-listed riverside fort and symbol of Portugal's maritime age, out west along the Tagus (GetYourGuide).
• Jerónimos Monastery: a vast, ornate monastery in Belém from the Age of Discovery, one of the city's great buildings (GetYourGuide).
• Castelo de São Jorge: the hilltop castle above the old town with the best panorama over Lisbon and the river (GetYourGuide).
• Alfama: the oldest, most atmospheric district, a maze of cobbled lanes, terracotta roofs and fado bars (GetYourGuide).
• Tram 28: the vintage yellow tram that rattles through the historic centre and Alfama, a sightseeing ride in itself (GetYourGuide).
• The miradouros: hillside viewpoints such as Santa Luzia and Senhora do Monte, free and worth timing for sunset.
• Time Out Market and Pink Street, Cais do Sodré: food, drink and the nightlife strip in one riverside block, handy on a matchday.

Common questions

How do I get from the airport to the stadium?

Take the metro from Aeroporto station on the Red Line to Alameda, change to the Green Line and stay on it to Campo Grande, the stop next to the ground. The whole trip is roughly 40 minutes and costs a single fare of €1.90 (Lisbon Metro Red Line, Lisbon Tourism).

Which airport do I fly to for Sporting CP?

Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS), the city's only airport, with its own metro station on the Red Line just outside arrivals. There is no hub or connection to worry about; direct flights run all year from Manchester, London and most large UK airports (The Getaway Lounge).

Is there a direct flight, or do I need a hub?

Direct. Lisbon is one of the easiest European away days from the UK, with year-round non-stop flights from Manchester, London Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Heathrow, plus Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle. No connection needed (The Getaway Lounge).

Where do away fans sit?

In area A9 in the north-west corner of the stadium. Depending on demand it can extend into sectors A7, A11, B7, B11 and B13. Access is through Gates 1, 2, 12 and V, with police usually pointing visiting fans to Gate V or Gate 1 (Football Ground Guide).

What is the away allocation?

Around 2,500 tickets for a typical Champions League fixture, which can rise if the away club is given extra sectors alongside A9. Always buy through your own club's official allocation rather than the resale market (Football Ground Guide).

What time should I get to the ground?

Give yourself an hour before kick-off. Campo Grande metro gets very busy on matchdays and the away entry checks can be slow, so aim to be at the turnstiles well ahead of the whistle rather than cutting it fine on the Green Line (Football Ground Guide).

Can I drink inside the ground?

Bars inside the stadium serve on European nights, but you cannot bring your own food or drink through the turnstiles, with the only exceptions being children's food and prescribed medication. Anything not allowed can be left in the free "Guarda Objectos" rooms near Gates 2 and 3 (Sporting CP FAQ).

How much is a beer?

Cheap. A standard draught is an "imperial", a small 20cl measure that runs €1.50 to €2.50, with the average beer around €2.40. You rarely get a full pint in a Lisbon bar, so order two imperials if you want a proper measure (Expatistan).

Is Lisbon safe for away fans?

Yes, it is a relaxed, tourist-friendly city and there is no notably hostile atmosphere for visiting fans. The main risk is pickpocketing on busy metros, trams and nightlife streets like Pink Street, so keep valuables secure. Keep club colours sensible near the home ends on the walk from Campo Grande.

Which areas are best for away supporters?

Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré are the drinking districts most away groups head for, both packed with bars and both a short metro hop from the centre. Baixa and Chiado are the easy places to eat and stay, all on the Green Line up to the ground (LiberoGuide).

Does my match ticket include free transport?

No. Unlike some European grounds, a Sporting CP ticket does not cover your metro or bus fare. Buy a single at €1.90 on a Navegante card, load a day pass at €7.25 for unlimited travel, or tap a contactless bank card at the barrier (Lisbon Tourism).

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

Roughly 7 km north of central Lisbon, about 15 to 25 minutes on the Green Line from the middle of town to Campo Grande, which sits next to the turnstiles. By taxi or Uber allow a bit more in matchday traffic and expect the exit to be signed for Campo Grande (Football Ground Guide).

Where should I stay?

Base yourself in the centre and ride the metro to the match. Baixa, Chiado and Rossio are central and walkable to the food and bars; Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré put you in the nightlife. All are 15 to 25 minutes from Campo Grande on the Green Line. Staying near the ground itself is quiet with little on outside matchday.