Letná Stadium away guide

Prague has direct UK flights, so there is no hub detour. Fly into Václav Havel Airport (PRG), take trolleybus 59 to metro line A at Nádraží Veleslavín and change towards the ground, roughly 40 minutes for about 40 CZK (helloprague.net). Away fans sit in Sector F, a 988-capacity block in an upper corner, entered through Gate 5 / Entrance F (sparta.cz away info).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Prague is one of the easier European away days: it has direct flights from both Manchester and London, so for most fans there is no hub detour to plan. The choice is mainly cheapest budget seat versus a more flexible scheduled flight, with one overland fallback worth knowing when Prague fares spike on a big European night. From the airport, the onward leg to the ground is trolleybus 59, metro line A and a tram to the Sparta stop, about 45 minutes on a single 40 CZK ticket (helloprague.net). All costs and times below are estimates and vary by date and how far ahead you book.

The stadium in brief

The ground has stood on this site for more than a century and was rebuilt to its current form in 1994. Current capacity is 18,262, which the club lists as 17,564 spectator seats plus 698 VIP and 80 media seats. It sits beside Stromovka park and Letenská pláň, within about 2km of Wenceslas Square, Prague Castle and Old Town Square (sparta.cz).

The record attendance for the current stadium is 21,362, set on 9 October 1999 for Czech Republic's win over the Faroe Islands in a Euro 2000 qualifier (Wikipedia). The stadium has carried several sponsor names over the years, including Toyota Arena, AXA Arena, Generali Arena and Generali Česká pojišťovna Arena, before the current epet ARENA (sparta.cz).

Getting from the airport and city centre to the ground

From the airport, take trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín, then metro line A (green) into town. A single 90-minute PID ticket at 40 CZK covers the whole chain, and the trip runs to about 35–40 minutes (helloprague.net).

Two metro stations serve the ground. Take green line A to Hradčanská, then walk about 10 minutes east along Milady Horákové, or take line C to Vltavská, to the east of the stadium (sparta.cz).

By tram, there is a direct service (line 26) from the Main Railway Station (Hlavní nádraží). Alternatively, take the metro to Vltavská and change to trams 1, 25 or 12 to the Sparta stop, which is right by the ground on Milady Horákové (sparta.cz away info).

On foot, the stadium is roughly 3km from Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí), which is the usual meeting point for visiting supporters, who are often walked to the ground together under police escort (Football Ground Guide). Organised coaches should coordinate parking through the club's Supporter Liaison Officer (SLO), as there is no coach parking beside the away Entrance F (sparta.cz away info).

Where to stay

The ground is central, so almost any Prague base works. Old Town and Wenceslas Square put you within a 3km walk or a short tram ride, and ticket collection for away allocations has sometimes been arranged at a city-centre hotel, for example the Novotel Praha Wenceslas Square for Liverpool's visit, so confirm your collection point in advance (Football Ground Guide). Holešovice and the wider Prague 7 district put you closest to the stadium and its beer gardens if you would rather stay on the away-fan side of the river.

Inside the stadium and the away section

Away fans are housed in Sector F, which holds 988, in an upper corner of the stadium, reached through Gate 5 / Entrance F, reserved for away supporters only. You must have a ticket for the away sector, and without one you may be refused entry (sparta.cz away info).

Gates open 90 minutes before kick-off, and there is a security search on the way in, so arrive early (sparta.cz away info). Bags are allowed only up to A4 size, there is no luggage storage at the stadium, and crutches and walking sticks are not allowed within Sector F, so leave larger bags at your hotel or on the coach and arrange any access needs with the club in advance (Rangers FC). Pyrotechnics, weapons and other prohibited items are forbidden under the official Code of Conduct for the arena (Code of Conduct PDF).

Sector F has two food courts, one drinks-only taking card, one with snacks taking cash and cards, and toilets are just past the sector entrance with accessible facilities. Your club's SLO is the main point of contact for help on the day (sparta.cz away info).

Where to drink

Beer is cheap and good. A half-litre of Pilsner runs about 55–70 CZK (roughly £2–£2.50) in local pubs, rising to 70–90 CZK in tourist spots on and around Old Town Square (YUM! Prague).

• Letná Beer Garden (Letenské sady): a big park beer garden on the hill above the river, five minutes from the ground, pouring Pilsner, Kozel dark and Gambrinus in plastic cups with sausages and chips. Relaxed, mixed crowd, best in decent weather (Tripadvisor).
• Kozlovna Apropos: a proper Prague 7 pub near the stadium serving Velkopopovický Kozel and Czech pub food, handy for a sit-down pint before the walk to the ground.
• U Malého Berlína: a small, friendly neighbourhood bar in Holešovice, good for a quieter drink away from the crowds.
• Hostinec U Černého vola: a classic old-school pub up near Prague Castle pouring Kozel, a short tram hop from Letná and worth the detour for the atmosphere.
• Pivovarský klub (Vinohrady): a beer-hall with a long rotating tap list and bottle range if you want more than the standard lagers, about 15 minutes across town.

Prague is generally relaxed for visiting fans, but the tourist bars right on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are overpriced and can draw stag groups. Avoid unmarked "gentlemen's clubs" and any bar with a tout on the door, and be wary of taxis flagged in the street. On big European nights, follow your club's advice about gathering points and escorts.

Where to eat

Czech food is hearty and cheap. The two dishes to try are svíčková, beef sirloin in a creamy root-vegetable sauce with bread dumplings and cranberry, and guláš, a thick beef stew with dumplings and raw onion. Wash either down with a Pilsner (Taste of Prague).

• Mincovna: a smart-casual restaurant on Old Town Square that draws locals despite the tourist location, strong on svíčková and guláš (Taste of Prague).
• Lokál: a reliable modern-Czech pub chain (Dlouhá branch near Old Town) with fresh tank Pilsner and classic dishes, good value and quick.
• Tiskárna: a contemporary take on Czech classics along Národní, with a well-regarded beef guláš.
• Pivnice Štupartská: a traditional pub near Old Town Square doing goulash, sausages, pork knuckle and fried cheese with cranberry jam.
• Sisters Bistro: a quick, cheap stop for chlebíčky, the Czech open sandwiches, if you want something fast between the pub and the ground.
• Sausage stands on Wenceslas Square: for a klobása (grilled sausage) in a roll on the walk in, cheap and everywhere.

What to do

Prague packs its sights close together, so a day or two before the match goes a long way.

• Charles Bridge: the 14th-century stone bridge lined with statues linking the Old Town to Malá Strana, best crossed early before the crowds (introducingprague.com).
• Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral: the vast hilltop castle complex dating to 870, with the Gothic cathedral at its heart, a short tram ride from Letná (introducingprague.com).
• Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock: the medieval square and its 1410 clock, the oldest still working, on the hour (introducingprague.com).
• Wenceslas Square: the broad boulevard at the heart of the New Town, good for hotels, bars and people-watching.
• Letná Park and the Metronome: the park right beside the stadium, with one of the best views over the river and Old Town from the giant metronome where a Stalin statue once stood.
• The Jewish Quarter (Josefov): the old synagogues and cemetery a few minutes from Old Town Square.
• Vyšehrad: the quieter hilltop fort south of the centre, with a church, cemetery and river views away from the tourist crush.

Common questions

How do I get from the airport to the stadium?

From Václav Havel Airport (PRG), take trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín, then metro line A into town and change for a tram to the Sparta stop by the ground. A single 40 CZK PID ticket covers the lot for 90 minutes, and the whole trip runs to about 45 minutes (helloprague.net).

Which airport do I fly into, and is there a direct flight?

Fly into Prague's Václav Havel Airport (PRG). There is no hub detour: direct flights run from Manchester (about 2h 05m) and from several London airports (about 1h 55m), with easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, Wizz Air and British Airways between them (flightsfrom.com).

Where do away fans sit?

In Sector F, a 988-capacity block in an upper corner of the stadium, entered through Gate 5 / Entrance F, which is reserved for away supporters only (sparta.cz away info).

What is the away allocation?

Sector F holds 988, so that is the standard away allocation for domestic games. European allocations follow UEFA's minimum rules and your own club's ticket office, so check club guidance for the specific match (sparta.cz away info).

What time should I arrive?

Away turnstiles open 90 minutes before kick-off and there is a security search on entry, so aim to be at Gate 5 with time to spare (sparta.cz away info). For some European fixtures, visiting fans are asked to gather in the city centre and walk to the ground under escort, which needs more time again (Rangers FC).

Can I get a drink inside the ground?

Yes. Sector F has two food courts, one drinks-only taking card payment and one with snacks taking cash and cards, so you can get a beer and a snack without leaving the away end (sparta.cz away info).

How much is a beer?

A half-litre of Czech lager is about 55–70 CZK (roughly £2–£2.50) in local pubs, rising to 70–90 CZK in the tourist zones near Old Town and Wenceslas Squares (YUM! Prague). Prices at the stadium and beer garden are similar.

Is Prague safe for away fans?

Broadly yes. It is a relaxed, well-policed city and most trips pass without trouble. Watch for pickpockets in tourist crowds and on trams, avoid overpriced tourist bars and unmarked clubs with touts, and be wary of street taxis. On derby and European nights follow your club's advice on gathering points and escorts (Rangers FC).

Which areas are best for away fans?

Prague 7 and Holešovice around the ground have easy, low-key pubs and the Letná Beer Garden, while Old Town and Wenceslas Square are the lively central base. The tourist bars right on the main squares are the main thing to skip, being pricey and stag-heavy (Tripadvisor).

Does the match ticket include free travel?

No. Unlike some German grounds, a Sparta ticket does not cover public transport. Buy a PID ticket from the machines or app, 40 CZK for 90 minutes or 30 CZK for 30 minutes, valid across metro, tram and bus (helloprague.net).

How far is the ground from the city centre?

The stadium sits in Letná, Prague 7, within about 2km of Wenceslas Square and roughly 3km, or a 35–40 minute walk, from Old Town Square (sparta.cz). By tram or metro it is only a few minutes (Football Ground Guide).

Where should I stay?

Anywhere central works given the short distances. Old Town and Wenceslas Square are the busiest bases and sometimes double as away ticket-collection points, while Holešovice and Prague 7 put you nearest the ground and its beer gardens (Football Ground Guide).

What is the atmosphere like?

Letná is one of Czech football's most historic grounds and hosts the fierce Prague derby against Slavia. Expect a loud, flag-waving home end, especially in derby and European fixtures (Goal).