Getting to Leverkusen for the football

Fly direct from the UK to Cologne Bonn (CGN) or Düsseldorf (DUS), both of which take direct flights and both of which run a direct train to Leverkusen Mitte in roughly 25 to 45 minutes, an 8 to 10 minute walk from the ground. Away fans are housed in the south-west corner, blocks SG1 to SG3, entering via Gate G & SG, with a typical allocation of around 2,000 NUFC.

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Leverkusen has no airport of its own, but the choice is easier than most away days: both nearby hubs take direct UK flights, so there is no long overland leg to worry about. The real decision is which hub. Cologne Bonn (CGN) is the geographically closer one and the cheapest way in, with Ryanair flying from Manchester and London Stansted; the direct train from CGN to Leverkusen Mitte takes about 33 minutes FlightsFrom CGN. Düsseldorf (DUS) sits just to the north, has more frequency on Eurowings and British Airways, and a slightly quicker direct train of about 23 to 31 minutes FlightsFrom DUS. Either way it is a single direct train to Leverkusen Mitte, then an 8 to 10 minute walk Rome2Rio.

Costs and times are estimates and swing with how far ahead you book and which day you fly. Costs are flights and transfers only, not hotels.

Getting into Leverkusen: airports and main station

Fly into Cologne Bonn (CGN) or Düsseldorf (DUS) and finish the journey by train. Leverkusen sits between Cologne to the south and Düsseldorf to the north on the east bank of the Rhine, and it has no airport of its own worth using.

Cologne Bonn (CGN) is the closer of the two and sits to the south. It has its own railway station by the terminals, and a direct train runs to Leverkusen Mitte in about 33 minutes on average, the fastest services quicker, with dozens of trains a day Trainline CGN. From Düsseldorf (DUS) a direct train reaches Leverkusen Mitte in about 31 minutes on average, the fastest around 23 minutes, with roughly 56 services a day Trainline DUS.

Leverkusen Mitte is the station to aim for. It is served by regional express lines RE 1 and RE 5 and by S-Bahn line S6, and is the easiest access point for the away end.

From the station to the ground

The ground is visible from Leverkusen Mitte and is about a 10-minute walk from the S-Bahn stop, mostly across an open park. From the platform, follow the signs marked STADION or BAYARENA. Away fans reach their entrance in around 8 to 10 minutes on foot because their section is the corner nearest the station NUFC. The club lists the walk to the main entrance as roughly 20 minutes, so the shorter away-fan estimate reflects the away corner being closer than the main gate.

Alternative stations, per the club's directions page: Leverkusen Manfort (line RB48) is about a 20-minute walk, and Opladen (RE7, RB48) is about a 50-minute walk with shuttle buses from the adjacent bus station. Local buses serving the BayArena stop are numbers 203, 207 and 222.

By car, the club asks visitors to use the free Kurtekotten car park at the Chempark S-Bahn station. Free shuttle buses run to the BayArena from two hours before kick-off and back until two hours after the final whistle. Stadium parking itself is limited, so park-and-ride is the sensible option.

Tickets, getting around and getting back out

Your match ticket doubles as free public transport. Bayer 04 tickets let you travel free of charge across the extended VRS and VRR area, and the ÖPNV KombiTicket is valid from four hours before kick-off until 03:00 the following day, 2nd class. From the 2024/25 season the transport ticket sits in the Bayer 04 app: enter your ticket number to retrieve a six-character code, and it is non-transferable.

S-Bahn line S6 links Cologne, Leverkusen and Düsseldorf, so many away fans base themselves in the two bigger cities and commute in. After the match, trains from Leverkusen Mitte back to Cologne and Düsseldorf run until around 2:00am, and the KombiTicket covers travel to 03:00. The away corner sits right by the station, so it is a quick walk to the platform once you leave.

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 S6 runs late and links the two directly. If you want to be walking distance from the ground, a handful of hotels sit near Leverkusen Mitte, including the Lindner Hotel next to the stadium, the Leoso Hotel, Ibis Budget Cologne Leverkusen and Hotel am Stadion, but book early because matchday rooms are thin.

Inside the stadium and the away section

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

You may not bring food or drink in, and large bags and power banks are not allowed. Bags must be below A4 size, and a storage facility takes small items only for a €1 fee, cash only. The ground is cashless, so only Girocard, credit card or Apple/Google Pay work at kiosks, or you load cash onto a club card. Drinks are served in reusable cups with a returnable deposit. Visibly intoxicated fans can be breathalysed and refused entry. For its compact size the ground is known for choreo displays and noise, with attendances near capacity.

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, a short walk from the stadium. A proper brewhouse pouring local Kölsch, good for a pre-match pint FGG.
• Winner's Place, at the hotel on Bismarckstraße near the ground. Handy and used to matchday crowds FGG.
• Das Brauhaus Schlebusch, in the Schlebusch district. A traditional 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, topped up until you cover your beer mat Culture Trip.

Expect a small 0.2l Kölsch to run about €2 to €3 in the city, with larger 0.5l pours nearer €4 to €5. There is no designated away-fans' bar and 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. On some past European nights visiting fans have been gathered at a meeting point and walked to the ground under police supervision, so check your club's official travel advice.

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.
• Das Brauhaus Schlebusch, Schlebusch. Brewhouse plates like Haxe (pork knuckle) and schnitzel, not expensive Tripadvisor.
• Bierhaus, Humboldtstraße, near the ground. A traditional local pub-restaurant welcoming to visiting fans FGG.
• Rhineland brewhouses in Cologne, if you base there. The Old Town Kölsch houses serve hearty regional plates alongside the beer 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 Cologne Cathedral.
• Hohenzollern Bridge, Cologne. The railway bridge beside the cathedral, thick with love-locks and the classic Rhine-and-Dom photo Culture Trip.
• 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 Culture Trip.
• 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 33 minutes on average, the fastest services quicker; 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 kick-off, 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 kick-off 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 returnable deposit. The ground is cashless, so you will need a Girocard, credit card or Apple/Google Pay at the kiosks, or you load cash onto a club card. You cannot bring your own food or drink in NUFC.

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 returnable cup deposit you get back on return Culture Trip.

Is Leverkusen safe for away fans?

Yes. The club 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?

Yes. Unlike some grounds, the BayArena ticket doubles as a free VRS/VRR travel pass, valid from four hours before kick-off until 03:00 the following day, 2nd class. Retrieve the transport code from the Bayer 04 app using your ticket number Bayer 04 NUFC.

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, and the KombiTicket covers travel to 03:00, so an evening kick-off 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.