MHPArena away guide

Stuttgart Airport (STR) takes direct flights from Manchester and London, so no hub detour is needed. From the airport, take S-Bahn S2 or S3 to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, then S1 towards Kirchheim to NeckarPark (Mercedes-Benz), a five-minute walk from the ground. Away fans sit in the Untertuerkheim Curve, blocks 61 to 65, allocation around 5,000 (source).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Stuttgart is one of the easier German aways: it has its own international airport with direct UK flights, so you can fly straight in rather than routing through a hub. The main choice is direct versus a Frankfurt hub, and the hub only really earns its place as a fallback when the direct dates or fares do not suit your fixture.

All times and costs are estimates and vary by fixture, airline and how far ahead you book.

Getting there from the airport, Hauptbahnhof and city centre

From Stuttgart Airport, take S-Bahn line S2 or S3 towards the city. They reach Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (main station) in around 27 minutes and run every 10 to 20 minutes (source). At the Hauptbahnhof change to S-Bahn line S1 towards Kirchheim and get off at NeckarPark (Mercedes-Benz), then walk five minutes to the away end (source).

On matchdays the Stadtbahn lines U11 and U19 run as special event services direct to NeckarPark (Stadion) from the city (source). Other options are Stadtbahn line U1 to Mercedesstrasse or Wilhelmsplatz, line U13 to Wilhelmsplatz in Bad Cannstatt, or bus line 56 to NeckarPark (Stadion) (source).

The stadium is around 4.5 km from the city centre, too far to walk comfortably, so use public transport. Your match ticket is valid as a free travel pass across the VVS network on matchday, so you do not need to buy a separate fare (source).

Away section, turnstiles and entrance

Away fans are housed in the Untertuerkheim Curve (Untertuerkheimer Kurve), the corner stand that also holds a video wall (source). It spans two tiers across blocks 61 to 65, entered via the marked Gaesteeingang (guest entrance) (source). The allocation is around 5,000 (source).

The stadium is a bowl, so home supporters sit on either side of the away corner, and VfB carry a loud home following. It is a big, well-run ground rather than a hostile one, but the usual advice applies: stay in the away section and avoid confrontation in and around the ground (source).

What you can bring in

Bags and rucksacks must not exceed A4 size, and larger backpacks are not allowed (source). Also prohibited: professional cameras, power banks, stick umbrellas, outside food and drink, and cannabis (source). A limited number of storage lockers is available in the away section (source). Alcohol checks can be made at entry, and heavily intoxicated fans can be refused admission (source).

Parking and coaches

Away-fan car parking is signposted, with free parking listed at car park P7 (Martin-Schrenk-Weg, 70372 Stuttgart) (source). Coaches should register their number plate with the visiting club's fan liaison in advance (source). Pre-booked matchday spaces go quickly, and public transport is free with your ticket, so leave the car (source).

Where to stay

Stay in the city centre around the Hauptbahnhof and you are one S1 stop cluster from the ground with the bars, food and sights on your doorstep. Bad Cannstatt, the borough the stadium sits in, is a cheaper and quieter base and a short walk or one stop from NeckarPark, handy if you want to be near the ground (source).

Where to drink

Beer in a Stuttgart bar is roughly EUR 4 to 5 for a half-litre (estimate), a little more inside the ground.

• Gaststaette Pfiff, Bad Cannstatt, about a ten-minute walk from the stadium. A pre and post-match favourite since 1995, serving local Schwaben Braeu and hearty southern German food, affordable and relaxed (source).
• Karlseck, Bad Cannstatt. The VfB bar, ceiling packed with scarves and Cannstatter Kurve iconography, busy and partisan on matchday and best treated as a home-fan spot (source).
• Pils-Pub Alt Stuttgart, city centre near Stadtmitte. A long-standing football haunt open from mid-morning, screens games and runs a discounted daily beer, functional and friendly (source).
• Biddy Early's, city centre near Stadtmitte. Irish pub with Guinness, pool, darts and big screens, an easy neutral spot for a visiting group (source).
• Sophie's Brauhaus, city centre. Brews its own light and dark beer, does Swabian food and puts big games on the maxiscreen (source).
• Biergarten im Schlossgarten, in the park by the Hauptbahnhof. A proper Stuttgart beer garden for a pre-match afternoon in good weather (source).

To avoid: the bars pressed right up against the home Untertuerkheimer Kurve, and Karlseck, are firmly VfB locals. Nothing sinister, but wear no colours and keep it low-key if you go in.

Where to eat

The local speciality is Swabian: Maultaschen (large filled pasta pockets), Spaetzle (soft egg noodles, often with cheese as Kaesspaetzle), Zwiebelrostbraten (roast beef with fried onions) and Fleischkuechle. Wash it down with a local Riesling or Trollinger (source).

• Weinstube Froehlich, Leonhardsviertel. Homemade Maultaschen and Swabian classics in a cosy old-town setting (source).
• Weinstube Kachelofen, city centre. Authentic Swabian cooking and well-regarded Maultaschen, busy, so book ahead (source).
• Weinstube Zur Kiste, central. A small wine bar doing Swabian plates and local wines, Maultaschen and Fleischkuechle the picks (source).
• Heslacher Weinstube, Heslach. Over a century old, regional wines, Stuttgarter Hofbraeu beer and famous homemade Maultaschen (source).
• Markthalle Stuttgart, city centre. A grand covered market hall for a quick, cheaper bite and a good spot to graze before the game (source).
• VfB Clubrestaurant and the stalls at NeckarPark for a fast pre-match bratwurst if you are heading straight in (source).

What to do

• Mercedes-Benz Museum, next to the stadium at NeckarPark. Nine floors, more than 160 vehicles tracing the history of the car, an obvious pairing with the match (source).
• Porsche Museum, Zuffenhausen. More than 80 race and sports cars, Stuttgart's top-rated attraction and a short S-Bahn ride from the centre (source).
• Schlossplatz, the central square, framed by the Neues Schloss (New Palace) and open lawns, the natural meeting point in town (source).
• Altes Schloss and Landesmuseum Wuerttemberg, a step off Schlossplatz, regional history inside the old castle (source).
• Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, a strong art collection from old masters to modern, near the Hauptbahnhof (source).
• Killesbergturm and the city's hilltop vineyards, Stuttgart is one of Germany's greenest cities, with viewpoints over the valley (source).
• Wilhelma zoo and botanical garden, a large combined zoo and gardens on the S-Bahn near Bad Cannstatt, good for a family day (source).

Common questions

How do you get from Stuttgart Airport to the stadium?

Take S-Bahn S2 or S3 from the airport to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, around 27 minutes, then change to S1 towards Kirchheim and get off at NeckarPark (Mercedes-Benz), a five-minute walk to the away end. Allow roughly 45 to 60 minutes door to ground (source).

Which airport do you fly to for VfB Stuttgart, and is there a hub?

Fly direct to Stuttgart (STR). No hub is needed: Eurowings and British Airways run direct from London Heathrow and Gatwick, and Eurowings flies direct from Manchester, though only a few days a week, so check dates (source).

Where do away fans sit at the MHPArena?

Away fans are in the Untertuerkheim Curve, the corner stand, across blocks 61 to 65 on two tiers, entered through the marked guest entrance (Gaesteeingang). Home fans sit on either side of the away corner in the bowl (source).

What is the away allocation?

The away allocation is around 5,000, one of the larger travelling sections in the Bundesliga, though the exact number varies by fixture and competition. Buy through your own club's official away sale rather than at the ground (source).

What time should you arrive?

Give yourself a clear hour before kick-off. Bag and alcohol checks operate on the away turnstiles, the guest entrance can back up, and heavily intoxicated fans can be refused entry, so do your serious drinking earlier rather than at the gate (source).

Can you drink in the ground?

Yes, beer is sold inside on concourses, typically served in reusable cups you pay a small deposit (Pfand) on and get back when you return the cup. Outside food and drink cannot be brought in (source).

How much is a beer?

Roughly EUR 4 to 5 for a half-litre in a bar, a little more inside the stadium (estimate). Local brands to look for are Schwaben Braeu, Dinkelacker and Stuttgarter Hofbraeu (source).

Is Stuttgart safe for away fans?

Yes. It is a wealthy, well-policed city and a straightforward German away. Stick to the away section in the ground, keep colours down near the home Untertuerkheimer Kurve bars, and treat matchday as you would any big fixture (source).

Where are the away-friendly areas to drink?

The city centre around Stadtmitte and the Hauptbahnhof is the easy, neutral option, with Irish pubs and screens. Near the ground, Gaststaette Pfiff in Bad Cannstatt is welcoming, while the bars hard against the home Kurve are VfB locals (source).

Does the match ticket include free public transport?

Yes. A VfB match ticket doubles as a KombiTicket, valid as a free travel pass across the whole VVS network on matchday, from a few hours before kick-off until end of service, so you do not need a separate fare to and from the ground (source).

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

Around 4.5 km, too far to walk comfortably. Use the S1 to NeckarPark or the matchday U11 and U19 Stadtbahn services, roughly 10 to 15 minutes from the centre, free with your match ticket (source).

Where should you stay?

The city centre near the Hauptbahnhof puts the bars, food and sights on your doorstep and the ground one short S-Bahn hop away. Bad Cannstatt is a cheaper, quieter base within walking distance of NeckarPark if you would rather be near the stadium (source).

Is it worth staying a second day?

Easily. Stuttgart pairs the Mercedes-Benz Museum next to the ground and the Porsche Museum across town with Schlossplatz, the Staatsgalerie and hilltop vineyards, so a day either side of the match is well spent (source).