Parc des Princes away guide

For an away game at Parc des Princes, fly into Paris (direct from most UK cities, no hub detour needed), then take Metro Line 9 to Porte de Saint-Cloud, about a 5-minute walk from the away turnstiles. Away fans sit in the northwest corner at the Paris Stand end, with an allocation of around 2,000.

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Paris is one of the easiest away days going: direct flights from most UK cities and a direct Eurostar from London, so there is no hub detour to make. The real choice is cheap-but-slow against quick-but-dearer. The budget play is a Ryanair fare into Beauvais, which is well out of town and needs a coach in, so you trade the low fare for the longest journey. Pay a bit more and you fly straight into Charles de Gaulle, or from London skip the airport altogether on Eurostar. Costs below are estimates and move with demand.

Getting there from the airports

From Charles de Gaulle (CDG), take the RER B into central Paris, then change onto Metro Line 9 towards the southwest of the city for Porte de Saint-Cloud. Allow roughly 1 hour 15 minutes end to end. A single Paris Region / Airports ticket covers the airport-to-city rail journey across the Ile-de-France network, so you do not need to buy separate legs.

Orly (ORY) is a similar time in via the Orlyval and Metro. Beauvais (BVA), used by some budget flights, sits about 42 miles out and needs the dedicated airport coach into Porte Maillot, so it is the slowest option despite the cheap fare.

The stadium is in the southwest of the city, about 4km from the Eiffel Tower, so it sits on the central metro network rather than out of town.

From central Paris to the ground

Metro Line 9 is the route for away fans: ride it out to Porte de Saint-Cloud, about a 5-minute walk from the away turnstiles. Buses 22, 62 and 72 also serve Porte de Saint-Cloud near the stadium. A single Metro ticket is about €2.50, and your match ticket does not cover travel.

On match days most surrounding streets are closed to traffic, so once you leave the metro the walk is straightforward. Away fans are told to avoid Metro Line 10 and the Auteuil area, which brings you out on the home side. Expect to be held back for at least 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Where to stay

The 16th arrondissement around the ground is quiet and residential, handy for the walk in but short on nightlife. Most travelling fans base themselves nearer the centre, around the 1st to 8th arrondissements or by Gare du Nord if arriving on Eurostar, and ride Line 9 out for the game. Anywhere on or near Line 9 keeps the matchday journey simple.

Away section, turnstiles and entry

The away section is in the northwest corner, between the Tribune Auteuil and the Presidential/Paris stand, with an allocation of around 2,000. It spans two tiers, with nets on either side segregating it from home fans.

Entry is off Route de la Reine where it meets Rue du Commandant Guilbaud: a soft ticket check first, then you funnel into a sterile area for a steward body search and possibly a second search by local police before the turnstiles. ID checks are in place. Lower-tier ticket holders are given wristbands, and no movement between the two tiers is allowed once inside.

For a 9:00pm local kick-off the turnstiles typically open around 6:00pm. Aim to arrive at least an hour before kick-off, and 90 minutes early if you need wheelchair access. The sterile entry area outside can be poorly lit, so away clubs station their own stewards to help.

Bags of A4 size and smaller are allowed and searched; anything larger is not. Flags under 1.2 metres do not need pre-approval but are checked; longer poles are banned, as are glass and plastic bottles, cans, knives, weapons, drugs, pyrotechnics, flares, laser pointers, vuvuzelas, long umbrellas and animals.

Inside, catering in the away end is limited to one bar and one food outlet on the concourse. The pitch views, though, are rated among the best in Europe by visiting fans. Away tickets require registering as a member on PSG's official site and often sell out, so book early.

Where to drink

The bars right by the ground are thin on the ground and fill quickly on matchday, so most fans drink nearer the centre and ride out later. Expect to pay around €7 to €9 for a beer in a Paris bar.

• Frog XVI, 110 bis Av. Kléber: British-style craft brewpub in the 16th, used to a football crowd and one of the more away-friendly options this side of town.
• The Hideout, 8 Boulevard de Denain: sports bar by Gare du Nord, handy if you arrive on Eurostar and want a pint before heading across.
• Les Fontaines: a calmer spot for a quiet beer or glass of wine before kick-off rather than a singing pub.
• Trocadéro and Rue de Passy bars: the usual pre-match gathering area for visiting fans, a couple of Line 9 stops back towards the centre.
• Molitor Le Bar: rooftop bar near the ground with views over the stadium and beyond, pricey but a decent one-off.

Avoid the Auteuil area and anything off Metro Line 10, which is home turf and hostile to away colours on matchday.

Where to eat

The 16th is an upmarket district, so you will find proper bistros as well as quick bites. Try the classics: steak frites, oeuf mayo, boudin noir, confit de canard, and a tarte tatin to finish.

• L'Ogre, 1 avenue de Versailles: traditional brasserie cooking, oeuf mayo, andouillette, tarte tatin, close to the ground.
• Le Petit Rétro, 5 rue Mesnil: an archetypal Parisian bistro founded in 1904, now under Guy Savoy's guidance, for a proper sit-down meal.
• Le Comptoir Foch: well-liked brasserie in the 16th for steak and standards.
• Bistrot XVI: reliable neighbourhood brasserie with vegetarian options.
• Bakeries and crêpe stands around Porte de Saint-Cloud: cheapest way to eat on the walk in, a jambon-beurre baguette or a crêpe does the job.

What to do

Making a weekend of it, Paris packs its landmarks tight and most sit on the metro.

• Eiffel Tower: about 4km from the ground, best seen at dusk from the Trocadéro gardens across the river.
• The Louvre: the world's most visited museum, book a timed slot to skip the queue.
• Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées: climb the arch for the view down the avenue.
• Musée d'Orsay: the Impressionists in a converted railway station, more manageable than the Louvre in an afternoon.
• Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur: hilltop streets and a free view over the whole city.
• Île de la Cité, Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle: the historic heart of the city on the river.
• A walk along the Seine: the simplest free way to string the sights together.

Common questions

How do I get from the airport to Parc des Princes?

From Charles de Gaulle, take the RER B into central Paris then change to Metro Line 9 for Porte de Saint-Cloud, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes end to end. A single Paris Region / Airports ticket covers the whole airport-to-city rail journey, so you do not buy separate legs.

Which airport should I fly to for PSG, and is there a hub?

There is no need for a hub. Paris has direct flights from most UK cities and a direct Eurostar from London, so you fly or train straight in. Charles de Gaulle is the main arrival airport and best connected; Orly is similar; Beauvais is cheaper but well out of town and slower.

Where do away fans sit?

In the northwest corner at the Paris Stand end, between the Tribune Auteuil and the Presidential stand, across two tiers segregated from home fans by nets. The pitch views are rated among the best in Europe by visiting supporters.

What is the away allocation?

Around 2,000 in the northwest corner. Away tickets are sold through PSG membership registration and often sell out, so book as early as you can. Lower-tier holders get wristbands and cannot move between tiers.

What time should I arrive?

For a 9:00pm local kick-off the turnstiles typically open around 6:00pm. Aim to be there at least an hour before kick-off, or 90 minutes early if you need wheelchair access, because the ticket check, sterile area and body searches take time.

Can I drink inside the ground?

There is one bar and one food outlet on the away concourse, so catering is limited and queues build. Have a proper drink and a meal before you go in rather than relying on the concourse.

How much is a beer?

Reckon on about €7 to €9 for a beer in a central Paris bar, a little less for a smaller demi. Stadium concourse prices are typical for a major European city, which is to say not cheap.

Is Paris safe for away fans?

Central Paris is fine with the usual big-city caution over pickpockets on the metro. The specific matchday warning is to avoid Metro Line 10 and the Auteuil area, which is home territory, and to keep colours discreet on the way in. Expect thorough searches, ID checks and a 30-minute hold after the match.

Which areas are away-friendly?

The Trocadéro and Rue de Passy area is the usual pre-match gathering point, a couple of Line 9 stops back towards the centre. Around Gare du Nord suits Eurostar arrivals. Stick to central bars and ride Line 9 out; the streets right by the ground on the Auteuil side are the ones to avoid.

Does my match ticket include free travel?

No. Unlike some German grounds, a PSG ticket does not cover public transport. Buy a Metro ticket at about €2.50, or a carnet or day pass if you are riding around, from any station machine.

How far is the stadium from the centre?

Close. The ground is in the 16th arrondissement, about 4km from the Eiffel Tower in the southwest of the city, so it sits on the central metro network. Line 9 links it straight to the middle of town in around 40 minutes from Gare du Nord.

Where should I stay?

The 16th around the ground is quiet and residential, good for the walk in but short on nightlife. Most fans base themselves nearer the centre, in the 1st to 8th arrondissements or by Gare du Nord for the Eurostar, and ride Line 9 out. Anywhere on or near Line 9 keeps matchday simple.

How do I get to the ground from central Paris?

Take Metro Line 9 to Porte de Saint-Cloud, then it is about a five-minute walk to the away turnstiles. Buses 22, 62 and 72 also stop nearby. Do not take Line 10, which drops you on the home side in Auteuil.