Parken Stadium away guide

Copenhagen has direct flights from Manchester, London and several other UK airports, so there is no need to route through a hub. Fly into Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup), take the Metro into town in about 15 minutes and change to the M3 line for the stadium, then walk 10 minutes. Away fans go in the D Stand (D1/D2/D3) or Upper Stand A section A11 FC Copenhagen.

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Copenhagen is the easy end of the away-day scale: no hub-and-train workaround, because cheap direct flights run from Manchester, London Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted, plus Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Leeds Bradford. The real choice is a budget carrier from a secondary airport versus a full-service flight from Heathrow, with a slow overland option if you would rather not fly. Costs below are estimates and swing with how far ahead you book.

Getting there from the airport

Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup) has a Metro station in the terminal. Take the M2 towards the city, and for the stadium change onto the M3 (Cityringen) line, which loops round to the stations serving Parken. From the airport this is roughly 25 to 30 minutes plus the walk Football Ground Guide.

Alternatively, take the S-train from the airport to Copenhagen Central Station (Kobenhavn H) and pick up the M3 Metro from there Football Ground Guide.

Getting there from the centre or station

The M3 (Cityringen) Metro line, opened in 2019, serves three stations all a short walk from the ground: Trianglen, Poul Henningsens Plads and Vibenhus Runddel. From any of them Parken is about a 10-minute walk Football Ground Guide.

Walking from central Copenhagen takes roughly 40 minutes, and cycling from the city centre takes about 12 minutes Football Ground Guide.

For fan separation, away fans are usually directed to Poul Henningsens Plads Metro station, the nearest to the away section Football Ground Guide.

Where to stay

Osterbro, the neighbourhood around Parken, is quiet, residential and walkable to the ground. For a first trip most fans base themselves in the city centre around Indre By, Norreport or Vesterbro, all a short Metro hop from the stadium and close to the bars, food and sights Visit Copenhagen.

Inside the stadium and allocation

The away section is usually in the D Stand (sections D1, D2 and/or D3) in the north-east corner, or in Upper Stand A, section A11. For big European visitors the away allocation goes in the D Stand, next to the family section and opposite the large south stand that houses FC Copenhagen's most vocal support FC Copenhagen Football Ground Guide.

On matchday the club asks visiting fans to arrive via Osterbrogade and Gunnar Nu Hansens Plads. Away supporter buses cannot park in the Parken area FC Copenhagen.

Away tickets can be bought at billet.fck.dk or at the information and customer-service office on the corner of Oster Alle and Per Henrik Lings Alle, though away allocations are often sold exclusively by the visiting club. Buying online in advance saves a DKK 40 fee FC Copenhagen.

Permitted inside: flags up to 3x3m (poles max 4m), non-commercial and non-political banners, up to 3 drums with sticks, up to 3 megaphones, mosaics of any size, and tape or string for hanging banners. Flares, fireworks and confetti tubes are strictly forbidden. Beer is sold, but the club reserves the right not to sell alcohol on specific matchdays FC Copenhagen.

Where to drink

Copenhagen is not cheap; a pint in a normal bar runs around 50 to 60 DKK, roughly £6 to £7, and touristy spots at Nyhavn, Tivoli and the Irish pubs push past £8.

• Parken Sports Bar (Oster Alle, corner of the B stand): the stadium's own bar, open matchdays from noon to midnight, handy but busy Football Ground Guide.
• Osterbros Perle (Osterbro): a proper locals' pub a short walk from Parken, unpretentious and good value for the area Football Ground Guide.
• Tap10 (near Viborggade): ten Nordic craft beers on tap, close to the ground, better beer than the airport-priced tourist bars Football Ground Guide.
• Kafe Kapers (Osterbro): standard Danish draught with a large terrace, ideal in summer Football Ground Guide.
• War Pigs (Kodbyen, Vesterbro): big craft brewpub in the meatpacking district, lively pre-match with plenty of other bars around it LiberoGuide.
• Studenterhuset (city centre): a student bar with some of the cheapest pints in town, useful if the round prices are stinging PilsPosten.

To avoid the worst prices, skip the Irish and English pubs clustered around Nyhavn and Tivoli where a pint tips over £8.

Where to eat

Danish staples are smorrebrod (open sandwiches), the rode polser hot dog and, for a treat, the New Nordic cooking Copenhagen made its name on. Budget to sit-down:

• DOP (Den Okologiske Polsemand): organic hot-dog cart by the Round Tower; the classic rode polser is about 37 DKK and the local snack to try.
• Domhusets Smorrebrod (Kattesundet 18, off Stroget): old-school smorrebrod counter, sandwiches from around 15 DKK, the cheapest way to eat the local dish.
• Torvehallerne (Norreport): covered food market with dozens of stalls, from smorrebrod and porridge to fresh fish, quick and reliable.
• Reffen (Refshaleoen): large open-air street-food market on the harbour, wide range and good value for a group.
• Grod (Norrebro and others): the original porridge bar, a cheap warming sit-down that has become a Copenhagen institution.
• Restaurant Schonnemann (Hauser Plads): a proper sit-down smorrebrod institution since 1877 with schnapps to match, book ahead if you want the full Danish lunch.

What to do

• Nyhavn: the postcard canal of coloured 17th-century townhouses; touristy and pricey to drink at, but worth the walk and the photo.
• Tivoli Gardens: the world's second-oldest amusement park, in the centre by the main station, lit up beautifully after dark.
• The Little Mermaid: Hans Christian Andersen's bronze on the harbour front, close to Osterbro and the stadium if you are up that way.
• Rundetaarn (Round Tower): 17th-century tower with a spiral ramp to the top and city views, Europe's oldest working observatory.
• Christiansborg Palace: seat of the Danish parliament with royal reception rooms and a tower you can go up for free.
• Christiania: the self-governing freetown in Christianshavn, a genuinely odd corner of the city worth an hour's wander.
• Amalienborg: the royal palace with the noon changing of the guard, a short walk from Nyhavn and the harbour.

Common questions

How do I get from the airport to Parken Stadium?

Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup) has a Metro station inside the terminal. Take the M2 into the city, change onto the M3 (Cityringen) line and get off at Poul Henningsens Plads, then walk about 10 minutes to the ground. Reckon on 25 to 30 minutes plus the walk Football Ground Guide.

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

Fly into Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup, CPH). There is no hub detour needed: direct flights run from Manchester, London Gatwick and Heathrow, plus Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Leeds Bradford, taking under two hours FlightsFrom.

Where do away fans sit at Parken?

Away fans are usually in the D Stand (sections D1, D2 and/or D3) in the north-east corner, or in Upper Stand A, section A11. Larger European visitors go in the D Stand, which sits next to the family section and opposite the big south stand that holds FC Copenhagen's noisiest support FC Copenhagen.

What is the away allocation?

FC Copenhagen do not publish a fixed away number; it varies by fixture and by how much of the D Stand or A11 is given over to visitors. For major European ties the allocation goes in the D Stand. Away tickets are often sold exclusively through the visiting club, so check with your own club first FC Copenhagen.

What time should I arrive at the ground?

Give yourself a comfortable margin. The Metro is quick but away fans are funnelled to Poul Henningsens Plads for separation, and there is a 10-minute walk each side. Aim to be near the ground an hour before kick-off, more for a big European night when the away queue and checks are slower Football Ground Guide.

Can I drink inside the stadium?

Yes, beer is sold inside Parken, and the Parken Sports Bar by the B stand is open on matchdays from noon to midnight. The club reserves the right not to sell alcohol on specific higher-risk matchdays, so it is not guaranteed for every game FC Copenhagen Football Ground Guide.

How much is a beer in Copenhagen?

A pint in an ordinary bar is around 50 to 60 DKK, roughly £6 to £7. Tourist spots at Nyhavn, Tivoli and the Irish pubs push past 80 DKK (£8 plus). Student bars such as Studenterhuset and happy hours are cheaper if you are watching the spend Expatistan.

Is Copenhagen safe for away fans?

Copenhagen is a calm, low-crime city and matchdays are generally trouble-free. Standard rules apply: away fans are kept separate by the police, so follow the directed Metro station and route, keep colours sensible near the home south stand, and watch your valuables in the busy tourist bars.

Which areas are good for away fans?

Osterbro around the ground is quiet and pleasant, with locals' bars like Osterbros Perle and Tap10. The city centre and Vesterbro (War Pigs and the meatpacking district) are the livelier pre-match options. Nyhavn and Tivoli are fine to see but expensive to drink in LiberoGuide.

Does my match ticket include free public transport?

No. Unlike German grounds, a Parken ticket does not cover the Metro or buses, so you need a separate transit ticket. A single Metro fare is cheap, and day tickets are good value if you are hopping around the city and the ground Visit Copenhagen.

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

Parken is in Osterbro, just north-east of the medieval core. It is about a 40-minute walk or 12-minute cycle from the centre, and only a few minutes on the M3 Metro to Trianglen, Poul Henningsens Plads or Vibenhus Runddel, all a 10-minute walk from the ground Football Ground Guide.

Where should I stay?

Osterbro puts you within walking distance of Parken but is residential and quiet. For a first trip, base in the city centre around Indre By or Norreport, or in Vesterbro for the bar scene; all are a short Metro ride from the ground and close to the sights Visit Copenhagen.

What is the local dish to try?

Two things. Smorrebrod, the open rye-bread sandwich piled with herring, prawns or roast beef, best at a proper spot like Schonnemann or a cheap counter like Domhusets. And the rode polser, the bright-red Danish hot dog from a street cart such as DOP by the Round Tower BudgetTraveller.