Getting to Stuttgart for the football

Fly direct to Stuttgart Airport (STR) from Manchester or London, take the S2 or S3 S-Bahn to Hauptbahnhof (about 27 minutes), then the S1 out to Neckarpark for a short walk to the MHPArena. Away fans sit in the Untertürkheimer Kurve, blocks 61 to 65, with an allocation of up to 5,000.

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Stuttgart has its own airport with direct UK flights, so you do not strictly need a hub-and-train workaround. The catch is that the direct fare is not always the cheapest: a budget hop into nearby Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, or a flight into the Frankfurt hub with a fast ICE down, can undercut it if you do not mind a longer day. Here are the alternatives fans actually weigh up. Costs and times are estimates and swing with how early you book and whether it is a peak matchday weekend.

Getting into Stuttgart: airport and Hauptbahnhof

Fly into Stuttgart Airport (STR), which sits about 13 km south of the city centre on the Fildern plateau near Leinfelden-Echterdingen and Filderstadt. It is the main gateway for travelling fans.

From the airport, S-Bahn lines S2 (direction Schorndorf) and S3 (direction Backnang) run direct to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof in about 27 minutes, every 10 to 20 minutes from early morning to after midnight. The station Flughafen/Messe is underground beneath the terminals; head to level 1 of Terminal 1 or 3.

The airport is in fare zone 2 and the city is zone 1, so an airport-to-city single ticket covers 2 zones. Ticket machines are in the terminals, and the VVS Mobil and DB Navigator apps also sell them.

Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof is the central rail hub and the pivot for onward travel. If you are staying central, Stadtmitte (Rotebühlplatz) is the stop before Hauptbahnhof on the airport S-Bahn.

From the centre out to the MHPArena

The MHPArena is in the Bad Cannstatt / NeckarPark district, on Mercedesstraße, across the Neckar from the city centre.

Quickest route: S-Bahn S1 from Hauptbahnhof towards Kirchheim to Neckarpark (Mercedes-Benz), roughly 7 to 8 minutes, then a short 5 to 10-minute walk to the ground. S2 and S3 also serve Bad Cannstatt station nearby.

For light rail (Stadtbahn) from Hauptbahnhof, the options are U1 to Mercedesstraße, U19 to NeckarPark (Stadion), and the U11 special event line direct to NeckarPark (Stadion) on big matchdays; U13 runs to Wilhelmsplatz in Bad Cannstatt. Bus line 45 runs from Bahnhof Bad Cannstatt to the NeckarPark (Stadion) stop, daily roughly 08:30 to 22:00.

Away fans: the visitors' block (Gästeblock) is in the Untertürkheimer Kurve at the corner, blocks 61 to 65, spread across two tiers, reached via a spur road off Benzstraße. Stuttgart allocate up to 5,000 tickets for away supporters.

Getting around and tickets

Stuttgart's VVS network covers S-Bahn, U-Bahn/Stadtbahn light rail, trams, buses, plus the rack railway and cable car on one integrated ticket. A match ticket does not include travel, so buy a VVS ticket.

A single EinzelTicket is priced by number of zones. The 1-zone fare rose to 3.30 euros in the September 2025 fare adjustment, and the city centre and stadium are both in zone 1.

Tickets are sold at station machines and via the VVS Mobil and DB Navigator apps; the apps are usually cheaper than the machine. Children under 6 travel free. Most matchday journeys, Hauptbahnhof to the ground and back, sit inside zone 1, so a short single or a day ticket covers the round trip. The airport leg is the one that needs 2 zones.

Where visiting fans stay

Right by the ground in NeckarPark, the walk-to-the-stadium options are the Hilton Garden Inn Stuttgart NeckarPark (next to the arena), Motel One Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, the three-star attimo Hotel and Hotel Geissler.

City-centre alternatives near Hauptbahnhof and the S-Bahn keep you close to nightlife and the airport train: Hotel Royal on Sophienstraße, Hotel Unger near the main station, and the upmarket Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin.

Bad Cannstatt puts you between the river, the Wilhelma zoo and gardens, and the stadium. Some pockets right by the station can feel rougher late at night, so pick a hotel a little off the station forecourt if you can.

Where to drink

• Karlseck, Daimlerstraße (corner of Reichenbachstraße), Bad Cannstatt: the VfB local, decked in Cannstatter Kurve scarves and busy with home regulars on matchdays. Friendly rather than heated.
• Sophie's Brauhaus, Felgergasse, Bad Cannstatt: about a 10-minute walk from the stadium, doing solid food and its own beer, handy pre-match.
• Pils-Pub Alt Stuttgart, by Hotel Royal near the main station: a long-standing football haunt in the centre, open late and showing games.
• Biddy Early's Irish Pub, city centre: an easy, English-speaking spot near the middle of town if you want a familiar away-day base.
• Klauss & Klauss / Dinkelacker Festzelt area near NeckarPark: a stadium-side option for a quick pre-match beer.

A half-litre in a normal Stuttgart bar runs around 4 euros, with cheaper spots from about 3.20 euros. Nothing here is a no-go zone, but keep the colours sensible right around the away turnstiles and mind your bag around the main station late on.

Where to eat

The regional cooking is Swabian, and the two dishes to order are Maultaschen (large stuffed pasta pockets, served in broth or gratinéed) and Käsespätzle (soft egg noodles with cheese and fried onions). Zwiebelrostbraten, steak with fried onions, is the classic sit-down plate.

• Zur Sattlerei, Bad Cannstatt: near the Stadtmuseum, known for Käsespätzle, Maultaschen and steaks, close to the ground.
• Ackerbürger, Bad Cannstatt: a Swabian specialist running Maultaschen to Spätzle, traditional and well done.
• Weinstube Klösterle, Marktstraße 71, Bad Cannstatt: a characterful old wine-tavern for Swabian fare.
• Kursaal Restaurant, Bad Cannstatt: Swabian classics like Zwiebelrostbraten and Linsen mit Spätzle with a monthly menu.
• Markthalle Stuttgart, city centre: an indoor market for quick counters and cheap eats before the game.
• Around the ground and Königstraße you will also find the usual German staples, Currywurst, Döner and Brezel stands, for a fast pre-match bite.

What to do

• Mercedes-Benz Museum, Mercedesstraße 100: more than 160 vehicles across nine floors, and it is right next to the stadium in NeckarPark, the obvious away-day add-on.
• Porsche Museum, Zuffenhausen: over 80 racing and sports cars, a short S-Bahn ride north.
• Schlossplatz: the central palace square with the Neues Schloss, the natural meeting point in town.
• Staatsgalerie Stuttgart: works by Picasso, Monet and Rembrandt in the city's main art gallery.
• Altes Schloss / Landesmuseum Württemberg: regional history in the old castle on Schillerplatz.
• Fernsehturm Stuttgart: the world's first reinforced-concrete TV tower, with a viewing platform over the city.
• Wilhelma: the zoological-botanical gardens in Bad Cannstatt, a short walk from the ground.

Common questions

How do you get to the stadium from the airport?

Take the S2 or S3 S-Bahn from the airport to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, about 27 minutes, then change to the S1 from Hauptbahnhof towards Kirchheim to Neckarpark (Mercedes-Benz), roughly 7 to 8 minutes, and walk 5 to 10 minutes to the ground. It is a single, simple change.

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

Fly to Stuttgart Airport (STR). You do not need a hub: Eurowings runs direct from Manchester year-round, and there are direct flights from London too, Eurowings from Gatwick and British Airways from Heathrow. The flight is about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Where do away fans sit at VfB Stuttgart?

The away section (Gästeblock) is in the Untertürkheimer Kurve at the corner, blocks 61 to 65, spread across two tiers, reached via a spur road off Benzstraße. It is a corner curve rather than a full end.

How many away tickets does Stuttgart allocate?

Stuttgart allocate up to 5,000 tickets for away supporters, a generous allocation by domestic standards. For a domestic Bundesliga game buy through your own club's ticket office; for a European tie it comes through the visiting club's UEFA allocation.

What time should I arrive at the ground?

Aim to be at Neckarpark 60 to 90 minutes before kick-off. The S1 is quick from Hauptbahnhof but fills up on matchdays, and the away entrance off Benzstraße has its own queue and search. Getting there early also leaves time for the Mercedes-Benz Museum next door.

Can you drink in the ground?

Yes. German grounds sell beer on the concourse, though for higher-risk fixtures it may be alcohol-free (Alkoholfrei) inside the away section. Concourse payment is often cashless on a stadium card, so tap-to-pay is the norm and you may need to load a card first.

How much is a beer?

A half-litre in a normal Stuttgart bar is around 4 euros, with cheaper places from about 3.20 euros. Inside the ground expect to pay a bit more. Prices are estimates and rise sharply during the Cannstatter Wasen festival, held right by the stadium in autumn.

Is Stuttgart safe for football fans?

Stuttgart is one of the safer German cities and low-risk overall. The main practical risk is pickpocketing in crowds around Hauptbahnhof, on Königstraße and on packed S-Bahn trains to Bad Cannstatt on event days. Keep valuables zipped and wear a backpack on your front in busy carriages.

Which areas are away-friendly, and any to avoid?

Bad Cannstatt around the ground is a lively bar-and-terrace district, and the city centre around Königstraße is easy going. There are no real no-go zones, but the area immediately around the main station can feel edgier late at night, so keep colours low-key there after dark.

Does my match ticket include free travel?

No. A match ticket does not include public transport in Stuttgart, so you need a separate VVS ticket from a station machine or the VVS Mobil or DB Navigator apps. This differs from some German clubs where the ticket doubles as a travel pass, so do not assume it here.

How much are local trains and trams?

A single 1-zone EinzelTicket costs 3.30 euros from September 2025. The city centre and stadium are both in zone 1, so a short single or a day ticket covers the matchday round trip; only the airport leg needs 2 zones.

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

The MHPArena is in Bad Cannstatt / NeckarPark, across the Neckar from the centre and about 7 to 8 minutes on the S1 from Hauptbahnhof, plus a short walk. You can comfortably base yourself in the centre and still be at the ground inside 20 minutes door to door.

Where should away fans stay?

For walking distance to the ground, the Hilton Garden Inn Stuttgart NeckarPark, Motel One Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, the attimo Hotel and Hotel Geissler are all in NeckarPark. To be near nightlife and the airport train, Hotel Royal, Hotel Unger and the Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin are close to Hauptbahnhof.