Wankdorf Stadium away guide

There is no direct UK flight to Bern, so fly to Zurich, the nearest hub, and take an SBB train to Bern Hauptbahnhof in about 1h 10m, then a short S-Bahn or tram 9 to the ground Rome2Rio. Away fans sit in the north-west corner, blocks B12 to B15, extendable across both tiers Football Ground Guide.

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Bern has no useful airport of its own, so every route means flying to a Swiss hub and letting the fast, frequent railway finish the job Seat61. Zurich carries the most UK flights and is about 1h 10m from Bern by train; Basel is the nearest hub by rail and often the cheapest to reach; Geneva is well served from London but a longer train (about 1h 55m) Bern Welcome. Here are the ways there and roughly what each costs and takes.

All flight and rail figures are estimates and vary by season and how early you book. Basel is the closest hub to Bern and usually the cheapest to fly to, but its UK services run on fewer days, so check the fixture date against the schedule before you commit FlightsFrom.

Getting to the stadium from the airport

From Zurich Airport take a direct SBB intercity train to Bern Hauptbahnhof in just over an hour, operated by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS) Trainline. There is no single through train to Bern Wankdorf, so change at Bern main station onto a local S-Bahn; the whole airport-to-ground trip runs to roughly 1h 20m plus your walk Rome2Rio.

Getting to the stadium from the station or city centre

The closest station is Bern Wankdorf, about five minutes' walk south of the ground and served several times an hour by S-Bahn Doragon Sports. Alternatively take tram no. 9 from Bern main station towards Wankdorf and get off at Wankdorf-Center, a few minutes on foot from the turnstiles; RBS line 40 also reaches Wankdorf-Center Football Ground Guide.

The stadium sits less than 3km from Bern's old town and is walkable in around 35 minutes if the weather holds Football Tripper. Your match ticket doubles as a free public-transport ticket on matchday, so tram, bus and S-Bahn to the ground are included Football Ground Guide. Parking is severely limited and roads such as Papiermuhlestrasse are often closed to cars on match days, so public transport is strongly recommended Football Tripper.

Inside the stadium and away section

Away supporters are housed in the north-west corner with a good view of the pitch, in blocks B12 and B14 (lower) and B13 and B15 (upper), and the allocation can be extended across both tiers for larger travelling supports Football Ground Guide. The ground is modest, neat and compact with a very good atmosphere; the home ultras occupy the stand behind the goal and are the loudest area, with choreographed tifos and occasional pyro Doragon Sports.

Concessions inside include sausages (with a vegan option), burgers, fries and pizza, with beer on sale for most games Doragon Sports. Payment inside is card or contactless only, with no cash accepted, so bring a bank card that works abroad Doragon Sports. Note the pitch is artificial turf, with natural grass laid only temporarily for Euro 2008 and Women's Euro 2025 Wikipedia.

Where to stay

Base yourself in or near the old town around Bern Hauptbahnhof, which puts the sights, bars and restaurants on your doorstep and the stadium a direct S-Bahn or tram ride away. It is under 3km from the centre to the ground, so you do not need to stay out by Wankdorf Football Tripper.

Where to drink

Bern styles itself the country's beer capital, and its strength is atmospheric old-town cellar bars and riverside terraces rather than big late venues Bern Welcome. Expect roughly CHF 6 to 9 (about £5.50 to £8) for a pint; bars set their own prices, so check the menu first Rappn.

• Old City Irish Pub, Kramgasse 28: away-friendly, Guinness on tap at one of the more decent prices in Switzerland, easy pre-match crowd Bern Welcome.
• Biercafe Au Trappiste, old city: over 100 international beers, relaxed and good for a slow pint before you head to the ground Bern Welcome.
• Altes Tramdepot, by the Bear Park: brewery restaurant with beers brewed on-site and a terrace over the Aare, mid-range Bern Welcome.
• Barbiere, old city: a local favourite for sampling Bernese brews, mid-range prices, buzzy Bern Welcome.
• Kloetzlikeller, Gerechtigkeitsgasse: the city's oldest wine cellar if you fancy a quieter vaulted spot away from the football crowd Bern Welcome.

Near the ground itself there are only a couple of bars plus a McDonald's, so do your drinking in the old town and travel out Football Ground Guide. Bern is genuinely low-hassle, but keep colours sensible around the home end behind the goal.

Where to eat

The Bernese dish to try is Berner Platte, a hearty platter of salt pork, beef tongue, smoked bacon, ribs and sausage over sauerkraut, beans and potatoes; also look for Rösti, Berner Leberli (veal liver) and Suure Mocke (Bernese pot roast) Wikipedia.

• Goldener Schluessel, old town: the reputed birthplace of Berner Platte, traditional and mid-range Bern Welcome.
• Zunftrestaurant zum Aeusseren Stand: a historic spot to order the full Berner Platte Bern Welcome.
• Della Casa: running since 1892, beloved by Swiss politicians, does Bernerplatte, veal liver with Rösti and oxtail stew Bern Welcome.
• Kornhauskeller: an elegant restaurant in the historic granary cellar, traditional Swiss cooking, more of a sit-down occasion Bern Welcome.
• Restaurant Eleven, at the stadium: adjoins the ground for a quick pre-match bite if you are short on time Football Ground Guide.

For fast and cheap, the old-town arcades have bakeries and market stalls, and there is a McDonald's by the ground Football Ground Guide.

What to do

Bern's arcaded old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and easily walked in an afternoon Bern Welcome.

• Zytglogge: the 16th-century astronomical clock tower whose figures perform on the hour Bern Welcome.
• Baerengraben (Bear Park): the city's bears in a riverside enclosure across the Nydegg Bridge Bern Welcome.
• Bundeshaus (Federal Palace): the seat of Swiss parliament, imposing on Bundesplatz Bern Welcome.
• Einstein House, Kramgasse 49: Albert Einstein's former flat, where he worked on relativity Bern Welcome.
• Rosengarten: a hillside rose garden with the best postcard view over the old town and the Aare Bern Welcome.
• Bern Minster (cathedral): Switzerland's tallest, with a tower climb for city views Bern Welcome.
• The Aare: in summer, locals float down the fast river; watch, or join if you know what you are doing Bern Welcome.

Common questions

How do I get to the stadium from the airport?

There is no useful airport at Bern, so fly to Zurich, take a direct SBB intercity train to Bern Hauptbahnhof in just over an hour, then change onto a local S-Bahn to Bern Wankdorf and walk five minutes. The whole airport-to-ground trip is roughly 1h 20m plus walking Rome2Rio.

Which airport should I fly to for a Young Boys away game?

Zurich (ZRH) is the practical hub. It carries the most UK flights and is only about a 1h 10m train from Bern. Basel is closer by rail (around 55 minutes) and Geneva about 1h 45m, but both have fewer UK services, so Zurich is usually the easiest single connection World Travel Guide.

Is there a direct flight to Bern from the UK?

No. Bern-Belp airport has negligible scheduled service, so there is no direct UK flight to Bern itself. The standard approach is to fly to a nearby Swiss hub, almost always Zurich, and take the train across; Swiss railways are fast and frequent, so this is quicker than it sounds World Travel Guide.

Where do away fans sit at Stadion Wankdorf?

Away supporters are in the north-west corner with a good view of the pitch, in blocks B12 and B14 in the lower tier and B13 and B15 in the upper tier Football Ground Guide.

What is the away allocation?

There is no fixed published figure. The section is flexible and can be extended across both tiers depending on the size of the travelling support, within a football capacity of 32,000 Football Ground Guide.

What time should I arrive?

Allow more time than the raw travel numbers suggest, because you change trains at Bern Hauptbahnhof and roads by the ground close to cars on match days. Aim to be at Bern main station a good couple of hours before kick-off, which leaves room for a drink in the old town before the short hop out to Wankdorf Football Tripper.

Can I get a beer inside the ground?

Yes, beer is on sale at most games, alongside sausages, burgers, fries and pizza. Payment inside is card or contactless only, with no cash accepted, so make sure you have a bank card that works abroad Doragon Sports.

How much is a beer?

Reckon on roughly CHF 6 to 9, about £5.50 to £8, for a pint in a Bern bar; Switzerland is expensive and bars set their own prices, so check the menu before ordering. Prices are broadly similar inside the ground Rappn.

Is Bern safe for away fans?

Yes. Bern is a calm, low-crime capital and the football is well organised. Use normal common sense, keep your colours sensible near the home end behind the goal, and you will have no trouble Football Ground Guide.

Where are the away-friendly areas?

Do your pre-match drinking and eating in the arcaded old town around Bern Hauptbahnhof, where the bars, restaurants and sights are concentrated. It is relaxed and welcoming, and the direct tram and S-Bahn links mean you can stay in the centre and travel out shortly before kick-off Bern Welcome.

Does my match ticket cover public transport?

Yes. Your match ticket doubles as a free local and city public-transport ticket on matchday, covering tram, bus and S-Bahn to and from the ground, so you do not need to buy a separate fare Football Ground Guide.

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

Under 3km. It is a direct S-Bahn or tram 9 ride from Bern main station, or about a 35-minute walk from the old town if the weather is good Football Tripper.

Where should I stay?

In or near the old town around Bern Hauptbahnhof. It keeps the sights, bars and restaurants on your doorstep, and the ground is a short direct ride away, so there is no reason to base yourself out by Wankdorf Football Tripper.