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Football away days in Germany: Ranking the five best

Written by Andy Delaney
Last Update: August 19, 2024
Published on

Germany is widely regarded across the world as one of the best places to watch live football. Cheap ticket prices, steins of beer, bratwurst and large stadiums all combine together to make a brilliant away day (or weekend). 

While almost everywhere in Germany is worth a visit if football is on the agenda, there are some places that are better than others. The guide below runs through our verdict on the best football away days in Germany.

Football away days in Germany
Photo by Imago

Football away days in Germany – the top five

5) Borussia Dortmund

If this list was based purely on the stadium you'll be visiting and the atmosphere you can expect, then Borussia Dortmund would be right at the top thanks to Signal Iduna Park. The stadium is impressive in terms of size with a capacity of 81,365 while the atmosphere is ferocious thanks in large to the famous Yellow Wall in the South Stand.

While the matchday experience is unrivalled, there are better places in Germany for pre and post-match festivities. Dortmund isn't the biggest or nicest city in the world so options are limited. Regardless, you can still make the most of your trip, you just won't have a huge amount of options.

Best pubs for Borussia Dortmund away

As per our Borussia Dortmund ground guide, here are three of the best pubs to visit before a match in Dortmund:

  • Strobels Bar – Strobelallee 50, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
  • Manhattan Sportsbar Dortmund – Von-der-Tann-Straße 13, 44143 Dortmund, Germany
  • Ratsschänke – Prinzenstraße 7, 44135 Dortmund, Germany

Places to stay near Signal Iduna Park

4) Hertha Berlin

Hertha Berlin edges out Union Berlin for our recommendation for a Berlin away day in Germany, thanks solely to the famous Olympiastadion. The 74,475-seater stadium was built specifically for the infamous 1936 Olympic Games and is now one of the most iconic sports arenas on the planet.

On a visit to the stadium, you will get a sense of the history around it due to the aura that it gives off. The running track that wraps around the pitch is an undeniable nuisance when it comes to watching the action live but the City of Berlin makes up for that inconvenience.

As the capital of Germany, Berling is packed with things to do and places to go. It has a brilliant nightlife for those who don't want the day to end at the football, too.

Best pubs for Hertha Berlin away

  • Westend Pinte – Reichsstraße 6, 14052 Berlin, Germany
  • Pils-Stubchen – Angerburger Allee 39, 14055 Berlin, Germany
  • Die Wampe – Bismarckstraße 60, 13585 Berlin, Germany

Places to stay near Olympiastadion

3) Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich are the biggest football club in Germany and one of the biggest clubs on the planet which makes an away day in Munich for a Bayern match a special occasion. This is effectively Germany's version of Manchester United away in England or Real Madrid away in Spain. It's an occasion to savour.

The Allianz Arena is a stadium that is fitting for such a club, too. It was first opened in 2005 yet still feels like a brand-new stadium. Although the away end at the stadium is tucked away in the third tier, there isn't a bad view in the house at the Allianz Arena and the atmosphere is often excellent.

The stadium is a metro ride away from Munich city centre but a day in the centre before the match is a necessity before kick-off. Munich may not be the capital but it perhaps should be. There are beer halls around every corner and bratwurst is available everywhere you go.

Best pubs for Bayern Munich away

As per our Bayern Munich ground guide, here are three of the best pubs to visit before a match in Munich:

  • Augustiner-Keller – Arnulfstraße 52, 80335 München, Germany
  • Killian’s Irish Pub – Frauenplatz 11, 80333 München, Germany
  • Ned Kelly’s Australian Bar – Frauenplatz 11, 80331 München, Germany

Places to stay near the Allianz Arena

2) FC Koln

FC Koln may not be the most glamorous club in Germany but they have a lot going for themselves. For starters, their stadium – RheinEnergieSTADION – has a more than healthy capacity of 50,000 meaning tickets shouldn't be too hard to come by if you're planning a trip.

Secondly, the club's supporters are famed for being some of the most passionate and loud in Germany which means you can put your house on a spectacle if you choose to watch a game at the RheinEnergieSTADION.

Finally, the city of Cologne is stunning and PERFECT for football fans. Plenty of pubs and bars, all serving beer at reasonable prices, can be found throughout the city and best of all, it isn't a huge place so you won't get knackered going from one place to the next.

For the best experience of Cologne, visit in December so you can experience the huge Christmas markets that pop up all over the city.

Best pubs for FC Koln away

As per our FC Koln ground guide, here are three of the best pubs to visit before a match in Cologne:

  • My Way – Aachener Str. 415, 50933 Köln, Germany
  • Em Ringströßje – Alter Militärring 13, 50933 Köln, Germany
  • Taco Loco – Aachener Str. 702, 50933 Köln, Germany

Places to stay near the RheinEnergieSTADION

1) Fortuna Dusseldorf

Fortuna Dusseldorf may currently play their football in the second tier of German football, but an away day in Dusseldorf is still the best in Germany, as thousands of fans at Euro 2024 will testify. The Merkur Spiel-Arena has a capacity of more than 50,000 and has a cool aesthetic from the outside.

From the inside, the stadium has phenomenal acoustics thanks to the flat roof that covers all four stands at the ground. Away fans are even given part of a lower tier, which is rare in Germany, to further enhance the atmosphere.

The beauty of Dusseldorf away is the city itself, though. The city manages to blend the old with the new brilliantly and even has a pedestrianised strip that overlooks the beautiful River Rhine where fans can enjoy a drink. Then, there is the Old Town, which is known by locals as The Dusseldorfer Altstadt (the longest bar in the world) which is as fun as the name suggests.

Best pubs for Fortuna Dusseldorf away

  • Holy Craft Beer Bar –  Liefergasse 11, 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany
  • Fatty's – Hunsrückenstraße 13, 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany
  • Ludwigs Bier&Brot – Mertensgasse 11, 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany

Places to stay near the Merkur Spiel-Arena

Avatar of Andy Delaney

Andy Delaney

Andy is a freelance sports writer with ten years of experience covering major sporting events across Europe. He has also been a season ticket holder at Old Trafford since 2008 and has visited over 40 football stadiums in the United Kingdom and abroad following the Reds.

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