The 2024/25 Serie A season has started, with Juventus, Napoli, Inter and AC Milan tipped to fight for the title. For fans looking to gain insight into the best football away days in Italy, here are the top five in the top flight – from Atalanta to Napoli.
Football away days in Italy:
AC Milan, Inter Milan – San Siro
Home to both Inter and AC Milan, the San Siro is one of the most famous grounds in world football. With both clubs looking to build new grounds in the next few years and move away from the stadium, there is no better time to visit the historic venue than now.
Before the game, visiting supporters should visit the Old Tenconi Pub, located a few hundred metres away from the San Siro. Live matches will be televised inside, along with a wide variety of food and drinks on offer.
There are various options for reaching the stadium via public transport. One of these is to go to Metropolitana Linea 5, but if you can’t reach this station, supporters are advised to go to Lotto, which is on Metropolitana Linea 1. From Lotto, it takes around 15 minutes to get to the San Siro. Finally, there is a tram service, with Line 16 connecting the Piazza Fontana to the Piazzale Axum terminal.
Hellas Verona – Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi
Verona is the setting for two of William Shakespeare’s plays, namely ‘Two Gentleman of Verona’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’. With a rich culture going back decades, you’ll struggle to find a more historic city to explore during a weekend stay.
Located two miles west of the city centre is the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, where Hellas Verona play their home matches. The stadium is extremely old-fashioned and in a dilapidated state following years of next-to-no renovation. Tickets are affordable, though, and the Curva Sud paint the stand behind the goal in the Hellas colours of yellow and blue to create a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.
Before the match, visiting fans should go to the Southern end of the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi. Here you will find numerous bars and cafes next to the stadium, including Nilla Cafe and Via Fra Giocondo. This is where a lot of the home supporters gather prior to the match.
Atalanta – Gewiss Stadium
Atalanta’s Gewiss Stadium is quickly becoming one of the most modern grounds in Italian football, following a four-year development project. A three-phase renovation of the facility is set to be completed in August 2024. On 1 August 2024, the club provided the following update: “The redevelopment of the Gewiss Stadium, the home of Atalanta, is almost complete! The final section of the stadium (i.e. the Tribuna Ovest) is being roofed and the underground car park is also nearing completion.”
The city of Bergamo is a hidden gem, and there is plenty to do before and after watching a match. In close proximity, there is the Ristorante Pizzeria Garden, Bar Bettineschi Bocciodromo, Fuirigioco, Il Baretto and Bar Candy for fans looking to grab a pre-match beer or some food. The stadium redevelopment is anticipated to see an uptake in commercial facilities in and around the ground, including food retailers.
You can get to Gewiss Stadium by car via highway A4 and exit at the signpost ‘Bergamo’ in the direction of Valli di Bergamo. If you’re using public transport, take the bus – specifically the ATB line number 9, which goes straight to the ground.
Napoli – Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
Napoli have some of the most passionate supporters in Italy. The notorious fanbase are closely linked to the identity of the club and have often shared a close relationship with the players, most notably Diego Maradona in the 1980s.
Given that this city is the home of pizza, it is worth trying out a local slice when visiting. In terms of specific places, Da Michele at Via Cesare Sersale and Trianon on Via P Colletta have both been recommended in the past. Between the station and the stadium, there are various street vendors selling Neapolitan pizza.
The Metro Line 2 and Cumana line both go towards the Campi Flegrei and Mostra-Stadio-Maradona stops, which are both within a 10-minute walk to the stadium.
Bologna – Stadio Renato Dall’Ara
Located just an hour away from Milan on the train, Bologna is a city worth visiting if you’re looking for a mix of football and culture. The stadium is located just over three kilometres from the historic city centre. It is around a 40-minute walk from here, but you can take the number 14 or 20 bus from Piazza Malpighi if you don’t have enough time.
Located only four minutes away from the stadium is the Piazza della Pace, which is well-known for its energetic pre-match atmosphere. As per Calcio England in their travel notes for Bologna: “If you have the time and inclination, we would highly recommend taking a walk up the San Luca Portico, which rises steeply from the southern end of the stadium. After around 1km of climbing you’ll be rewarded with a sweeping view over the Stadio Dall’Ara.”