Bayern Munich is an absolute world-class club on and off the pitch and a must-visit for everyone who likes southern German culture. Expect a combination of top football and good Bavaria beers. You can't make us happier than that.
After a lot of scepticism, Bayern's fans have started to embrace the three-tiered arena. Since 2017, Bayern Munich is the only resident of the Allianz Arena after the city's rivals 1860 Munich couldn't pay the rent anymore due to financial struggles. Bayern immediately changed all the seats into a pattern for the club, with its name and giant crest all over the tiers, to make it feel more like home. It's an imposing stadium where fans sit close to the pitch. In the evening, the outside of the arena is beautifully lit up. It's red when Bayern plays there and white when the German national football team plays in the arena.
The Olympiastadion of München is with its famous roof one of the most iconic stadiums in football history. Holy ground for Germans and Dutch people who celebrated their greatest football triumph here. On top of that, it was the home of Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich for many years. For Bayern, it became a little bit outdated, but it still is a monument for the city and sport in general.
The Olympiastadion is situated in the Olympiapark in the north of the city. It's a must-see when you are in Munich. For a couple of euros, you can walk freely in the park and the stadium. Currently, it's the home ground of Türkgücü Munich.
The Marienplatz is the main square of Munich. It's where Bayern Munich celebrates their titles with the fans. Something they've gotten very used to. Traditionally, the players appear on the balcony of the Rathaus, the town hall and the main eye-catcher of the square.
If you walk from the Marienplatz into the Weinstraße, you will find FC Bayern World 80 metres in on your left. It's a seven-storey building with a beautiful fan store, luxurious hotel rooms and two restaurants. You can also spot some great trophies the club has won over the years.
According to some football purists, you will find the most beautiful stadium in Munich in the south: Städtisches Stadion an der Grünwalder Straße. From 1860 to 1972, Bayern played their home matches here. Currently, 1860 Munich is back playing in this gem with its uncovered terracing, as well as the reserve squad of Bayern Munich.
The headquarter of Bayern is on Säbener Straße, not far from Grünwalder Straße. It's where the first team trains and the managing directors of the club work, including Oliver Kahn. Fans can also ask questions at reception, and buy tickets and a new kit here.
Bayern Munich is very popular, so it's not easy to be part of the 75,000 happy 'few' who can attend a home game. You can buy the tickets for home games - if there are places available - on the club's official website. It's essential that you keep an eye on the website. For the matches against smaller teams, there are lots of season ticket holders who give up their place for a particular match. Those spots become available on a ticket exchange on the club's website.
You can also increase your chances by becoming a club member for 60 euros, but this still doesn't guarantee tickets because Bayern has almost 300,000 members.
The Allianz Arena is located about 10 km north of Munich, directly next to junction München-Nord, and is very well reachable from every direction. It doesn't matter if you drive on the A9 or A99, you can impossibly miss the big white arena. From the motor way, the directions are perfectly indicated and lead you to one of the big parking garages.
The U-Bahn also goes to the Allianz Arena. From the city centre, you can take the metro to Garching and then get off the train at Fröttmaning.
Images: Shutterstock, BSR Agency
