Bayern Munich is on and off the pitch a club of absolute world class, and a must for everyone who likes southern German culture. A visit to the Allianz Arena is a combination of top football and good Bavarian beers, you can't make us much happier.
After initially a lot of scepsis, the Bayern fans have embraced the three-tier arena in the meantime. Bayern Munich is the only resident since 2017, after the financially struggling city rivals of 1860 Munich couldn't pay the rent anymore. Bayern changed the seats immediately in a pattern for the club, with the club's name and a giant crest all over the tiers, to make it more of a home for FC Bayern. An imposing stadium, where the fans sit close to the pitch. During evening matches, the outside of the arena is beautifully lit up, with the color depending of the home team: red for Bayern, white for the German national team.
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, and above that, for many years the home of Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich. For Bayern it might had become a little bit outdated, it still is a monument for the city and sport in general.
The Olympiastadion is situated on the Olympiapark in the north of the city, and a must-see when you are in Munich. For a couple of euros you can walk freely in the park and the stadium.
And if you see want to see football there: third level Türkgücü Munich play their home games in the Olympiastadion these days. As massive as the finals in the En voor wie er per se nog een keer voetbal wil zien: Türkgücü München speelt er vandaag de dag haar thuiswedstrijden op het derde Duitse niveau.
The Marienplatz is the central square of the city where Bayern Munich almost every year appears to celebrate the league title with the fans, traditionally on the balcony of the Rathaus, the town hall and eye-catcher of the square.
Walk from the Marienplatz into the Weinstraße, where you have after 80 meters on your left hand the in 2020 opened FC Bayern World: a seven-storey building with a beautiful fan store, luxurious hotel rooms and two restaurants. You can also marvel some great trophies won by the club over the years.
In the south of Munich there's according to some purists the most beautiful stadium of of the city, the Städtisches Stadion an der Grünwalder Straße. At this Grünwalder Straße played Bayern and 1860 their home matches until 1972, when the Olympiastadion was completed. Currently, 1860 is back in this gem with its uncovered terracing, and also the reserve squad of Bayern plays here.
During the week, the head quarter of the club lays at the Säbener Straße, not far from the Grünwalder Straße. The first team trains here and the managing direction of the club sits here. Also Oliver Kahn, managing director of Bayern has his office here. It's also a place where the fans can come for service questions, ticket sales and a new kit.
Bayern Munich is very popular, and 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 official website of the club. 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, whereafter the ticket becomes available on a ticket exchange on the club's website.
You can also increase your chances by becoming club member for 60 euros, but no tickets guaranteed than either: Bayern Munich 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 good 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.
Also the U-Bahn goes to the Allianz Arena: take from the city centre the metro to Garching and get off the train at Fröttmaning.
Images: Shutterstock, BSR Agency
