Things to do · Football
Football tickets in Europe
A Saturday at Anfield, a late kick-off at the Bernabéu, a derby at San Siro. How to get tickets for the big leagues and the Champions League, and how to plan the trip around them.
Matchday
Ninety minutes on the pitch, a whole weekend around it.
The best football trips are city breaks with a soundtrack. You fly in on Friday, walk the city on Saturday morning and follow the scarves to the stadium in the afternoon. The match is the reason, but the weekend is the memory.
Where to watch football in Europe
Premier League tickets. The 3pm Saturday ritual in England, from Anfield to the Emirates. Kick-offs move for TV, so book flexible.
La Liga tickets. Real Madrid, Barcelona and kick-offs at nine in the evening. Times are set about ten days ahead.
Serie A tickets. San Siro, the Milan derby and Roma at the Olimpico. Bring ID, Italian tickets are named.
Champions League tickets. Midweek nights under the floodlights, with fixed dates you can plan around.
Champions League final tickets. The Metropolitano in Madrid, Saturday 5 June 2027.
San Siro, Milan
Two clubs, one stadium and a home game almost every weekend.
How football tickets work
Big European clubs sell most of their seats to season-ticket holders and members. What is left often goes in minutes. For a visitor there are three routes: a club membership, which gives access to face-value tickets but no guarantee; official hospitality, which costs more but includes a seat and often food; or a ticket reseller, where the seat is confirmed but the price is set by the market.
When to book
League matches are scheduled for a weekend, but the exact day and time are set later: a few weeks ahead in England and Italy, about ten days ahead in Spain. Book flights and a hotel with free cancellation for the whole weekend, and buy the ticket once the time is confirmed. Champions League dates are fixed from the start of the season.
Plan the trip
Our travel guides help with the rest: a football trip to England, a football weekend in London and a football trip to Liverpool.
Football tickets: FAQ
How do I buy football tickets in Europe?
Through the club's membership scheme, official hospitality or a ticket reseller. Members get face-value tickets but no guarantee for the big games. Hospitality and resellers confirm the seat at a higher price.
Which league is easiest to get tickets for?
Serie A and La Liga outside the very biggest clubs are usually easier than the Premier League. In England demand is high almost everywhere, and the top clubs rarely have general sale.
When are kick-off times confirmed?
A few weeks ahead in the Premier League and Serie A, about ten days ahead in La Liga. Champions League dates are fixed from the start of the season, with kick-off at 18:45 or 21:00 Central European Time.
Do I need ID to go to a match?
In Italy, yes: tickets are named and checked at the gate. In Spain some clubs check too, and Champions League finals always do. Bring your passport or ID card to every match abroad.
Can I see two matches in one weekend?
Yes, especially in London, Manchester and Madrid, where several clubs play in the same city. Check the confirmed kick-off times first, then plan the weekend around them.
