Rising out of the Fröttmaning fields on Munich’s northern edge, Allianz Arena is impossible to mistake for anything else — a glowing, inflated bubble of a stadium that has become as much a symbol of the city as the Frauenkirche or the Marienplatz. It’s been the home of FC Bayern Munich since 2005, and one of Europe’s most-visited football venues for anyone planning a trip to a match, a stadium tour, or simply to see the facade light up after dark.
This guide covers everything: capacity and seating, the meaning behind the arena’s color-changing skin, how to buy tickets for matches, tours, and the museum, current opening hours and bag rules, and the practical details of parking and public transport for a matchday or museum visit.
Quick Answer
Allianz Arena is FC Bayern Munich’s 75,024-capacity home stadium in the Fröttmaning district of Munich, opened in 2005 and famous for its outer shell of 2,760 illuminated ETFE panels that glow red for Bayern, blue for former co-tenant TSV 1860, and white for Germany internationals. The easiest way to visit is via U-Bahn line U6 to Fröttmaning station, and tickets for matches, the Arena Tour, and the FC Bayern Museum are sold through the club’s official ticketing channels; the stadium and museum are open daily except on Bayern home matchdays and a handful of public holidays.
What Do Allianz Arena’s Colors Mean?
The stadium’s nickname among locals, der Schlauchboot (“the dinghy” or “inflatable boat”), pokes fun at the puffy, air-filled look of its diamond-shaped ETFE cushions. Each of the 2,760 panels is fitted with its own lighting system, letting the entire building change color depending on who’s playing: red for FC Bayern Munich, blue for TSV 1860 Munich during the years the two clubs shared the ground, and white for German national team fixtures.
It was the first stadium in the world built with a full color-changing exterior, a solution architects Herzog & de Meuron devised specifically so two rival Munich clubs could each feel the arena was genuinely “theirs” on their respective matchdays. Today the facade is also lit for special occasions — pink for Bayern’s women’s team, rainbow colors for LGBTQ+ awareness campaigns, and various one-off displays for concerts and civic events.
Tickets, Tours, Museum Prices & Opening Hours
Beyond matchdays, Allianz Arena is open to visitors year-round for guided Arena Tours and the adjoining FC Bayern Museum, which sits inside the stadium itself. The standard combined ticket covers a roughly 75-minute guided walk through the players’ tunnel, dressing rooms, and pitch-side areas plus full museum access; pricing is tiered by age, with a cheaper family rate for two adults traveling with children, and an optional audio guide add-on for the museum. Visitors who only want the trophy-filled museum without the guided stadium walk can buy a lower-priced museum-only ticket instead.
On non-match days the arena and museum typically open mid-morning and close in the early evening, with the last admission around 45 minutes before closing; both are closed on Bayern home matchdays and on select holidays around Christmas and New Year. Because exact prices, time slots, and seasonal hours are updated periodically, treat this as the general pattern and check the official Allianz Arena tours and museum page or the FC Bayern Museum site for today’s exact prices, hours, and available tour times before you go.
Match tickets are a separate product from tour tickets and are sold through FC Bayern’s official ticket shop, with club members typically getting priority access before general sale; buying only through official channels is the safest way to avoid inflated resale prices or invalid tickets on matchday.
Matchday Bag Policy & Security
Allianz Arena runs airport-style security on matchdays, and bag size is tightly restricted: backpacks, fabric bags, plastic bags, and gym bags are generally limited to roughly A4 size (about 21 x 30 cm), with larger bags refused at the gate rather than held for collection. Liquids, glass and plastic bottles, cans, thermoses, and similar containers are also prohibited, so plan to buy drinks inside once you’ve passed the checkpoints.
Arrive with the smallest bag you can manage and expect a physical search at the turnstiles. Because entry rules and permitted-item lists are updated for high-security fixtures like Champions League nights or international tournaments, confirm the current matchday rules on the official Allianz Arena entrance-controls page before you travel.
A Stage for Football’s Biggest Occasions
Allianz Arena has hosted some of the most prestigious matches in world football. Six games were played here during the 2006 FIFA World Cup — for which, due to FIFA’s sponsorship rules, the stadium was temporarily rebranded FIFA WM-Stadion München since Allianz was not an official tournament partner. In 2012 the stadium staged the UEFA Champions League Final, the rare occasion where Bayern Munich competed for European glory on their own pitch. The arena repeated that feat in May 2025, when Paris Saint-Germain defeated Inter Milan 5–0 in front of 64,327 spectators to claim PSG’s first European Cup.
UEFA Euro 2024 brought six matches to Munich, including a round of 16 tie and a semifinal, and the stadium also hosted four games at the pandemic-delayed UEFA Euro 2020. In 2022 and 2024 it staged NFL regular-season games as part of the NFL International Series, underlining how the venue’s scale and infrastructure can accommodate virtually any major event.
Architecture and Engineering
Construction began in October 2002 and the finished building covers 258 metres in length and 227 metres in width, standing 50 metres tall. The outer membrane of independently lit ETFE cushions was a collaboration between Herzog & de Meuron and engineering firm Arup, producing a design unlike anything in world football at the time — and still widely imitated by newer stadiums.
Every one of the 75,024 seats is sheltered by the roof, protecting fans from Bavaria’s variable weather while maintaining clear sight lines throughout the bowl. With a domestic capacity of 75,024, it ranks as the second-largest stadium in Germany, behind only the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund; for UEFA and FIFA fixtures, standing terraces convert to seating and capacity drops to roughly 70,000.
Getting to Allianz Arena
Allianz Arena sits north of central Munich in the Fröttmaning district, and public transport is by far the simplest way to reach it. Take U-Bahn line U6 to the Fröttmaning station — from Marienplatz in the city center the ride takes around 15-16 minutes — then follow the signed walking route across the Fanwelt Esplanade to the stadium, roughly a 15-20 minute walk from the platform. On matchdays, trains run more frequently and extra staff direct the crowds, so allow extra time regardless.
Driving is straightforward too: take the A9 motorway to exit 73 (München-Fröttmaning-Süd) or the A99 to exit 12b (München-Fröttmaning-Nord), both of which feed directly into the stadium’s car parks. Because exact timetables, matchday road closures, and shuttle bus details change by event, always check the official arrival and travel page before you set off.
Parking at Allianz Arena
The stadium sits above one of Europe’s largest underground car parks, with space for around 9,800 vehicles, plus additional surface lots to the north and south. On non-matchdays, visitors to the FC Bayern Museum or Arena Tour typically use the north car park, a short 7-10 minute walk from the entrance; matchday parking follows a different layout, with lots opening several hours before kickoff and closing once the crowds have cleared.
Rates are modest but do change over time and vary between matchdays, non-matchdays, and event days like concerts, so rather than quote figures that go stale, check current parking prices and opening times directly on the official Allianz Arena travel and parking page.
Allianz Arena Munich FAQs
How much does the Allianz Arena tour cost?
The combined Arena Tour and FC Bayern Museum ticket is sold in tiered adult, child, and family rates, with a cheaper museum-only option if you skip the guided stadium walk. Prices are adjusted periodically, so check the official Allianz Arena tours page for today’s exact rates before booking.
What are Allianz Arena’s opening hours?
On non-match days the stadium and FC Bayern Museum are typically open from mid-morning until early evening, with last admission around 45 minutes before closing. Both are closed on Bayern home matchdays and on select holidays around Christmas and New Year, so confirm the current schedule on the official site.
Can I bring a backpack or bag into Allianz Arena on matchday?
Only small bags are allowed — roughly A4 size (about 21 x 30 cm) or smaller. Larger backpacks, non-transparent bags, and liquids or bottles are prohibited and will be refused at the security checkpoint, so travel light on matchday.
What do the colors on Allianz Arena mean?
The 2,760 illuminated ETFE panels covering the exterior change color depending on the fixture: red for FC Bayern Munich, blue for former co-tenant TSV 1860 Munich, and white for German national team matches. It was the first stadium in the world designed with a fully color-changing facade.
How do I get to Allianz Arena from central Munich?
Take U-Bahn line U6 to Fröttmaning station, about 15-16 minutes from Marienplatz, then walk roughly 15-20 minutes along the signed Fanwelt Esplanade route to the stadium. Driving is also easy via the A9 (exit 73) or A99 (exit 12b), both of which lead directly into the stadium’s car parks.
How many people does Allianz Arena hold?
Allianz Arena’s domestic capacity is 75,024, making it the second-largest stadium in Germany after Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion. For UEFA and FIFA matches, standing terraces convert to seating and capacity drops to roughly 70,000.
Is Allianz Arena open to visit on non-match days?
Yes. The Arena Tour and FC Bayern Museum run daily outside of Bayern home matchdays, letting visitors walk the players’ tunnel, dressing rooms, and pitch-side areas and explore the club’s trophy collection even when there’s no game.
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