Stade de France opened on 28 January 1998 in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris, and quickly established itself as the centerpiece of French sport. Built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup at a cost of €364 million, the stadium holds 81,338 spectators for football and rugby matches, making it the largest in France.
Beyond match days, Stade de France is one of the most visited sports venues in Europe, with daily guided tours, a museum, and easy access by metro and RER from central Paris. This guide covers everything you need to plan a visit—tour prices and hours, getting there, parking, and seating—alongside the stadium’s World Cup, rugby, and Olympic history.
Quick Answer
Stade de France seats 81,338 for football and rugby (77,083 for athletics) and sits in Saint-Denis, reachable in minutes from central Paris via RER B or D, or Metro Line 13 or 14. On non-event days you can book a 90-minute guided stadium tour that includes the pitch, changing rooms, and the on-site museum; tickets and the exact current schedule are sold through the official Stade de France tour page.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Tours & the Museum
Stadium tours run on days without a scheduled event (tours pause on the eve of and on event days themselves). Tours last about 1.5 hours and follow the same route used by players and performers: the players’ tunnel, dressing rooms, pitch-side access, and a climb through the stands, finishing in the on-site museum. The museum’s permanent exhibition covers the stadium’s history from its construction through the events it has hosted, displaying items such as match-worn shirts, medals, and stage props from concerts held there.
Tour departure times shift with the season and are generally offered in French several times a day, with dedicated English-language tour slots at specific times of day depending on the time of year. As of this writing, official adult tour pricing sits in the mid-teens of euros, with reduced rates for ages 5–18 and a family rate for two adults and two children; children under 5 go free. Because schedules, languages, and prices change seasonally and tours close entirely around fixtures, always confirm the current lineup and buy tickets in advance through the official Stade de France website rather than third-party resellers.
Match and concert tickets for events at Stade de France are sold separately from the stadium tour, either directly through the event organizer (for example the French Football Federation or French Rugby Federation for internationals) or through the stadium’s own ticketing partners linked from its official site.
How to Get to Stade de France
The fastest routes from central Paris are by RER: RER B to La Plaine–Stade de France takes about 4 minutes from Gare du Nord (around 8 minutes from Châtelet–Les Halles), and RER D to Stade de France–Saint-Denis takes about 5 minutes from Gare du Nord (around 9 minutes from Châtelet). By Metro, Line 13 serves Saint-Denis–Porte de Paris, Line 12 serves Front Populaire, and Line 14 runs to the Stade de France–Pleyel station, all within a 10–30 minute ride depending on your starting point; tram Lines 1 and 8 also stop nearby.
Cyclists can reach the stadium from northern Paris via dedicated cycle paths in roughly 20 minutes. Free, self-service bike parking for around 1,000 bikes is available on Rue de Brennus, less than 200 metres from the stadium, with several additional bike-share stations and fee-based secure lockers at nearby RER stations.
Parking at Stade de France
The stadium’s official car parks (lots P1, P2, and P3) accommodate vehicles up to about 2 to 2.1 metres in height and open from 8 a.m. until 1 a.m. for evening events, or until 9 p.m. for daytime matinee events. Parking tickets must be bought online in advance—none are sold at the gate on event day—so drivers should reserve a space before travelling. Motorcycles have covered parking areas, plus free on-street motorcycle parking near lot P4 and along Rue Henri Delaunay.
By car, the stadium is accessed from the A1 motorway (exit signposted ‘Stade de France’) or the A86 motorway (exit signposted ‘Saint-Denis–La Plaine Stade de France’). Given limited on-site capacity relative to a sold-out crowd, public transport is generally the more reliable option on event days.
Seating Chart & Categories
Stade de France’s bowl is divided into numbered stands arranged around the pitch, with tickets typically sold in categories (1 through 4, plus premium hospitality tiers) based on proximity to the pitch and sightline quality—lower-tier seats closest to the halfway line command the highest category, while upper-tier and corner seats are priced lower. The stadium’s own ‘Where’s My Seat’ tool lets ticket holders enter their stand, row, and seat number to preview the exact view before attending.
Because the lower tier is retractable (see the architecture section below), sightlines for football and rugby differ slightly from the athletics configuration, when that tier slides back to reveal the running track and the front rows are set further from the pitch.
Iconic Moments in the Stadium’s History
Stade de France was christened on 28 January 1998 with a friendly between France and Spain, but its defining moment arrived five months later when it hosted the 1998 FIFA World Cup final. A crowd of around 75,000 watched Zinédine Zidane head in two goals as France lifted the trophy for the first time.
The stadium has since welcomed three UEFA Champions League finals—2000, 2006, and 2022—plus the Rugby World Cup finals of 2007 and 2023. During UEFA Euro 2016, it hosted both the opening match and the final. The 2024 Paris Olympics brought another celebrated chapter: Stade de France staged Olympic athletics and rugby sevens, featuring a purple running track designed as a nod to the stadium’s host city. The stadium also hosted the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Architecture and Unique Features
Stade de France features a distinctive elliptical roof that covers all 81,338 seats while leaving the playing surface open to natural light. One of its most innovative engineering elements is a retractable lower stand: the 25,000-seat tier can slide toward the pitch for football and rugby matches, then retract to reveal the athletics track beneath—allowing the venue to switch configurations without reconstructing the seating bowl.
The hybrid grass pitch measures 119 metres by 75 metres and is maintained to the highest standards for international competition. This flexible design has made Stade de France one of the most versatile major venues in Europe, equally capable of hosting a Champions League final, a Six Nations decider, or a sold-out concert by global headliners.
Stade de France visitor guide FAQs
Where is Stade de France located?
Stade de France is located in Saint-Denis, a commune in the Île-de-France region just north of central Paris. It is accessible by Metro Lines 12, 13, and 14, and by RER B and D trains, both within a few minutes of Gare du Nord.
What is the seating capacity of Stade de France?
The stadium holds 81,338 spectators for football and rugby union matches, and 77,083 in athletics configuration when the retractable lower tier slides back to expose the running track.
Can you tour Stade de France without attending an event?
Yes. Guided 90-minute tours run on non-event days and include the pitch, players’ tunnel, dressing rooms, stands, and the on-site museum. Tours are unavailable on the day of an event and the day before, so check the schedule and book ahead via the official site.
How much does a Stade de France stadium tour cost?
As of this writing, adult tour tickets run in the mid-teens of euros, with lower rates for children and a family rate for two adults and two children; under-5s are free. Prices and schedules change seasonally, so confirm current rates on the official Stade de France ticketing page before you go.
What is the best way to get to Stade de France?
Public transport is fastest and most reliable, especially on event days: take RER B to La Plaine–Stade de France or RER D to Stade de France–Saint-Denis, both a few minutes from Gare du Nord, or Metro Line 13, 12, or 14. Driving is possible via the A1 or A86 motorways, but on-site parking must be booked online in advance since none is sold at the gate on event day.
Is there parking at Stade de France?
Yes, the stadium has three official car parks (P1, P2, P3) plus motorcycle parking, but tickets must be purchased online in advance—there is no event-day parking sales at the gate. Lots open from 8 a.m. until 1 a.m. for evening events or 9 p.m. for matinees.
Has Stade de France hosted a FIFA World Cup final?
Yes. On 12 July 1998, Stade de France hosted the FIFA World Cup final in which France defeated Brazil 3–0. It is one of only two stadiums in history to have staged both a FIFA World Cup final and a Rugby World Cup final, alongside Nissan Stadium in Yokohama.
Does Stade de France have a museum?
Yes, a permanent museum exhibition is included with the guided stadium tour, displaying match-worn shirts, medals, and other artifacts from the stadium’s history since its construction.
Get More from Stade de France visitor guide
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Stade de France visitor guide, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.