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 — verified tour prices and hours, getting there, parking, seating, the bag policy, and accessibility — 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 up to around 100,080 for large concerts) at Place aux Étoiles, 93210 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 — adult tickets are €16, ages 5–18 are €11, and the family rate (2 adults + 2 children) is €44, with children under 5 free — through the official Stade de France tour page.
Stadium Facts at a Glance
Stade de France was designed by architects Michel Macary, Aymeric Zublena, Michel Regembal, and Claude Constantini and built at a cost of €364 million ahead of the 1998 World Cup. Its bowl configuration is what makes it so versatile: the lower tier retracts to reveal an athletics track, allowing the same stadium to host football and rugby internationals (81,338 capacity), track and field (77,083), and, with temporary seating and a field-level standing area, concerts for up to roughly 100,080 people.
The stadium sits at Place aux Étoiles, 93210 Saint-Denis, about 20–30 minutes from central Paris by public transport, and is entirely accessible to visitors with reduced mobility following a multi-year accessibility upgrade completed in 2022 and formally approved in 2023.
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’ changing rooms, the tunnel leading to the pitch, presidential boxes, a climb through the stands, and a stop at the on-site museum, entering through Gate H.
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. Tours run primarily in French, with English, Spanish, German, and Dutch offered on request depending on availability — contact the stadium in advance if you need a specific language.
As of this writing, verified official tour pricing is €16 for adults, €11 for ages 5–18, €44 for a family of two adults and two children, and free for children under 5. Reservations are mandatory and made through the official booking partner linked from the tour page — always buy through the official Stade de France tour site rather than a third-party reseller, since prices and schedules can change seasonally.
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 the official Stade de France website.
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, 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.
Bag Policy & Accessibility
Stade de France enforces a strict bag policy on event days: suitcases and large bags — backpacks over 15 litres, hiking bags, sports bags, and totes — are refused entry outright, though standard backpacks up to 15 litres are permitted. Prohibited items include professional cameras and recording gear, glass bottles and containers, alcohol, tools, and anything that could be used as a projectile or weapon; a free left-luggage point sits to the right of each gate for items you can’t bring in. Rules can shift by event, so check the official prohibited-items page before you travel.
The stadium completed a multi-year accessibility program in 2022, formally approved in 2023, and the visitor route — including the stands, tours, and hospitality areas — is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility, with reserved accessible parking spaces available near the venue.
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, where France beat Brazil 3–0 to lift their first World Cup title. The stadium has since welcomed three UEFA Champions League finals — Real Madrid vs. Valencia in 2000, Barcelona vs. Arsenal in 2006, and Real Madrid vs. Liverpool in 2022 — plus Rugby World Cup matches in 1999, 2007, and 2023, making it one of only two stadiums in the world to have hosted finals of both a FIFA World Cup and a Rugby World Cup.
During UEFA Euro 2016, it hosted seven matches including the opening game and the final, where Portugal beat France 1–0 after extra time. The 2024 Paris Olympics brought another celebrated chapter: Stade de France staged Olympic athletics and rugby sevens, plus the Games’ closing ceremony, featuring a purple running track designed as a nod to the host city.
Stade de France visitor guide FAQs
How much are Stade de France stadium tour tickets?
Verified official pricing is €16 for adults, €11 for ages 5–18, €44 for a family of two adults and two children, and free for children under 5. Always confirm current pricing on the official tour page, since rates can change seasonally.
How do I get to Stade de France from central Paris?
The quickest options are RER B or RER D from Gare du Nord (4–5 minutes to La Plaine–Stade de France or Stade de France–Saint-Denis), or Metro Line 13, 12, or 14, all within a 10–30 minute ride depending on where you start.
What is the capacity of Stade de France?
81,338 for football and rugby, 77,083 in athletics configuration with the running track revealed, and up to roughly 100,080 for large concerts with temporary seating and standing areas added.
Can I visit Stade de France without a match ticket?
Yes. On days without a scheduled event you can book a 90-minute guided tour covering the changing rooms, players’ tunnel, pitch-side access, stands, and the on-site museum, entering through Gate H.
What’s the bag policy at Stade de France?
Large bags, suitcases, and backpacks over 15 litres are refused entry; standard backpacks up to 15 litres are allowed. A free left-luggage point sits beside each gate for items you can’t bring inside.
Is Stade de France accessible for visitors with reduced mobility?
Yes. The stadium completed its accessibility program in 2022, formally approved in 2023, and the stands, tours, and hospitality areas are fully accessible, with reserved accessible parking available.
Where should I park for Stade de France?
Official lots P1, P2, and P3 require tickets bought online in advance — none are sold at the gate — and open from 8 a.m. until 1 a.m. for evening events. Public transport is generally more reliable on event days given limited on-site parking relative to a sold-out crowd.
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