Most football fans will have their own grim memories of away trips marred by rail-replacement bus services, dodgy pies, expensive pints and obstructed views but here are five grounds across Europe which won’t disappoint:
Fulham
Let’s kick off with a classic. Fulham’s home, Craven Cottage, is a glorious throwback to the days of wing wizards and chain-smoking goalkeepers and it’s the perfect antidote to the characterless new-build stadiums that dominate the skyline of modern football.
London’s oldest football ground sits on the banks of the River Thames so fans can enjoy a picturesque stroll to the game.
The Johnny Haynes Stand, with its iconic listed facade, is one of many architectural delights at Craven Cottage and the home supporters are renowned as some of the most polite in the English game.
Borussia Dortmund
If Craven Cottage is a touch quaint for your taste then head to Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion for a football-watching experience that’ll really get the blood pumping.
Attending a match in Germany is always a pleasure, from the anarchic punk atmosphere at St Pauli in Hamburg to the grandeur of Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena, but Dortmund’s legendary fans still set the standard.
The famous south stand, which has a capacity of 25,000, is known as ‘The Yellow Wall’ due to its spectacular displays of flags, banners and tifos while the reasonably-priced bratwurst and beer provide visitors with the energy to keep cheering for 90 minutes.
Barcelona
Camp Nou is arguably Europe’s most iconic stadium and is a must-visit for football fans, especially when there’s an evening kick-off.
Treat yourself to a siesta, enjoy some pre-match tapas and drinks, then take your seat in the vertiginous 99,354-capacity ground which has been home to some of the greatest players in history, from Cruyff to Messi, via Maradona, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Xavi and Iniesta.
Even if there isn’t a match on, Camp Nou is well worth a visit for the stadium tour and a museum focusing on Barca’s illustrious history.
Marseille
Like Barcelona, Marseille is a Mediterranean port city where football and food are two of the locals’ top priorities and the ambience at the club’s home ground is one of the most lively on the continent.
The renovated Stade Velodrome is the largest football stadium in France, topped by an eye-catching undulating roof which has significantly improved the acoustics as Marseille’s passionate fans roar on their team.
The fixture against Paris Saint-Germain, known as Le Classique, is the key date in the calendar for OM supporters but clashes with Monaco and Nice are also lively – and, more importantly for visiting fans, Marseille has some of the best seafood restaurants in the whole of France.
Tottenham
Having started this list with London’s oldest ground, we’ll finish with the ultra-modern Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which opened to great fanfare in April 2019.
Among the features proudly unveiled by the club were a retractable pitch, heated seats, an in-house microbrewery and a cheese room, as well as Sky Lounges offering spectators the chance to watch the action from nine floors up.
The much-admired stadium also hosts NFL matches and pop concerts and any concerns over whether the atmosphere could match White Hart Lane were dispelled by a raucous 3-0 derby win for Spurs against Arsenal in May 2022.
