If you’re planning a trip to watch a Fortuna Düsseldorf match this guide will help you find your way to Merkur Spiel Arena with ease and enjoyment.
The Merkur Spiel Arena, with a capacity of over 54,000, is one of Germany’s most impressive football stadiums. Situated in the Stockum district, the arena is well-connected and accessible through various means of transportation. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to reach the stadium, covering public transportation options, driving routes, parking facilities and even how to reach the stadium by foot.
Getting to Düsseldorf
By Air
Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) is the closest major airport to Merkur Spiel Arena, located approximately 4 kilometres from the stadium. As one of Germany’s busiest airports, it offers numerous international and domestic flights, making it a convenient entry point for sports travelers. You can find flights to Düsseldorf via Expedia.
From the airport, you have several options to reach the arena:
A taxi ride from the airport to the arena takes around 10 minutes and costs approximately €15-20.
Another option is to take the S11 train to Unterrath station and take the E730 bus to the stadium. Another way would be to take a train from the Düsseldorf Flughafen train station to the Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof and then take the U78 train from there.
By Car
For those sports travelers who prefer driving, Düsseldorf is well-connected by an extensive network of autobahns (motorways). The A44 and A52 highways provide direct routes to the city. Follow these steps to reach Merkur Spiel Arena by car:
- From the north: Via the A52 and A3 motorways
- From the west via the A44 and A57 motorways
- From the south via the A57 and A59 motorways
The grounds of the Düsseldorf International Trade Fair Centre (Messe Düsseldorf) are located in the immediate vicinity of the Merkur Spiel-Arena. Merkur Spiel-Arena and Messe Düsseldorf are clearly signposted throughout the city and well in advance of you reaching the city.
From the A44 motorway, the motorway exit AS 29 Messe-Nord/Stadion or Messe-Nord/Arena leads directly to the large car parks at the Merkur Spiel-Arena
Parking Facilities
The car parks around the stadium have space for 18,000 cars.
You should follow the signs to car park P1. Parking there costs 5,00€ for the home games of Fortuna Düsseldorf. From there you can reach the north-west entrance.
Public Transportation
Düsseldorf has a highly efficient public transportation system with buses, local trains, underground trains and trams connecting the various parts of the city.
Match tickets for Fortuna Düsseldorf games include free public transportation within the entire local transport region, which encompasses all of Düsseldorf and its surroundings. This means there’s no need to purchase a separate public transport ticket.
The local transport region covers cities as far north as Essen, Duisburg, Dortmund and Bochum. If you are traveling to and from Cologne you will need to buy a separate ticket. You can view a map of the VRR region here.
Here’s how you can use public transport to reach the Merkur Spiel Arena:
By Train
Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) is a major rail hub with extensive connections across Germany and Europe.
There are direct trains to major German cities, like Berlin (5 hours), Frankfurt (2 hours), Munich (5 hours) and Hamburg (4 hours) run by the Deutsche Bahn company. There are also trains to Düsseldorf from international destinations like Paris (4 hours), Brussels (3 hours) and also an overnight train to Vienna (13 hours). All trains include wifi access. I recommend including a seat reservation if you are travelling long distances as the trains can get busy.
If you are looking to save money with train travel from other parts of Germany you can book with another train provider, Flixtrain. The Flixtrain is often a lot cheaper than the Deutsche Bahn, if you book early enough you can even get tickets for 3 Euros. Destinations include Hamburg and Berlin.
Once you arrive at the Hauptbahnhof, you can easily reach the Merkur Spiel Arena by local transport.
U-Bahn (Underground)
The U78 line is the most direct route to the arena, with the Merkur Spiel Arena/Messe Nord station located right next to the stadium. The U78 line runs frequently, especially on match days, providing a hassle-free journey for football travelers. The line runs from the Hauptbahnhof (main station) and from the Heinrich Heine Allee stations. The journey takes about 20 minutes.
The simplest way to reach the stadium is by taking the U78 underground train from the city centre to the “MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA/Messe-Nord” stop, which takes about 20 minutes.
Another convenient option, especially when the U78 is crowded, is to take the U79 train to Freiligrathplatz and then walk for ten minutes from there. ##My guide to pubs near the stadium includes details of where to get a drink near Freiligrathplatz.##
After the games, the U78 departs from the station every 2.5 minutes. These trains can get quite crowded so I recommend staying inside the ground for another drink and waiting for the crowds to disperse.
Bus
On match day the following bus services will start 2 hours before the start of each match and run until the start of the match:
- Additional bus line U78 between Theodor-Heuss-Brücke and the Merkus Spiel Arena every 15 minutes. The route is the same as the Underground train line and the stops are at the same places.
- Additional line E730 between Unterrath S-Bahn station and Arena
Taxi
After the game you might want to consider getting a taxi back to the city centre. Taxis can be found directly at the MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA/Messe Nord railway station on Heinz-Ingenstau-Straße. A taxi back to the city centre will cost around 30 Euros.
By Bike/Scooter
Traveling to the Merkur Spiel Arena by bike or scooter might actually be the easiest and convenient way.
You can travel along the side of the River Rhine from the Düsseldorf Altstadt to the stadium. The journey will take about 15 minutes. If you do take this mode of transport to the match make sure to stop off at the Fortuna Büdchen – pub near Merkur Spiel Arena on the way.
There are hundreds of places to secure your bike or scooter outside the stadium, especially near the MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA/Messe Nord railway station.
Walk
I’ve walked to the stadium a few times from the Düsseldorf Altstadt. On a sunny day it can be a really nice walk along the River Rhine directly to the Merkur Spiel Arena. If you are the kind of sports traveler who likes to get exercise when traveling for sports then this is a great way to combine the two! The walk from the Altstadt to the Merkur Spiel Arena takes about an hour.
Overall
By following this guide, you’ll find it easy to navigate your way to the Merkur Spiel Arena whether you’re flying in, taking the train, driving, using public transportation or even walking! Remember to plan ahead, arrive early, and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Düsseldorf. If you look for other travel tips for Fortuna Düsseldorf match at Merkur Spiel Arena, check out our website. Enjoy the match and the unique experience of German football at its finest! F95 ole!!
