Football trip Paris

Paris is one of the easiest football destinations on this list, and that comes down to the train. You get on in London and step off two and a half hours later in the middle of the city. No airport, no waiting around, no transfer.

At almost 48.000 seats the Parc des Princes is smaller than you would expect from a club of this size. That is its charm: the stands are close to the pitch and the noise stays in. The ultras on the Auteuil end provide the atmosphere, with banners and singing that carry on through the whole match.

The club has been talking about a bigger stadium or a rebuild for years. Until any of that is settled, matches are played here.

Paris around it needs no explanation. The point is that a match fits in easily here: you can do the city during the day and go to the ground in the evening, without it becoming an expedition.

The stadiums

The Parc des Princes is in the sixteenth arrondissement, in the west of the city, with two metro stations within walking distance. From the centre it takes about half an hour.

At 47.929 it is more intimate than most grounds of this size. The stands rise steeply and sit close to the pitch, which holds the noise in. The Virage Auteuil is the end the atmosphere comes from.

There is also a tour with a museum, bookable separately and running on non-match days as well.

Note: at PSG tickets are often issued in the holder's name and this is checked. That is more strictly enforced than in many other countries.

When is the best time to go?

Ligue 1 runs from mid-August to the end of May. Most matches are on Saturday or Sunday evening, kicking off between seven and nine.

Dates and times are confirmed some weeks beforehand. That is comparable to Spain and Italy, so shorter notice than in England.

The advantage of Paris is that a change of kick-off time matters less: by train you can adjust your journey more easily than with a flight.

Practical

The Eurostar from London takes about two and a half hours to the Gare du Nord, in the middle of the city. Flying works too, but with the transfer from Charles de Gaulle you are often no quicker.

The most pleasant places to stay are the ninth or tenth arrondissement if you want to be near the Gare du Nord, or Saint-Germain if you prefer to be central. From either it is about half an hour to the ground by metro.

Buy a day ticket or pay contactless on the metro; buying single tickets wastes time.

Bring photo identification. At PSG tickets are often issued in the holder's name and this is checked at the turnstile.

Frequently asked questions about a football trip to Paris