UEFA Champions League trips
Europe
Plan your Champions League trip
Compare tickets, flights and hotels in one search.
The UEFA Champions League is club football's biggest prize. 36 clubs compete in the league phase (since 2024) before knockout rounds and the May final, with European nights producing some of the best atmospheres in the sport.
This guide covers how to plan a Champions League trip — when fixtures land, which knockout ties to target and how to approach the final.
Stadium information
- Capacity
- Varies by host — Camp Nou (post-renovation) at ~105,000 will be the largest UCL venue
- Opened
- Various — competition founded 1955, rebranded Champions League 1992
European nights elevate every ground — the UEFA anthem, two-legged drama and the prospect of progression create some of football's loudest moments.
Nearby airports
Varies by host city (—)
All major UCL cities have international airports with direct European routes.
Where to stay
Central districts of host cities
Easy transport to the stadium and post-match nightlife.
Near the ground
Walk back after late kick-offs — important on European nights.
Tickets
Each club controls tickets for its home leg, usually through membership ballots. Away allocations are typically 5% of the host stadium's capacity.
Hospitality packages are the easiest way for travelling fans to guarantee seats. The Champions League final is sold partly via UEFA lottery and partly via the competing clubs.
The new format
Since 2024 the Champions League uses a single league phase: 36 clubs, eight matches each against eight different opponents. The top eight progress directly to the round of 16; clubs ranked 9-24 play a two-legged play-off; the rest are eliminated.
This format creates more high-profile matches in the autumn and a clearer race for top-eight seedings, then a traditional knockout from February onwards.
Planning a UCL trip
League-phase fixtures fall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in September, October, November, January (with a December break in some years). Knockouts run February-May, with the final in late May or early June.
Book flights as soon as fixtures are confirmed — the draw determines who plays whom, and prices to hot destinations (Madrid, Munich, Milan, Paris) move fast.
FAQs
How many teams play in the Champions League?+
36 clubs in the league phase under the format adopted in 2024.
When is the Champions League final?+
Late May or early June each season — the host city is announced 2-3 years in advance.
How do I get Champions League final tickets?+
Via the UEFA fan lottery, your club's allocation if competing, or accredited hospitality partners.
When are league-phase matches played?+
Tuesdays and Wednesdays in September, October, November and January.
Which Champions League trip is best for first-timers?+
Knockout-round ties at Anfield, the Bernabéu, the Allianz Arena or Signal Iduna Park are the headline experiences.
Related guides
Plan your Champions League trip
Compare tickets, flights and hotels in one search.