Chelsea fans’ guide to Paris

While our International Ground Guide is undergoing some maintenance, we thought we’d provide our usual service of advice and information for travelling supporters in brief blog form.

Once up and running again our ground guide will cover all manner of information from travel options to hotel advice, eating and drinking suggestions to practical tips on getting around, along with safety and security advice and anything else we think will be of use to travelling supporters. 

In the meantime, while the below might not necessarily have all the information you’ll be after if you’re heading out to Italy this week, we’re always available to help – just drop us an email if you have any questions.

We’ll do our best to find out what you need to know, either from our own vast experience in covering England and Wales games abroad, or from our friends at Football Supporters Europe.

About the Ground

Paris Saint-Germain moved into the Parc des Princes in 1973, with the stadium playing host to the European Cup final between Bayern Munich and Leeds United two years’ later, and played host to six games during the World Cup in 1998. The stadium has a current capacity of just under 48,000. 

Chelsea fans should be familiar with the ground, having played there as recently as 2013/14 season. 

Getting There

If coming from the southern section of the Périphérique, take exit D910/Boulogne (in the tunnel). Turn left at the end of the ramp (you will already see the stadium) onto the Avenue de la Porte de Saint-Cloud and then the first right onto the Rue du Commandant Guilbaud. If coming from the north, take the exit towards Boulogne/Avenue de la Porte de Saint-Cloud, and then turn right on top of the ramp.

For those supporters using Metro services, Porte de Saint-Cloud on line nine lies a five-minute walk away from the stadium. Line nine passes right through the Parisian city centre and connects with multiple other lines.

Alternatively, you can take line 10 and get off at Porte d’Auteuil, which is a slightly longer walk from the stadium. Line 10 connects the stadium with various stops on the south bank.

• from Paris Gare Du Nord Eurostar Terminal, take Metro line 4 to Strasbourg-Saint-Denis, then Metro line 9 to Porte de Saint Cloud
• from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, take RER B to Gare du Nord, then Metro line 4 to Strasbourg-Saint-Denis and Metro line 9 to Porte de Saint Cloud
• from Paris Beauvais airport, take the coach to Porte Maillot, then Metro line 1 to Franklin-Roosevelt and Metro line 9 to Porte de Saint Cloud

Porte de Saint-Cloud station is also served by buses 22, 62 and 72, while Porte d’Auteuil is served by buses 32 and 52. All buses run through the city centre on different routes.

Matchday Information

• All official Chelsea supporters (except VIPs and sponsors) will enter the stadium via Avenue de la Porte de Saint-Cloud and will be seated in stands 101-102 and 301-302
• Full body searches will be carried out by French police. Due to the current security level threat, the process will be thorough and time consuming
• No left-luggage facilities available. Leave your articles on the coaches or at your hotel
• Alcohol is banned inside the stadium
• Please note that Chelsea fans will be held back for around 30 minutes while the home supporters disperse
• The stadium opens 3 hours before kick-off, you are advised to arrive well before the start of match as ticket and security checks can take up to an hour to complete before admittance to the visitors’ section
• If you appear drunk you may be refused entry to the stadium

If you get into trouble while in Paris, you can get the British Consulate on the details below: