The perfect introduction to the German football experience
- It is the fourth best-supported club in the country, and regularly attracts over 50,000 noisy and passionate fans.
- The atmosphere inside the BORUSSIA-PARK stadium will raise the hairs on the back of your neck.
- You will see very an attractive, high-tempo, attacking style of football.
- The city and ground are really easy to get to – the only tricky thing about going to Mönchengladbach is saying the name.
If you do decide to come and watch Borussia, I hope this short post will help you get the most out of your visit.
Tickets
Many games are completely sold out, so it’s a really good idea to buy tickets before you come to Germany. This will also save you money as your ticket entitles you to free match day travel to and from the ground on local transport.
These are the best ways to get hold of tickets for Borussia Mönchengladbach:
- Use the online ticket shop. Although everything is in German, the ticket portal is easy to use.
- Call the ticket hotline (0039 1806 181900). There will always be someone who can speak to you in English and advise you on the best place to sit.
- Send an email to the club explaining what you want (info@borussia.de).
Getting to Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach’s location makes it very straightforward to get to from outside Germany. It very close to the border with Holland, within easy reach of four airports and part of a reliable, cheap and fully integrated regional public transport system.
If you are coming over for a short visit, flying is the best option, and you can usually get a return flight for about £100.
Düsseldorf Airport
There are flights here from Birmingham, London Stanstead, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow and Newcastle. The airport has a station where you can catch a train to Düsseldorf, from where you can continue to Mönchengladbach.
Weeze Airport
There are flights here from London Stanstead, London Luton and Edinburgh. Regular shuttle buses take you to nearby stations where you can get a train to Düsseldorf.
Cologne Bonn Airport.
There are flights here from London Heathrow, London Stanstead, Manchester and Edinburgh and a station right in the middle of the airport. It’s a bit further away, but there are direct trains to Mönchengladbach.
Eindhoven Airport
Although it’s in Holland, Eindhoven is only 60 miles from Mönchengladbach. There are Ryanair flights here from Manchester and London. You could then continue by hire car. BORUSSIA-PARK is close to the A74 motorway and very easy to find. Or you can travel by train to Venlo and then change for Mönchengladbach.
A more leisurely way to get here would be by train – take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, change there for Cologne and then continue to Mönchengladbach. This costs about £150.
If you are not in a hurry, National Express will take you from London to the region by bus for about £40 return. But be prepared for a very long journey!
Mönchengladbach is on the western edge of an integrated public transport system managed by an organisation called VRR. You can use VRR tickets on any regional and local train, tram, underground and bus across the entire network. The VRR website explains in English how it all works.
And remember – on match days your ticket entitles you to free travel to and from the ground across the entire region.
Where to stay
The big advantage of staying in Mönchengladbach is that you can enjoy the build-up to the game, don’t need to rush off after the final whistle and you can mix with Borussia fans in the evening.
The B&B Hotel is very reasonably priced and just behind the station. On match days, it is full of German, Dutch and British Borussia fans.
Slightly more upmarket establishments include the Leonardo Hotel and the Dorint Park Hotel are a bit more expensive.
For anyone looking for a wider choice of things to do and places to go before and after the football, Düsseldorf is only 35 minutes away by train. There are hotels there to match every budget. The Düsseldorf Tourist Information Office provides advice and a booking facility here.
Before the game
There is a large bus station In front of the station in a square called Europaplatz. On your right, you will see a pub called Humboldt-Schänke. This is a popular meeting place for Borussia Mönchengladbach fans.
Getting to the ground
BORUSSIA-PARK is a long way from the city centre, but getting there is not a problem. On match days, shuttle buses take fans to the ground from behind Mönchengladbach station. This service also picks fans up outside Rheydt station (opposite Platform 4). The same buses take you back into town after the game.
I would advise you to travel to the ground well before kick-off. This will give you time to visit the FanHaus and the beer garden.
The FanHaus is just beyond the carparks at the southern end of the stadium. It is run by and for the fans. It has bars, food outlets, TV screens, music as well as indoor and outdoor seating areas. On matchdays, it is heaving with fans of all ages eating Bratwurst, drinking beer, singing and chanting. Look out for the Liverpool bar, which celebrates a longstanding friendship between fans of the two clubs.
Inside BORUSSIA-PARK
Unlike many Bundesliga grounds, you can use cash to buy food and drink inside the ground. There are outlets on every level and block selling soft drinks, beer, tea and coffee, as well as a wide variety of fast food including, of course, chips and sausage.
You do need to pay a one euro deposit for your beer glass, which you can get back at the end of the game.
After the game
It is well worth staying after the final whistle to see the players salute the crowd, and perhaps to have one last beer. If you are staying in Mönchengladbach, you will have no problem finding somewhere to eat and drink in the Alter Markt, or the nearby old town.
More posts you might find interesting
Making the most of your football trip: starting from Düsseldorf
The German Ruhrgebiet: perfect destination for the football traveller
Find out more about German football
Books about German football
