Olympiastadion Olympic Stadium Self-Guided Visit Tickets Berlin

The Olympiastadion in Berlin-Westend

The Olympiastadion stands in the west of Berlin, in the Westend district, and is the largest stadium in Germany used for international football matches. It was built for the 1936 Summer Olympics, designed by Werner March, and it is instantly recognisable by its huge oval bowl, its natural stone facades and the Marathon Gate with the Olympic rings.

The stadium was renovated between 2000 and 2004 with a translucent roof so it could host the 2006 FIFA World Cup, including the final. Many visitors search for Olympiastadion tickets because the site is one of the great sporting landmarks of Europe and can be visited without needing a match ticket.

History: from 1936 to the World Cup

The 1936 Games are remembered for the athletics of Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals here, and also for the way the Nazi regime used the Olympics as propaganda. Information boards and displays around the stadium explain this complicated history, together with the later story of the stadium after the war.

Since then the arena has hosted the 1974 and 2006 World Cup matches, major athletics meetings and concerts. Today it is a modern venue that still keeps its original architecture, which makes it an interesting place to understand how sport, politics and design have shaped Berlin.

Walking the stands and the pitch views

The self-guided visit lets you move freely around the stadium area and look at the pitch from different blocks, seeing the full capacity of 74,475 seats stretch around you. The pitch is surrounded by the blue athletics track, and the stands give a strong feeling of scale that television never quite captures.

Take your time on the upper levels, where the views over the bowl and the roof are best, and read the information boards along the way. A guided tour is not included in this ticket, so bring your own curiosity and a camera. The Olympiastadion is also where Hertha BSC play, and the club's presence adds to the atmosphere.

Planning your visit and getting there

If you are wondering how to get to the Olympiastadion, take the U2 to Olympia-Stadion, or the S3 or S9 S-Bahn to Olympiastadion, and walk for a few minutes. From central Berlin the journey takes about twenty to thirty minutes. Access can be restricted on match and event days, so check the date you select.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes, because the stadium is open to the weather and the walk around it takes time. Plan on one to two hours. The best time to visit the Olympiastadion is on a dry weekday, when it is quieter and the stands are easy to explore.