No German stadium experience is complete without a beer and a sausage. - © Gladys Chai von der Laage via www.imago-images.de

bundesliga

Bundesliga stadium experience: Where to get the cheapest beer and Bratwurst?

18.07.2024

After a brilliant summer of football at UEFA Euro 2024, Bundesliga action soon returns to stadiums in Germany. Thinking of planning a trip to immerse yourself in the full German football experience? Then you’ll need our budget-busting guide, including the cheapest stadium beers and sausages…

German football is famously all about the fans. Bundesliga statutes mean that fans have a big say in how clubs are run, with members (i.e. supporters) retaining majority voting rights and fan groups often having direct contact with high-ranking officials in clubs.

That bond between fans and clubs has helped ensure that supporters come first – and that means affordable matchday prices.

The cheapest season tickets for the 2024/25 season are at Hoffenheim (€150) and Wolfsburg (€160) – two clubs who in fact have had historic dispensations from the famous 50+1 rule that sees fans retain overall control – followed by Bayern Munich (€170).

Those are numbers for season tickets. That equates to €10 to watch each of Bayern’s home fixtures in the Bundesliga.

Watch: The Bayern Munich stadium experience

Up at the top end of the scale you get Borussia Dortmund at (just) €271.

Now, with prices starting that low, it’s no surprise that Bundesliga grounds are often sold out, even with Bayern’s Allianz Arena and Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park boasting respective capacities of 75,000 and 81,365. In fact, the day the 2024/25 fixture list was released, the Munich club confirmed that all 34 of their fixtures (home and away) were already oversubscribed.

However, tickets will often still be available to buy, particularly via legitimate re-sale markets offered by clubs, where people who can’t make a game will offer their tickets to others via an official channel.

Watch: The Borussia Dortmund stadium experience

So, you’ve seen the atmosphere on TV, you’ve decided where you want go, you’ve figured out how to get tickets. What about once you’re inside the stadium?

Ask any German and they will tell you that a stadium experience isn’t complete without a Bier und Bratwurst – a beer and a sausage. For many, this is the benchmark for judging a day on the terraces – and remember that you are allowed to drink alcohol in the stands in Germany.

And after saving a good bit on tickets compared to elsewhere, you’ve got a few Euros left over to indulge once you’re through the turnstiles.

Your beer probably won’t be as big as the one used when Bundesliga teams celebrate, but you can still buy by the litre in Munich. - IMAGO/Revierfoto

Based on the latest figures available ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, the average cost of a beer (0.5 litre) around the Bundesliga comes in at just under €5.20, while an accompanying Bratwurst will set you back another €3.80.

Want to upgrade and sample Germany’s famous Currywurst? There you’re looking at about €4.60. A plate of french fries? €3.60. And a soft drink averages about €4.50.

Now, one thing to remember when buying drinks in Germany (not just at the football): Bottles/cups are normally recyclable and therefore come with an extra deposit in the price, to encourage you to return it to be reused, while you get back some of your money.

In a football stadium, this normally means an extra €1 or €2 on top of the advertised price, so don’t be surprised when your €4.90 beer actually costs you €6.90. As long as you keep hold of your plastic cup and return it at designated places, you will get your €2 back.

Clubs will often also allow you to ‘donate’ your cup, with the unclaimed deposit going to charity.

Marco Reus famously paid for the whole Signal Iduna Park crowd’s beers at his final home game for the club. - IMAGO/Kirchner-Media/TH

The list below shows the most recent available prices for beer and a sausage at Bundesliga grounds, plus selected Bundesliga 2 stadiums. Prices are subject to change and may differ on the day.

Bayer Leverkusen (BayArena) – Beer (Bitburger or Früh Kölsch) €4.90, Bratwurst €4.30
VfB Stuttgart (MHPArena) – Beer (Stuttgarter Hofbräu) €5.00, Bratwurst €4.20
Bayern Munich (Allianz Arena) – Beer (Paulaner) €5.50, Bratwurst €5.00
RB Leipzig (Red Bull Arena) – Beer (Ur-Krostitzer) €5.30, Bratwurst €3.90
Borussia Dortmund (Signal Iduna Park) – Beer (Brinkhoff's) €4.90, Bratwurst €3.80
Eintracht Frankfurt (Deutsche Bank Park) – Beer (Binding) €4.70, Bratwurst €3.80
Hoffenheim (PreZero Arena) – Beer (Bitburger) €4.70, Bratwurst €3.90
Heidenheim (Voith-Arena) – Beer (Stuttgarter Hofbräu) €4.00, Bratwurst €3.50
Werder Bremen (Weserstadion) – Beer (Haake-Beck) €5.50, Bratwurst €4.00
Freiburg (Europa-Park Stadion) – Beer (Rothaus) €4.60, Bratwurst €3.30
Augsburg (WWK Arena) – Beer (Riegele) €4.90, Bratwurst €3.50
Wolfsburg (Volkswagen Arena) – Beer (Beck's) €5.30, Bratwurst €4.20
Mainz (MEWA Arena) – Beer (Bitburger) €5.20, Bratwurst €4.10
Borussia Mönchengladbach (Borussia-Park) – Beer (Bitburger and Bolten Altbier) €5.00, Bratwurst €3.90
Union Berlin (Stadion An der Alten Försterei) – Beer (Berliner Pilsner) €5.00, Bratwurst €4.00
Bochum (Ruhrstadion) – Beer (Fiege) €5.20, Bratwurst €4.00
St. Pauli (Millerntor) – Beer (Astra) €5.20, Bratwurst €4.80
Holstein Kiel (Holstein-Stadion) – Beer (Flensburger) €3.50, Bratwurst €2.50
Cologne (RheinEnergieStadion) – Beer (Gaffel Kölsch) €4.90, Bratwurst €4.10
Schalke (Veltins-Arena) – Beer (Veltins) €5.10, Bratwurst €3.30