Budapest fan guide all for the Champions League final

The Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG takes place on Saturday 30 May 2026 at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest. Whether you have a ticket inside the stadium or are planning to soak up the atmosphere in the city, here is everything you need to know before you travel.

Key facts at a glance

Date	Saturday 30 May 2026
Kick-off	18:00 CEST (17:00 BST / 12:00 ET)
Stadium	Puskás Aréna, Budapest, Hungary
Capacity	67,000
Gates open	15:00 local time

Note the earlier-than-usual kick-off time. This final starts at 18:00 CEST — two hours earlier than most Champions League games — so if you are travelling from the UK, that is a 17:00 BST start. Plan your matchday schedule accordingly and make sure you are at the stadium well before 18:00.

Getting to Budapest

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) is around 16 kilometres from the city centre and roughly 25 kilometres from the stadium. Direct flights are available from London, Paris and other major European cities. Budget carriers including Ryanair and Wizz Air (the latter is Hungarian-based) serve Budapest well, though flight prices will be high for the final weekend — book as early as possible.

An alternative worth considering is flying into Vienna (VIE) or Bratislava (BTS) instead. Both cities have high-speed train connections to Budapest, taking around two to two and a half hours, and are often significantly cheaper for flights. Vienna is around two and a half hours from Budapest by train; Bratislava is just over one hour.

Arsenal have arranged a dedicated supporter charter flight from London Luton on the morning of 30 May, returning in the early hours of 31 May. It costs £859 per person and is available to fans who have secured match tickets through the club. Check the official Arsenal website for details.

Getting around Budapest on matchday

The Puskás Aréna is located just east of the city centre, less than one kilometre from Budapest Keleti railway station and around two kilometres from the historic centre. It is one of the most accessible major European stadiums for travelling fans.

Ticket holders will travel free on public transport on matchday (30 May only), including Metro lines 1, 2, 3 and 4, Tram line 1, the Champions Express special bus service between the airport and the city, and the 200E regular bus service from the airport. Download the BudapestGO app before you travel — it is the official way to buy digital transport passes and track the Metro M2 in real time.

Do not plan to drive to or near the stadium. Serious traffic restrictions will be in place on matchday and there is no private parking available at the venue.

Walking from Keleti station to the Puskás Aréna takes around 15 to 20 minutes and is a straightforward route through a manageable part of the city.

Important stadium rules

The Puskás Aréna has a strict bag policy: no bags larger than A4 size (standard paper) will be permitted inside. If you are travelling with a larger bag or backpack, ask your hotel about luggage storage or use the lockers at Keleti station. Arrive early — security checks will be thorough and queues long. Stadium gates open at 15:00, three hours before kick-off, and it is strongly recommended to be inside well before that. Allow at least 45 to 60 minutes for security if arriving close to gates opening.

Non-EU citizens including UK fans should be aware of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which is now active. Expect fingerprints and a photo to be taken at the border, and allow an extra 45 to 60 minutes for immigration queues at the airport.

The UEFA Champions Festival

Even without a match ticket, Budapest will be a fantastic place to be. The UEFA Champions Festival takes place at Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere) from 28 to 31 May, with giant screens showing the final, interactive football activities, food and drink zones, live entertainment and a display of the actual Champions League trophy. The pre-match kick-off show at the stadium starts at 17:45 local time and will be headlined by The Killers.

Where to stay

The best areas to base yourself are District V (the city centre, close to the Danube), District VII (the Jewish Quarter, home to Budapest’s famous ruin bar scene) or District XIV (closest to the Puskás Aréna). Luxury riverside hotels such as the Four Seasons Gresham Palace offer stunning views of the Danube and Chain Bridge, while District VII has a wide range of mid-range and budget options. Expect to pay from €300 per night for a reasonable hotel this close to the final — book immediately if you haven’t already, as prices will only rise.

Where to watch if you don’t have a ticket

Budapest is an excellent city for watching football in a bar. Top options recommended by locals include Jack Doyle’s, a long-established Irish-run pub that feels authentic without losing its Budapest character; Champs, a popular cellar sports bar in the city centre; and 6:3 Borozó, named after Hungary’s famous 6-3 win over England in 1953 and described as one of the oldest football bars in Europe. District VII, centred around the Great Synagogue and Klauzál tér, is the liveliest area for pre-match drinking, with ruin bars and sports pubs spread across the neighbourhood.

Money and payments

Hungary uses the Hungarian Forint (HUF), not the Euro. While many tourist-area businesses accept euros, the exchange rates are often poor. Use a travel-friendly card such as Revolut or Monzo to pay in HUF and get the best rate. Contactless payments are widely accepted across the city.

What to see in Budapest

If you are arriving a day or two before the final — which is strongly recommended to avoid matchday travel chaos — Budapest has plenty to offer. The thermal baths are a Budapest institution: the Széchenyi and Gellért baths are the most famous and both worth a visit. The Buda Castle complex on the west bank of the Danube is a UNESCO World Heritage site with panoramic views across the city. Fisherman’s Bastion, just above the castle, offers some of the best views in central Europe. The Chain Bridge, connecting Buda and Pest across the Danube, is one of the great European landmarks. The Great Market Hall near the Szabadság Bridge is the best place for local food — try the lángos (fried dough with sour cream and cheese) and the chimney cakes.

For football history, the Puskás Museum near the stadium charts the life of Ferenc Puskás, one of the greatest players who ever lived and the man after whom the stadium is named.

Practical tips

Budapest in late May is warm but occasionally rainy — a light jacket is worth packing. English is widely spoken in the tourist areas and around the stadium. A two or three-night trip is ideal to see the city properly alongside the match. Arriving on 28 May gives you a full day to explore before the Champions Festival begins and matchday chaos descends.