Stadion An der Alten Forsterei: Guide for Visiting Fans

The S-Bahn is the obvious answer and the right one. The S3 line departs from Erkner through the woods and the lakeside of Köpenick, travels through the heart of Berlin with stops at Friedrichstraße, Hauptbahnhof, and Olympiastadion, running every 20 minutes, with 10-minute intervals between Erkner and Charlottenburg during weekday peak times. Get off at S Köpenick, then it's roughly a 10-minute walk to the ground through a pleasant stretch of trees. The stadium is around a 10-minute walk from S Köpenick, and a few trams also stop at the named stadium stop on An der Wuhlheide behind Sektor 1. Tram lines 27 and 60 serve the Alte Försterei stop directly if you'd rather skip the walk.

Flying in? Berlin's only commercial airport is Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). All air traffic is concentrated in the southeast of Berlin in Schönefeld in Brandenburg at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), which was built as a location with several terminals. From BER, take the S9 or the Airport Express (FEX) into central Berlin and transfer to the S3 at Ostkreuz or Hauptbahnhof — budget about 60–75 minutes total, door to stadium. The airport station 'Flughafen BER' is located directly under Terminal 1 on level U2.

Driving in is officially possible but practically miserable. Union Berlin advise that from either Autobahn A10 or A100, you should travel on A113 until Abfahrt Berlin-Adlershof, then travel towards Ernst-Ruska-Ufer and later Köpenicker Str. and Glienicker Weg, finally taking a left from Spindlersfelder Str. onto An der Wuhlheide. Rideshare drop-off works but surge pricing hits hard post-game — more on that below.

Don't build your plan around driving. Parking is limited around the stadium, so fans are advised to take public transport. That said, if you insist, fans can try Forum Köpenick (Bahnhofstraße 33–38, 12555 Berlin), which includes a multi-storey car park. It's about a 20-minute walk from there to the ground but significantly easier to exit post-game than anything closer. Park & Ride spaces are also available at the S-Bahnhof of Altglienicke, from which a connection can be taken to the stadium via Schöneweide or Spindlersfeld. Street parking in the surrounding neighborhood fills up fast and the roads around the Wuhlheide get gridlocked after the final whistle. If you drive, commit to arriving 90 minutes early.

Unless you have a specific reason to stay in Köpenick, base yourself in central Berlin and take the S3 out for the match. If you choose to stay in central Berlin, it is a great place to base yourself to explore the rich history and various other stadiums dotted around the city. Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg are your best bets — well-connected to the S-Bahn network, full of good food and nightlife, and priced reasonably by European capital standards. Friedrichshain is arguably the most convenient: it sits directly on the S3 line, puts you in a lively neighborhood full of bars, and shaves 10–15 minutes off your transit time compared to traveling from the west side of the city. Budget travelers should look at the hostels and mid-range hotels around Ostkreuz; splurge-tier visitors will find nice boutique options in Mitte. If you specifically want Köpenick, the old town area around Schloss Köpenick is genuinely charming and walkable to the stadium, with a handful of guesthouses and smaller hotels.

Abseitsfalle Fankneipe (Puchanstraße 12) is the mandatory stop. Abseitsfalle on Hämmerlingstraße is an old school Union pub, just a short walk from the stadium and absolutely guaranteed to be jumping. There is live football inside the bar, as well as a range of Union Berlin memorabilia on the walls. Abseitsfalle is both a café and a bar, with a full menu of coffee drinks, an extensive selection of craft beers, and signature cocktails. Worth noting: some visitor reviews mention it's cash-only, so come prepared.

Union Tanke (on Bahndamm) is the outdoor alternative. Union Tanke is a popular pre-match destination — an outdoor venue with street art commemorating famous matches and players, and if you like a pre-match beer and German sausages, you should visit this place. The whole scene has a block-party energy in decent weather.

Ratskeller Köpenick is the move for a proper sit-down meal before the match. It sits directly opposite the historic Rathaus (town hall) in central Köpenick, dishes up traditional German food, and gives you river views if you land a terrace table. The Köpenick Ratskeller is a must-go. Get there early — it fills up on matchdays.

The Eckkneipen (corner dive bars) scattered throughout the Köpenick residential streets are worth knowing about. The best bet for a traditional Berlin beer is to nip into an eckkneipe, the traditional dive bars that overflow whenever Union are at home. No frills, cold Berliner Pilsner, friendly locals who've been doing this for decades.

Keep it simple: travel light. Bags and backpacks larger than A4 size are not permitted in the stadium and can be left at the special cash desk for a fee of four euros per item. This is not a "clear bag" situation — it's a size restriction. An A4 sheet of paper (roughly 8.3"×11.7") is your mental template. Small crossbody bags are fine; a daypack is not.

For home games of the professional men's team, gates open 120 minutes before kickoff. That's a generous window — use it. The home sections are in Sectors 1 to 4; Sector 5 is available for away fans. Away fans enter from the Wuhleseite (south/river) side of the ground — follow the signs or ask a steward.

Two routes in from S Köpenick: the most fun is down the Waldweg — coming from S Köpenick you get to the Abseitsfalle fan pub and turn right down the ever-narrowing passage into the woods, past the big Köpenick mural. The queues on the Waldweg entrance often feel longer, and although less scenic, carrying on past the Abseitsfalle to Hämmerlingstraße is probably a smoother way in. Have your ticket ready on your phone or printed — no fumbling at the turnstile.

Special services for fans with disabilities cover arrival, entry into the stadium, and the football experience at Union. The club's official visitor information page includes a dedicated accessibility section with specifics on wheelchair services. The main stand (Haupttribüne/West) is the best bet for seated accessible viewing — it's the only stand with conventional seating and the most infrastructure in terms of flat access pathways. Wheelchair users and companions should contact the club in advance to arrange appropriate entry; Union Berlin's ticketing team handles accessible seat reservations directly and can confirm gate access points. The main stand is on its own, with both corners being open, and is a bit bigger than the rest of the stadium. Given that most of the ground is standing terrace, planning ahead for accessible needs is strongly recommended — call or email the club before matchday.

Home sections occupy Sectors 1 to 4; Sector 5 is the away allocation. Union supporters are on the north stand (Waldseite); visiting supporters are on the south stand (Wuhleseite). These three stands are terraced, except a small section in the south where seats for visiting supporters are located. So as an away fan, you'll either be standing on the south terrace or sitting in that small seated section — the latter is worth paying for if you're on a lone trip or traveling with someone who wants a proper view rather than a scrum.

The sightlines from the south end are decent but end-on, so you'll be watching play come toward you for one half and away from you the other. The roof coverings are low, which helps keep the noise reverberating around the stadium, and the proximity of fans to the pitch — with no running track or big gaps between the stands and the pitch — ensures players have little doubt about what fans require of them. In short: you'll feel the game even from the away end.

Fans are friendly and the commute from Berlin to Köpenick, followed by the stroll to the ground, all add to the intrigue and anticipation. That's broadly accurate — Union supporters have a reputation for intensity rather than hostility, and you're unlikely to have trouble if you're reasonably sensible about it. The atmosphere, however, is relentless. The stadium remains almost purely a standing-room only stadium , and those three sides of terracing create a wall of noise that hits you the moment you come through the turnstile. The specific thing nobody tells you: the low cantilever roofs on three sides trap sound in a way that makes it feel twice as loud as any stadium of this size should — 22,000 people somehow generate the din of 50,000. As of the 2026/27 season, Union plan to significantly expand the stadium, meaning at least a season across Berlin at the Olympiastadion — 2025/26 could be the last year of the stadium in its current form. That makes this season a genuinely important one to visit if you care about experiencing an irreplaceable football ground.

S-Bahn: This is your move. The S3 runs every 20 minutes normally, the line runs every 20 minutes , but BVG typically increases frequency after major matches — expect trains to be packed for the first 30–40 minutes post-whistle. If you can wait 20–25 minutes after the final whistle and let the initial crush thin out, you'll have a much more comfortable ride. S Köpenick is about a 10-minute walk; the tram stop "Alte Försterei" directly behind Sektor 1 gets you to the S-Bahn even faster.

Driving: The immediate roads around the Wuhlheide lock up within minutes of full-time. If you parked at Forum Köpenick, stay calm — the shopping center multi-storey has multiple exits and moves faster than the street parking. Realistically, you're looking at 30–45 minutes before you're on a moving road. The A113 toward the city or toward BER is your fastest escape.

Rideshare: Don't try to request a Bolt or Uber right outside the stadium immediately after the match — surge pricing will be ugly and drivers don't want to fight that traffic. Walk 10–15 minutes toward central Köpenick (toward the Altstadt or along Bahnhofstraße), request from there, and you'll pay significantly less and wait significantly less. Give it at least 15 minutes after the final whistle before you even open the app.

Best tip: If you're on the S-Bahn, don't rush for the first train. Grab a post-game beer at a kiosk outside the Wuhleseite exit, let the initial exodus clear, and catch the second or third departure. The ride back through a buzzing Berlin S-Bahn with iron-faithful supporters is part of the experience anyway.

How do I get to Stadion An der Alten Forsterei from central Berlin?

From Berlin Central Station, take the S3 in the direction of Erkner and exit at Berlin-Köpenick station. The stadium is about a 10-minute walk from there, or take tram 27 or 60 to the Alte Försterei stop.

How do I get there from BER Airport? Take the S9 or FEX Airport Express into central Berlin, transfer to the S3 at Ostkreuz or Hauptbahnhof, and ride to S Köpenick. Total journey is around 60–75 minutes.

What is the bag policy?

Bags and backpacks larger than A4 size are not permitted in the stadium; oversized items can be left at the special cash desk for €4 per item. Travel light.

Where is the away section?

Visiting supporters are located on the south stand, called the Wuhleseite. Enter from the river side of the ground.

What time do gates open?

For home games of the professional men's team, gates open 120 minutes before kickoff.

Is parking available?

Parking is limited; the best option for drivers is the multi-storey car park at Forum Köpenick (Bahnhofstraße 33–38). Arrive early and expect a slow exit.

What food and drink is served inside?

Union Berlin serve Berliner Pilsner inside the stadium, as well as Glühwein in winter. Bratwurst and steak with bread are also available.

Are tickets easy to get as an away fan? No — this stadium sells out almost every game. Just over 5,000 tickets are available to non-members, originally going on sale to Union Berlin members in a lottery system. There is a secondary ticket market where season ticket holders can put their seats up for sale, but these also go on sale to members first. Check the official club website well in advance and consider the secondary market if needed.