San Siro matchday guide: stands, away fans and travel
San Siro is the home of AC Milan and Inter Milan in Milan, with a nominal capacity of 75,817 and an opening date of 1926. The largest ground in Italy, shared by both Milan clubs, who meet here in the Derby della Madonnina. This guide covers how to reach the ground, the real names of its stands, the away section, the matchday rules, where supporters gather, and tours and tickets.
At a glance
AC Milan and Inter Milan have played at San Siro since 1926, and the ground is the anchor of the whole matchday: everything in San Siro is organised around the hours either side of kick-off.
Getting there: lines, stations and timings
Routes for San Siro, station by station. Milan Metro — line M5 — San Siro Stadio station is directly in front of the ground. Milan Metro — lines M1 and M5 — Lotto is an alternative, about a 15-minute walk. Tram 16 — The line terminates in front of the stadium, giving a second route from the city. From the airports — Malpensa and Linate both need a transfer into the city before the metro.
Public transport is the default here, and the map below sets out the lines and the stations rather than a single route — there is usually more than one sensible way in.
Driving is possible but rarely worth it. Parking near a ground of this size is limited, expensive and slow to leave after the final whistle.
The matchday essentials
- Arrive about an hour before kick-off — San Siro is large and the walk from the station is busiest late.
- Your gate matters more than your seat: check it against the stand name on the ticket.
- Take only a small bag; there is no general left luggage at the ground.
- Away supporters enter through the Settore Verde, third ring turnstiles only.
- Plan the journey home before you travel: the nearest station queues after the whistle.
The stands, and where to sit
Curva Sud is the reference point most regulars use when they describe the ground, and the other three stands each have their own character.
If you want volume rather than analysis, head for the goal ends. If you want to watch the way a team builds up, a seat along one of the side stands will always beat a place behind the goal.
As a rule, a seat in the corner between a side stand and a goal end gives you the best compromise: close enough to the singing to feel it, high enough to read the whole pitch.
The away section and its view
Visitors are placed high in the green sector of the third ring, reached by long spiral ramps — the distance from the pitch is very noticeable. Domestic league rules set the away share in Italy; European ties follow the competition's allocation.
The visiting allocation at San Siro sits in Settore Verde, third ring. Because the away section is agreed by competition rather than by a single rule, the size and position can change between a league match and a European night.
The view from Settore Verde, third ring is a trade-off: a corner or upper-tier position gives you a clear sightline but puts distance between you and the goalmouth action.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Club | AC Milan and Inter Milan |
| City | Milan, Italy |
| Nominal capacity | 75,817 (Permanent · all-seater) |
| Opened | 1926 · San Siro |
| Stands | Curva Sud, Settore Verde, Curva Nord, Curva Arancio, Rosso and Blu |
| Away allocation | Settore Verde, third ring |
Matchday rules: bags, colours, banners and drums
Bag policy is the single most common reason for a delay at the turnstiles. Most grounds in this guide admit only small bags and refuse anything that will not fit under a seat.
Drums and other instruments are the most tightly controlled item on the list. At club grounds they are effectively reserved for the organised groups; in the away section they need prior agreement.
Where supporters gather
For San Siro the pattern is this. San Siro: The district around the ground, with bars that fill from mid-afternoon. Navigli: Milan's canal quarter, a tram ride away and the main pre-match area for visitors. Centro Storico: The cathedral quarter, where most visitors stay and drink before travelling out.
San Siro is where the crowd gathers before kick-off, and it is the quickest way to feel the mood of a fixture on your first visit to Milan.
For a quieter pre-match, Navigli is the sensible choice; the streets closest to the turnstiles fill first and empty last.
Tours, tickets and the rest of the visit
Tours run on selected non-match days and include the dressing rooms, the tunnel, the dugouts and the museum shared by the two clubs.
On tickets: buy through the club or the official competition channel. Inflated resale prices are a genuine feature of the biggest fixtures at grounds this size, and they are avoidable.
If you are travelling specifically for the ground rather than the match, midweek league fixtures are usually easier to get into than weekend or European matches.
Matchday questions
How long does it take to get in? Turnstiles typically open between 60 and 90 minutes before kick-off, and the queue peaks in the final half hour. Arriving 45 minutes early is enough at most grounds.
Can I buy on the day? Occasionally, for smaller fixtures. For anything involving a big club or a European tie, assume you need a ticket in advance.
San Siro is worth the journey whether or not you have a seat in the best part of the ground. Read the stand names, plan the transport, keep the bag small, and the matchday takes care of itself.