Istanbul UEFA Champions League Final 2023 | Where to Stay, What to Do and More
The UEFA Champions League is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world, with teams from all over Europe competing for the coveted prize. And now, football fans have something to look forward to as Istanbul is set to host the Champions League Final 2023 in June! Legendary clubs like Real Madrid, Milan, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Manchester City, Liverpool and Benfica have competed throughout the season and now it’s time to settle this!
If you’re planning to attend the final, choosing the right accommodation is crucial. With thousands of fans expected to flock to Istanbul for this event, it’s important to book your stay in advance. From luxury hotels to budget-friendly options, there are plenty of choices available. Just make sure you book early so you don’t miss out anything!
Apart from the final match, Istanbul offers a lot of exciting things to do for football enthusiasts. You can explore some of the most iconic historical sites in the world, such as the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Take a stroll through the vibrant Grand Bazaar where you can shop for souvenirs and other memorabilia.
But if you’re looking for something more football-focused, then be sure to check out some of Istanbul’s famous stadiums like Vodafone Park or Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. You can also visit the Turkish Football Museum, which holds a wealth of information about Turkey!
Here are a few tips for UEFA Champions League Final 2023:
Contents
- 1. Football Culture and Considerations of the Country
- 2. UCL Final Match Day
- 3. Atatürk Olympic Stadium Contact Information
- 4. How to get tickets for champions league final 2023?
- 5. When should you travel to Istanbul?
- 6. How busy are Istanbul hotels?
- 7. Where to stay in Istanbul?
- 8. How to get around in Istanbul?
- 9. How will the weather be?
- 10. It’s my first time in Istanbul. What should I see?
- 11. What to eat in Istanbul?
1. Football Culture and Considerations of the Country
Turkish people recognised football in the early 19th century. In the early days, it was played by minority groups in Thessaloniki and Izmir. According to Muslim belief, playing football was forbidden.
After the founding of the Republic, Turkey began to value football. The Turkish Football Federation was established and became a member of FIFA. The first football championship was held in the country in 1924. UEFA was founded in 1954 and in 1962, Turkey became a member. The Turkish peoples’ love for football and loyalty to their favourite teams saw its popularity rise rapidly. In the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Turkey finished third. In the third-place play-off against South Korea, Hakan Şükür scored 10.8 seconds after the match started. This is the fastest goal in the history of the World Cup. Following the tournament, Rüştü Reçber, Alpay Özalan, and Hasan Şaş were selected for the tournament’s all-star team.
Watching football matches in Turkey is a lot of fun and it will be especially exciting when the UEFA Champions League final 2023 comes to town. However, as in every country, there are fanatics in Turkey. A detailed upper search is done at the entrance gates and there are intensive security measures around the stadium. For this reason, you should not take items such as lighters or the plug part of the charger. Unfortunately, such products are not allowed to enter the stadiums. Wide security measures are in place around the stadium to prevent tourist scams. But stay vigilant.
2. UCL Final Match Day
You might think there will be long queues to get into the stadium because of the searches and identity checks at the entrances for the UEFA Champions League final 2023 but the system runs quickly and efficiently. Keep your ticket, passport and ID with you. It’s important that you put all this in your inner pockets or in a secure bag which you keep on you at all times. If you are going with a tour company, you can ask your tour advisor for information on safety precautions. The path to the stadium on match day is always crowded and traffic will be heavy on the day of the final so it’s important to plan your journey in advance.
Bus
79K, MK11, and MK14 will take you to the Olympic Stadium. To get to these buses, you need to use other vehicles depending on where you are. You can use vehicles such as buses and metro to reach these lines from central locations.
- Buses you have to take in order to get to the stadium from Eminönü:
- 92, 79T, MK11. The journey takes about 94 minutes.
- Buses from Kadıköy to the stadium:
- You will need to use 15BK, 34AS (Metrobus), 79K lines. The journey takes a total of 160 min.
- Buses you need to take in order to reach the stadium from Beşiktaş Square:
- 28T, 142E, 79K lines. The journey takes 96 min.
If you are staying in a hotel in Başakşehir, you can reach Güvercintepe Park and get on the MK14 bus to the stadium in 12 minutes.
Metro
You can reach the Champions League final 2023 Olympic stadium by subway. You need to find the M3 line. Get off at the last station called Olympic. The walk to the stadium from here is about 20 minutes. But this journey will be a lot of fun as there will be many fans going to the match.
To get to the stadium from Eminönü you need to use the following lines
M2, M1B, M3, the journey takes a total of 76 minutes.
The lines you will use to go to the stadium from Beşiktaş Square are the same, the journey takes a total of 96 minutes. Since there is no metro in Beşiktaş, you can walk to Taksim (33 min walking distance) or take a minibus.
3. Atatürk Olympic Stadium Contact Information
If you lose your passport or identity card during the match go to stadium security. If it is found it should be handed in to security. The contact details of the stadium are as follows:
- Phone Number: (0212) 413 30 00
- E-mail: [email protected]
4. How to get tickets for champions league final 2023?
Information about the ticket sales for the 2023 decider at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium (availability of tickets, application deadline, ticket prices, etc.) will be published around end of April 2023, on the UEFA’s website.
A frequently asked questions section is available for fans on UEFA.com.
Which player has won the most Champions League?
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the most Champions League titles as a player with a total of five wins (four with Real Madrid and one with Manchester United).
5. When should you travel to Istanbul?
If you are only coming to Istanbul for the final match, you should come at least two days before the match day. While you are relieving your travel fatigue, you will also have the opportunity to view the many great attractions of Istanbul. It is important that you arrive at least two or three days before the match to get used to traveling around the city. If you want to visit the historic sites of Istanbul before the match, you should arrive at least a week in advance. During this time, you can see and experience the magic of Istanbul.
6. How busy are Istanbul hotels?
Early booking is essential if you want to find hotels near the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. If you do not want to stay in the hotel, there are also houses you can rent daily. Some people come to Istanbul to watch football matches not in the stadium but in the city. On 14th August 2019, nearly 50,000 English fans came to Istanbul to watch the UEFA Super Cup match. As a result of the final match, Istanbul was ranked 7th among the top 35 European destinations and 87.7% of hotels in the city were full. When the legendary football match between Liverpool and AC Milan took place in Istanbul in May 2005, close to 60,000 fans came to Istanbul. A total of 3,155 aircraft landed at Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen Airports for four days. In light of this, we recommend making your reservation early. If you wait until the last minute, you might miss out.
7. Where to stay in Istanbul?
The distance between Istanbul Airport and Ataturk Olympic Stadium is approximately 17 kilometers. There are many hotels within this distance. From these hotels, you can also easily reach the city’s Old Town and its surroundings. This is the most convenient location for avoiding traffic.
There are also apartments available within 2 km of Atatürk Olympic Stadium. This area of the city is emptier than the old city. It is suggested if you’d like to stay close to the stadium. You can pay for these apartments per night. If you enjoy doing sports on a daily basis, these apartments mostly have large sports complexes. You can also find many 5-star hotels within 4 km of the Olympic Stadium. Among the most popular hotels are:
Hampton by Istanbul Hilton Kayasehir
Located approximately 3.5 km from Ataturk Istanbul Olympic Stadium. You will have all the facilities you would expect of Hilton hotels.
More Information
Location: View on Google Maps
Phone Number: (0212) 692 46 00
Website: hilton.com
Tripadvisor: View
Foursquare: View
Secure your spot at Hampton by Hilton Kayasehir before it’s too late! Reserve your room today!
Ramada Encore by Wyndham Basin Express
4.3 km from the stadium. Istanbul Expo Centre, Sultan Ahmet Mosque and Galata Tower are also within easy reach.
More Information
Location: View on Google Maps
Phone Number: (0850) 737 1717
Website: wyndhamhotels.com
Tripadvisor: View
Foursquare: View
Check out prices and don’t miss your chance to stay here – book your room!
Westside Arjaan by Rotana
It is one of the most popular hotels for Arab tourists. The interior decoration and architecture are dominated by Arabic culture. The transport links are not good but the quality of service is very good. The hotel’s transport shortage can be turned into an advantage: Maybe hotel staff will arrange a shuttle service to the Olympic Stadium. Don’t forget to ask.
Check out prices at Westside Residences and book your room today!
More Information
Location: View on Google Maps
Phone Number: (0212) 953 50 00
Website: rotana.com
Tripadvisor: View
Foursquare: View
8. How to get around in Istanbul?
When you land in Istanbul buy an Istanbulkart and top it up. You can travel on most public transport by using Istanbulkart. You can use Havaist shuttles from Istanbul Airport to Istanbul. They are located at the incoming passenger exits. You can pay for Havaist using either Istanbulkart or credit card. If you book a hotel close to Atatürk Istanbul Olympic Stadium, you should take the IST-17, Halkalı Station, Basaksehir shuttle service.
Since Sabiha Gökçen Airport is on the Asian side, it will take longer to reach the hotels close to the stadium. You can see HavaBus services at the exit of the passenger floor from Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Cash payment is also accepted. HavaBus services go to Taksim and Kadıköy. From here, you can get to your hotel by public transport.
There is a nice app that you can use to find the right public transport for your hotel: moovit. Your hotel may have airport transfer services, so make sure to ask if there is a service that can pick you up. Also, some hotels have shuttles to Ataturk Olympic Stadium on matchday.
Getting around in Istanbul with a rental car is easy and convenient. With well-maintained roads, visitors can easily navigate the city’s historic landmarks and bustling streets. Rent a car for your Istanbul trip now through this affiliate link for hassle-free travel arrangements.
9. How will the weather be?
As summer approaches, temperatures in Turkey ought to rise in June. Temperatures are around 28°C during the day and 17°C during the night. Very little precipitation falls during this month on average. However, before setting out on any outdoor adventures, it is wise to check the local forecast.
During the day, you can feel good in cool garments like t-shirts, shorts, and skirts. In case the evenings get chilly, you should pack a light jacket or cardigan. Wearing sunscreen and a hat can help you avoid sunburn when you’re out in the sun. Bring a light raincoat or umbrella to outdoor events and festivals just in case it starts to rain unexpectedly.
You should always double-check the venue’s policies before bringing anything that might not be allowed due to its specifics.
10. It’s my first time in Istanbul. What should I see?
If your accommodation is close to Ataturk Olympic Stadium, you can easily get to Old City. You can visit the Old City before or after the Istanbul Champions League final 2023. For first-timers in Istanbul, we recommend the Old City. All the historical buildings in the region are very close to each other, so it is easy to visit. We strongly recommend that you buy a museum pass card. Recommended places to visit:
-
- Hagia Eirene Museum
- Blue Mosque
- Hagia Sophia
11. What to eat in Istanbul?
There are many options for eating in Istanbul. What do you want to eat?
Kebabs are one of the most popular flavours in Turkey. In our opinion, if you only have a little time, you should get a mixed kebab so you taste all of them. Restaurants have their own mixed kebab specialties. Generally, Urfa, Adana and shish kebab are included. There are also dishes that are not in mixed kebabs such as İskender Kebab, Eggplant Kebab, Tas Kebab, and Beyti.
You might prefer to try Ottoman dishes and eat like sultans. You can taste Hünkarbeğendi (Sultan’s delight), Acem pilaf, cherry leaf wrap, and many other wonderful flavours.
You can go to the grill restaurant and eat kebabs over the fire. If you want to have a lively and entertaining evening in Istanbul, you should definitely go to Çiçek Pasajı or Nevizade taverns. If you prefer a quieter environment you might prefer other taverns. If you want to be in a calmer environment, there are also quiet taverns. Places such as Karaköy Restaurant, Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi are just for you. You can go to these places after or before the UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul.
