Behind the scenes at the Stade de France
The city you pass through without stopping
I’ll be honest : this is the topic that annoys me the most. Tens of thousands of people come to Saint-Denis every year for a match or a concert, get off the RER, get back on it, and ignore that a fifteen-minute walk away, forty kings of France lie at rest. The reverse is also true : lovers of Gothic art leave without seeing the stadium, which is an interesting architectural landmark in its own way. Visiting both in the same day is the most honest way to see this city, and it’s also the simplest : one tram stop separates them.
What the tour shows
The meeting point is at gate H, in the shop. You then go down to the part the public never sees: the locker rooms, the tunnel through which the players enter the pitch, the edge of the field, and the museum, included in the tour. Allow 1 h 30 with a guide, in French, English, Spanish or German. The programme may be modified on event days: it is an active venue, just as the basilica is an active church, and in both cases, use takes precedence over the visit.
Reviews are warm and very focused on the guides. Susan, from the UK: « A fantastic tour. » Laure, from Switzerland: « My son loved it, the guide was friendly and full of anecdotes. » Connor, from the UK: « My partner, my daughter and I loved it, the guides were brilliant. » This is a tour that works particularly well with children, even more so than the gisants — though the transis have their audience, as I explain on visiting with children. Full reviews are available on the Stade de France review page.
Included
- A guide, in French, English, Spanish or German
- The players' locker rooms and tunnel
- The edge of the pitch
- The stadium museum
Not included
- Access to the royal necropolis, which has its own ticket
- Event days, when the route may change
- Transport from the basilique
- Meals
Doing both in one day
The order that works: the Basilique de Saint-Denis in the morning, at opening time at 10 am, with the included guided tour at 11 am if you can fit it in; lunch in the city centre, and why not at the Saint-Denis market, one of the largest in the Île-de-France region, at Place Jean-Jaurès and in the covered market on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings; the stadium in the afternoon. This makes about 1 hour 30 minutes of visiting time on each side and a walk through the city between the two, which is not the least interesting part. The neighbourhood is described in around the basilica.
On match or concert days, do not plan to visit the basilica in the late afternoon: the area around the station becomes impassable and the streets fill up. Visit the necropolis in the morning, or choose another day. The monument's opening hours are available on opening hours and closures.
Book the behind-the-scenes tour
And for the other half of the day, the ticket for the royal necropolis is here, or the table of six bookings if you are still undecided.
Frequently asked questions
Is the stadium far from the basilica?
One tram stop, or about a fifteen-minute walk. It’s the same city. Travel details and the metro are explained on getting there from Paris.
Can I visit the stadium and the necropolis on the same day?
Yes, easily: allow 1 hour 30 for each. The basilica in the morning, the stadium in the afternoon. See how much time to allow.
In which languages is the tour available?
French, English, Spanish and German, with a guide. At the basilica, the included guided tour is in French: see guided tours.
Where is the meeting point?
Gate H, in the stadium shop. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance. Other products are compared on the booking hub.