Parc des Princes: reviews and practical tips

+17
recos
3.8/5 6 reviews
24, rue du Commandant-Guilbaud , 75016 Paris, France
24, rue du Commandant-Guilbaud , 75016 Paris, France
Parc des Princes

Visiting the Parc des Princes

Over a century of transformation

Home to Paris Saint-Germain, the Parc des Princes began as a velodrome stadium inaugurated in 1897. Redesigned in 1972 by architect Roger Taillibert, it served for 25 years as the largest stadium in France, with a seating capacity of around 48,000. While it has since been surpassed by larger venues, it remains an iconic site. It has hosted historic sporting events, including finishes of the Tour de France, numerous major international soccer matches, the first Rugby League World Cup, and countless concerts.

Contrary to popular belief, the stadium owes its name to the history of its location rather than the athletes or celebrities who have played on its pitch. In the 18th century, royal hunting grounds were situated nearby. The Route des Princes (Princes' Road) passed through the area, leading to these natural spaces in the commune of Boulogne-Billancourt. This route was annexed by the capital under Napoleon III in 1860.

While the original stadium held 3,200 spectators, subsequent renovations increased its capacity by a factor of 15, reaching 47,929. The elliptical structure features cantilevered concrete ribs, giving the bowl a distinct profile. For night events, 172 floodlights are integrated directly into the roof. An expansion project is currently under consideration, with construction expected to begin following the 2024 Olympic Games.

Watching a match or touring the grounds

The stadium is divided into four main stands, organized clockwise: gates I and H make up the Auteuil stand. Gates G, F, E, D, C, B, and A form the Paris stand. Gates P, O, and V comprise the Boulogne stand, while gates N, M, L, K, and J make up the Presidentielle-Francis Borelli stand, named after the club president who served from 1978 to 1991.

Public tours of the Parc des Princes are available for a fee. Tickets typically start around 25 EUR (about $27). You can explore the private boxes, locker rooms, the trophy room, and the press conference area at your own pace. The tour features memorabilia like Zidane's boots, a Ronaldo jersey, and several Ballon d'Or trophies. On-site staff are available throughout the route to provide context and share anecdotes, which makes for an engaging experience.

Opening hours

Open daily from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM during the summer and from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM the rest of the year. The Parc des Princes is closed the day before Champions League matches, on match days, and until noon the day after a match.
Hours are indicative and subject to change

Reviews of Parc des Princes

Add my review
Summary of 6 reviews
3.8/5
Average rating
+17
Total recommendations

Ratings by visit type

With family
3.4
As a couple
2.6
With friends
4.3

Avygeo ranking

#246
in the world
#214
in Europe
#114
in France
#32
in Paris

A cool atmosphere, but...

When there is a big match at the Parc des Princes for an important competition, the atmosphere is seriously wild and every action on the field gets us buzzing. That is provided you are seated well, because like in any stadium, being behind the goals is not very fun. The area around the Parc des Princes is not very reassuring either, despite the heavy police presence.

81
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A quick but interesting visit

I visited during a professional convention, and the Parc des Princes offered us a guided tour of the behind-the-scenes areas: the pitch, the locker rooms, the treatment rooms, and the hallway tracing the history of PSG jerseys. It was a great opportunity to see the original jerseys from so close up. The tour lasts about twenty minutes and is a nice way to take a break during your day.
For soccer fans or just the curious, it is worth the trip.

60
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A nice family visit

Whether you are a soccer fan or not, or a PSG fan or not, the tour is really nice. It is always impressive to see a stadium completely empty. We visited as part of an escape game and we really enjoyed the experience. Locker rooms, jerseys, trophies, and a walk through the stands and along the edge of the pitch.
Worth doing whether you are a supporter or not (easily accessible since it is served by the metro).

6
25/06/2025

Il y a des escape games au parc des princes ??? Merci pour le tuyau, ça peut être sympa pour les anniversaires d'enfants.

25/06/2025

Il y a des escape games au parc des princes ??? Merci pour le tuyau, ça peut être sympa pour les anniversaires d'enfants.

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A magical place for PSG fans

For long-time PSG followers, there is a before and an after the Leproux plan (the former club president) when it comes to PSG.
Before, with the ultras in the two stands (Boulogne and Auteuil), the atmosphere was intense, with chanting and cheering throughout the match, both before and after. But it was also electric, with tensions that sometimes turned into violent or even tragic acts. In short, the Parc des Princes was not safe.

Today, the atmosphere has become a bit sanitized (though it is still getting better since the return of some ultras). It is above all much safer. It has become common to come to the stadium as a couple or as a family, with children.

From an architectural point of view, you cannot deny that the Parc des Princes is the best-designed French stadium for heating up the atmosphere in the stands. If they managed to increase the capacity to 60,000 seats, it would be perfect! But then again, PSG and the city hall would first need to agree on the sale of the stadium, and that is not a sure thing at all.

6
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A bit small but great acoustics

The Parc des Princes is a bit small compared to the ambitions of its home club (PSG) and the size of the Paris metropolitan area (10 million inhabitants). I would also add that the stands are relatively far from the edges of the pitch, especially in the corners. On the other hand, I find the exterior very beautiful, with the concrete ribs that make it a unique structure. This stadium is actually listed as a historical monument, which, as I understand it, prevents them from doing just anything to the structure without the authorization of the architect Roger Taillibert.

The roof and the layout of the stands are well designed to ramp up the atmosphere and the decibels. A stadium that has become historic for French soccer.

5
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Great atmosphere, but the stands are far away

The shape of the stands and the roof really makes all the noise and support from the crowd resonate. It is a plus for the atmosphere. On the other hand, I find it a shame that the stands are so far from the pitch, especially in the corners. It hurts the visibility.

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