Who are yer? The club

Well, there are two actually but i'll work on the theory you aren't in town specifically to watch 1860 Munich, the city's other team.

However, they share the Allianz Arena with Bayern so if you find it hard to come by a ticket for Bayern, which is tricky -  you can stil check out a 'Lions' Bundesliga 2 game there.

So to Bayern. Germany's most successive team by a country kilometre. Think Liverpool in the seventies and you have some idea what I mean. During their 30 odd year stint at the Olympic Stadium they won the Bundesliga 14 times, plus countless other trophies.

It's where Franz Beckenbauer strutted his stuff and led Bayern to three successive European Cups. Owen Hargreaves may have packed his bags and headed off to Manchester but it's still the home of Roy Makaay, Lucas Podolski, Frank Ribery. Only last season did the faithful say farewell to the German legend that has made Jens Lehmann look sane, Oliver Kahn.

In 2008 they clinched the title by a whopping ten points. With Jurgen Klinsmann in charge Bayern made a terrible start to 2008-9 - but as Christmas closed the team had hit form and were back challenging at the top of the Bundesliga, finishing runners-up to Wolfsburg.

They rorared back in 2010 by lifting the double and reaching the Champions League final - although a poor season followed in 2011 when they finished third in the table.

Where do you come from? The Allianz Arena

Many clubs around the world have sought to make their stadium multi-purpose, so it can be used for other sports and festival events. Munich headed the other way. It wanted a venue for football. Football, football and nothing else.

The Olympic stadium was stunning in its seventies heyday but hopelessly out of date by the late nineties and the bosses of Bayern and 1860 decided enough was enough. The move was made, and they eventually landed in Frottmaning, on the very edge of the city.

It landed from outer space: The Allianz Arena in Munich

The Allianz Arena aimed to be a beacon of Munich's prosperity and it lights up the city - its exterior of 1,000 membrane cushions shine red when Bayern are at home, blue for the Lions of 1860 and white for neutral or international clashes.

Inside there's room in Germany's only three tier venue for 69,000 fans, including several thousand on one end terrace.

The whole idea was to get every fan as close to the action as possible. The gradient on the top tier is 34 degrees, the same as a ski jumping slope. That's good news if there's a seven foot German in front of you... less good if Eddie The Eagle Edwards is limbering up in the aisle alongside you.

Two massive screens hang from the roofs at either end, the biggest in the country.

Yep, one, two, three - there's three tiers inside.

In stark contrast to the outside, the interior of grey seats and white infrastructure does give the place a slightly cold, functional feel. But unless you're visiting from International Seat Monthly magazine, you're not there to admire the seats, are you?

Grab a seat: Buying tickets

Bayern proudly state that demand  to see the team has never been higher. Great, that's really handy. Not.

There may be 69,000 tickets - at five price bands to suit all pockets - but there's a membership base of more than 130,000 so frequently tickets never make it past the members and on to general sale.

However there are a few options open to you.

1 You can join the Bayern army and become a member yourself. It costs 50 euros annually and it runs from June 30 each year. If you apply after that you have to wait as all new applicants are held back until January 1. For more on this click above.

2 Apply as a non-member and hope for the best. Applications are taken for any matches at any time but these are processed five to six weeks before your fixture. You get no acknlowedgement of your bid so you just have to sit tight. Your application must include your name, address, phone number, game, tickets required and category and your credit card details. If the category you wish is sold out you will be given seats in the nearest available category - unless you state otherwise. No money is taken off your credit card until you are given tickets.

Applications can be sent via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - you can also fax (0049)  89 642 81 333 or call (0049) 89 699 31 333.

3 Cup games, early European ties and friendlies don't always sell out so look out for those.

4 If you are in town and the game's imminent try your luck and head to the Bayern Munich store at Marienplatz U-Bahn or at the stadium itself. The ticket office is open at 9am on Saturday matchdays, noon for midweek evening fixtures.

5 Ticket agencies are an obvious, if pricey, option with many to choose from. Touts do sell near to the ground, usually for around 100 euros, but be warned, this is illegal in Germany.

6 Change your tour dates and watch 1860 Munich instead. You're still watching Bundesliga 2 football, you get to see the stadium, tickets are available and by all accounts the atmosphere's pretty good. The service ticket hotline is 01805 601860.

We're on our way: Getting to the ground

By far the quickest and easiest way is via the underground. It's a direct run north to Frottmaning from Marienplatz on the U6 line and the signs make it pretty easy for us - they stick a picture of a football on it.

Just be aware that U3 also passes through on the same platform at Marienplatz. Don't get this one as this goes to the Olympic stadium, and no-one plays there anymore apart from Robbie Williams.

The u-bahn journey takes a good 20 minutes and then it's a 20 minute walk up to the arena. You join the crowds in the long stroll up the esplanade which appears to cut through an urban wasteland. If you're wondering where all the cars are, up to 11,000 are underneath your feet in Europe's largest multi storey car park.

Check out the map below, the ground's pretty obvious to see with the 'U' marking the U-bahn.

For more info including how to get there - even by bike! - click here





Who ate all the pies? Eating and drinking

The stadium is in the middle of nowhere. It makes Reading's Madejski Stadium seem central. A healthy selection of Bratwursts and drinks are available from the usual vendors outside and inside, but other than that there's nothing.

So your best option before or after the game may be in the centre around Marienplatz.

An alternative could be the huge beer garden at Chinesischer Turm in Englischer Garten, or elsewhere in the lively Schwabing district. Either are 15 minutes from Gieslastrasse stop on the U6 line.

On tour, grab a souvenir: Tours and stores

The arena tour is booked and begins at the Allianz Arena shop on the retail concourse. They run every day except matchdays at regular intervals and there's an English version at 1pm. If demand is high a further English one may be added at 1.30pm.

Individuals should just turn up on the day but it is worth turning up early to book your place as there are kiosks serving burgers and beer where you can kill an hour, and you can look around the store too.

It starts off with a ten minute film which, if you can get past the commentator calling it a 'soccer' stadium for the benefit of the Americans, gives the background of how it was built and its unique feature.

It's then off round the stadium with lifts shooting you up to the top tier, then hurtling down to the bottom and a quick show round the VIP area, players' dressing room - usually the Bayern one, each Munich team has its own one - and tunnel area. It takes an hour, costs 10 Euros which really is money for old rope but is reasonably entertaining and worthwhile.

The Allianz doesn't just have a shop, it has a parade. The Bayern megastore is found in the first level concourse surrounded by outlets for T-punkt mobiles and Audi. There's one for 1860 too, tucked away round the corner.

The Bayern store is busy seven days a week in or out of season and, as would be expected, a Bayern logo has been slapped on just about anything you could think of. Shirts retail at 70 Euros, caps up to 17.50. You can also take home your very own mens Bayern pyjamas or part with your well earned cash for a Bayern waffle maker.

If matchday is carnage, there are further Bayern stores at the main station (Hauptbahnhof) and the Hofbrauhaus - although neither are open on Sunday - and there's a fair selection at the airport.

Store opening times: Allianz Arena megastore Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm. Central station store Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm. Hofbrauhaus Monday to  Friday 10am to 7.30pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm