YOU HARDLY NEED to be reminded but on Monday evening, the City of Love plays host to Ireland’s Euro 2016 opening fixture as the Boys in Green face Sweden.
Paris brings back many memories for Irish soccer fans, from the 2006 World Cup qualifier to the heartbreak of 2009, but how will things fare out this time around?
Many Irish people are already familiar with the city and have been there before. That being said, do you know how to get to the stadium? Where to eat and drink? And where the massive fanzone is located?
If you’re lucky enough to be heading towards the French capital, we’re insanely jealous. Whether you’ve got a ticket to the match or you’re just going to soak in the Parisian atmosphere and Euro fever, we’ve got the perfect guide to help you get around and decide what to do.
Stade de France: How do I get there?
Irish fans are no strangers to Saint-Denis. Hoping to replace the heartbreaking memories caused by a certain left hand almost seven years ago, Irish fans are expected to take the 80,000-capacity stadium by storm and start the campaign on a high.
Remember: the threat of strike action is looming large so travel plans may have to be changed.
The Stade de France is served well by public transport and it shouldn’t take you too long to get there from the city centre using either the metro or the RER (metro extension).
Metro line 13 is the one you’re looking for. It connects the stadium with the Montparnasse, Invalides and Saint-Lazare stations. You can also take RER lines B and D, which pass through Châtelet and Gare de Nord. The line B stop closest to the stadium is La Plaine Stade de France while line D’s is also pretty self explanatory: Stade de France – St Denis station.
By car, from the A1 motorway take the second exit, ‘Stade de France’, and from the A86 it’s the ninth exit, ‘Saint Denis- La Pleine Stade de France’. If you happen to be driving directly, one thing to note is that you have to buy parking tickets in advance on the stadium’s website.
Not going to the game?
At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, there’ll be a huge fanzone covering the equivalent area of 30 football pitches. Security will be tight so make sure to arrive early; the 120,000 capacity fanzone is something not to miss. Free access, entertainment, places to eat and drink, and of course live coverage of all the matches — the atmosphere is sure to be incredible!
Where to eat and drink
De Clercq - 184 Rue Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris
Quick and easy, this chipper serves tasty burgers, chips and the likes at an extremely affordable price.
La 3e MI – Temps - 33 Rue Jules Rimet, 93210 Saint-Denis
Opposite the stadium, it’s the perfect spot for a bite to eat before the match. Pizza, burgers, steak, beer, wine, you name it. And all at a reasonable price.
Little Temple Bar - 12 rue Princesse – 75006 Paris
An Irish bar in the Saint Germain des Prés district, you’ll feel right at home here. A good selection of beers, giant screens for watching the matches, darts and live music, it’ll remind you of your local.
McBrides - 54 rue Saint Denis
Guaranteed to have a great atmosphere throughout the championships, plenty of beer and tasty food, what more could you ask for?
Other Irish pubs include Corcorans, Kitty O’Shea’s, O’Sullivans and Brady’s. And make sure to visit Marché des Enfants Rouges in the city centre, Paris’ oldest covered market. Some of the city’s cheapest places to eat are found here. Your best bet mixing with the lively football crowd would be along the bars on the Grands Boulevards.
Things to do during the day
Sight-seeing
The obvious attractions include the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées and The Louvre to name a few of the high profile ones.
Chill out
In the summer, most people choose to set up camp and picnic by the Canal-Saint Martin, as well as on other greens around the city. Sunshine and street musicians-sounds like a perfect way to spend a relaxing June afternoon.
Attend an Ireland training session
Just outside Paris, the team are staying in Versailles in a hotel called the Trianon Palace. They’ll train at AFC Versaille’s pitch and if you haven’t got enough Euro excitement in Paris, you can always head out to watch the boys in green prepare for their matches.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
