The Ultimate Six Nations Away Day Guide for 2026

Everything you need to know about visiting Twickenham, Principality Stadium, Aviva Stadium, Murrayfield, Stade de France, Stade Pierre-Mauroy and Stadio Olimpico.

There's nothing quite like a Six Nations away day. The early flights, the pre-match pints, the sea of jerseys flooding through unfamiliar streets – it's rugby at its tribal best.

Whether you're a seasoned away day veteran or planning your first cross-border trip, this guide covers everything you need to know about visiting all seven Championship venues in 2026.

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Allianz Stadium Twickenham, England

Capacity: 82,000

The Vibe: The home of English rugby is grand, corporate, and undeniably impressive. What Twickenham lacks in city-centre atmosphere, it makes up for in scale and matchday infrastructure.

Getting There:

By train: Twickenham Station is a 10-minute walk from the ground. Trains run regularly from London Waterloo (35 mins). Expect queues post-match.
By tube: Richmond (District Line) is a 25-minute walk or short bus ride.
From the airport: Heathrow is just 20 minutes by taxi – handy for flying visits. It is also less than an hour by bus or train from Heathrow Airport too.

Where to Drink: The streets around Twickenham fill up fast on matchday. Try:

The Cabbage Patch – the classic pre-match pub, rammed but essential. Claims to be the "most famous rugby pub in the world".
The Prince Blucher – slightly quieter, good beer garden. Historic 19th century inn.
The White Swan – riverside option near Richmond for a longer session.

Top Tip: Allianz Stadium Twickenham is cashless throughout the stadium. Also, don't underestimate the post-match crush at the station – grab a pint and wait it out.

Ticket Difficulty: 🔴 Hard – England home games sell out quickly through the RFU ballot. Secondary market often the only option for neutral fans.

Six Nations 2026 Matches At Twickenham:

England vs Wales - February 7, 2026.
England vs Ireland - February 21, 2026

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Principality Stadium, Wales

Capacity: 74,500

The Vibe: The best city-centre stadium in world rugby. The roof closes, the anthem echoes, and 74,000 Welsh fans create an atmosphere that's genuinely intimidating. Cardiff on matchday is an experience in itself. Recent struggles should ensure Wales fans are desperate for any success in the 2026 tournament.

Getting There:

By train: Cardiff Central is a 5-minute walk from the stadium. Direct trains from London Paddington (2 hours), Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester.
By plane: Cardiff Airport is 30 minutes by bus; Bristol Airport (1 hour) often has better flight options.

Where to Drink: Cardiff city centre becomes one giant fan zone. Head to:

St Mary Street / Westgate Street – wall-to-wall pubs, maximum atmosphere.
The City Arms – traditional rugby pub, standing room only on matchday.
Tiny Rebel – Welsh craft beer if you want something different.
Brewery Quarter – good for groups, multiple venues in one spot.

Top Tip: Book restaurants well in advance – Cardiff fills up completely on Six Nations weekends.

Ticket Difficulty: 🔴 Hard – Welsh Rugby Union ballot is competitive. Wales vs England is the toughest ticket in the Six Nations.

Six Nations 2026 Matches At Principality Stadium:

Wales vs France - February 15, 2026
Wales vs Scotland - February 21, 2026
Wales vs Italy - March 14, 2026

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

🇮🇪 Aviva Stadium, Ireland

Capacity: 51,700

The Vibe: Modern, loud, and passionate. The Aviva replaced the old Lansdowne Road but kept the soul. Dublin as a rugby city is hard to beat – expect the weekend to start on Thursday and end on Monday.

Getting There:

By DART (The Dublin Area Rapid Transit system): Lansdowne Road station is literally beside the ground. Trains run from Dublin city centre every 10 minutes.
By plane: Dublin Airport is 30 minutes by bus or taxi from the city centre.
Walking: The stadium is a pleasant 25-minute walk from Temple Bar through Georgian Dublin.

Where to Drink: Dublin does matchday better than anywhere. Start in the city centre:

Temple Bar area – touristy but buzzing with fans. One of Dublin's most iconic spots.
The Bath Pub – just beside the stadium, great pre-match. Closest pub to the Aviva Stadium.
Toner's / Doheny & Nesbitt's – traditional pubs on Baggot Street, proper Dublin atmosphere.
The Beggar's Bush – local favourite near the ground.

Top Tip: Stay over Saturday night. Dublin on a Six Nations weekend is special – the post-match craic continues well into Sunday.

Ticket Difficulty: 🔴 Hard – Ireland's success has made these the hottest tickets in the Championship. Book accommodation early regardless; Dublin fills up fast.

Six Nations 2026 Matches At Aviva Stadium:

Ireland vs Italy - February 14, 2026
Ireland vs Wales - March 6, 2026

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Murrayfield, Scotland

Capacity: 67,144

The Vibe: Historic, atmospheric, and increasingly confident as Scotland's results improve. Murrayfield sits in Edinburgh's west end – close enough to walk from the city centre but far enough to feel like an event.

Getting There:

By tram: Edinburgh's tram stops at Murrayfield Stadium (from city centre/airport).
Walking: A 25-minute walk from Haymarket station through Roseburn – most fans walk.
By plane: Edinburgh Airport is 25 minutes by tram directly to the stadium.

Where to Drink: Edinburgh's pubs fill up early on matchday:

Roseburn Bar – classic matchday local near the ground.
The Athletic Arms (Diggers) – legendary Edinburgh pub, worth the detour. Specialize in whiskies.
Rose Street – a whole street of pubs in the city centre, heaving pre-match.
Haymarket area – good cluster of pubs between the station and stadium.

Top Tip: Flower of Scotland at Murrayfield is spine-tingling. The whole stadium sings – even away fans tend to respect the silence before the roar.

Ticket Difficulty: 🟠 Medium – more accessible than England, Ireland or Wales. Scotland vs England (Calcutta Cup) is the exception – very tough to get.

Six Nations 2026 Matches At Murrayfield Stadium:

Scotland vs England - February 14, 2026
Scotland vs France - March 7, 2026

Stade de France, Paris

🇫🇷 Stade de France, Paris

Capacity: 81,338

The Vibe: The pre-match baguettes, the brass bands, the sheer Frenchness of it all. Stade de France is in Saint-Denis, north of Paris – not the prettiest area, but the stadium delivers on the big occasions.

Getting There:

By Metro: Line 13 to Saint-Denis – Porte de Paris or RER B/D to Stade de France – Saint-Denis. Both are 5 minutes from the stadium.
By Eurostar: Paris Gare du Nord is 20 minutes from the stadium by Metro. London to Paris takes 2h15.
By plane: Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is 30 minutes by RER B.

Where to Drink: Saint-Denis itself is limited, so most fans stay in central Paris:

Frog & Rosbif / Frog & British Library – expat pubs, Six Nations atmosphere.
The Great Canadian Pub – big screens, international crowd.
Saint-Germain / Marais – explore Parisian bars, then Metro to the match.
Around Gare du Nord – handy if arriving by Eurostar.

Top Tip: Don't dismiss the fan zone atmosphere around the stadium – French fans with brass instruments and endless wine create a unique pre-match vibe. Just allow plenty of time; Metro queues can be long.

Ticket Difficulty: 🟠 Medium – French rugby fans are passionate but tickets are more available than UK/Ireland matches. France vs England is the tough one.

Six Nations 2026 Matches At Stade de France:

France vs Ireland - February 5, 2026
France vs England - March 14, 2026

🇫🇷 Decathlon Arena – Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille

Capacity: 50,157 (rugby configuration)

The Vibe: France's northern alternative to Paris offers something different – a modern, enclosed arena with a retractable roof and pitch. Originally built for football (LOSC Lille) and concerts, it's increasingly used for major rugby fixtures. The atmosphere is electric when the roof closes, and Lille itself is a seriously underrated city break destination.

Getting There:

By Metro: Line 1 to Lille Grand Stade station – literally next to the stadium. Journey takes 20 minutes from Lille-Flandres (city centre).
By Eurostar: Lille-Europe station is just 1h20 from London St Pancras – faster than Paris. Then Metro to the ground.
By train: Lille is a major hub. TGV connections from Paris (1 hour), Brussels (35 mins), and Lyon.
By plane: Lille Airport is small but has some routes. Brussels (1h15 by train) and Paris CDG (1h by TGV) are alternatives.

Where to Drink: Lille's Flemish heritage means excellent beer culture: Vieux-Lille (Old Town) – cobbled streets packed with bars and estaminets (traditional Flemish taverns). La Capsule – legendary craft beer bar, 40+ taps. Les 3 Brasseurs – brewpub near the stations, solid pre-match option. Place Rihour / Grand Place – central squares with terrace bars, great for people-watching. Rue Solférino – the main nightlife strip if you're staying late.

Top Tip: Lille is compact and walkable, with prices noticeably cheaper than Paris. The local dish is Welsh (yes, really) – melted cheese on toast with beer. The Eurostar connection makes this genuinely doable as a day trip from London, but staying over is worth it for the Flemish food and beer scene.

Ticket Difficulty: 🟠 Medium – similar to Stade de France. Matches here often have strong club rugby support from northern France.

Six Nations 2026 Matches At Decathlon Arena:

France vs Italy - February 22, 2026

In case you were wondering: The FFR regularly takes one Six Nations fixture to provincial cities to grow rugby beyond its traditional southern heartlands — and Lille's passionate northern crowd has made it a favourite.

🇮🇹 Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Capacity: 73,261

The Vibe: The hidden gem of the Six Nations. Rome in February is mild, beautiful, and affordable. Italian fans are welcoming, the food is exceptional, and tickets are actually obtainable. What's not to love?

Getting There:

By Metro: Line A to Flaminio, then a 15-minute walk through the Foro Italico complex.
By tram: Tram 2 from Piazzale Flaminio drops you closer.
By plane: Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is 45 minutes by train to Termini, then Metro.

Where to Drink: Rome doesn't really do "rugby pubs," but that's part of the charm:

Piazza Navona / Campo de' Fiori – central squares packed with bars.
Trastevere – cobbled streets, local wine bars, great atmosphere.
The Highlander – Scottish/Irish pub if you need a Six Nations crowd.
Scholar's Lounge (Irish pub near Termini) – showing matches, good meeting point.

Top Tip: Embrace the Italian approach. Long lunch, aperitivo, then the match. The Foro Italico complex (around the stadium) is stunning – arrive early and soak it in. The Trevi Fountain and Colosseum are a quick taxi away for non-rugby partners.

Ticket Difficulty: 🟢 Easier – Italy home games are the most accessible Six Nations tickets. Perfect for first-timers or families.

Six Nations 2026 Matches At Stadio Olimpico:

Italy vs Scotland - February 7, 2026
Italy vs England - March 7, 2026

General Six Nations Away Day Tips

Book Early. Flights and hotels spike dramatically once fixtures are confirmed. Set alerts and book as soon as dates are announced – even if tickets aren't secured yet.
Join a Supporters Club. Most unions offer priority ticket access to members. Worth it for the big away games.
Take Travel Insurance Seriously. Flights, hotels, and tickets add up. Protect yourself against cancellations.
Respect the Host. Six Nations away days work because fans mix well. Keep it friendly, enjoy the banter, and remember – you're an ambassador for your country.
Stay an Extra Night. The best away day memories aren't made in the stadium – they're made in the pub afterwards. Don't rush home.