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⏱️ 14 minute read | Updated August 2026

Aviva Stadium is the home of Irish rugby and one of the most distinctive venues in the Guinness Six Nations.

Built on the historic site of Lansdowne Road, the stadium combines more than a century of rugby tradition with a modern international venue close to the centre of Dublin.

That location is a major part of the experience.

A Six Nations match here can easily become a full Dublin weekend, with supporters gathering across the city before making their way towards Ballsbridge and Lansdowne Road as kick-off approaches.

If you’re planning to watch Ireland at Aviva Stadium, this guide covers the essentials — including seating, transport, atmosphere, tickets, food and drink, accessibility and what to expect on matchday.

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Aviva Stadium at a Glance

Stadium: Aviva Stadium
City: Dublin
Home team: Ireland
Capacity: 51,711
Opened: 2010
Historic site: Lansdowne Road
Location: Dublin 4
Nearest DART station: Lansdowne Road
Primary use: Rugby union and football

Aviva Stadium is the smallest of the six primary men’s Six Nations venues by capacity, but that doesn’t make it a small occasion.

Ireland internationals regularly attract intense demand, particularly for major fixtures against England and France.

The stadium’s location is another major advantage.

Rather than sitting well outside the city, Aviva Stadium is integrated into Dublin’s southside neighbourhoods, with the city centre readily accessible before and after the match.

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2027 Six Nations Matches at Aviva Stadium

Ireland have two home fixtures at Aviva Stadium during the 2027 Guinness Six Nations — and both are huge occasions.

Date	Fixture	Kick-off
Fri 5 Feb	🇮🇪 Ireland v England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿	20:10 GMT
Sat 13 Mar	🇮🇪 Ireland v France 🇫🇷	20:10 GMT

Ireland open the entire 2027 Championship against England under the Friday night lights in Dublin.

Then, five rounds later, they return home to face France in the final match of Super Saturday.

That gives Aviva Stadium the unusual distinction of hosting both the opening fixture and the final fixture of the 2027 Championship.

Depending on results across the tournament, Ireland v France could potentially have major Championship significance.

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Aviva Stadium Seating

Aviva Stadium has a distinctive bowl design, with multiple seating levels around most of the ground.

The stadium is asymmetrical, with the northern end noticeably lower than the other stands because of the surrounding residential area.

For spectators, the main question isn’t simply how close you are to the pitch.

It’s what type of view you prefer.

Lower-level seating

Lower seats put you closer to the action.

You’ll get a stronger sense of the pace, physical collisions and atmosphere at pitch level.

The trade-off is that a very low position can sometimes make it harder to see tactical patterns developing across the full width of the field.

Elevated seating

Higher seating provides a broader perspective.

For rugby in particular, elevation can make it easier to follow defensive structures, kicking patterns and how teams are using space.

Premium seating

Aviva Stadium also includes premium seating and hospitality areas.

These can offer different facilities and matchday experiences depending on the package and fixture.

Where Are the Best Seats at Aviva Stadium?

The best seat depends on what matters most to you.

🏉 Best for seeing the whole match

Seats around the halfway line with some elevation generally provide an excellent overall view.

You can watch both halves evenly and see tactical shapes develop more easily.

🔥 Best for atmosphere

Atmosphere isn’t limited to one particular part of Aviva Stadium.

For a major Ireland international, large sections of the stadium can become extremely vocal.

The opposition also matters.

Ireland v England or Ireland v France will naturally generate a different atmosphere from some other fixtures.

🏃 Best for being close to the action

Lower-level seats bring you closer to the pitch and give you a better sense of the speed and physicality of international rugby.

💶 Best for value

Don’t assume the most expensive seat is automatically the best experience.

A well-positioned elevated seat can provide an excellent overall view and may represent better value depending on the match.

Six Nations Atmosphere at Aviva Stadium

A Six Nations weekend in Dublin begins well before supporters reach the turnstiles.

Fans gather across the city throughout the day before gradually moving towards the stadium.

By the time kick-off approaches, streets around Ballsbridge, Lansdowne Road and surrounding areas fill with green shirts and travelling supporters.

Inside the ground, the compact capacity can help create an intense atmosphere for major fixtures.

The national anthem, team entrance and opening exchanges of a close international can be particularly memorable.

And in 2027, both Ireland home games should have a distinctive feel.

Ireland v England opens the Championship on a Friday night.

Ireland v France closes it on Super Saturday.

Those are two very different — and potentially enormous — rugby occasions.

Lansdowne Road and the Stadium’s Rugby History

Aviva Stadium may have opened in 2010, but international rugby on this site goes back much further.

The venue replaced the old Lansdowne Road Stadium, one of the most historic names in international rugby.

Lansdowne Road staged rugby for generations before closing in 2006 and being demolished to make way for the modern stadium.

That history still matters.

Many supporters continue to use the name Lansdowne Road when talking about the venue or surrounding area.

So although the stadium itself is modern, it occupies a site deeply connected with Irish rugby history.

For first-time visitors, that combination of old and new is part of what makes the ground distinctive.

Getting to Aviva Stadium

Aviva Stadium is relatively easy to reach by public transport from central Dublin.

The important thing is to check which entrance and route colour applies to your ticket before travelling.

The stadium uses several colour-coded access routes to direct supporters towards different turnstiles.

🚆 By DART

The DART is one of the easiest ways to reach the stadium.

Depending on your ticket and entrance, the most useful stations are generally:

Lansdowne Road
or
Grand Canal Dock

Lansdowne Road station sits immediately beside the stadium and serves several access routes.

Grand Canal Dock can be useful for other entrances.

Check your ticket before automatically heading to the nearest station.

🚶 On foot

Walking from central Dublin is possible and can be a good option depending on where you’re staying.

The stadium itself encourages supporters to walk where practical.

A walk towards Ballsbridge and Lansdowne Road also lets you experience more of the pre-match build-up.

🚌 By bus

Bus routes serve areas around Ballsbridge, Pembroke Road, Northumberland Road, Ringsend and Sandymount.

Event-day changes may affect services, so check current transport information.

🚗 By car

Driving directly to Aviva Stadium is generally not the best matchday strategy.

There is no general public parking at the stadium for large-scale events, and traffic restrictions can operate around the venue.

Public transport or walking will usually be the easier choice.

When Should You Arrive?

Don’t leave your journey until the last minute.

Aviva Stadium uses different entrance routes depending on your ticket, and tens of thousands of people may be arriving within a relatively short period.

For rugby matches, stadium gates generally begin opening around 90 minutes before kick-off, with some premium areas opening earlier.

For a major Six Nations fixture, aiming to be around the stadium approximately an hour before kick-off is sensible.

Earlier is even better if you want to:

• enjoy the pre-match atmosphere
• find your entrance without rushing
• get food or drink
• visit facilities
• locate your seat
• watch the teams warm up

For Ireland v England on a Friday evening, also consider normal Dublin commuter traffic when planning your journey.

Food and Drink

Food kiosks and bars operate throughout Aviva Stadium on event days.

The stadium is cashless, so expect to pay by card or compatible mobile payment.

But as with Cardiff, you don’t necessarily need to make the stadium your entire food-and-drink experience.

Dublin gives supporters plenty of options before and after the match.

🍺 Pre-match drinks

Bars and pubs across Dublin can become busy on international weekends.

Popular locations closer to the stadium may be particularly crowded as kick-off approaches.

If you want a specific pub, arrive early.

If you prefer somewhere quieter, consider spending part of the day elsewhere in Dublin before travelling towards the stadium.

🍽️ Eating before the match

If you’re planning a sit-down meal, booking can be worthwhile.

Large numbers of home and travelling supporters arrive in Dublin for Six Nations weekends, increasing demand across central and south Dublin.

Dublin Before and After the Match

A visit to Aviva Stadium works particularly well as part of a wider Dublin weekend.

You don’t need to build the entire trip around the few hours spent at the stadium.

Before the match, supporters can explore the city centre, enjoy Dublin’s pubs and restaurants or spend time in neighbourhoods closer to the stadium.

Afterwards, you’re still relatively close to the rest of the city.

That makes Dublin especially attractive for travelling supporters.

In 2027, both Ireland home fixtures also lend themselves to very different weekends.

The Friday-night England match gives supporters the rest of the weekend after the rugby.

The France fixture on Super Saturday provides the opportunity to experience the final day of the Championship in Dublin.

Accessibility at Aviva Stadium

Aviva Stadium has been designed with accessibility across multiple levels of the venue.

Facilities include:

• dedicated accessible entrances
• wheelchair viewing positions across the stadium
• lift access
• accessible toilets
• lowered food and drink counters
• support for spectators with visual or hearing impairments
• provision for personal assistants where applicable

Accessible parking is limited and must be arranged through the relevant event organiser.

If you require accessible seating or additional support for an Ireland rugby fixture, arrange it in advance through the appropriate ticketing channel rather than waiting until matchday.

Aviva Stadium Tickets

Ireland Six Nations tickets can be among the Championship’s hardest to obtain.

Aviva Stadium’s capacity is lower than venues such as Twickenham, Principality Stadium, Murrayfield, Stade de France and Stadio Olimpico, while demand for Ireland internationals can be extremely high.

Potential ticket routes may include:

• Irish rugby clubs
• official IRFU allocations
• supporter membership opportunities
• hospitality
• authorised providers
• reputable resale marketplaces

For fixtures such as Ireland v England and Ireland v France, demand can be particularly strong.

Before purchasing, make sure you understand:

• where your seat is located
• the ticket source
• delivery method
• digital ticket requirements
• any restrictions
• whether transfers are permitted
• the total price

Ireland Rugby currently uses digital ticketing for matches at Aviva Stadium, so make sure you’re familiar with the ticketing process before travelling.

🎟️ Six Nations Ticket Guides

You can also continue through our buying guides:

🎟 How to Buy Six Nations Tickets

Our complete guide to the different ways of securing Six Nations tickets.

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📅 When Do Six Nations Tickets Go on Sale?

Find out when you should start looking and how the ticket sales process works.

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⌛ Best Time to Buy Six Nations Tickets

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📈 Official vs Resale Six Nations Tickets: Which Option Is Right for You?

Discover which tickets are better value and better choice.

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🥂 Six Nations Hospitality

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❓Six Nations Tickets FAQs

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Aviva Stadium FAQs

Where is Aviva Stadium?

Aviva Stadium is located on Lansdowne Road in Dublin 4, south-east of Dublin city centre.

What is the capacity of Aviva Stadium?

Aviva Stadium has a capacity of 51,711.

Is Aviva Stadium the old Lansdowne Road?

Aviva Stadium was built on the site of the historic Lansdowne Road Stadium.

The old ground closed in 2006 and was demolished before construction of the current stadium, which opened in 2010.

What is the nearest train station to Aviva Stadium?

Lansdowne Road DART station sits immediately beside the stadium.

Depending on your ticket entrance, Grand Canal Dock may also be useful.

Why is one end of Aviva Stadium lower?

The northern end of Aviva Stadium is significantly lower than the rest of the bowl because of the stadium’s proximity to surrounding residential properties.

This gives the venue its distinctive asymmetrical appearance.

What Six Nations matches are being played at Aviva Stadium in 2027?

Ireland host England on Friday 5 February 2027 and France on Saturday 13 March 2027.

Both kick off at 20:10 GMT.

Does Aviva Stadium accept cash?

No.

Aviva Stadium operates cashless food and beverage outlets, so supporters should bring a payment card or compatible mobile payment method.

Is there parking at Aviva Stadium?

There is no general public parking at the stadium for major events.

Public transport and walking are generally the recommended options.

Is Aviva Stadium accessible?

Yes.

The stadium provides accessible entrances, wheelchair viewing spaces, lifts, accessible toilets and other facilities for supporters with accessibility requirements.

Where can I buy Ireland Six Nations tickets?

Official Irish rugby ticketing routes should generally be your starting point.

Depending on availability, other options may include hospitality, authorised ticket providers and reputable resale marketplaces.

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Explore More Six Nations Stadiums

Aviva Stadium is one of six venues that stage Guinness Six Nations rugby.

You can compare them all in our main stadium guide:

Explore All Six Nations Stadiums →

And continue planning your trip:

Ireland Six Nations Tickets →

Guinness Six Nations Fixtures →

Six Nations Travel & Matchday Guides →

Find Ireland Six Nations Tickets

Watching Ireland at Aviva Stadium combines international rugby with one of the Championship’s great city weekends.

In 2027, Dublin hosts two huge fixtures: Ireland v England under the Friday night lights and Ireland v France in the final match of Super Saturday.

Choose the match you want to attend, explore the available ticket options and start planning your Dublin trip.

🏉 Supporter’s Tip

Check the route colour on your ticket before heading to the stadium.

Aviva Stadium uses different approaches and entrances depending on where you’re sitting, so simply following the crowd towards the nearest gate isn’t always the quickest option.

Then give yourself time.

Arrive in Dublin early, enjoy the build-up and make the journey towards Lansdowne Road part of the matchday.

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