Stadio Olimpico Guide: Six Nations Matchday in Rome

Home › Six Nations Stadiums › Stadio Olimpico

⏱️ 17 minute read | Updated August 2026

Watching Six Nations rugby at the Stadio Olimpico offers one of the Championship’s most distinctive away-day experiences.

The home of Italian rugby sits within Rome’s historic Foro Italico sporting complex, north of the city centre and close to the River Tiber.

On an Italy matchday, thousands of Azzurri supporters mix with travelling fans from across Europe before heading into one of the largest stadiums in the Championship.

But perhaps the biggest attraction is everything surrounding the match.

A Saturday afternoon international at the Stadio Olimpico can become the centrepiece of an entire weekend exploring Rome.

If you’re planning to watch Italy here, this guide covers seating, transport, atmosphere, tickets, nearby food and drink, accessibility and what to expect on matchday.

🎟️ Looking for Italy Six Nations Tickets?

If you already know which Italy match you want to attend:

Stadio Olimpico at a Glance

Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
City: Rome
Home team: Italy
Location: Foro Italico, north Rome
Capacity: Around 70,000
Italy Six Nations home since: 2012
Primary uses: Rugby, football, athletics and major events
Nearest major areas: Ponte Milvio, Flaminio and Prati

The Stadio Olimpico is one of Italy’s major national sporting venues.

It sits within the Foro Italico, a large sporting complex beside the River Tiber and several kilometres north of Rome’s historic centre.

Italy have played their Six Nations home matches here since 2012.

The stadium is also home to AS Roma and Lazio football matches and has staged major European football, athletics and international rugby events.

For Six Nations supporters, however, its greatest appeal may be the combination of a huge sporting occasion with a weekend in Rome.

Explore All Six Nations Stadiums →

2027 Six Nations Matches at Stadio Olimpico

Italy have three home fixtures at Stadio Olimpico during the 2027 Guinness Six Nations.

Date	Fixture	Kick-off
Sat 13 Feb	🇮🇹 Italy v Ireland 🇮🇪	14:10 GMT / 15:10 local
Sat 6 Mar	🇮🇹 Italy v France 🇫🇷	14:10 GMT / 15:10 local
Sat 13 Mar	🇮🇹 Italy v Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿	14:10 GMT / 15:10 local

Ireland provide Italy’s first home opposition of the Championship.

France then arrive in Round 4 for the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy, before Italy finish their tournament at home to Wales on Super Saturday.

All three are Saturday afternoon fixtures, which makes them particularly attractive for supporters building a long weekend around the rugby.

📅 Want to see the complete Championship?

View the Complete Guinness Six Nations Fixtures →

🎟️ Supporting Italy?

Explore Italy Six Nations Tickets →

Stadio Olimpico Seating

The Stadio Olimpico is a large oval stadium rather than a purpose-built rectangular rugby ground.

An athletics track separates the seating from the pitch, meaning supporters are naturally further from the playing surface than at venues such as Twickenham or Principality Stadium.

That makes seat location especially important.

The principal seating areas include the:

• Tribuna Monte Mario
• Tribuna Tevere
• Curva Nord
• Curva Sud
• Distinti sections

For rugby, side-on seating generally offers the clearest overall view.

Tribuna Monte Mario

Monte Mario runs along one side of the pitch.

Seats here provide a traditional side-on perspective and are among the more desirable locations for supporters who want a strong view of the entire field.

Tribuna Tevere

Tevere sits opposite Monte Mario and also provides a side-on view.

Depending on your block and elevation, these areas can provide a good balance between perspective and proximity.

Curva Nord and Curva Sud

The two curved ends provide a more distant view because you’re looking lengthways across the pitch and across the athletics track.

The advantage can be lower ticket prices and a different view of attacking play developing towards your end.

Where Are the Best Seats at Stadio Olimpico?

At the Olimpico, the athletics track makes this question more important than at some other Six Nations venues.

🏉 Best for seeing the whole match

Side-on seats in Monte Mario or Tevere, particularly around halfway, are generally the strongest choice for following the full game.

Some elevation can help you see attacking and defensive patterns developing.

👀 Best for a closer view

Lower side-on seating reduces the overall distance between you and the rugby.

Remember, though, that the running track means even lower seating isn’t as close to the touchline as at a dedicated rugby stadium.

💷 Best for value

Seats behind the posts or towards the curved ends can sometimes provide less expensive routes into the stadium.

The trade-off is distance.

If you’re choosing between a much cheaper end seat and a premium halfway seat, think about whether simply being at the occasion matters more than having the best possible rugby view.

💡 Check the actual block

At a stadium this large, broad categories only tell you so much.

Before buying, check your exact block and — where possible — use a seating map or seat-view tool.

Six Nations Atmosphere at Stadio Olimpico

The Stadio Olimpico offers a different atmosphere from many traditional Six Nations grounds.

Italy home matches tend to attract substantial numbers of travelling supporters, particularly from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.

That can create a colourful, relatively mixed crowd around the stadium and throughout Rome.

Italian flags, music and the Azzurri support create the home atmosphere, while visiting fans add their own songs and traditions.

The build-up outside the stadium is also important.

For Italy Six Nations matches, the wider Foro Italico becomes part of the day, with supporters gathering before kick-off rather than simply walking straight to the turnstiles.

The result often feels as much like an international rugby festival as a traditional home-versus-away sporting crowd.

Stadio Olimpico and Italian Rugby

Italy joined the Championship in 2000, transforming the Five Nations into the Six Nations.

For their first years in the tournament, Italy played their Rome home fixtures at the smaller Stadio Flaminio.

In 2012, they moved Six Nations matches to the Stadio Olimpico.

The larger venue allowed significantly more supporters to attend and provided the national side with one of Europe’s major sporting arenas.

Since then, the Olimpico has witnessed some landmark Italian rugby occasions.

Italy’s matches against France have particular significance through the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy, while the annual Championship brings tens of thousands of visiting supporters to Rome each spring.

Getting to Stadio Olimpico

Stadio Olimpico isn’t directly served by its own Metro station.

That makes transport planning more important than it is for some Six Nations grounds.

The most practical approach for many supporters is a combination of Metro + tram/bus + walking.

🚇 Metro and Tram

A common route from central Rome is:

Metro Line A → Flaminio → Tram 2 towards Piazza Mancini

From the Piazza Mancini area, supporters can walk towards the Foro Italico and stadium.

This is one of the most commonly used approaches on event days.

Expect Tram 2 and the surrounding streets to become very busy.

🚇 Metro to Ottaviano

Another option is Metro Line A to Ottaviano.

From there, buses including routes serving the Piazzale Clodio/Ponte Milvio areas can take you closer to the stadium.

Depending on crowds, walking part of the route can sometimes be simpler.

🚌 By bus

Numerous public bus routes serve the wider Foro Italico area, including services towards:

• Piazza Mancini
• Piazzale Clodio
• Ponte Milvio
• Flaminio

Matchday arrangements and diversions can change, so check current Rome transport information on the day.

🚶 Walking

Walking the final section is normal.

Even if you use public transport for most of the journey, expect to complete part of the route to the stadium on foot.

🚗 By car

Driving close to Stadio Olimpico on matchday isn’t something I’d recommend to most visiting supporters.

Parking restrictions and traffic controls operate around major events.

If you’re staying centrally, public transport combined with walking is generally much easier.

When Should You Arrive?

Give yourself plenty of time.

Rome’s transport system can be busy even before tens of thousands of rugby supporters are added to it.

Allow time for:

• busy Metro services
• tram or bus queues
• walking through the Foro Italico
• security checks
• finding your entrance
• locating your seating block
• food and drink
• enjoying the pre-match village

Aiming to reach the Foro Italico area 60–90 minutes before kick-off is sensible.

But for the Stadio Olimpico, I’d go further:

make the pre-match part of your day rather than something you rush through.

Italy’s afternoon kick-offs make that particularly easy.

Pubs, Food and Drink Near Stadio Olimpico

Rome gives you plenty of choices, but you don’t necessarily want to eat immediately beside the stadium.

A useful strategy is to choose between Ponte Milvio, the Flaminio area, or somewhere closer to the Foro Italico before heading inside.

Here are a few options worth considering.

🍺 Ponte Milvio — best area for a pre-match atmosphere

Ponte Milvio sits north of the stadium and is one of the more useful areas for eating and drinking around an Olimpico event.

It has numerous bars, restaurants and cafés clustered within a relatively compact area.

One option is Roma Beer Company, a gastropub on Piazzale di Ponte Milvio.

Best for: beer, casual food and a livelier pre-match stop.

Because it stays open late, it’s potentially useful after the rugby too.

🍺 Four Green Fields — for a familiar rugby-pub feel

Four Green Fields is an Irish pub in the Prati area.

For an Ireland fixture in particular, expect it to appeal to travelling supporters — although international weekends can make rugby-friendly pubs extremely busy.

Best for: supporters who want a recognisable pub atmosphere before heading towards the stadium.

🍝 Salvi al Flaminio — Italian food before the match

Salvi al Flaminio dal 1957 is a well-regarded Italian restaurant in the Flaminio area.

It’s a more appealing option if you’d rather have a proper Roman/Italian meal before joining the stadium crowds.

Best for: a sit-down lunch before an afternoon international.

Booking ahead would be sensible on a Six Nations weekend.

🍕 Cuccurucù — meal close to the Foro Italico

Ristorante Cuccurucu’ sits relatively close to the stadium on Via Capoprati.

Its location makes it useful if you’d rather get into the stadium area early and eat nearby.

Best for: a more substantial lunch close to the venue.

Again, book ahead rather than assuming you’ll get a table immediately before a major international.

☕ Bar River — straightforward and close

Bar River is another nearby option along the Tiber.

It’s much more casual than booking a full restaurant.

Best for: a simple coffee, drink or quick stop in the stadium area.

💡 Our preferred Rome matchday approach

For most travelling supporters, I’d suggest:

explore Rome in the morning → early lunch → head towards Flaminio or Ponte Milvio → enjoy the rugby build-up → walk into the Foro Italico.

Don’t sacrifice half a day in Rome simply to sit beside the stadium waiting for kick-off.

The Six Nations Third Half Village

One feature that makes an Italy home match particularly distinctive is the Villaggio Terzo Tempo — literally the Third Half Village.

Located within the Foro Italico complex for Italy men’s internationals, it extends the matchday beyond the stadium itself.

Supporters can gather around the area for food, drink, entertainment and rugby-related activities.

The concept reflects rugby’s traditional idea of the third half: the social side of the sport after the competitive 80 minutes have finished.

For visiting supporters, it’s another reason to arrive well before kick-off rather than heading directly to your seat.

Match-specific arrangements can change, so check current information for your fixture.

Rome Before and After the Match

This is where the Stadio Olimpico arguably has one of the biggest advantages on the entire Six Nations calendar.

You’re in Rome.

A rugby weekend can also include:

• the Colosseum
• Roman Forum
• Pantheon
• Piazza Navona
• Trevi Fountain
• Spanish Steps
• Trastevere
• Vatican City
• countless restaurants, bars and neighbourhoods

The stadium isn’t in the historic centre, so think of the rugby as one part of the day rather than expecting the city’s main attractions to surround the ground.

For a 15:10 local kick-off, you can comfortably enjoy Rome during the morning before making your way north.

After the match, you can head back into central Rome for dinner and the evening.

That makes Italy particularly well suited to supporters who want their Six Nations trip to feel like a genuine city break.

Accessibility at Stadio Olimpico

The Italian Rugby Federation provides specific arrangements for supporters with disabilities attending Italy home matches.

Supporters requiring wheelchair access can request dedicated accreditation for the relevant match.

Additional ticket arrangements may also be available for companions.

Because accessibility procedures can differ from standard ticket purchasing, arrange requirements in advance through the appropriate official channel.

Don’t wait until you reach the stadium to resolve accessible seating or entry requirements.

Public transport accessibility should also be checked when planning your route, particularly if your journey involves multiple Metro, tram or bus connections.

Stadio Olimpico Tickets

There is an important difference between Italy and several other nations in 2027:

tickets for Italy’s three home matches are already officially on sale.

The Italian Rugby Federation opened sales for:

Italy v Ireland
Italy v France
Italy v Wales

through its official ticketing partner.

Potential buying routes can include:

• official FIR ticketing
• TicketOne
• hospitality
• authorised ticket providers
• reputable resale marketplaces

Ticket demand will vary by fixture.

Italy v Ireland should attract significant travelling Irish support, while Italy v France has the added attraction of the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy.

Super Saturday against Wales could also become a popular Rome weekend for travelling supporters.

Before purchasing, check:

• your exact seating block
• ticket source
• delivery method
• whether your ticket is digital
• any restrictions
• full purchase price

🎟️ Need help buying?

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.

Read the Complete Ticket Buying Guide →

📅 When Do Six Nations Tickets Go on Sale?

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

Read the Ticket Release Guide →

⌛ Best Time to Buy Six Nations Tickets

Make sure you have your finger on the pulse.

Explore the Best Time to Buy Tickets Guide →

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

Discover which tickets are better value and better choice.

Read the Official vs Resale Guide →

🥂 Six Nations Hospitality

Do you want the best seats in the house and to be wined and dined?

View our Six Nations Hospitality Guide →

❓Six Nations Tickets FAQs

And for everything else… view our comprehensive ticket buying FAQs.

Read our Ticket Buying FAQs →

---

Stadio Olimpico FAQs

Where is Stadio Olimpico?

Stadio Olimpico is located within the Foro Italico sporting complex in north Rome, beside the River Tiber.

How many people does Stadio Olimpico hold?

The stadium accommodates around 70,000 spectators, depending on the event configuration.

Is Stadio Olimpico in central Rome?

No.

The stadium is north of Rome’s main historic centre.

You’ll normally need to use public transport and walk part of the journey.

What is the nearest Metro station to Stadio Olimpico?

There isn’t a Metro station directly beside the stadium.

A popular route is Metro Line A to Flaminio, followed by Tram 2 towards Piazza Mancini and a walk to the Foro Italico.

Ottaviano on Line A can also be useful when connecting with buses towards the stadium area.

Can you walk from central Rome to Stadio Olimpico?

Technically yes, but it’s a substantial walk from the main historic areas.

For most supporters, public transport for part of the journey followed by walking is the better approach.

What Six Nations matches are being played at Stadio Olimpico in 2027?

Italy host:

Ireland — 13 February 2027
France — 6 March 2027
Wales — 13 March 2027

All three kick off at 15:10 local time.

Are Italy Six Nations tickets on sale?

Yes.

Official tickets for Italy’s three 2027 home fixtures have already gone on sale through the Italian Rugby Federation’s official ticketing partner.

Where are the best seats at Stadio Olimpico for rugby?

Seats along the side of the pitch, particularly within the Monte Mario and Tevere areas, generally provide the strongest overall rugby view.

The athletics track means seats behind the posts can feel considerably further from the action.

Is there an athletics track at Stadio Olimpico?

Yes.

An athletics track surrounds the playing field.

This makes seating location more important than at purpose-built rugby stadiums where the stands sit immediately beside the touchline.

What is the Third Half Village?

The Villaggio Terzo Tempo is the matchday village operated around Italy men’s international fixtures at the Foro Italico.

It provides food, drink, entertainment and additional fan activities around the rugby.

Is Stadio Olimpico accessible?

Yes, but supporters requiring wheelchair access or other specific arrangements should organise this through the appropriate Italian Rugby Federation process in advance.

Where can I buy Italy Six Nations tickets?

Official Italian Rugby Federation and TicketOne channels should generally be your starting point.

Depending on availability, supporters may also explore hospitality, authorised providers and reputable resale marketplaces.

---

Explore More Six Nations Stadiums

Stadio Olimpico is one of six venues used during the Guinness Six Nations.

Compare all six in our main guide:

Explore All Six Nations Stadiums →

And continue planning:

Italy Six Nations Tickets →

Guinness Six Nations Fixtures →

Six Nations Travel & Matchday Guides →

Find Italy Six Nations Tickets

Watching Italy at Stadio Olimpico offers something few rugby trips can match.

In 2027, the Azzurri host Ireland, France and Wales in Rome.

Three Saturday-afternoon internationals.

Three opportunities to experience the Foro Italico.

And three very good excuses for a weekend in one of Europe’s great cities.

Compare official and resale tickets to understand the differences in price, availability and buyer protection.

🏉 Supporter’s Tip

Don’t make the mistake of treating a Rome rugby trip as stadium first, city second.

Reverse it.

Spend your morning exploring Rome.

Have lunch somewhere worth remembering.

Then travel north and join the supporters heading towards the Foro Italico.

Enjoy the Third Half Village, watch the rugby, then head back into the city for the evening.

The Stadio Olimpico gives you the match.

Disclaimer: this site contains affiliate links. If you visit a 3rd party vendor site and make a purchase after clicking a link, we may collect a share of the sale compensation/commission. Any purchase you make is a purchase relationship between you and the 3rd party vendor, i.e., the RFU, or a reseller i.e., Viagogo. Should you require assistance with your tickets, please contact the vendor you purchased from.