Since Arsenal’s thrilling Premier League win last week, much of north London has been celebrating non-stop (except in Tottenham, though they had their own reasons to party). And with Arsenal set to play in the Champions League final on Saturday, Gooner fever is about to spread across Europe. So it was no surprise that on Friday morning, the team’s iconic red-and-white shirts were impossible to miss in the departure lounge at Stansted Airport, about 30 miles northeast of central London.
Most Gunners—or Gooners, as they’re commonly called—were getting ready to head to Budapest, mostly by indirect routes, where Arsenal will face Paris Saint-Germain. “We’ll get there by train, plane, and automobiles,” said Darren Cornish. The 53-year-old IT manager from Hemel Hempstead wasn’t exaggerating. Arsenal fans that the Guardian spoke to plan to make their way to the Hungarian capital via overnight buses and trains from nearby countries, after flights to Budapest shot up in price following Arsenal’s Premier League victory.
All 13 of Wizz Air’s Budapest-bound flights from London had sold out by Friday, but according to Skyscanner, the last available ticket was £407 one way. To avoid a huge price hike, Cornish “jumped” on booking his travel after the semi-final, managing to get return flights to Linz, Austria, for £150 round trip. He’ll take a three-and-a-half-hour train to Budapest on Saturday morning. Most of his friends are traveling to the Hungarian capital indirectly, including through Vienna, Bratislava, and even Rome. “Very few people I know are going direct,” he said.
View image in fullscreen: Kieran Regan and Darren Cornish. Photograph: Sammy Gecsoyler/The Guardian
Cornish was in Highbury, north London, on Sunday after Arsenal’s final Premier League match of the season against Crystal Palace. “I’ve never seen scenes like that at the Emirates, and I’ve seen Arsenal win the league at Anfield, Old Trafford, White Hart Lane, and Highbury,” he said. “The number of people and the sheer relief on the streets—I don’t think any other London club could match it.”
Arsenal have made it to the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years. With the excitement from the team’s Premier League win still in the air, Cornish is feeling relaxed. “This game is a free hit,” he said. “If we lose, we’ve still got the league. If we win, it’ll be the best thing ever. There’s no pressure on these boys.”
Ben Boxhall is flying to Kraków with two friends. The trio from Essex were babies when Arsenal last won the Premier League. “We were 18 months old when they won the league in 2004. This is the first one we remember, and we’re celebrating with our parents and friends,” said the 23-year-old who works in marketing.
They plan to catch a bus from Kraków to Budapest at 5am on Saturday. “We’ll get there around midday,” said Adam Wares, 23, who works in finance. The trio haven’t booked a hotel in Budapest and, after joining the thousands of fans expected at the UEFA meeting point where the game will be shown, plan to stay up all night before catching the first bus back to Kraków.
“We looked at flying to Budapest, but it was about £500 to £600 on Wizz Air,” said Wares. Instead, they paid £170 for their return flights.
Ollie Laurence, 23, who works in construction, said he knows “people who are paying over a grand” on flights to get to Budapest. But the chance of a second Arsenal victory could make it worth it. “It could be the perfect season. If we win the double, it would be unbelievable,” he said.
View image in fullscreen: Sonny Living (far left) with other Arsenal fans at Stansted Airport. Photograph: Sammy Gecsoyler/The Guardian
Also flying to Linz was Sonny Living, a 21-year-old graduate from Hertfordshire who is looking forward to a “greatHe spent time with some great people. He paid just under £200 for his return flights. He was about a month old the last time Arsenal won the Premier League. He said the stakes for Saturday’s game “won’t be as high because we’ve had a successful season regardless,” though he thinks the team might be more “fearless” on the pitch. He hasn’t got tickets yet but is looking. “They’re going for about £2,500,” he said, an amount he’d be willing to pay.
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Neil Roberts and friend with their Aylesbury Gooners flag. Photograph: Sammy Gecsoyler/The Guardian
Some slightly older fans are just as excited about Arsenal’s Premier League win. Neil Roberts has been going to home and away matches for the past 25 years. “When you haven’t had success for so long, when it finally comes, it’s magical,” said the 43-year-old, who runs a landscaping business. Even though he wasn’t openly cheering for the Gunners at the airport, he said he had an Arsenal shirt in his suitcase.
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Paul Dawson (far left), Neil Roberts (third right), and Jeff Steward (second right). Photograph: Sammy Gecsoyler/The Guardian
He was traveling with Jeff Steward, 60, an electrical engineer. He took a chance after the first leg of the Champions League semi-final and got flights to Linz for £60. He also took a gamble last year but ended up not flying out. “You only lose out on the flights,” he said.
Paul Dawson, 48, an IT manager and another member of the group from Aylesbury, said he looked at return flights to Budapest after the semi-final. “Within two hours of full time, they’d gone up ten times,” he said.
But for many fans, their long and expensive trips to Budapest are all worth it. “Memories are worth more than money,” said Roberts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Arsenal fans rushing to Budapest for the Champions League final covering travel logistics common problems and practical tips
General Planning
1 Why are Arsenal fans rushing to Budapest
Arsenal is playing in the Champions League final and fans want to get there in time for the match Many left their travel to the last minute so they are scrambling for any available transport
2 Is the final actually in Budapest
Yes the Champions League final is being held at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest
3 Do I need a visa to get into Hungary for the match
If you are a British passport holder you do not need a visa for short stays in Hungary Always doublecheck entry requirements just before you travel
Travel by Plane
4 Why are flights to Budapest so expensive and hard to find
High demand and limited supply Thousands of fans are all trying to book at the same time driving up prices and selling out seats Many flights are chartered specifically for the match
5 I cant get a direct flight to Budapest What are my options
Look for flights to nearby cities like Vienna or Bratislava From there you can take a train or a bus to Budapest Its a few hours drive but often much cheaper
6 My flight got cancelled What should I do
Check with the airline immediately for rebooking Also search for lastminute seats on other airlines flying to any nearby airport Be prepared to travel on standby
Travel by Train Car
7 Is the train from London to Budapest a good option
Its a long journey Its a good backup if flights are full but you need to book a seat reservation for highspeed trains The Eurostar to Paris then a connection to Munich or Vienna is the usual route
8 Can I drive from the UK to Budapest
Yes but its a long drive Youll need to take a ferry or the Eurotunnel Factor in fuel tolls and rest stops Its a solid option for a group of
