There’s nothing quite like the walk down Lansdowne Road on a big match day. You step out the front door with the scarf on, there’s a nip in the air, and the crowd thickens as you get closer. The stadium appears above the rooftops of an ordinary residential street, and by the time you reach the turnstiles you can hear the noise from inside.
At the Schoolhouse Hotel, we’re just 10 to 15 minutes from all of that on foot. Here’s what’s coming up at the Aviva, where to eat before kickoff and how to get there on the day.
What’s on at the Aviva Stadium
Autumn is the busiest run of the year at the ground. Irish football is back in Dublin in October, the FAI Cup Final follows in November, and Ireland play three rugby internationals in a fortnight.
- Republic of Ireland v Austria, UEFA Nations League, Thursday 1 October
- Ireland v Argentina, Nations Championship, Friday 6 November
- Men’s FAI Cup Final, Sunday 8 November
- Ireland v Fiji, Nations Championship, Saturday 14 November
- Ireland v South Africa, Nations Championship, Saturday 21 November
- Ireland v England, Six Nations, Friday 5 February 2027
Leinster host their biggest European nights here too, and concerts take over the ground in summer. Kickoff times move for broadcast, so check the official Aviva Stadium website before you travel.
Where to eat before the game
The area gets busy beforehand and most places book out well in advance. Our Gastrobar is a short walk from the ground, sitting under a soaring vaulted ceiling most people aren’t expecting, with hearty food, a proper pint and a garden terrace beside the canal. On fixture days we run a match day menu for people who want to eat well and still make kickoff. Book your table before you travel, because we fill up.
Where to stay near the Aviva Stadium
The Schoolhouse Hotel is one of the closest hotels to the Aviva Stadium, just 10 to 15 minutes away on foot. Our building was built as a schoolhouse in 1859 and still has the vaulted ceilings to show for it, with 31 cosy, comfortable rooms and an eclectic style you won’t find in a chain hotel. On a match day, that means:
- A 10 to 15 minute walk to the turnstiles, with no taxi and no hunt for parking
- Onsite parking if you’re driving in from outside Dublin
- The Gastrobar downstairs, with the match day menu before kickoff and food after the final whistle
- A warm room to come back to, in a building nobody else in Dublin 4 can offer you
Take a look at our rooms and book direct for our best available rates.
How to get to the Aviva Stadium
The stadium sits on Lansdowne Road in Dublin 4, between Ballsbridge and Sandymount, and holds just over 51,000 people. Most of the day happens on foot.
Getting there by DART
The DART is the easiest way in. Lansdowne Road station is right beside the stadium.
- Grand Canal Dock and Sandymount are both an easy walk, and calmer on the way home
- Trains fill up in the two hours before a big fixture, so travel early
- Top up a Leap card before you set off, because the machines get busy
- Services are often adjusted for large events, so check Irish Rail on the day
Getting there by bus
Several Dublin Bus routes drop you within a five to ten minute walk of the ground.
- Routes run along Northumberland Road, Merrion Road and Bath Avenue
- Stops move and routes divert on event days
- The TFI Live app is the most reliable way to check what’s running
Walking from the city centre
About thirty minutes from Trinity College at an easy pace, through Georgian Dublin.
- Nassau Street to Merrion Square
- Northumberland Road all the way down
- Turn for Lansdowne Road at the end
Driving and parking
Driving on match days can be tricky, and generally isn’t an option we’d recommend if you can avoid it.
- There’s no public car park at the stadium
- Surrounding streets are permit only or heavily restricted on event days
- Road closures come into force for several hours around kickoff
- Park further out and take the DART in, or leave the car with us and walk
After the final whistle
Fifty thousand people leave at the same moment, so taxis are scarce and the platforms are packed. The trick is not to rush. Let the crowd thin out for an hour and the journey home is far less frazzled. Better again, walk back to the Gastrobar, warm up with something to eat and catch the replays while the roads clear.
A few practical tips
- Check the stadium bag policy on the official website before you leave, as it changes between events
- Arrive earlier than you plan to, because security checks take time
- Dress for Irish weather. The stadium is open to the elements at either end
- Book dinner in advance. Every restaurant in Dublin 4 is busy on a match day
