Conference League Final 2027 in Istanbul: Planning Your Trip

Yes, the 2027 UEFA Conference League final is in Istanbul: UEFA confirms it will be played at Beşiktaş Stadium on Wednesday 2 June 2027. The stadium sits on the European shore of the Bosphorus, next to Dolmabahçe Palace and a short walk from Taksim, so a match trip combines easily with a few days of sightseeing. The finalists will only be known after the second legs of the semi-finals on 6 May 2027, which leaves less than four weeks to book. If you want your Istanbul days organised around the match, our Istanbul City Break Package: 3 Days / 2 Nights with Transfers starts from $525 per person.

This page covers what UEFA has confirmed so far, how to reach the stadium, where to stay, and what the trip costs beyond the match ticket.

What UEFA has confirmed so far

UEFA's Executive Committee chose Beşiktaş Stadium for the 2027 final at its meeting in Dublin in May 2024. In May 2025 the Turkish Football Federation said it would ask UEFA to move the match to the new national stadium in Ankara if that stadium was finished in time. As of UEFA's own final page, published on 5 November 2026, the venue is still Beşiktaş Stadium in Istanbul. We will update this page if that changes.

UEFA notes that match dates can change, so check its competition page before you pay for anything that cannot be cancelled.

Istanbul has hosted big European finals before. The 2023 Champions League final was played at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium on the western edge of the city. The 2027 final is a very different experience for visitors, because Beşiktaş Stadium is in the city centre rather than out by the motorway.

Where the stadium is and how to get there

Beşiktaş Stadium stands on the site of the old İnönü Stadium, between Taksim, Kabataş and Beşiktaş. Dolmabahçe Palace is just below it on the waterfront, and the Bosphorus is a few minutes' walk away.

The main ways to reach it:

• On foot from Taksim. Taksim Square is up the hill from the stadium, and the walk down is short. Many fans gather around Taksim and İstiklal Avenue before the match.
• By tram. The T1 tram runs from the old city through Eminönü and Karaköy to its last stop at Kabataş, at the foot of the stadium hill. If you stay in Sultanahmet, it is a direct ride.
• By funicular. The short F1 funicular links Taksim with Kabataş, useful in either direction.
• By ferry. Kabataş and Beşiktaş both have ferry piers with services to the Asian side, including Üsküdar and Kadıköy.

Do not plan to drive or take a taxi to the gate. On big match days the police close the roads around the stadium, and traffic along the Dolmabahçe shore road stops completely. If you book a private car for the evening, agree a pickup point a walk away from the stadium, in Taksim or beyond Beşiktaş, rather than at the gate.

Details for the final itself, such as fan meeting points and gate times, are published by UEFA and the finalist clubs closer to the date.

Where to stay for the final

Everything near the stadium will be in demand once the finalists are known, so book a refundable room early and confirm later.

• Taksim and Beyoğlu. The most practical base: walkable to the stadium, plenty of hotels, and restaurants open late. Expect it to be the busiest area for fans.
• Beşiktaş. The neighbourhood on the other side of the stadium, with a lively market area, cafés and the waterfront. Smaller hotels, fewer options.
• Karaköy and Galata. Two tram stops from Kabataş, with good restaurants and a quieter feel than Taksim. Our guide to things to do in Galata and Karaköy covers the area.
• Sultanahmet. Best if you want to sightsee in the mornings. The T1 tram goes straight to Kabataş, though trams will be packed after the match.
• The Asian side. Kadıköy is pleasant and often cheaper, but you depend on ferries or the metro to get home late at night. Check the last services before you choose it.

Our where to stay in Istanbul guide compares these districts in more detail.

Flights and arriving in Istanbul

Istanbul has two airports. Istanbul Airport (IST), on the European side, is the Turkish Airlines hub. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), on the Asian side, is the Pegasus hub. Both have good links with most European cities, and the finalists' supporters will add charter flights once the teams are known.

A few points for booking:

• Watch the semi-finals. The second legs are on 6 May 2027. If your club is still in, it may be worth holding a flexible fare or a refundable hotel before then.
• Check which airport you land at. It decides how long the transfer takes. Our Istanbul airport private transfer page explains how the pickup works, and our Mercedes Vito transfer runs from $60 per group.
• Entry rules. Many nationalities enter Turkey visa-free, while others need an e-Visa. Check our Turkey visa requirements update early, not the week before.

A three-day trip around the match

The final is on a Wednesday. Two things shape the plan: Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays and Dolmabahçe Palace on Mondays, and the area around the stadium is crowded and partly closed on match day.

Tuesday 1 June: arrival and the old city. Land in the morning, drop your bags, and spend the afternoon in Sultanahmet: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. These are all open on Tuesdays.

Wednesday 2 June: match day. A morning at Topkapı Palace, or a two-hour boat on the Bosphorus, then a long lunch and a rest before heading to the stadium area. Avoid planning anything near Dolmabahçe on this day.

Thursday 3 June: the Bosphorus. A slow start after a late night, then Dolmabahçe Palace, a Bosphorus cruise and the Asian side, or a walk in Balat. Fly home in the evening, or stay one more night.

With four days, add the Princes' Islands or a dinner cruise. Our Istanbul 3-day itinerary has more detail on how to split the sights.

What a trip to the final costs

The match ticket and the flight depend on UEFA and on where you fly from. Hotel rates in central Istanbul rise sharply around big events, so we do not quote a figure until the finalists are known. What we can give you are the costs on the ground in Istanbul:

For a wider budget, including food, transport and museum fees, our Istanbul trip cost guide breaks down a typical day.

Match-day tips

• Buy tickets only through official channels. UEFA sells final tickets on uefa.com, and the two finalist clubs sell their own allocations to their supporters. Be very careful with resale offers from elsewhere.
• Expect a late finish. European finals are played in the evening. Plan your night around a crowded walk or tram ride after midnight, and keep the next morning free.
• June weather is warm. According to the Turkish State Meteorological Service, Istanbul averages a daytime high of about 27°C in June and a low of about 18°C, with only a few rainy days. Carry water during the day and a light layer for the evening breeze off the Bosphorus.
• Carry your passport or ID. Expect security checks at the stadium, as well as at museums and transport hubs during the day.
• Respect the mosques. If you sightsee in club colours, bring a cover-up for mosque visits. Shoulders and knees should be covered, and women need a headscarf.

Tours that cover this

• Istanbul City Break Package: 3 Days / 2 Nights with Transfers: from $525 per person, a simple base for a match trip.
• Istanbul Old City Private Tour: Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and Grand Bazaar: from $200 per person, ideal for the day before the match.
• Private Istanbul Tour with a Licensed Guide: 1, 2 or 3 Days: from $199 per group, for groups of friends who want to share one guide.
• Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Istanbul: Folk and Belly Dance Show, Transfers: from $90 per person, for the evening before or after the final.

For other ideas, browse our Istanbul tours.

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