Abandoned football stadium that hosted World Cup final now home to 35m high zip line

Nestled in the north-west corner of Munich sits a stadium that was once the envy of the football and sporting world. Originally built for the 1972 Olympics, the Olympiastadion in Munich was considered revolutionary at the time, due to its sweeping canopy roof, designed to imitate the nearby Alps skyline.

It was in sharp contrast to Germany's other Olympiastadion in Berlin, which boasted a daunting concrete facade and was the home of the infamous 1936 Olympics, held during the Nazi regime. Munich's version was bright and bubbly, symbolising the new, democratic and optimistic West Germany.

After the Games, Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich took up residency of the stadium, which also hosted five matches at the 1972 World Cup. That included the tournament's final between Johan Cruyff's Netherlands and the victorious host nation, West Germany.

It remained one of the continent's standout arenas throughout the late 20th century, with Nottingham Forest winning one of three European Cup finals held at the venue. England fans will remember the stadium fondly too, given it was the site of the Three Lions' thumping 5-1 victory over Germany in 2001.

But by the time the early 2000s rolled around, the writing was on the wall for Munich's Olympiastadion, as plans for a brand new mega-money football stadium were given the green light. Both Munich sides, Bayern and 1860, moved into the luminous Allianz Arena ahead of the 2006 World Cup, abandoning the Olympiastadion and leaving it without a footballing tenant.

With that, it pretty much spelt the end of the Olympiastadion's relationship with the beautiful game. Occasional matches would be held at the increasingly rundown stadium, including the 2012 Women's Champions League final, but other than a short two-year stint from third division side Turkgucu Munchen, its use has been limited.

Concerts and other non-football sporting events, notably athletic meets, have taken place at the stadium during the years since then. However, for those with a more adventurous side, there exists an opportunity to see the stadium from a completely different angle altogether... 35 metres in the sky.

That's because a zip line that extends across the roof of the derelict stadium has been installed. For those daring enough to try the unique experience, make sure your bank balance is in good standing though, given it costs a cool £40 (€45) per person to complete.

If you're keen to just have a poke around the stadium that was once considered the best on the planet, it is open to visitors, with an exploration pass costing the much more affordable price of £3 (€3.50). Although you'll have to be quick, given that planned renovation work means the site will be shut for an estimated two years from September 2025 onwards.