As Schickeria München continued to grow, it quickly became clear that the group would never define itself only through home matches in the Südkurve. Like every major ultras movement, its identity was built just as much on travelling as on supporting the team inside its own stadium. Away days became a way of life, and following Bayern Munich across Germany and Europe became one of the defining characteristics of the group.
Unlike many Bayern supporters who simply travelled to watch football, Schickeria approached every away trip with an ultras mentality. Every journey required careful preparation. Flags, banners, drums and choreography materials had to be transported across the country. Meeting points were organised long before departure, and entire weekends often revolved around following the club.
Travelling with Bayern presents challenges that many other German supporters do not face. Because Bayern regularly competes in every major competition, Schickeria often follows the club through Bundesliga matches, the DFB-Pokal and deep UEFA Champions League campaigns within the same season. This means supporters may travel thousands of kilometres in only a few months.
European away days have become some of the group's defining moments.
Whether in Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Turin, London, Manchester, Paris, Amsterdam, Lisbon or Rome, the Südkurve has consistently travelled in impressive numbers. Bayern's status as one of Europe's elite clubs has allowed Schickeria to experience many of the continent's most iconic stadiums. While many ultras groups dream of visiting the Santiago Bernabéu or San Siro once in a lifetime, Schickeria has returned repeatedly, building its own history across European football.
Many of these away trips have produced spectacular visual displays. Giant banners hanging from upper tiers, coordinated flag sections and non-stop chanting have helped establish Bayern's travelling support as one of Germany's most recognisable. Even in stadiums dominated by hostile home crowds, the voices of the Südkurve are often clearly heard throughout the ninety minutes.
The relationship between Schickeria and other ultras groups has also played an important role in the group's history.
Perhaps the best-known friendship exists between parts of Bayern's active supporter scene and parts of the VfL Bochum supporter scene. Although Bayern and Bochum differ enormously in size and sporting success, the friendship developed through years of mutual respect and direct contact between active supporters rather than football results. Members have attended each other's matches, exchanged banners and maintained close personal relationships that continue today.
Unlike many friendships created simply because two clubs share common rivals, the bond between sections of Bayern's Südkurve and Bochum's active scene developed gradually through years of trust. Even when the clubs faced one another on the pitch, the friendship remained intact, demonstrating the difference between sporting competition and ultras loyalty.
Members of Schickeria have also maintained contacts with supporters connected to clubs such as FC St. Pauli and Carl Zeiss Jena. These relationships have developed through shared positions on anti-racism, anti-fascism, supporter rights and the defence of traditional football culture. While they do not represent official friendships between entire supporter scenes, they have created lasting respect between individual groups and supporters.
Over the years, Schickeria has also developed numerous international contacts through European competitions, football tournaments and personal relationships with supporters from several countries. Modern ultras culture increasingly depends on these international connections, allowing supporters to exchange ideas, organise visits and strengthen relationships that have grown over many years.
Schickeria has also become one of the leading voices in Germany defending supporter rights. The group has played an active role in nationwide campaigns against Monday night matches, excessive commercialisation, restrictive policing, rising ticket prices and the erosion of traditional fan culture. Support for the 50+1 ownership rule and anti-discrimination initiatives has also become an important part of the group's identity, extending its influence far beyond matchdays.
If friendships represent one side of ultras culture, rivalries represent the other.
The most emotional rivalry for Bayern supporters has always been against TSV 1860 München. Unlike Borussia Dortmund or 1. FC Nürnberg, this rivalry is rooted in sharing the same city. For generations, both clubs represented different faces of Munich football. Although Bayern eventually became a global football giant while 1860 declined through financial problems and relegations, local hostility has never disappeared.
For Schickeria, matches against 1860 have always carried enormous emotional weight. The rivalry extends beyond football into questions of local identity, history and pride. Graffiti, banners and chants connected to this rivalry can still be found throughout Munich, and although league meetings have become rare in recent years, the hostility remains deeply rooted within both supporter cultures.
Borussia Dortmund represents a very different type of rivalry.
Unlike 1860, Dortmund became Bayern's greatest sporting rival during the modern Bundesliga era. As Borussia challenged Bayern for league titles, domestic cups and European success, tensions between both supporter scenes increased significantly.
Matches between Bayern and Dortmund are among the most anticipated fixtures in German football. The rivalry has been fuelled by years of championship battles, cup finals and UEFA Champions League encounters. The 2013 UEFA Champions League Final at Wembley, won by Bayern through Arjen Robben's late goal, further intensified emotions between both fan bases.
On the terraces, both sides have exchanged provocative banners and choreographies for many years. Although isolated incidents have occasionally occurred, the rivalry is primarily defined by fierce sporting competition and the presence of two of Germany's largest active supporter scenes.
Another traditional rivalry exists with 1. FC Nürnberg.
Known as the Bavarian Derby, meetings between Bayern and Nürnberg carry decades of history. Nürnberg supporters have often viewed Bayern as the powerful neighbour that overshadows other Bavarian clubs, while Bayern supporters continue to regard Nürnberg as one of their oldest regional rivals.
Schickeria has also experienced tense relationships with supporters from clubs including Schalke 04, Eintracht Frankfurt, Dynamo Dresden, Hansa Rostock and several others. In many cases, these tensions have developed gradually through repeated encounters, banner thefts, previous confrontations or conflicting friendships within the wider ultras network rather than through one defining incident.
European football has created another dimension to Schickeria's travelling culture.
Repeated UEFA Champions League meetings with Real Madrid have produced one of Bayern's greatest sporting rivalries. Although this remains primarily a football rivalry rather than an ultras conflict, away trips to Madrid have frequently required significant security operations because of the intensity surrounding these fixtures.
Matches against Italian clubs such as Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan have also become familiar territory. Years of European competition have created lasting contacts, mutual familiarity and sporting rivalries between Bayern supporters and several Italian ultras groups, even if these relationships have not always developed into formal friendships.
Away culture remains one of Schickeria's greatest strengths.
Travelling supporters frequently gather hours before kick-off, marching together through city centres while carrying giant flags and singing continuously on their way to the stadium. These marches have become a regular feature of Bayern's away support, demonstrating organisation as much as passion.
Inside away sections, discipline is considered essential. Large central banners define the front of the stand while capo platforms direct thousands of supporters through coordinated chants. Giant flags continue moving throughout the match, creating a constant visual display alongside the vocal support.
European away nights have produced some of Schickeria's most memorable moments. Victories in Manchester, Turin, Madrid and London have become part of the group's collective memory. Defeats are remembered as well, not because of the result but because loyalty is measured by presence rather than trophies.
One principle has always guided Schickeria: the team must never stand alone.
Whether Bayern travels to a small Bundesliga stadium on a cold winter afternoon or to a UEFA Champions League semi-final against Europe's biggest clubs, the Südkurve follows. Distance has never been considered an excuse. This commitment has earned Schickeria respect among many supporter scenes across Europe.
Even supporters who disagree with the group's political positions often acknowledge its organisation, consistency and travelling culture. Year after year, season after season, Schickeria continues to prove that behind Bayern Munich's global image stands an active supporter movement whose dedication extends far beyond the Allianz Arena.
For Schickeria, football has never been about watching history. It has always been about travelling together to create it.