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5 months ago
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BERLIN
The capital of Germany and one of the most historic cities in the world. With two fan zones in the city - one in Reichstag and another in front of the famous Brandenburg Gate - expect the city to be filled with fans all month. Plenty is going on as part of FUSSBALLKULTURSOMMER 2024 and away from the football, the city is filled with historic monuments like the Berlin Wall that once divided the city and Checkpoint Charlie.
Berlin is famous for its nightlife and its diversity is epitomised by its food scene, with pretty much anything available from Currywurst (sausage in spicy tomato ketchup) to donner kebabs. At the football, try a Bulette, a Berlin-style burger patty which originates from the 19th century,
Given Berlin’s location, it is best to get a train there unless you’re flying in directly to the city. The Hauptbahnhof (main station) is located in the centre. From the airport to the city centre, it takes around an hour via public transport and from the city centre to the stadium, it is a 35-minute train ride.
You can either take the U-Bahn line U2 or the S-Bahn lines S3 or S9 to the stadium. Special S5 trains to Olympiastadion will also operate during EURO 2024.
The Olympiastadion, which was built for the 1936 Olympics, hosted the 2006 World Cup final and will host the final on Sunday July 14. Regardless of whether England finish first or second in their group, the only way they can play here is if they reach the final.
Olympiastadion Berlin (71,000): Six matches including one round-of-16 tie, one quarter-final and the final.
COLOGNE
Famous for its cathedral (the Kolner Dom) and its local beer, Cologne is the oldest city in Germany. The local beer Kolsch is served in 20ml glasses with the theory that it is cold and always fresh and if you fancy it, you can climb up the 533 steps to the top of the south tower of the cathedral.
England’s final group game against Slovenia takes place here and the last time they played here at the 2006 World Cup, Joe Cole scored a wonder goal in a 2-2 draw against Sweden.
Like the other stadiums, there isn’t much in terms of eating and drinking near the Cologne Arena, home of 1. FC Koln, but there are plenty of options in the city with some particularly nice spots by the river. The Fruh am Dom is a well-known German restaurant near the cathedral wile Kolner Krustchen - a pork schnitzel and runny fried egg on toasted rye bread is a popular local meal to start the day.
The official fan zone will be in Heumarkt, an iconic setting with a view of the Rhine river and just a walk away from the Cathedral of Saint Peter which is the most popular tourist attraction in Germany. There will also be a big screen in Tanzbrunnen, an open air venue.
One word of advice: Never say you prefer Altbier, which is the beverage of choice in nearby Dusseldorf. Kolsch rules in Cologne.
The city is fairly accessible via plane and trains from around Europe but the ground is trek from the centre with a train from the central station to the stadium taking approximately 40 minutes. From the fan zone in Heumarkt, it will take around 30 minutes.
Cologne Stadium (43,000): Five matches including one round-of-16 tie
DORTMUND
Home of Borussia Dortmund and the famous yellow wall. Dortmund is a city that lives and breathes football. Unlike most of the host cities, Dortmund is compact and easily accessible on foot.
There will be two main spots for football fans with a fan zone in Friedensplatz that is a 15 minute walk from the main station and in the heart of the city.
Closer to the stadium, there will be a larger big screen in Westfalenpark for selected matches including every match played in Dortmund, every Germany game and the final.
If England win their group and qualify for the semi-finals, they will play here. Alternatively, if England come second then and Germany win their group then the pair would meet in a seismic round-of-16 clash here.
It takes less than ten minutes to get to the stadium via train from the centre of town. And for those who want to stretch their legs, the walk is around 40 minutes.
Dortmund is much quieter than other German cities and it is highly advised to have cash as many independent places still don’t accept card. This is the same across certain areas of the country.
In terms of things to do away from the football, the German National Football Museum is just over the road from the main station. For food, try out Mit Schmackes, co-owned by former Borussia Dortmund double winner Kevin Grosskreutz while Bratwurst (fried sausage) and Currywurst are staples of a match day diet. DAB and Brinkhoffs are the beers of choice.
BVB Stadion Dortmund (62,000): Six matches including one round-of-16 tie and one semi-final
DUSSELDORF
Dusseldorf is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, an area which includes Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen and the only German city that retains the German word for village (Dorf) in its name. It’s central location in the region is handy but just don’t mention fierce regional rivals Cologne.
Everything is close by in the centre and the city is known for its Altbier - a copper-coloured lager and a beer brewed in an old style, while the Altstadt is famous for its cluster of bars next to each other. Try out the area known as ‘Little Tokyo’ too which has an array of Japanese bars and restaurants but if you prefer local cuisines, then Westfalischer Pickert (deep-friend potato pancakes) are popular.
For the fan zone head to Schauspielhaus, which is next to the Dusseldorfer Schauspielhaus theatre, where a special commissioned play for Euro 2024 called ‘Faith. Love. Football’ will take place. There will also be a big screen for viewing at Rheinufer against the backdrop of the Dusselforf skyline and along the banks of the River Rhine.
Getting here is fairly straightforward with flights from the UK and via train from around Europe. The Dusseldorf Arena, home to Fortuna Dusseldorf, is located in the north of the city four miles from the central station with the metro from town taking approximately 20 minutes.
If England win their group and their round-of-16 tie, they will play their quarter-final here.
Dusseldorf Arena (47,000): Five matches including one round-of-16 tie and one quarter-final
FRANKFURT
Much like the Arena AufSchalke, England have previous at Frankfurt Arena, with the ground hosting their opening match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup against Paraguay, which England won 1-0. The stadium even has a foldable roof.
After their opening group game in Gelsenkirchen, England will head to one of the busiest cities in Germany. Frankfurt is a vibrant metropolis with something for everyone and with easy accessibility from anywhere in Europe. With its skyline, it has gained even the nickname Mainhattan.
The Fan Zone in Mainufer in between the Holbeinsteg and Friedensbrücke bridges will offer a stunning setting by the banks of Main river with plenty of big screens and is expected to be hugely popular like it was in 2006.
The Römer town hall and the iconic Romerberg square in front of the town hall is likely to be another main gathering point for fans at the Euros and is often used by celebrating sports teams who celebrate on its balcony with the fans below, like Eintracht Frankfurt did after they beat Rangers in the 2022 Europa League final
The Frankfurt Arena, home to Eintracht Frankfurt, is best accessed via public transport on matchdays, taking around 20 to 30 minutes towards the outskirts of the city on its southern side via the S7, S8 and S9 train services.
Unlike Gelsenkirchen, there are plenty of options for food and drink with a few Irish bars near the main train station though there isn’t much near the stadium, given how far it is from the city centre.
And of course, Frankfurter sausages hail from the city while Apfelwein (a local take on cider) is a popular local drink.
Frankfurt Arena (47,000): Five matches including one round-of-16 tie and Denmark v England
GELSENKIRCHEN
The scene of England’s tournament opener against Serbia and where they were infamously knocked out by Portugal at the 2006 World Cup. Gelsenkirchen is known for its mining history and is the home of Schalke 04, whose stadium has a roof and retractable pitches and is renowned for its atmospheric feel.
The closest major airport is Dusseldorf and Gelsenskirchen can be accessed via the rail network. There is also the option to stay in nearby Essen or Dortmund, which are both less than 20 minutes away on the train.
The best way to get to the Arena AufSchalke and around town is via public transport with trams from the central station to the stadium taking approximately 15 minutes and costing a couple of Euros. A reminder that match ticket holders are entitled to a Travel Pass for public transport in the region.
In terms of things to do, even the proudest local would admit there really isn’t much but with England in town, fans will have free access to the racecourse called the Trabrennbahn Gelsenkirchen which can hold 40,000 people and is expected to be packed with fans. A large screen has been put up for those without tickets and there will be bars and food stalls.
With Serbia selling out their allocation of 10,000, they have a meeting point at Sankt-Urbanus-Kirchplatz in Buer, so England fans are advised not to use this area.
A word of advice for Sunday’s game - most shops and supermarkets are closed on Sundays in Germany but restaurants remain open.
The culinary king here is usually a Bratwurst (fried sausage) though you can also opt for a Currywurst (sausage in spicey ketchup).
Arena AufSchalke (50,000): Four matches including one round-of-16 tie and Serbia v England
HAMBURG
Germany’s second-largest city and known for its cosmopolitan nature and its famous port. Linked by River Elbe to the North sea, it’s the northernmost of the host cities and well connected to major hubs around Europe.
The Volksparkstadion is home for Hamburger SV and takes around 30-40 minutes to reach from the main station via the metro (S-Bahn) to Othmarschen and Stellinghen, from where free shuttle buses will be provided.
The St Pauli entertainment district, including the infamous Reeperbahn, is known globally for what it offers and is well worth a visit. It’s where The Beatles first made their mark and is a street that certainly catches the eye. Just check it out.
Recommendations include the Indra Club, Kaiserkeller and Top Ten - now Moondoo. The fish market nearby sees sellers flog their produce at full volume, with live bands also in action in what has become a visitor attraction.
While here, a must try is the Fischbrotchen (fish sandwich) and other local dishes are Aalsuppe (eel soup) and Rote Grutze (a fruit compote, usually served with ice cream).
For the fan zone, head to Heiligengeistfeld in the heart of the St Pauli district where thousands of fans are expected to gather.
Volksparkstadion (49,000): Five matches including one quarter-final
LEIPZIG
Leipzig is the closest city to England’s training resort and the only Euro 2024 venue in the former East Germany. It has undergone extensive modernisation but the city’s history remains a focal point for visitors, with a popular shop called Ossiladen only selling products from the old East Germany and described as a ‘time capsule in a shop.’
The city is now renowned for its art scene and vibrant nightlife and can be easily accessed via trains from Berlin and Munich. There are also direct connections from Frankfurt Airport.
While there, try Leipziger Allerlei (a specialty dish with vegetables, bread dumplings and crayfish tails). If you want something sweet, try Leipziger Lerche (a unique apricot and marzipan pastry. For beer, Leipzig has its own brew, the sour wheat beer called Leipziger Gose.
The official fan zone is in Augustusplatz, with the square there serving the locals for decades and surrounded by attractions.
Home to Red Bull Leipzig, the Red Bull Arena is within walking distance from the central station, taking approximately 30-40 minutes. Alternatively, the tram will take around 10 minutes on the well-connected public transport network. The closest station to the stadium is Sportforum.
Leipzig Stadium (40,000): Four matches including one round-of-16 tie
MUNICH
The Bavarian capital is the most southernmost venue for the Euros and is home to almost two million people.
Known for its famous beer halls, Lederhosen and Oktoberfest, no city in Germany does the combination between football and beer better. If the weather is nice, the city’s Englischer Garten – a park larger than New York’s Central Park - is well worth exploring.
For the month, the Euro 2024 Festival will descend on the city with a big screen on Olympic Lake at the Olympiapark on the northern end of the city. Some England fans will remember when England beat Germany 5-1 in 2001 at the old Olympic stadium here. There will also be festivities at Marienplatz, which is a short walk from the main station.
You’ll struggle to find a more spectacular stadium than the Allianz Arena (renamed for the tournament due to UEFA rules) with the exterior lighting up in a range of colours and looking like a spaceship on the horizon as fans make their way towards the ground.
It hosted the opening match of the 2006 World Cup and will host the opening game again. From the city, take the U6 underground line to Frottmanning with trains running frequently on matchdays and from there, it’s a short walk to the ground.
Munich Football Arena (66,000): Six matches including one round-of-16 tie and one semi-final
STUTTGART
England beat Ecuador in the round-of-16 here in 2006 and the only way they can play here this time around is if they come second in their group and reach the quarter-final.
Stuttgart, located in southwest Germany, is known as the home of Mercedez Benz and Porsche - two of Germany’s most famous vehicle exports and both have their headquarters here. The city is also home to VfB Stuttgart.
The official fan zone will be split into four sections with the public viewing zone at Schlossplatz and various other activations at Marktplatz, Karlsplatz and Schillerplatz.
Maultaschen, a variation on ravioli, is a staple in Stuttgart that is worth trying. And make sure to check out the Klinsmann family bakery in the Botnang district..
The Augustiner Biergarten is one of Stuttgart's largest beer gardens, where you can naturally eat as well as drink in a large park, that is about 30 minutes walk from the stadium
The stadium, known as the MHP Arena usually, is within walking distance of the central station and public transport is available from the fan zone.
On the hills surrounding the city, there are numerous vineyards for those who have a bit more time to explore Stuttgart.
Stuttgart Arena: (51,000): Five matches including one quarter-final
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