Travelling in one’s own country is very much in vogue. So it comes at just the right time that the 2024 European Football Championship will take place in Germany. Football fans will find the perfect destination for their next holiday: they can visit all the venues of the Euro 2024 before the hustle and bustle starts – because the expected number of visitors for such tournaments increases with the number of participants . But each of the following cities also has a lot to offer and is therefore worth a trip. Here are some examples of the highlights that can be seen at the venues in addition to football.
1. Berlin
In Berlin, the games will take place in the Olympic Stadium, which can accommodate more than 70,000 spectators. But even without guests, a visit to the stadium is recommended, for example as part of a guided tour or a concert. Not far away are numerous world-famous sights of the German capital. Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Gendarmenmarkt or the Kurfürstendamm are just a few of many examples. If you want to use the city trip to party, you will also find a colorful nightlife in Berlin – which also continues during the day and certainly offers a suitable choice for every taste, from classic to bizarre.
2. Dortmund
Dortmund is not one of the best-known travel destinations in Germany, but the Signal-Iduna-Park is a household name for every football fan. In addition, other football highlights await you, such as the German Football Museum, which every sports fan should have seen at least once. Other attractions worth seeing in Dortmund are the Westfalenpark, the zoo, the PHOENIX Lake, the Hohensyburg, the Zollern colliery and the Rombergpark. This allows for a varied stay, which can be equipped with an individual program depending on the weather and personal taste. Of course, local specialties such as the Dortmund salt cake and a detour into the exciting nightlife are not to be missed.
3. Dusseldorf
Düsseldorf’s Merkur Spiel-Arena will also be one of the venues for the 2024 European Championship – although the city currently does not have a Bundesliga team. With a capacity of almost 55,000 people, the stadium is still large enough and impresses with its closable roof and its regular events. For example, world-famous musicians perform here again and again. Outside the arena, Düsseldorf attracts visitors with its unique Media Harbour with its quirky architecture in the truest sense of the word, the Königsallee as a “luxury mile”, the casemates with countless restaurants, the basilica with its leaning tower, the old town – often called the “longest bar in the world” – the Rhine Tower as Düsseldorf’s landmark and a huge cultural scene with museums, playhouses and the like.
4. Frankfurt am Main
Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt am Main was also chosen as the venue. This is certainly also due to its magnificent backdrop in the middle of the most important financial center of Germany. But Frankfurt am Main has more to offer than just the stock exchange and skyscrapers. For example, there is the Städel Museum, St. Paul’s Church, Frankfurt’s Old Town, St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, the Eiserner Steg, Frankfurt’s Goethe House, the Zoo or the Museumsufer Frankfurt. Overall, the metropolis presents itself as a fascinating mixture of old and new – and certainly one of the most modern cities in Germany. In addition to football, there are therefore many good reasons to visit Frankfurt am Main.
5. Gelsenkirchen
The Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen is, according to its own statement, the most visited stadium in Germany. It is the home ground of FC Schalke 04, but is also used for concerts and other events. Away from the hustle and bustle of one of the most successful football clubs in Germany and many a big tournament, Gelsenkirchen is a rather small and quiet city. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the trip. Because there is no shortage of sights: The Rungenberg slag heap, the Nordsternpark, the Rheinelbe slag heap, the Stölting Harbor, the Consol colliery, the Zoom Erlebniswelt, the Lüttinghof moated castle, the Ewaldsee or the city forest invite you to exciting and varied activities. In addition, the trip can be perfectly combined with those to Dortmund, Cologne and Düsseldorf, as these are only a short distance away.
6. Hamburg
The Volksparkstadion in Hamburg holds up to 57,000 people, making it one of the largest stadiums in Germany. No wonder, after all, Hamburg is also one of the largest and most important cities in the country – and an attraction for visitors, both from Germany and internationally. In any case, there is no shortage of famous sights: popular are, for example, the Reeperbahn, the Miniatur Wunderland, the Speicherstadt, the Jungfernstieg, the Schanzenviertel, the Port of Hamburg, the Elbphilharmonie, the fish market and the Kunsthalle. This list could be continued. It therefore makes sense to plan enough time for a city trip to Hamburg to get to know all facets of this unique city.
7. Cologne
Cologne has already been mentioned, as the RheinEnergieStadion is also one of the venues for the 2024 European Championship. This means that four of them are in the immediate vicinity and make a road trip particularly easy. Even apart from the football events, Cologne is one of the most popular travel destinations within Germany. The reason for this is the carnival, the Cologne Cathedral, the Hohenzollern Bridge with its love locks, the Cologne Old Town and the Rheinauhafen as the city’s most famous attractions. Those who are on site should not miss a Kölsch tasting and the adventurous can book other activities, such as boat trips or a ride on the Cologne cable car to enjoy the view over the Rhine metropolis.
8. Leipzig
The Red Bull Arena in Leipzig was recently rebuilt and presents itself as ultra-modern with over 47,000 seats. In addition to football matches, the stadium concerts here are an unforgettable experience. Anyone coming to Leipzig should therefore take a look at the calendar of events. But many visitors also come because of the beauty of the city and its comparatively young population. So there’s a big scene here when it comes to nightlife and culture. In addition, classic sights such as the St. Nicholas Church, the Old Town Hall, the Mädler Passage, the market, the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, the zoo or the Bach Museum await you.
9. Munich
The Allianz Arena is certainly the most famous German football stadium – if only because it is the home stadium of the most successful football club of all time in this country: FC Bayern Munich. It goes without saying that the Allianz Arena should not be missing from the list of venues for the 2024 European Championship. Munich is also an important hub in Germany in terms of (air) traffic and the economy. Many national and international visitors also come for the sights and the typical Bavarian attractions. Accordingly, city travellers should not miss the Oktoberfest, Nymphenburg Palace, Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, the English Garden, the Stachus, the Deutsches Museum, the Olympic Park, the Pinakothek and the Viktualienmarkt.
10. Stuttgart
The last stadium to host some European Football Championship matches in 2024 is Stuttgart’s Mercedes-Benz Arena. It is also the scene of many other events that are worth visiting, such as concerts, basketball games, comedy and other shows. The Swabian city impresses with its huge castle park, the Stuttgart TV Tower, the New Palace, the Cannstatter Wasen, the Mercedes-Benz Museum, the Wilhelma, the State Gallery, the Stuttgart cable car, the collegiate church and the Porsche Museum. Here, too, it is best to bring enough time to explore the “boiler city” and its surroundings in peace – before the numerous fans arrive as part of the Euro 2024.
Result
To fuel the anticipation of the upcoming European Football Championship, a trip to some or all of the venues is definitely worth considering. In addition to football, the cities have numerous other highlights to offer, making them the perfect destination for the whole family – with or without football enthusiasm. If you don’t yet know where to spend your next vacation, you can think about a road trip under the banner of Euro 2024.
