Euro 2024: How to follow England and Scotland in Germany this summer – and what to do in each host city

The stage is ready for Europe’s summer season pageant of soccer: the Euro 2024 finals in Germany. We now know all of the groups who’ve certified for the area’s biggest soccer match, and when and the place they are going to play their opening matches.

England and Scotland certified emphatically. Sadly, Wales went out on penalties to Poland, who together with Georgia and Ukraine had been final to qualify.

Euro 2024 kicks off in Munich on Friday 14 June and ends with the ultimate in Berlin on Sunday 14 July.

Many followers will wish to journey to Germany. Whether or not you’re planning a midsummer’s dream journey to help your staff or simply take in the environment, these are the important thing questions and solutions.

The venues?

Learn extra on Europe journey:

The place and when are Scotland’s group-stage video games?

14 June v Germany in Munich (the match’s opening match)

19 June v Switzerland in Cologne

23 June v Hungary in Stuttgart

The place and when are England’s group-stage video games?

16 June v Serbia in Gelsenkirchen

20 June v Denmark in Frankfurt

25 June v Slovenia in Cologne

What are the fundamental journey mechanics?

Luckily for supporters of England and Scotland, all of the video games – aside from the opening match between Germany and Scotland in Munich – are in western Germany.

For Cologne, the place England play Slovenia and Scotland play Switzerland, floor journey appears to be like greatest: ideally a Eurostar practice from London to Brussels and a connection from there.

However will probably be less expensive for teams of supporters to go by street. Many individuals will take vehicles throughout, and the Dover-Dunkirk or Harwich-Hook of Holland ferries are most likely greatest – although Newcastle to Amsterdam and Hull to Rotterdam are additionally possible, if costly.

There’s a large selection of flights on funds airways from throughout England and Scotland to Germany, however they received’t be low-cost throughout the match for key video games. It might be sensible to suit to someplace near Germany. For instance, to achieve Gelsenkirchen, venue for England’s first sport, Eindhoven within the Netherlands is an possibility. Remarkably flying out on 15 June, returning on 17 June, Ryanair has flights between London Stansted and Eindhoven for £15 every manner.

For Scotland’s sport towards Hungary on 23 June in Stuttgart, you could possibly fly from Edinburgh to Basel in Switzerland and get an inexpensive practice from there; out on 21 June, again on 24 June is presently £184 return.

Will travelling across the host nation be simple?

Sure, as a result of German Railways has an enormous, high-density community, with low fares for those who don’t take the quickest expresses.

There isn’t any actual have to e book something prematurely – you should buy tickets on the day. The community will really feel the pressure on match days, however trains shall be supplemented by long-distance coaches.

If you happen to’re driving your personal automotive, the autobahns shall be busy – and additionally, you will discover parking in cities and close to venues troublesome.

All ticket holders will get 36 hours of free native transport round every match.

Which brings us on to the thorny query of tickets …

All group match tickets have been bought, and the Uefa resale platform has now closed. The organisers say: “There shall be no additional alternatives to resell tickets.”

Uefa provides: “Tickets reserved for knock-out stage matches shall be bought throughout the match upon the qualification of the groups for the respective matches.”

Or you’ll be able to accept the fan zones – which shall be in engaging places corresponding to Cologne’s previous city, the Altstadt.

What about lodging?

In contrast to the Paris Olympics, the place resort charges are steadily falling forward of the Video games, demand for rooms in and close to host venues is rising – together with costs. For a lot of followers, Germany is extraordinarily accessible.

In Cologne on the evening of Scotland’s group sport towards Switzerland, 19 June, many properties are bought out and primary funds resort rooms are promoting for £400.

However you’ll be able to roughly half the price by reserving in Dusseldorf, about 20 minutes by practice from Cologne. Go additional, to Aachen (lower than an hour away) and charges halve once more.

Whereas many Berlin accommodations are bought out on the evening of the ultimate, an excellent resort room in Leipzig (the Amano Residence) is just €79 (£69) on the evening of the ultimate, with trains taking 75 minutes to achieve the German capital.

Is it price ready till the knock-out phases?

Fairly probably. A sound technique is to do nothing now to see if England and Scotland progress past the group stage. From then onwards every little thing turns into simpler – stress on transport and lodging eases as a result of numerous followers sadly go dwelling.

Over the four-day spell of the quarter finals from 29 June to 2 July might be prime time to be in Germany.

And, in case you are feeling optimistic, you could possibly even e book an inexpensive flight to Berlin for the ultimate on 14 July. Ryanair is presently promoting flights on 11 July, returning 16 July, for simply £137 from Edinburgh to the German capital.

What shall I do between the matches?

This information focuses on the England and Scotland host cities, so as of their matches. However the most effective of the remainder comply with.

Munich (Scotland v Germany, 14 June)

See

The Bavarian capital is the favorite German metropolis for a lot of travellers. The Altstadt, the previous city, has stunning Marienplatz – dominated by the neo-gothic Neues Rathaus (new city corridor), stretched throughout the northern aspect. Shortly earlier than 11am and midday every day, crowds collect for a glockenspiel efficiency that contains a Bavarian knight beating a French challenger in a jousting match. For the most effective view of Munich (and, on a transparent day, the Bavarian Alps), go to the tower of St Peter’s Church, simply south.

Eat and drink

Heat summer season evenings will primarily be spent on cafe terraces and in beer gardens, however the state-owned Hofbräuhaus is properly price visiting for the dizzying choreography of the well-attired ready workers and the conviviality of the placement – augmented every now and then with all of the oompah you count on from a Bavarian band.

Gelsenkirchen (England v Serbia, 16 June)

See

The Ruhr is off many vacationers’ itineraries, however the former coal and metal hub for Germany’s financial and army may is fascinating. Gelsenkirchen itself is definitely little greater than a northern suburb of Essen (don’t present this to any locals). The commercial archaeology is outstanding, with a lot of the previous Zollverein coal mine handed again to nature – and guests. You’ll be able to clamber, fastidiously, round this a Unesco-listed gem. And the German Soccer Museum is simply minutes away in Dortmund (see beneath).

Eat and drink

Essen in central Essen: it’s troublesome to go incorrect, however I just like the Pfefferkorn Essen. South of the town centre, Il Pomodoro is a dependable Italian.

Cologne (Scotland v Switzerland, 19 June; England v Slovenia, 25 June)

See

Cologne is a metropolis designed for strolling. Begin by climbing the bell tower of the Dom (cathedral); the 509 steps are difficult, although you’ll be able to pause midway as much as admire the glocken (bells). From the general public gallery at a top of 97m, you get a advantageous view of the previous city – and a few ungainly trendy buildings, erected after the Second World Conflict when 90 per cent of the town was destroyed. The Museum Ludwig, adjoining to the Dom, celebrates trendy artwork by the likes of Dali and Warhol. For Nineteenth-century works and earlier, the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum is a dramatic trendy construction.

Eat and drink

Consuming, consuming and procuring are the principle pursuits of the locals in what’s arguably Germany’s friendliest large metropolis. The native Kölsch beer – mild and well-hopped – will cheer even shedding followers. The tastiest model is Gaffel, whose dwelling floor is the Gaffel Haus on Alter Markt. However the environment is much more convivial on the Brauhaus Sion, which additionally serves up sauerbraten: beef marinated for what looks as if months, and which melts in your mouth in minutes.

Frankfurt (England v Denmark, 20 June)

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Europe’s monetary hub is way extra rewarding than you may think. It has a historically restored previous city, full with the prospect to ascend the tower of St Bartholomew’s (location for medieval coronations of Holy Roman Emperors), although with some questionable Nineteen Sixties gildings. Among the many wealth of points of interest on this rich metropolis: Goethe’s Home, the place the nationwide poet was born in 1749.

Eat and drink

Goethe might have been speaking to soccer followers when he wrote: “If you happen to’ve by no means eaten whereas crying you don t know what life tastes like.” Cross one of many bridges to go south of the Primary and pattern ebbelwei – apple wine, a cousin of cider – in Ebbelwoi Unser, the place it’s also possible to dine on sausage, dumplings and sauerkraut.

Stuttgart (Scotland v Hungary, 23 June)

See

The capital of Baden-Wurttemberg, the large, affluent southwestern state, feels totally different to many different German cities: with hilly environment and a way of area, it’s a location for getting out and about. Prime attraction: the Mercedes-Benz Museum. However if you wish to be alone after the match, attempt Schloss Solitude, simply west of the town.

Eat and drink

May this be Germany’s most wonderful bar? Jigger & Spoon is a contemporary tackle the speakeasy bar, two flooring beneath the town streets within the vault of a financial institution, which you attain by going into the workplace block at Gymnasiumstrasse 33 and taking the raise down two flooring. One way or the other it features a cigar lounge. For dinner, the Stuttgart Rathskeller within the basement of the town corridor is unbeatable.

Better of the remainder – Simon Calder’s prime advice for every of the opposite host cities

Berlin

The Wall might have come down in 1989, however 35 years on the scars of the division of the German capital are nonetheless evident. The Palace of Tears at Friedrichstrasse railway station, the place individuals checked out of East Germany to the West, is now a barely unreconstructed museum, which supplies a profoundly emotional expertise.

Dortmund

Controversy drags on about England’s third aim within the 1966 World Cup Last: the German Soccer Museum even has a particular investigation into the linesman’s questionable resolution towards West Germany, utilizing an interactive media station. Unsurprisingly, there’s somewhat extra concentrate on the events when German gamers received the Weltmeisterschaft (in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014).

Hamburg

The Church of St Nicholas was inbuilt 1874 by the nice British architect Sir Gilbert Scott. It was devastated throughout the Second World Conflict by Allied bombers, however the spire survived and stays certainly one of Europe’s tallest church buildings.. The crypt accommodates a small museum commemorating the wartime destruction of Hamburg and the victims of the Third Reich. Close by, go to Altona Fischmark, the ornate fish market the place the Beatles used to breakfast after their all-night exhibits on the Reeperbahn.

Dusseldorf

One in all Germany’s most rewarding cities owes a lot of its magnificence to the Rhine; a riverside freeway is now confined to a tunnel. Take the Weisse Flotte €20 Panorama-Fahrt (no sniggering, please) to understand the setting and be taught extra concerning the monuments.

Leipzig

On this advantageous east German metropolis, do point out the Chilly Conflict. The Zeitgeschictliches Discussion board focuses on 4 many years of state communism. You might be taken by the entire sorry story from the Nazi period through the post-war carve-up of Germany determined in Potsdam and spy cameras disguised as cigarette packets, to the evening in 1989 when the Berlin Wall got here down.