Germany’s Calling All Euro Fans for an Electric Month of Soccer

Fifty-one matches, 10 cities, one coveted cup. Every four years, a European country hosts the prestigious UEFA European Football Championship, and soon it will be Germany’s turn in the spotlight. Tens of thousands of fans from across Europe — and the globe — will gather to cheer on their favourite teams and share in the motto United by Football. United in the Heart of Europe.

The 2024 UEFA Euro tournament will run from June 14 to July 14 across 10 cities: Munich, Cologne, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Stuttgart, and Berlin. And once the games are done and the country is still a buzz, fans should stay a little bit longer and delve into the nation to uncover what it offers beyond football.

As Germany prepares for Europe’s biggest footballing event in 2024, I explored the stadiums in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and Baden-Württemberg. If there was ever a time when I felt like a young girl glued to the television during extraordinarily exciting games it was while I experienced these venues in person.

Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia

The 2,000-year-old city is known for its festive atmosphere, so it’s no mistake that Cologne (Köln) was chosen to be a host city. A metropolis on the Rhine, it boasts attractions like Germany’s most visited landmark: the Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ludwig Museum featuring works by Picasso, Warhol, and Lichtenstein, while the colourful and picturesque narrow steep-gabled houses highlight Old Town.

Kölsch is Cologne’s signature beer and a huge part of the culture. Since kölsch is a top-fermented beer, it doesn’t have lots of carbon, so it goes stale very fast. Hence, smaller glasses are used so the suds are kept fresh longer. I learned about the details of the beer while dining at an authentic piece of Cologne, the Brauhaus Pütz. When your beer reaches about two finger lengths from the bottom, the waiters present you with a fresh one. The process continues until you’ve had enough and place the coaster on your glass to let them know you’re done. And, at about 1,80 € (approximately $1.95 USD) per beer, the procedure can make for an interesting night, pre- or post-football match.

Game Time

While sitting in the RheinEnergie Arena (formerly Sportpark Mungersdorf), I was one of 50,000 fans chanting the team’s hymn as the players took the field, a moment that turned the already eager crowd into a bombastic group of enthusiasts. The chants grew louder and the stadium shook as FC Köln supporters jumped and clapped to urge on their team. They were joined by the club’s revered mascot, Hennes the Goat, a German football institution that has been part of Cologne since the 1950s.

I can imagine Euro 2024 matches will be even more of a spectacle. The 43,000-seat stadium will host five matches and the city has also created the Public Viewing Tanzbrunnen (located near the main train station, with the Cologne Cathedral as its backdrop), which will show all of the tournament’s games on giant screens, while Fan Zone Heumarkt will offer TV screens in addition to football activities and entertainment programming.

Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg

Stuttgart encompasses more than 135 years of automotive history, making it the natural home for the Mercedes-Benz Museum and Porsche Museum. Other notable attractions include 423 hectares of vineyards that blanket the region and the world’s first modern television tower, which stands tall in the distance.

Sitting in the empty stadium and taking in a 360-degree view of the magnificent MHPArena was a treat. I let the silence settle in as I thought about what it will feel like during the Euros, when tens of thousands of fans arrive to cheer loudly in the stadium. The city will host five matches. Originally built in 1933, MHPArena underwent renovations conducted in preparation for the championship tournament. It is the third-largest stadium in Germany, holding more than 60,000 spectators (although, according to UEFA regulations, which only allows seating, the capacity is reduced to just over 51,000). The 1974 and 2006 World Cups, as well as the 1988 UEFA European Championship, were all played in the venue.

If you can’t make your way into the stadium, not to worry, Stuttgart has four FAN Zone’s set up to take in all the excitement:

• Palace Square (Schlossplatz): Centrally located and surrounded by castles, it is the vibrant heart of the city
• Schiller Square (Schillerplatz): A fan zone for food and drink located in Old Town. Fans can enjoy local Swabian dishes in addition to a range of regional options
• Market Place (Marketplatz): Participate in various sports-related indoor and outdoor activities, including a mini museum where guests can immerse themselves in the culture of Stuttgart
• Karl Square (Karlsplatz): In the heart of the square in front of City Hall, children can partake in activities and enjoy a football pitch, cultural stage and chill-out area.

Frankfurt, Hesse

Known as the city of contrast, Frankfurt embodies modernism while showcasing its ancient moments. The city square is where Gothic buildings and timber homes sit across from the Römer, which has acted as Frankfurt’s city hall for more than 600 years. The architectural contrast from the 40-year-old timber homes is a result of everything that was destroyed in the wars of the 20th century being rebuilt. The Museumsufer (museum embankment) and a stunning view of the Frankfurt skyline await as you walk around the Old Town.

Frankfurt Arena has been a staple in Germany’s football heritage since its inception in 1925. It will be the place where 47,000 fans cheer on their favourite teams during five Euro matches. The stadium has notably hosted the 2002 UEFA Women’s Cup final, the 2006 World Cup quarterfinal, and a legendary heavyweight boxing match won by Muhammad Ali against Karl Mildenberger in 1966.

Located within walking distance from the arena is the German Football Association’s new campus. Created in 2022, the DFB headquarters houses the various German divisions under one roof, from the junior team right up to the national team who practice on one of the three pitches located outside of the building. This intricately detailed sporting facility sits on a former racecourse in Frankfurt’s municipal forest. The natural environment of protected space is the perfect place for athletes to focus on their training without disruption.

Frankfurt’s Fan Zone Mainufer — an eight-minute walk from the city’s main train station and a four-minute walk from Willy-Brandt-Platz — will consist of a 1.4-kilometre (0.87-mile) fan festival along the Main River. Stretching from Friedensbrucke to Eiserner Steg, an iron footbridge for pedestrians, the fan zone will accommodate up to 30,000 spectators. Football fans will experience every goal for four weeks across 10 screens that will broadcast all 51 matches during the tournament, including one big screen anchored on the river.

Fans will also get to test their skills on one Floating Pitch, and two riverside football pitches. Even on non-match days, the Fan Zone will host a diverse program, including four performance stages, an open-air cinema, eSport activities, and local cuisine.

MORE ABOUT EURO 2024

Dates: June 14- July 14
Number of Games: 51
Host Cities: Munich (opening matchup), Cologne, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Stuttgart and Berlin (final matchup)
Tickets: Tickets for the first round are sold out, but fans can create an account to be alerted if/when additional tickets become available and to purchase tickets for the Knock-out Stage matches on the UEFA Euro 2024 website.

Where to Stay in Germany for Euro 2024

Lindner Hotel Cologne City Plaza: Part of the JdV by Hyatt brand, the stylish hotel is in the middle of the city, walkable to several attractions.

Kronenhotel Stuttgart: Centrally located, close to Stuttgart’s main train station and just a few steps from the centre.

Hotel Lindley Lindenberg Frankfurt: In the Eastend, the boutique hotel is where comfort meets design with an environmentally friendly approach.