Get Euro 2024 ready with our guide to Germany's host cities

Berlin

What's the vibe?

Culture capital. Party place. Historic hub. There are fan zones right by the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, so you can go from exploring two of the most important places in German history to watching football come home in a jiffy.

Where's the football happening?

Olympiastadion Berlin, home to Hertha Berlin. It was built for the 1936 Summer Olympics and is where the Euro 2024 final will take place. It's also where Italy beat France in the 2006 World Cup final, the infamous game when Zinedine Zidane was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi.

Best thing to eat

Currywurst. Some say it was invented in Berlin, others think it was Hamburg. Either way it's one delicious sausage.

Best thing to drink

Berliner Weisse. Berlin's specialty beer is light, refreshing and has a lactic sourness similar to Greek yoghurt. Add a bit of raspberry syrup to make it even more summery.

Don't leave Berlin without…

Seeing the Berlin Wall Memorial. 2024 marks 35 years since the Wall fell, and this open-air museum is the best place to learn about this former border that once divided Berlin.

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Cologne

What's the vibe?

Excellent museums, a massive cathedral and lively beer halls. You can't miss Cologne Cathedral, but also look out for the German Sport & Olympic Museum, the Chocolate Museum and the Michael Schumacher Private Collection featuring all the cars from the legendary racer's Formula One World Championship wins.

Where's the football happening?

Cologne Stadium, where 1. FC Köln kick balls into goals. Scotland's second match against Switzerland is here, while England will arrive to play Slovenia in the final match of the group stage.

Best thing to eat

Halve hahn. Its English translation is 'half chicken', but it's actually half a rye bread roll served with butter, mustard and a hearty slab of cheese. Perfect for soaking up all that kölsch you'll inevitably drink.

Best thing to drink

Kölsch. Think of it as an ale/lager hybrid you can't help but drink quickly. It's served in small 200ml stanges so that every sip is as fresh as can be. Top tip: servers will traditionally replace your empty glass with a new one without asking, totting up the amount you've had on your coaster. Put your coaster on top of your glass to let them know when you've had your fill.

Don't leave Cologne without…

Visiting the cathedral. Cologne Cathedral is the most-visited attraction in Germany for a reason, so go see what all the fuss is about.

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Dortmund

What's the vibe?

Industrial town built on football and beer. Borussia Dortmund is one of Germany's most successful teams and idolised by locals, and the pubs are a match for anywhere in Germany. Union Brewery once brewed its beer at the Dortmunder U, but now it's the city's creative hub – head here for art exhibitions and the roof terrace.

Where's the football happening?

BVB Stadion Dortmund, home of Borussia Dortmund. The intense Yellow Wall of Dortmund fans on the south terrace is infamous around the footballing world for creating arguably the best atmosphere you'll find in a football stadium.

Best thing to eat

Dortmunder salzkuchen. It's a salty bagel usually filled with onions and mett (minced pork).

Best thing to drink

Dortmunder Export, a golden lager that's relatively high in alcohol content. It's a little harder to find as lots of Dortmund's breweries have closed, but there are still some left in the city.

Don't leave Dortmund without…

Visiting the German Football Museum. Football's a big deal in Dortmund, so it's no wonder the national museum dedicated to the sport is here.

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Düsseldorf

What's the vibe?

Cosmopolitan and posh with a party atmosphere. It's one of the wealthiest cities in Germany and is full of high-end shops, and yet there's a village feel to much of the city. 'Dorf' is the German word for village, so that makes sense. Whether you're partying in the Altstadt, feasting in Little Tokyo or suiting up in Königsallee, you're sure to find your people in Düsseldorf.

Where's the football happening?

Düsseldorf Arena. Fortuna Düsseldorf play here, as will England if they *checks notes* win their group and get through the round of 16. And if Scotland do the same, it'll be England vs Scotland in the quarter final. Surely, right?

Best thing to eat

Sushi. Düsseldorf is home to Europe's third-largest Japanese community after London and Paris, and the food in Little Tokyo is great for lovers of sushi, ramen and soba.

Best thing to drink

Altbier. Düsseldorf's signature beer is amber in colour, malty and smoother than most ales thanks to the old-fashioned lagering techniques used to brew it. Traditional breweries on the Aldstadt serve it out of casks in small glasses similar to the ones used for kölsch. The same serving and coaster rules apply here too.

Don't leave Düsseldorf without…

Letting loose in the longest bar in the world. Kind of. That's what the Aldstadt is affectionately known as, where 260 bars and restaurants are squished together into half a square kilometre.

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Frankfurt

What's the vibe?

Business hub with a historic centre. You can think of Frankfurt-am-Main as 'Mainhattan' since the skyline is dominated by some of Germany's tallest buildings, but there's plenty of history too. The Römer complex is as cute and old-worldy as anywhere in Germany.

Where's the football happening?

Frankfurt Arena, the fortress of Eintracht Frankfurt. It hosted the 2011 Women's World Cup final and is where England will play their second match against Denmark.

Best thing to eat

Grüne soße. This green sauce is made from 7 regional herbs and is usually served with eggs and baked potatoes.

Best thing to drink

Apfelwein. Frankfurt are well known for their apple cider, which is traditionally served from a ceramic jug called a bembel. If a pub has a wreath and a bembel hanging on the front door, that's a sign they serve apfelwein.

Don't leave Frankfurt without…

Seeing the city from the top of the Main Tower. It's the most distinctive high-rise of the lot, and the roof provides the best panoramic views of Frankfurt.

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Gelsenkirchen

What's the vibe?

Modern city embracing its industrial past. Old mines are now parks and open-air museums, railway tracks are cycle lanes and old machines are art installations and monuments.

Where's the football happening?

Arena AufSchalke, home of much-loved local team FC Schalke 04. The stadium will play host to England's opening match against Serbia.

Best thing to eat

Döner kebab. The kebabs here are both delicious and ideal for soaking up all that beer. Germany's great for vegetarians and vegans too, so meat-free kebabs aren't hard to find.

Best thing to drink

Kölsch or altbier. Choosing a favourite between the signature beer of Cologne and Düsseldorf would start some heated arguments, so we won't. Thankfully both can be found in Gelsenkirchen's pubs so you can decide for yourself.

Don't leave Gelsenkirchen without…

Admiring Schloss Berge, a baroque castle surrounded by luscious gardens. It's far from the industrial feel of the city and there are plenty of beer gardens nearby to unwind in.

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Hamburg

What's the vibe?

Port city built on the river. It's the second-largest city in Germany and has a world-famous port known as 'the gateway to the world'. The nightlife is as good as anywhere, and the Elbphilharmonie concert hall is the envy of the world.

Where's the football happening?

Volksparkstadion Hamburg. Hamburger SV play here, who won the European Cup back in 1983 after losing out in the final to Nottingham Forest three years earlier.

Best thing to eat

Fischbrötchen. Being on the water, fish is on the menu in Hamburg. This fish sandwich comes with onions and sometimes remoulade and pickles.

Best thing to drink

Astra or Holsten. Both lagers are brewed in Hamburg, but Astra's usually drunk by St Pauli fans and Holsten by Hamburger SV. You can't really go wrong whichever side you pick.

Don't leave Hamburg without…

Visiting the Elbphilharmonie. It's probably Hamburg's top attraction, and the plaza on top of the building is free to enter and boasts great views of the Elbe river.

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Leipzig

What's the vibe?

Culture hub with rich musical heritage. Famous composers like Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn called Leipzig their home, and nowadays the art scene is booming as more and more creatives move to 'the new Berlin'.

Where's the football happening?

Leipzig Stadium, where 'Germany's most-hated club' Red Bull Leipzig play much to the disappointment of the rest of the Bundesliga. Love or hate this Red Bull owned club, they've rapidly risen from the 5th division in 2009 to now competing in the Champions League.

Best thing to eat

Leipziger Lerche, a shortcrust pastry filled with cherries, almonds and other nuts.

Best thing to drink

Gose. This tart, sour wheat beer is traditionally brewed with sea salt and coriander seeds, adding freshness and notes of citrus. It's named after the Gose River in Goslar, but is equally at home in Leipzig.

Don't leave Leipzig without…

Being mesmerised by the Panometer. The unique museum displays the largest 360° panoramic images you're likely to see, transporting you to another world.

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Munich

What's the vibe?

The beating heart of Bavarian beer culture. Drinking a maß from Munich breweries like Augustiner and Paulaner is a must, but before settling down in a beer garden explore the lovely parks and fascinating museums.

Where's the football happening?

Munich Football Arena, where Germany's most successful club Bayern Munich compete. Germany's opening match against Scotland is kicking off here, which is sure to be some party.

Best thing to eat

Pretzel. In fact, make that pretzels – they're very moreish and pair perfectly with supersized double pints.

Best thing to drink

Munich helles or dunkel. Speaking of supersized double pints, you'll want to sample a maß of lager while you're there. Go for a Munich helles for something gold, smooth and refreshing, or try a Munich dunkel for something dark, rich and malty. Munich's six classic breweries are Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten.

Don't leave Munich without…

Visiting the Deutsches Museum. Yes Munich's well known for its beer culture, but make sure to visit one of the largest science museums in the world to give yourself a break from the beer garden. Don't say we didn't warn you…

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Stuttgart

What's the vibe?

Automotive powerhouse rich in culture and wine. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche call Stuttgart their home, and while beer's the drink of choice in most of Germany the climate here is perfect for wine. Cheers to that!

Where's the football happening?

Stuttgart Arena, home of VfB Stuttgart. Scotland play their last group match here against Hungary, and will come back in the quarters if they win their group and the round of 16.

Best thing to eat

Maultaschen, which is pasta filled with ground meat, onion and spinach.

Best thing to drink

Wine. The soil's perfect for producing refreshing whites and full-bodied reds. Pinot noir is particularly delicious in these parts.

Don't leave Stuttgart without…

Heading up the TV Tower. You'll likely be able to see it wherever you are in Stuttgart, and the viewing platform offers exceptional views of the city.

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