Welcome to the Guardian’s Euro 2024 stadium guide, which will take you through the 10 venues being used for this summer’s tournament. Some of the names may look unfamiliar at first glance as Uefa avoid using stadium-specific sponsors for the tournament.
Derek Rae: Welcome to my Euro 2024 stadium guide – audio
Opened: 1936
Tournament capacity: 71,000
Home team: Hertha Berlin
Euro 2024 fixtures:
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Spain v Croatia, 15 June, 5pm BST
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Poland v Austria, 21 June, 5pm
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Netherlands v Austria, 25 June, 5pm
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Round of 16, 29 June, 5pm
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Quarter-final, 6 July, 8pm
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Final, 14 July, 8pm
Originally built for the 1936 Olympics, the Berliner Olympiastadion in the western district of Charlottenburg represents a German history lesson in itself. We are reminded of the US athlete Jesse Owens and his four gold medals with Adolf Hitler watching from his balcony. One of the adjoining streets is now called Jesse Owens Allee.
The stadium, a true monument visually, has served as the permanent home of the DFB-Pokal final since 1985 and there’s a political cold war era story behind it. West Germany desperately wanted to host the 1988 Euros but feared having a then divided city as a venue would meet with fierce resistance from eastern bloc countries within Uefa. So the decision was taken to strike West Berlin from the host cities but as a “we-still-value-you” prize, the DFB made the Olympiastadion its Wembley for the big final. It has become a much loved tradition for fans and players alike and it’s obligatory to sing – “Berlin, Berlin, wir fahr’n nach Berlin.” (Berlin, Berlin, we’re going to Berlin.)
Memorable match: The Germany v Argentina World Cup quarter-final of 2006, when Jens Lehmann consulted a famous scribbled list of opposition tendencies in the victorious penalty shootout.
What to eat and drink: Currywurst – sausage, doused in spicy sauce and curry powder – owes its origins to Berlin but you’ll be asked if you want it “mit oder ohne Darm?” That’s with or without intestines, used as casing. Either way, it goes well with a Berliner Kindl or Berliner Pilsner, depending on if you like Hertha or Union.
‘A shopping centre instead of a football pitch’: Why the final venue is full of surprises – audio
Opened: 2004
Tournament capacity: 43,000
Home team: Cologne
Euro 2024 fixtures:
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Hungary v Switzerland, 15 June, 2pm
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Scotland v Switzerland, 19 June, 8pm
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Belgium v Romania, 22 June, 8pm
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England v Slovenia, 25 June, 8pm
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Round of 16, 30 June, 8pm
Düsseldorf’s Rhineland opposite in so many ways, Cologne prides itself on a certain joie de vivre which is most obvious during the Karneval rite of passage but detectable at all times of year.
When you tell a local you’re going to Müngersdorf, the part of the city where the stadium is to be found, they’re left in little doubt that a day at the football is planned. It’s easily reachable on the No 1 tram from the Heumarkt area where a lot of the daily non-match Euros activity will be staged.
The tram takes you through the charismatic Belgian quarter before heading west along the Aachener Strasse and dropping you off at either Alter Militärring, where some fans go for pre-game refreshments, or the stadium itself. The minimalistic “Stadion” sign you walk under helps provide one of the most reassuring vibes in football watching.
Cologne is a city of emotions best summed up in the Karneval song “Hey Kölle! Du bes e Jeföhl” (Cologne! You are a feeling). Built on the site of the old Müngersdorfer Stadion, the venue is large enough but still manages to feel intimate. The Cologne club anthem “Mer stonn zo dir” (Here’s to you”) uses the tune from Loch Lomond so the thousands of Scots who descend on the Rhine will feel at home.
Memorable match: Every Cologne home game has a special quality and the truth is, even in the 2. Bundesliga [second division] where Effzeh have landed, it will still be one of the hardest tickets to get. My choice is from 2016, a Sunday Cologne v Hamburg game in which the home side won 3-0 and Anthony Modeste bagged a perfect hat-trick.
What to eat and drink: Always drink Kölsch, the city’s irresistible and refreshing contribution to beer culture. It’s served in a Stange, a small glass so as to always be consumed cold. If you’ve had enough, place your beermat over the Stange or else the waiter will keep giving you more. Foodwise, Himmel und Äad (Heaven and Earth) is a local favourite mixing potatoes and stewed apples plus often a blood sausage.
‘A place for football romantics’: Why there is nowhere like Cologne – audio
Opened: 1974
Tournament capacity: 62,000
Home team: Borussia Dortmund
Euro 2024 fixtures:
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Italy v Albania, 15 June, 8pm
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Turkey v Georgia, 18 June, 5pm
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Turkey v Portugal, 22 June, 5pm
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France v Poland, 25 June, 5pm
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Round of 16, 29 June, 8pm
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Semi-final, 10 July, 8pm
Gelsenkirchen’s Revier area rival city, in football terms anyway, Dortmund has been discovered to a greater extent by visitors and regards itself as the Bundesrepublik’s football capital.
A great start to a football day is to walk a few metres from the main station to the magnificent and beautifully laid out German Football Museum, which I suspect is going to do record business during the Euros.
The stadium is doable on foot though you need a good pair of shoes. The better plan would be to jump on a regional or underground train to Westfalenstadion on match days or nearby Westfalenhallen at other times.
The stadium’s most famous feature – the yellow wall – won’t be as we know it for Dortmund games but the stadium is undeniably atmospheric.
For anyone in the main stand, for an early evening game, bring a hat and sunglasses as the sun can be more than a bit awkward.
Memorable match: For a neutral, nothing can top the greatest Revierderby ever played, in November 2017. Dortmund raced into a breathtaking 4-0 lead before half-time, only for Schalke to chip away at their advantage. When Naldo headed home the equaliser in stoppage time we had witnessed one of the most special moments in German football history. Not that Dortmund fans saw it that way.
What to eat and drink: Dortmund is always a good shout for a Jägerschnitzel, a pork cutlet in a tasty mushroom sauce, although it’s a dish that can be found on menus in most places. Beer connoisseurs may enjoy Bergmann beer and its brewery in the city which is regularly open for visits.
Opened: 2004
Tournament Capacity: 47,000
Home team: Fortuna Düsseldorf
Euro 2024 fixtures:
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Austria v France, 17 June, 8pm
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Slovakia v Ukraine, 21 June, 2pm
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Albania v Spain, 24 June, 8pm
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Round of 16, 1 July, 5pm
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Quarter-final, 6 July, 5pm
It might be tempting to think of the four western Rhine-Ruhr venues almost as one, given their close proximity, but don’t! Each city has its own strong character. Düsseldorf, the state capital of Nordrhein-Westfalen, is the posh city, the one where business is done and where footballers go to shop on their days off.
The stadium, located in the district of Stockum, is a slick, multi-purpose arena capable of hosting conferences and has previously put on American football and even the 2011 Eurovision song contest, when Azerbaijan’s Ell & Nikki prevailed with Running Scared. There should in fact be nothing scary for visitors here. The stadium is situated close to the airport and for those who have picked Düsseldorf or nearby cities such as Duisburg as a convenient base, it’s a straightforward trip on the U78 from the main station or the Königsallee shopping area to the stadium.
The local club Fortuna missed out on promotion to the Bundesliga on penalties against local rivals Bochum but have won acclaim with their “Fortuna für alle” policy (Fortuna for everyone), providing free entry for certain games.
Memorable match: Fortuna Düsseldorf 4 Kaiserslautern 3. The 2. Bundesliga match played last October was part of the free programme and the teams delivered one of the most spectacular games seen in many a year in this part of the Rhineland.
What to eat and drink: Rheinischer Sauerbraten, literally a sour roast, is meat marinated in wine, vinegar and spices and when made in Düsseldorf can have sugar and even raisins added. “Alt”, a dark bitter, is the beer of preference in the city and its environs. Füchschen Alt and Uerige are two of several excellent Alt varieties brewed in Düsseldorf.
Opened: 1925
Tournament capacity: 47,000
Home team: Eintracht Frankfurt
Euro 2024 fixtures:
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Belgium v Slovakia, 17 June, 5pm
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Denmark v England, 20 June, 5pm
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Switzerland v Germany, 23 June, 8pm
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Slovakia v Romania, 26 June, 5pm
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Round of 16, 1 July, 8pm
The underrated city award as far as Euro 2024 is concerned might go to the city of the Main. Often derided as “Bankfurt”, it’s a one-dimensional view of a place that has plenty to offer once you get away from the high rise office buildings and into areas where people live like Sachsenhausen and Bornheim.
Most fans won’t have time to get to know it intimately but the 15-minute walk to the stadium, alighting at the Stadion train stop, is positively delightful, through the Frankfurter Stadtwald, the city forest. There on matchdays you’re met by all manner of vendors selling bratwurst, beer and football shirts, scarves and memorabilia.
Anyone on a quick trip should know that from Frankfurt airport, you can bypass the city-centre mayhem and be only a couple of stops from the football by local train.
It does take a long time to walk around the stadium, though, and be careful you don’t end up on the nearby autobahn. The Waldstadion (as locals will always call it) was updated before the 2005 Confederations Cup. The design of its roof is particularly stunning, a football watcher’s paradise in a city smitten with local club Eintracht and their highs and lows.
Memorable match: This was at the old Waldstadion but Eintracht 5 Kaiserslautern 1 in 1999 still resonates. Eintracht somehow escaped relegation on a final day that could have seen any one of five clubs demoted, with Nürnberg ultimately going down. The game will always be associated with Jan-Åge Fjörtoft’s stepover and one-touch finish to make it 5-1.
What to eat and drink: In Frankfurt drink Äppelwoi, the local apple wine/apple cider rather than beer. If you really want to blend in, then you must order Handkäs mit Musik. This is a favourite cow’s milk cheese shaped by hand – be ready for a strong aroma. The Musik (music) part means chopped onion, vinegar and oil, plus of course bread.
‘So many classic matches’: Why it’s one of the great venues in German football – audio
Opened: 2001
Tournament capacity: 50,000
Home team: Schalke
Euro 2024 fixtures:
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Serbia v England, 16 June, 8pm
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Spain v Italy, 20 June, 8pm
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Georgia v Portugal, 26 June, 8pm
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Round of 16, 30 June, 5pm
Please don’t let anyone tell you Gelsenkirchen doesn’t deserve to be a host city. Yes, it may seem small and gritty compared with others but the trick is to take a look beneath the surface in this passionate football community powered in decades past by coal mining. Indeed one of the great traditions at Schalke home games is the playing of the Steigerlied, a song for miners with the prominent words “Glück auf” as if to wish above all else for a safe return from the pits.
Mine shafts used to run directly beneath the old Parkstadion, meaning that when the new plush, royal blue arena with its retractable roof was built, everything was rotated so the pitch wouldn’t be structurally affected.
The 301 tram will take you from the Gelsenkirchen main station but a strong recommendation would be to alight at Schalker Meile station. Get there early and give yourself time to walk around and explore the roots of one of Europe’s most revered clubs. It’s helpfully laid out and you can even get a glimpse at their original Glückauf-Kampfbahn.
Memorable match: Schalke’s 1997 “Eurofighters” live long in the memory in Gelsenkirchen and the two-legged format meant the home fans got to experience part of that Uefa Cup final against Internazionale. Marc Wilmots scored the goal at the old Parkstadion that gave the Königsblauen a 1-0 lead to carry to Italy and, although it was cancelled out at San Siro, the Belgian scored the decisive goal in the penalty shootout.
What to eat and drink: Currywurst is arguably just as big in the industrial Ruhrpott as in Berlin, so you won’t go far wrong with another serving here accompanied by pommes (chips). However you could also look for pfefferpotthast, a traditional stew. Veltins beer has become synonymous with Gelsenkirchen, although technically hails from the Hochsauerland region 90 minutes away.
Opened: 2000
Tournament capacity: 49,000
Home team: Hamburg
Euro 2024 fixtures:
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Poland v Netherlands, 16 June, 2pm
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Croatia v Albania, 19 June, 2pm
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Georgia v Czech Republic, 22 June, 2pm
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Czech Republic v Turkey, 26 June, 8pm
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Quarter-final, 5 July, 8pm
The northernmost venue at Euro 2024 is well worth the trip. Hamburg are ruefully contemplating a seventh successive season in the 2. Bundesliga but this is still a premier address in world football in a city with its own distinctive atmosphere.
The famous clock showing how long HSV had been continuously in the Bundesliga was long ago removed in favour of simply showing the coordinates of the Volksparkstadion. The old ground was demolished on the mid-90s and the new stadium was rotated 90 degrees to take advantage of the sunlight. The location is suburban so take the S3 or S21 S-Bahn to Stellingen – on match days you’re bussed in from there.
Hamburg, although not directly on the coast, feels as though it is and possesses a vibe unlike any other major German city, at times edgy and contrary, but still northern and almost Scandinavian in places.
Memorable match: If we include the former version of the Volksparkstadion, it’s impossible not to single out the 1974 World Cup meeting of the two Germanys. Against all the odds in the group stage, East Germany defeated West Germany thanks to a goal by Jürgen Sparwasser, the solitary defeat for Helmut Schön’s team en route to lifting the trophy. In terms of political symbolism, there has never been a football match like it at a major tournament since.
What to eat and drink: In Hamburg, it’s quite straightforward. Get off at Landungsbrücken, walk along the docks and you’ll see countless establishments with fresh Fischbrötchen (fish in a roll) on their menus. In no other venue will you be offered this culinary treat. Flensburger Pilsener from up near the Danish border is a light beer that would win you the approval of locals.
‘A monument in the city’: Why this is a special place for me – audio
Opened: 2004
Tournament capacity: 40,000
Home team: RB Leipzig
Euro 2024 fixtures:
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Portugal v Czech Republic, 18 June, 8pm
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Netherlands v France, 21 June, 8pm
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Croatia v Italy, 24 June, 8pm
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Round of 16, 2 July, 8pm
As in the 2006 World Cup, Leipzig is the sole representative of the former East Germany and the new (since 1990) Bundesländer. Anyone who visits the Heldenstadt (city of heroes) these days finds a pleasant place with a youthful vibe and a most agreeable, pedestrian friendly Altstadt with winding paths full of cafes, bars and restaurant. Leipzig has been chosen as the host of the international broadcast centre.
The striking new stadium was constructed on the site of the old Zentralstadion and if you take a walk around it, you’ll get more than a glimpse of its former look, back when it was known as the Stadion der Hunderttausend (the 100,000 Stadium). That version of the arena was famously built using debris from allied air attacks on the city and was used annually for the DDR’s Sportfest.
Located just to the west of the city centre, it’s either a longish walk or a short hop on the ubiquitous tram using lines 3, 4, 7, 8 or 15 to Waldplatz or Sportforum. There are also a few designated places for parking bicycles. Leipzig was recently awarded the 2026 Europa Conference League final by Uefa.
Memorable match: In May 2017, RB Leipzig and Bayern, who had already secured the title, served up a thrilling match that ended 5-4 in Bayern’s favour thanks to a classic stoppage-time winner from Arjen Robben.
What to eat and drink: You might not find it on too many restaurant menus but Leipziger Allerlei (all kinds of everything) is a traditional dish from the Sachsen region. It’s a mixture of mostly young vegetables – including peas, carrots and asparagus – and can be served as a main or side dish. Beer-wise, look for Gose and its distinctive bitter taste.
Opened 2005
Tournament capacity 66,000
Home team Bayern Munich
Euro 2024 fixtures:
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Germany v Scotland, 14 June, 8pm
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Romania v Ukraine, 17 June, 2pm
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Slovenia v Serbia, 20 June, 2pm
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Denmark v Serbia, 25 June, 8pm
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Round of 16, 2 July, 5pm
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Semi-final, 9 July, 8pm
For years Munich had its own Olympiastadion doubling as the home of Bayern and 1860 but it was clear around the turn of the millennium that the Bavarian capital needed something more modern. The plush Arena in Fröttmaning, to the north of the historic centre, was opened in 2005 and while it is sometimes derided for lacking the atmosphere of say, Dortmund, Frankfurt or Cologne, the design of the stadium means there’s really not a bad seat in the house.
Travel is easy on the U6 U-Bahn service with most people getting on at the Marienplatz – where Bayern for once didn’t get to show off their trophies to the public this season – and then many more at Münchner Freiheit. When you alight at Fröttmaning you swear you’re looking up the hill at a spaceship that has just landed.
Drivers are also catered to with almost 10,000 parking places around the stadium. Pub owners in Munich punched the air in delight when Scotland were drawn to play Germany in the opener on 14 June.
Memorable match: Bayern 5 Wolfsburg 1, September 2015. The night when Robert Lewandowski, who had come on as a half-time substitute, performed his five goals in nine minutes routine.
What to eat and drink: Weisswurst (white sausage) is a Munich staple whose primary ingredient is minced veal and traditionally served in a bowl of hot water with Bavarian mustard added on the side. Wash it down with a crisp Tegernseer Helles, a classic and popular light Bavarian beer with a slightly malty taste.
Opened: 1933
Tournament capacity: 51,000
Home team: Stuttgart
Euro 2024 fixtures:
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Slovenia v Denmark, 16 June, 5pm
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Germany v Hungary, 19 June, 5pm
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Scotland v Hungary, 23 June, 8pm
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Ukraine v Belgium, 26 June, 5pm
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Quarter-final, 5 July, 5pm
Bad Cannstatt is the name of Stuttgart’s oldest and largest borough but synonymous with the local football team and its stadium. The loudest part of the ground at Bundesliga games happens to be called the Cannstatter Kurve while the Cannstatter Volksfest every autumn is the city’s impressive answer to Munich’s Oktoberfest.
The stadium on the north-east bank of the Neckar has been something of a building site going back many years, with the main stand the last part to be refurbished, just in time for the tournament. The fetching brown fabric roof catches the eye as you marvel at what is now a fabulous place to watch football.
Before the various remodelling efforts, it was was at the old Neckarstadion with its running track that Klaus Fischer scored his famous Fallrückzieher (bicycle-kick) goal in a 4-1 friendly win for West Germany over Switzerland in 1977. Fischer has frequently been asked to recreate the moment on German TV shows.
Stuttgart as a city makes it very clear where car manufacturing and engineering stand in its own story. A surprise twist to many is that it’s a city with vineyards. If you tire of urban life, day trips into the Black Forest can be a delight.
Memorable matches: Anyone attending games in Stuttgart should be aware that the season just finished has featured several matches that will be entered in the annals of club folklore. You could go for the two victories in two competitions against Dortmund. But especially sweet for VfB fans was the 3-1 win over Bayern, which went a long way towards securing a second-place finish, above Germany’s record champions.
Food and drink: The contribution to the German food tradition from this region has been considerable, with pride of place going to Spätzle, a south-western German kind of pasta, and Maultaschen, the local answer to steamed dumplings. Both are worth trying but I will confess to being more of a Spätzle person. Stuttgarter Hofbräu is a tasty pilsner that is featured at the Cannstatter Volksfest. Tannenzäpfle, though not directly from the region, is a malty south-west classic more associated with Freiburg.
Derek Rae is a Bundesliga commentator and the voice of EA Sports FC 24
All photos by Getty Images.