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It’s kick-off time – here’s everything you need to know to plan for European football’s biggest tournament

If longer days, music festivals and the Olympics weren’t enough to get you excited for the summer, that might all change on Friday (June 14), as the Euros are about to kick off. 24 European national football teams will be competing through various stages to win that coveted trophy, and three-time championship winners Germany are hosting the tournament this year, for the second time.
10 cities up and down the country will be involved in hosting the Euros, so we thought we’d bring you a bit of info about each of them that isn’t just stadium capacity or decent pubs (although that’s, obvs, super important info). So, here’s a roundup of everything you need to know about the Euros host cities for the 2024 tournament.
Germany’s pulsing capital city is perhaps best known for its nightlife – it’s Europe’s capital for clubbing, after all – but Berlin is a hub of history and culture that’s well worth a gander if you’re here for any matches. There are some excellent art galleries, parks and plenty of museums, exhibitions and monuments dedicated to World War II.
Matches (at Olympiastadion Berlin)
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Known in Germany as Köln, this city is centred around a magnificent, UNESCO-protected Cathedral, which is one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in Europe and the most-visited tourist attraction in Germany. But Cologne is also home to everything from a techno club in a scrapyard to a museum dedicated to chocolate, and a gorgeous botanical garden, too.
Matches (at Cologne Stadium)
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Dortmund is the third-largest city in North-Rhine Westphalia and is characterised by its football team and beer culture – there’s even a Brewery Museum. The place also has a rich industrial history, and was formerly the industrial heart of Germany, but about half of the city’s municipal territory is now green space.
Matches (at BVB Stadion Dortmund)
Düsseldorf has morphed from a collection of villages into a vast hub of art and culture over the last hundred years or so. It’s now Germany’s fashion capital and is home to some innovative art galleries – the Philara Collection is a great place to start. Make sure to sample some Killepitsch (a locally made berry liqueur) while you’re there, too!
Matches (at Düsseldorf Arena)
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All roads lead to Frankfurt – literally – and though you might think of a finance hub characterised by towering skyrise buildings, the city plays host to a charming café culture, leading museums and even a historic neighbourhood, DomRömer Quarter, that was completely recreated post-war.
Matches (at Frankfurt Arena)
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This city is also known as ‘the city of a thousand fires’, which stems from the blast furnaces which once characterised the area. Now, it’s most famous for being home to the stadium of FC Schalke 04, which is one of Germany’s most successful football clubs.
Matches (at Arena AufSchalke)
Though it’s dotted with gorgeous nineteenth-century architecture, Germany’s second city is a place of innovation, demonstrated through its cultural institutions and vibrant food scene. Being a harbour city, it makes creative use of its riverside areas – Speicherstadt, Hamburg’s warehouse district, and Reeperbahn, the vibrant nightlife spot, are two areas definitely worth an explore.
Matches (at Volksparkstadion Hamburg)
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Germany’s cities are all jam-packed with culture, but none can brag such a strong association with music as Leipzig. It was the birthplace of none other than world-famous composer and theatre director Richard Wagner and was also a place where renowned musicians such as Bach, Bartholdy, the Schumanns and Mahler famously worked.
Matches (at Leipzig Stadium)
Whether you’re here for Oktoberfest, the Christmas markets or just a pint in the sun, Munich is perhaps the German city most synonymous with beer – and that is saying something. Check out this selection of our favourite places to try local and international beers – there’s even a pub where you can get beer with your breakfast.
Matches (at Munich Football Arena)
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Stuttgart is known as the ‘cradle of the automobile’, and is home to pretty much any famous German car brand you can think of. But for the non-petrol heads, don’t worry – Stuttgart has a gorgeous old town and it’s surrounded by some lovely wineries which would make a great break from the bustle of the city.
Matches (at Stuttgart Arena)
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