Where to stay in Germany this summer as Euro 2024 kicks off

Running from mid-June to mid-July, this summer’s Euro 2024 is taking place in Germany. With matches being held in ten different stadiums, fans will be travelling to some of the country’s most popular cities, as well as some unsung gems. The opening game will be in Munich and the final in Berlin, while the England squad will first walk out in Gelsenkirchen, a place known for its home club and industrial heritage.

For all the host cities, it’s a chance to show off their local landmarks, lifestyle and lager – note the recent warning from the UK Foreign Office about the strength of German beer – while they welcome guests from around the world. If you’re planning on joining the party, here are our hotel recommendations for each city. They reflect different budgets, not-to-miss parts of town and proximity to the stadiums and public viewing areas. And at time of writing, all have availability over the key dates.

Berlin

Germany’s vibrant capital attracts visitors all year round thanks to its captivating history, diverse cultural offerings and ever-evolving neighbourhoods – not to mention its hard-to-beat nightlife which will continue long after the final whistle. Matches will be held at the impressive Olympiastadion, built for the 1936 summer Olympics, while fan zones will be found at two iconic landmarks: the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag.

Where to stay

The Circus Hotel is a popular boutique hotel with a rooftop honesty bar in Berlin-Mitte and it makes an excellent base for exploring the whole city. The hotel also has a hostel and apartments nearby.

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Sir Savigny is found in the fashionable Charlottenburg neighbourhood to the west. This sophisticated stay has a communal library and local artwork in the rooms. Trains from the station next door take you straight to the stadium.

SO/ Berlin Das Stue was once home to the Danish embassy and this commanding 1930s building is now a plush five-star hotel. Overlooking inner city park Tiergarten, it offers a quiet setting with easy access to both viewing areas.

Cologne

Hosting group stage games for Scotland and England, Cologne is where you’ll find a famous gothic cathedral, bridges spanning the Rhine and light Kölsch beer. The latter is served in small glasses that will be refilled if not covered with a beer mat. Wander around the old town, visit different museums and stroll along the river – during the tournament there will be a viewing area on the eastern bank.

Where to stay

Surprisingly stylish budget hotel MEININGER Hotel Köln West is in easy reach of the stadium, with a tram connection running along buzzy Aachener Straße. The nearby forest park, Stadtwald, offers a break from city life and the football crowds.

Stayery is an aparthotel-like stay in the hip neighbourhood of Ehrenfeld, popular with young professionals and digital nomads. You’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants in this area, as well as good transport links to the stadium.

Hyatt Regency Cologne is a fine establishment by the river with wonderful panoramas of the city. The public viewing area at Tanzbrunnen is just a short walk away.

Dortmund

Located in the heart of the industrial Ruhr region, this dynamic city is now a culture and tech hub – as well as a football hotspot. The BVB Stadion, home to the mighty Borussia Dortmund, is the biggest stadium in the country with a league capacity of over 81,000. Back in town, the German Football Museum examines the game’s history and will be holding a range of events throughout the championship.

Where to stay

Basecamp Hotel has a bottle green and blush pink colour scheme that runs through this tasteful development in the city centre, complete with co-working spaces and a roof terrace. The studios come with a small kitchen.

Very close to the stadium and the trendy Kreuzviertel neighbourhood, Dorint An den Westfalenhallen Dortmund has over 200 rooms, a spa area and onsite restaurant.

Sellmann’s Boutique Hotel is a newly renovated retreat that is well placed for the stadium and the Westfalenpark viewing area. Book a suite for a freestanding bath at the end of your bed.

Düsseldorf

Another host on the Rhine, Düsseldorf is a city of music (Kraftwerk), great food (Little Tokyo) and fancy shops (Königsallee). The stadium, the Merkur Spiel-Arena, is close to the airport, with plenty of chain hotels nearby, but head into town for more boutique options. Here, you’ll find a viewing area in front of the curved façade of the Schauspielhaus theatre, plus two more by the river.

Where to stay

Ruby Coco boasts Hollywood-style mirrors, pocket spring mattresses and a cocktail bar, with this hotel being located on Dusseldorf’s poshest shopping boulevard. The nearby U78 line runs all the way to stadium.

Sitting between the old town and the river, smart Boutique Hotel Orangerie has comfortable rooms and a great breakfast. It’s ideally situated to reach the public viewing areas by the water.

Discover the city’s more extravagant side at local institution Breidenbacher Hof, which has been in business for over 200 years. Their restaurant The Duchy serves European cuisine in a Parisian-inspired brasserie.

Frankfurt

Germany’s financial hub, Frankfurt is a cosmopolitan destination with lots to discover. Start by checking out the museums that line both banks of the river (Museumsufer) and end with an apple wine (Apfelwein) in a traditional tavern. Known as Deutsche Bank Park since 2020, the city’s stadium will host the England Denmark game on June 20.

Where to stay

Scandic Frankfurt Museumsufer is a stone’s throw away from the public viewing area between the Holbeinsteg and Friedensbrücke bridges, and this sustainability-focused hotel has bright and functional rooms. Children under 12 stay for free.

Offering views of Frankfurt’s high-rise skyline from the rooftop bar, The Blasky is a cool spot to hang out in the Sachsenhausen neighbourhood. The stadium is easy to reach by bus or car.

Low lighting and dark tones help create a luxurious vibe at centrally located hotel Roomers Frankfurt (the Scandic is next door). Enjoy the football but leave some time to unwind in the spa too.

Gelsenkirchen

Home to popular team FC Schalke 04, Gelsenkirchen is where England will play their first game (against Serbia). Another industrial town, not far from Dortmund, the public viewing area will be in Nordsternpark, a former colliery site that is now a park. The site is just one example of multiple projects in the area that have transformed refineries, quarries and railway lines in new attractions.

Where to stay

Ibis Styles Gelsenkirchen is a good budget option next to the main train station and close to the shops in the centre of Gelsenkirchen.

Four-star Heiner’s Parkhotel is found in a repurposed warehouse next to Nordsternpark. It has a restaurant, a beer garden and 36 spacious rooms with nods to the area’s industrial past.

Stay the night in renovated 13th century castle Schloss Berge, complete with a moat and well-kept gardens. It feels like a different world, but the stadium is just a few minutes away.

Hamburg

Germany’s second largest city has a mesmerising harbour and fascinating architecture, from the striking contrasts of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall to the brick neo-gothic warehouses in the Speicherstadt. The district of St. Pauli, known for its football club, is where the Beatles played some of their earliest gigs; look out for the square named after them.

Where to stay

Superbude Altona is a lively hotel with colourful interiors. It has different room constellations, which works well for groups. This one is in Altona, not far from the stadium, but there are two further branches in the city.

Tucked away in a side street close to the main station, the HENRI Hotel Hamburg Downtown has 1970s-inspired interiors and a cosy lounge downstairs.

East Hotel Hamburg is a four-star stay in a former iron foundry, close to the public viewing area in St. Pauli and a good jumping-off point for exploring the neighbourhood.

Leipzig

This vibrant city, long said to be hot on the heels of Berlin, has a cutting-edge art scene and world-class classical concerts. It was here where the peaceful demonstrations began in 1989, with various museums now dedicated to the history of Leipzig and East Germany. The stadium is only ten minutes from the main station, but don’t rule out staying in some of the city’s interesting neighbourhoods.

Where to stay

Multitude Hostel sits to the west of the Red Bull Arena. This top-rated hostel puts equal focus on comfort and design. Each bunk has its own blackout curtain and reading light, while the bar feels like the hippest joint in town.

Baroque-style Hotel Fregehaus shares a courtyard with a number of shops and ateliers. The public viewing area for the matches is a short walk away, while several public transport options take you towards the stadium.

Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel Handelshof is also centrally located, next to the historic Naschmarkt square and old town hall These lavish lodgings in a former trade fair building come with a two-floor spa and upmarket dining options.

Munich

Hosting the first game of the tournament, Scotland versus Germany, the Bavarian capital is no stranger to international football matches. Fans will be hosted at the Allianz Arena, where Harry Kane regularly steps out to play for Bayern Munich. Back in town there’s plenty to see from the surfers riding a static wave to the twirling figures in the Glockenspiel clock.

Where to stay

Munich’s Hotel New Orly is a boutique hotel with a sauna and gym in the attractive neighbourhood of Neuhausen-Nymphenburg. From here you can take the underground straight to the fan zone in the Olympic Park.

The elegant Schwabinger Wahrheit by Geisl can be found in the once bohemian neighbourhood of Schwabing. It’s well-located for reaching the stadium, with the U6 line taking you there in half an hour. Check out the “team room” which sleeps six people.

Opened in 2023, Rosewood Munich in the old town is the first Rosewood property in the country. It spans two historic buildings and features works from diverse German artists

Stuttgart

Normally associated with Mercedes and Porsche, the capital of Baden-Württemberg surprises visitors with its local wines, restored 10th century castle and cube-shaped art gallery. At the heart of it all is the city’s expansive square, Schlossplatz, a popular meeting point and the place to come and watch the game on two big screens this summer.

Where to stay

Hilton Garden Inn Stuttgart NeckarPark is within walking distance of the stadium, with some rooms even overlooking it. The Mercedes-Benz Museum is also in this area.

Found among the wine bars, antique shops and artist studios on the cobbled streets of the Bohnenviertel district, the quirky Der Zauberlehrling has individually themed rooms and a gourmet restaurant.

With a sleek sleek design, EmiLu Hotel sits in the middle of the city, within walking distance of Schlossplatz and several good transport links to the stadium. The sixth-floor suites come with a private terrace.