One of the most anticipated events of the year, UEFA Euro 2024, kicks off tomorrow, with 24 national teams from all over Europe competing for the championship. The opening match takes place in Munich, where Germany and Scotland will start the tournament. The group stage runs until 26 June and the playoffs begin on 29 June, with the final in Berlin on Sunday, 14 July.
Unlike the previous tournament in 2020, held in different countries, this year’s competition returns to a single-host model, so all the matches will be played in 10 iconic German cities. Germany offers a blend of magnificent Gothic and medieval architecture with modern and industrial sites, so prepare your suitcases as this country promises a bundle of incredible experiences, diverse cultural heritage, and mouthwatering cuisine. Each city has its own beauty and offers plenty of things to do and see between matches, so here’s a quick guide to the top attractions and must-try local dishes.
1. Berlin
Berlin is the largest and most multicultural city in Germany, with stunning contrasts between innovation and history. People come here to enjoy the architecture, visit the Reichstag and the Berlin Wall and plunge into the unparalleled ambience. This city allows tourists to dive into modern art featured at galleries, learn about artefacts at museums, and then discover Berlin’s renowned nightlife, so going on a tour around the best clubs and pubs is a must.
1.1. Must see sites
1.2. Local dishes and drinks
- Eisbain – pork knuckle boiled in beer
- Eintopf – thick soup with potatoes, carrots, and Bockwurst, a German smoky sausage
- Currywurst – the iconic German snack, fried and sliced sausage with curry tomato sauce
- Hackepeter – snack, raw minced meat with egg and pepper, spread on bread
- Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest Cake) – chocolate cake filled with whipped cream and cherries
- Berliner Pfannkuchen – local jam-filled donut
- Berliner Weisse – one the most famous Berlin beers
2. Cologne
Cologne is riverside city with a magnificent Gothic spirit in places like the iconic Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) with the breathtaking views from its towers, the charming Old Town with its narrow lanes, or the café-lined Heumarkt Square. For history lovers, Roman-Germanic Museum houses ancient relics, while the art collection at the Ludwig Museum will satisfy any art lover’s curiousity. On the other hand, the Rheinauhafen Embankment boasts splendid modern buildings for architecture enthusiasts. The best way to take it all in, the old and the new, is a boat ride or stroll on the promenade along the Rhine River.
2.1. Must see sites
2.2. Local dishes and drinks
- Halve Hahn – rye bread roll with gouda cheese, often topped with mustard, pickles, and onions
- Himmel und Äd – mashed potatoes with apples, fried black pudding and onions
- Rheinischer Sauerbraten – tender beef with sweet gravy and spicy marinade
- Rievkooche or reibekuchen – potato and onion pancake, crispy on the outside but tender on the inside
- Kölsche Kaviar – blood sausage served with onions and rye bread
- Kölsch – Colone’s iconic light and crisp beer
3. Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf, diverse and contrasting, another vibrant city on the Rhine River, is known for its remarkable beer culture, with around 260 pubs, restaurants, and bars open every day in the Old Town. The best place to capture panoramic views of the Rhine River and the city is the Rheinturm telecommunications tower, while a peaceful stroll or bike ride along the Rhine promenade is ideal to get away from the city rush. On the other hand, upscale shopping awaits visitors at Königsallee, an avenue lined with boutiques and designer stores.
3.1. Must see sites
3.2. Local dishes and drinks
- Reibekuchen – crispy-soft potato pancake, served with apple sauce
- Senfrostbraten – mustard roast beef dish, served with fries or dumplings and gravy
- Rheinischer Döbbekooche – potato cake with onions, bacon, or sausages
- Fischbrötchen – fresh fish sandwiches, usually made with herring or mackerel, topped with onions, pickles, and remoulade
- Muhrejubbel or Möhrengemüse – slow-cooked carrot stew, can be served with German meatballs
- Altbier – Düsseldorf’s renowned dark beer, brewed using traditional top-fermentation methods
- Killepitsch – herbal liqueur, taken as a digestif
4. Dortmund
Dortmund is a vibrant city in western Germany, known for its rich history, cultural diversity, industrial heritage and bustling nightlife. The Florian Tower, in the vast Westfalenpark, can be climbed, offering stunning panoramic views of the city. Football fans should definitely visit the German Football Museum and Signal Iduna Park, Germany’s largest football stadium, to delve into the nation’s favourite sport. A must-see for art lovers is the Museum Ostwall in the U Tower, a former brewery that was turned into a cultural centre, while the Dortmund Brewery Museum is still all about beer and remaining devoted to the renowned local beer.
4.1. Must see sites
4.2. Local dishes and drinks
- Pfefferpotthast – meat stew, made of pieces of beef simmered in a seasoned broth with onions, vegetables, spices, and herbs
- Bierschinken – sausage made of ground cooked pork with visible chunks of cured meat
- Stielmus – dish made from white beet stems and leaves, often mixed with potatoes and bacon
- Rote Bete Salat – salad made of cooked and pickled beetroot, served as a side dish
- Dortmunder Actien Brauerei (DAB) – the city’s main symbol, a pale, bottom-fermented blond lager, crisp with notes of hops and malt
5. Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main, Germany’s financial capital, has more skyscrapers than the rest of the country combined. Home to the headquarters of many German banks, as well as the European Central Bank, Frankfurt offers a vibrant fusion of history and contemporary. The Rathaus (City Hall) of Frankfurt, in the Old Town, is one of the main historic landmarks in the city, together with the Old St. Nicholas Church. For art lovers, the Städel Museum offers a remarkable collection, while the 22 hectare Palmengarten botanical garden will keep nature enthusiasts busy.
5.1. Must see sites
5.2. Local dishes and drinks
- Grie Soß (green sauce) – cold sauce made with eggs, sour cream and seven specific herbs
- Frankfurter Rippchen – thick, cured pork chops on the bone, served with sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) and mashed potatoes or simply a slice of bread or potato salad
- Fleischwurst or Bratwürste – German sausages
- Frankfurter Kranz – a ring-shaped cake resembling a crown (Kranz), filled with buttercream and jam (strawberry or blackcurrant) and topped with flaked almonds, ground hazelnuts or caramel nuts
6. Gelsenkirchen
Having a rich mining history, two of Gelsenkirchen’s parks today lie on former mining grounds. The large Rhine Elbe mine now houses the Halde Rheinelbe (Stairway to Heaven), while the Zeche Nordstern mine has been transformed into the Nordsternpark, complete with gardens and art exhibitions. Between the official matches of the Euro 2024, football fans should also fit in a stadium tour at the Veltins-Arena and a game of the local team Schalke 04’s.
6.1. Must see sites
6.2. Local dishes and drinks
- Grünkohl mit Pinkel – kale cooked with sausage, bacon, and potatoes
- Westphalian Ham – dry-cured ham often served with dark bread and pickles
- Sauerbraten – pot roast, typically made from beef, marinated in a vinegar-based mixture before being slow-cooked, usually served with red cabbage and dumplings
- Reibekuchen – crispy potato pancakes, usually served with applesauce or sour cream
7. Hamburg
Hamburg, located on the banks of the Elbe River, will attract tourists with its marine charm and cultural vibrancy. The giant International Maritime Museum is dedicated to 3,000 years of maritime history, with extensive exhibits on ships, navigation, and maritime art, while, at 15,000 square metres, Hamburger Kunsthalle is the largest art gallery in Germany and features a vast collection of European art, from medieval to contemporary. Besides the largest art gallery in Germany, Hamburg is also home to Speicherstadt, the largest warehouse district in the world and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
7.1. Must see sites
7.2. Local dishes and drinks
- Fischbrötchen – sandwiches filled with fresh fish (herring, salmon, or mackerel), often garnished with onions, pickles, and remoulade
- Finkenwerder Scholle – flounder stuffed with bacon, crab meat and onions
- Labskaus – corned beef, mashed potatoes, and beetroot, often served with a fried egg, pickles, and herring
- Aalsuppe – soup with a sweet and sour taste, made with eel, various vegetables, and dried fruits, like prunes and apricots
- Pannfisch – pan-fried fish with mustard sauce, served with fries and vegetables
- Königsberger Klopse – meatballs, made out of veal, beef or pork, often served in a white caper sauce, fried beetroot and boiled potatoes
- Rote Grütze – red berry (raspberries, strawberries, and red currants) pudding, served with vanilla cream
8. Leipzig
Leipzig is often considered the cultural capital of Germany, with sites like the Opera House, the St. Thomas Church, where Johann Sebastian Bach worked and was buried, the Bach museum about the composer’s life and the Spinnerei, a former cotton mill turned into a cultural centre, with studios, galleries, workshops, and dozens of architects, designers, and jewellery makers represented. For a different kind of cultural experience, the market square and Town Hall are filled with old time charm, while climbing the Monument to the Battle of the Nations gives panoramic views of the city. On the other hand, canoeing along the White Elster River and through the New Lake District is a great way of taking the city in from ground level.
8.1. Must see sites
8.2. Local dishes and drinks
- Sächsische Kartoffelsuppe – hearty potato soup often made with leeks, sausages, and carrots
- Leipziger Allerlei – vegetable mix of peas, carrots, asparagus, and morels, often served with crayfish tails or bread dumplings
- Leipziger Lerchen – shortcrust pastry filled with crushed almonds, nuts, and cherries
- Sächsischer Sauerbraten – marinated beef pot roast, usually served with red cabbage and dumplings
- Quarkkeulchen – sweet potato pancakes mixed with quark (fresh curd), often served with applesauce or sugar
- Zwiebelkuchen – yeast dough tart filled with a creamy egg custard, onions, and bacon
- Gose – traditional Leipzig beer, one of the oldest in Germany
- L’Allasch – local liqueur, often served chilled at the end of a meal, as a digestif, or sometimes mixed with Gose beer
9. Munich
Munich is the definition of Bavarian charm, with gems like the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) and its famous Rathaus-Glockenspiel, a large mechanical clock, that strikes daily at 11 and 12 o’clock, the Baroque Nymphenburg Palace and its majestic gardens, or the 18th century Asamkirche church, one of the most significant architectural structures of the South German late Baroque. In the art scene, the Alte Pinakothek museum has a collection of European paintings from the 14th to the 18th century, the Neue Pinakothek museum features works from the 18th and 19th centuries (Van Gogh, Monet, and Klimt), and the Pinakothek der Moderne museum displays contemporary art.
9.1. Must see sites
9.2. Local dishes and drinks
- Weißwurst – white sausage made out of veal and pork, flavored with parsley, lemon, and spices, traditionally served with sweet mustard and pretzels
- Pretzel (Brezn) – soft, salted bread snack that’s a staple in Bavarian cuisine, often enjoyed with beer or Weißwurst
- Leberkäse – meatloaf made out of finely ground corned beef, pork, and bacon, usually served in thick slices with mustard and a pretzel or bread
- Obatzda – creamy cheese spread made from aged soft cheese, butter, and seasonings, often eaten on pretzels or rye bread
- Schweinshaxe – roasted pork knuckle, typically served with sauerkraut and dumplings
- Spätzle – soft egg noodles made with coarsely ground durum wheat, often served as a side dish or with cheese and fried onions
- Dampfnudeln – sweet, steamed dumplings often served with vanilla sauce, also available in a savoury version
- Apfelstrudel – thin dough stuffed with spiced apples, raisins and sometimes nuts, served with vanilla sauce or ice cream
10. Stuttgart
Stuttgart is renowned for its rich scenery and historical heritage in the automobile industry, so must-visit places are the Mercedes-Benz Museum and Porsche Museum, where tourists can discover the history of the iconic automobile brands, view a stunning collection of classic and modern vehicles, and explore cutting-edge technology. The Stuttgart TV Tower, the world’s first television tower, offers magnificent panoramic views of the city from a height of 217 metres, while for exploring the city on the ground, the central square (Schlossplatz) is lined with historic buildings, shops and cafés. Art lovers will find refuge in the Stuttgart State Gallery, featuring works from the 14th century to contemporary art, including pieces by Rembrandt and Picasso, while nature enthusiats will have a blast at Wilhelma, Germany’s only zoological and botanical garden, with more than 11,000 animals from over 1,200 different species.
10.1. Must see sites
10.2. Local dishes and drinks
- Spätzle – boiled egg noodles usually served as a side to meat dishes
- Kässpätzle – casserole dish with Spätzle, caramelized onions, and Emmental cheese
- Maultaschen – dumplings made of pasta dough, traditionally filled with ground meat, spinach, onions, and spices, and served either in a broth or pan-fried with onions
- Apfelküchle – apple rings coated with cinnamon-sugar and fried in butter, typically served with vanilla sauce or ice cream
- Flädlesuppe – clear broth with thinly sliced pancake strips
- Zwiebelrostbraten – roast beef cooked in gravy and topped with crispy, fried onion and garlic
- Linsen mit Spätzle und Saitenwürstle – lentils cooked with spices and veggies, accompanied by Spätzle and regional sausages
- Gaisburger Marsch – beef stew with potatoes, vegetables, and Spätzle
