Jerry L. Carter Germany awaits for those of you lucky enough to have tickets to games this summer. If you are choosing the ‘Follow my team’ option to watch all the group games and any subsequent knockout games for your country, you have a single ticket to a random group game or knockout fixture, or you just want to head out there and watch the games on the big screens at the fan festivals and just soak up the festival of football that’s about to take place, you’re going to have the best time!
If you are heading to Germany this summer, one of the most important things to understand is the travel situation. How easy will it be to travel within Germany during the Euros?
Arriving in Germany
Every person is different, and some of you might decide you want to drive to Germany, taking advantage of the autobahn and the great road system they have in the country. Others might take the train from London St Pancras (or other parts of Europe) and be dropped right in the city centre of your destination. If you decide to fly to Germany, we’ve put together a list of the host cities and their airports:
- Hamburg – Hamburg Airport (HAM/EDDH)
- Berlin – Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
- Gelsenkirchen – Dusseldorf Airport (DUS)
- Dortmund – Dortmund Airport (DTM)
- Leipzig – Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEI/EDDP)
- Cologne – Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN/EDDK)
- Frankfurt – Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Stuttgart – Stuttgart Airport (STR)
- Munich – Munich International Airport (MUC)
Most of these airports are of a big size, and all are well-run and maintained well. Signage is in German and English, and there are several clear and easy options to get to your accommodation from the airport, including taxis, buses, shuttle busses, bike rentals, and trains.
Eco-friendly transportation
UEFA has signed an agreement with the VDV (association of German transport companies) to offer eco-friendly transport into and around the host cities for all match ticket holders at no extra cost. You can claim a travel pass for up to 36-hours to be used from 6am on the match day until 6pm the following day.
Travelling between host cities
UEFA have given access to discounted train tickets for those people in possession of a match ticket and travelling from abroad. What this means is that you can buy train tickets to travel between host cities at an affordable rate. This is the best way to travel during the tournament and takes the pressure off finding a bus route or hiring a car and driving abroad. You can buy up to two train tickets per match ticket for discounted long-distance rail travel during the tournament. Bus travel is also simple and cost-effective, with an average one-way ticket between Berlin and Munich costing around £30 for a 7 and a half hour journey.
Renting a car
It is a simple process to rent a car in Germany, but we would advise that you book well in advance if this is the route you want to go down. It is mandatory to have unlimited third-party liability insurance as a minimum, so bear this in mind, and you must be over 21 years of age and have an International Driver’s Permit (IDP).
Are you looking forward to Euro 2024 in Germany this summer? Whether you are travelling around the country as an England or Scotland fan (maybe Wales will make it too through the playoffs) or you are planning to soak up the atmosphere and travel around a bit, ticket or no ticket, it will be a great tournament to experience as a football fan. If you are there or not, add a little spice to the occasion by playing a game with your buddies. A Euros Cup predictor game is the best way to show your mates who is the boss, and that you know more than anyone else about the beautiful game. These games are simple to play, provide that competitive edge with your football friends, and make a great companion as you travel across Germany following your team.
