Your European City Guide To The UEFA European Football Championship

With the UEFA European Championships in full swing, football fever has spread across Europe. But how much do you know about the cities hosting the matches? While Wembley Stadium in London and Hampden Park in Glasgow are the UK offerings, nine other European countries are hosting games so we thought we’d find out a bit more about these places.

Amsterdam, Netherlands: Johan Cruijff ArenA

Previously named Amsterdam Arena, it was renamed in 2018 in honour of legendary Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff who died in March 2016 and played for local team AFC Ajax.

Tours of the stadium are available or if you fancy exploring more of the Dutch capital there are plenty of activities for families, couples and friends to enjoy. Whether you’re visiting the world-class museums in the city, sampling some local cuisine or heading to Artis zoo, Amsterdam is a great city for mini break. You can get there on an overnight crossing from Newcastle with DFDS or our popular mini cruise options are ideal for a day spent exploring the city.

Copenhagen, Denmark: Parken Stadium

The host of several UEFA Euro 2020 games, Parken Stadium in Copenhagen is also used as a music venue and even has a Michelin starred restaurant within it – not quite the footie snack you’re used to!

Copenhagen is such a vibrant city with plenty to explore and discover. Visit the striking Little Mermaid Statue in homage to Copenhagen native and legendary teller of fairytales, Hans Christian Andersen. Ride the classic ferris wheel in the second oldest theme park Tivoli Gardens. Or you could take it easy and stroll Christianshavn Canal and surrounding waterways, taking in the charming houseboats. Check out our Weekend in Copenhagen blog post for more inspiration.

The DFDS ferry from Oslo takes you directly to Copenhagen or alternatively, our Newcastle – Amsterdam ferry takes you within six hours of the Danish border, allowing you to take in the scenery as you drive through Holland.

Munich, Germany: Allianz Arena

Home of football club Bayern Munich, the Allianz Arena is the first stadium in the world with a full colour changing exterior. Take a road trip to Munich starting your trip on one of our ferries. Less than 10 hours from our Calais, Dunkirk and Ijmuiden ports in France and Holland, you can take in the scenery as you drive across Europe! Plan your roadtrip to Munich with our handy blog post here.

Seville, Spain: Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla

The Estadio de La Cartuja is a football stadium and music venue with a capacity of up to 60,000 it has previously hosted UEFA Euro games as well as singers such as Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and U2. The city of Seville is a delight to discover. Steeped in history, the old town is a pleasure to stroll and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites sit within the city to explore.

Rome, Italy: Stadio Olimpico

The largest sports facility in Rome, Stadio Olympico houses over 70,000 spectators. The city itself is the home of the Roman empire, with a myriad of impressive ruins still intact from thousands of years ago! For the Stadio Olympico’s ancient equivalent, a visit to The Colosseum is a must!

Budapest, Hungary: Puskás Aréna

Puskás Aréna is a fairly new arena, built in 2019 and named after the former national team captain Ferenc Puskás. As well as football, Budapest has several thermal springs, thought to have medicinal properties, which locals and tourists alike bathe in. These grand spa like buildings hark back to the colonisation of the area by the Romans and the original baths that stood in their place. Split into two islands, Buda and Pest, which sit each side of the river Danube, you can cross the Chain Bridge and explore Buda Castle, St Stephen’s Basilica and Matthias Church on both sides.

Baku, Azerbaijan: Baku Olympic Stadium

The first foundation was laid on the stadium ten years ago and it was completed in 2015. Another historic city, Baku’s Inner City is a UNESCO World Heritage site with architecture including a palace and an imposing tower dating back as far as the 7th century. As night falls, the city comes alive – it is one of the top ten world destinations for urban nightlife according to Lonely Planet.

Saint Petersburg, Russia: Gazprom Arena

Opened in 2017, Gazprom Arena sits on Krestovsky Island in Saint Petersburg. The second largest city in Russia, it is known as Russia’s ‘Cultural Capital.’ It is home to over 200 museums, some of which are housed in beautiful historic buildings. Visit The Hermitage one of the largest art galleries in the world and if you’re feeling up to it you could climb the tallest skyscraper in Europe at the Lakhta Centre.

Bucharest, Romania: National Arena

The National Arena in Bucharest is the largest stadium in Romania, housing over 55,000 seats not just for football but for concerts too. The city of Bucharest has an eclectic mix of architecture, from neoclassical to art nouveau and was even named ‘Paris of the East’ due to its sophistication and elegant architecture. With a range of museums, visual arts, performing arts and nightlife, Bucharest is a melting pot of Romanian and wider European culture, ripe for exploring!