Euro 2024: Welcome to Cologne

Between 15 and 30 June, a total of five European Football Championship matches will take place in Cologne. In addition to four preliminary round matches, fans in Cologne can also look forward to a round of 16 match. You didn't get a ticket for one of the matches, but are in Cologne during the European Championship? No problem: as the largest city in NRW, Cologne naturally offers many locations where you can watch the matches live, e.g. in the Fan Zone on Heumarkt. And the cathedral city also offers plenty of opportunities to pass the time between matches.

Cologne stadium

During the tournament, the RheinEnergieSTADION will simply be called Stadion Köln. The following matches will take place here:

15.06. Hungary - Switzerland
19.06. Scotland - Switzerland
22.06. Belgium - Romania
25.06. England - Slovenia
30.06. Round of sixteen

Public Viewing and Fan Zones

The city of Cologne and its inhabitants are known for their Rhineland hospitality and joie de vivre. It goes without saying that there will be plenty of celebrations and excitement on the streets during the European Football Championship. At Heumarkt, right in the centre of the city, you will find the fan zone of the same name. It will be open throughout the European Championships and offers all football fans the opportunity to watch the matches live on several screens. There will also be food and drink, DJs and various football-related activities where you can put your skills to the test. You can also watch all matches with German participation and other important matches at the Tanzbrunnen. The popular venue is located on the right bank of the Rhine, north of the old exhibition centre, and offers live music and a great stage programme in addition to the broadcasts - all against the unique backdrop of the Rhine and Cologne Cathedral. And because the city of Cologne has set itself the goal of making the European Championships a tournament „by everyone for everyone“, there are special offers and seats at the Tanzbrunnen for wheelchair users, deaf and visually impaired spectators and people with cognitive impairments.

By the way: a free Rhine ferry provides a convenient connection between the two sides of the Rhine during the European Championships. If you prefer to walk, you can enjoy thousands of small, colourful love locks as you cross the Hohenzollern Bridge.

And what else? Even more sport, culture and history

• If you love football and are visiting Cologne, you should go straight to the Cologne Zoo to go. Why? Hennes IX, the mascot of 1. FC Köln, lives here. The billy goat even has a miniature version of the RheinEnergieSTADION in his enclosure. Before or after the visit, it is of course also worth paying a visit to the Asian elephants, sloths and other inhabitants of the third largest zoo in Germany.
• This is not just something for football fans German Sports and Olympic Museum in Cologne's customs harbour. There you will find a large collection of historical sporting artefacts such as Olympic torches, certificates, posters and jerseys. Of course, there are also some important pieces from football's past, such as a ticket to the 1954 World Cup final and football boots from 1948/1949. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Motorworld Cologne is home to Michael Schumacher's Private Collection, the racing car collection of the seven-time Formula 1 world champion. The exhibits include not only all seven racing cars in which Michael Schumacher won the world championships, but also original cars from his pre-Formula 1 era and a total of twelve of his Formula 1 cars, as well as more than 20 original helmets, racing overalls and over 40 original trophies.
• Cologne is a museum city. It has a large number of museums with different focuses - from modern art in the Museum Ludwig to finds from Roman times in the Roman-Germanic Museum.
• Last but not least, Cologne is a Excellent city for shopping and strolling. Schildergasse is one of the busiest shopping streets in Europe, while Ehrenstraße is known for its trendy boutiques and individual shops. The Belgian Quarter, which is home to many boutiques and concept stores, is particularly popular with younger shoppers.