Football, castles and beyond: A EURO 2024 train adventure

I began my trip to the EURO 2024 at my home train station in Haarlem, a small Dutch city tucked between Amsterdam and the North Sea. Filled with cafes and small, independent shops, picturesque Haarlem is walkable and laidback, with charm around every corner. 

• Lose yourself on a walk through Haarlem’s scenic, narrow streets. Don’t miss a stroll down Korte Houtstraat, a pedestrian-friendly street overflowing with flowers and plants. 
• Grab a coffee at one of Haarlem’s many cafes and take a seat on the Spaarne across from the Molen de Adriaan, Haarlem’s riverside windmill. 

• Get a front-row seat to Dutch masterpieces with a visit to the Frans Hals Museum, which showcases the work of the eponymous Haarlem painter in a striking building from the 1600s.  

Frankfurt is one of the EURO 2024’s 10 host cities across Germany. When I arrived the morning before the Belgium/Slovakia match, I saw fans from every corner of Europe admiring the city’s impressive skyline, kicking back in its sprawling parks, and sampling the city’s specialties, such as its delicious “green sauce.”

• The Main River runs through the middle of Frankfurt – no visit to the city is complete without a leisurely walk along the water. Fittingly, Frankfurt’s EURO 2024 Fan Zone is set up along the riverbanks.

• Old and new combine in Frankfurt’s postcard-perfect Römerberg and “New Old Town,” reconstructed in the decades following World War II.  

• Shop for fruits, vegetables, cheese, flowers and beyond at Frankfurt’s Kleinmarkthalle. If you visit on a Thursday or Saturday, make a beeline to Bauernmarkt Konstablerwache to witness the city’s largest farmers market in action. 

After the excitement of watching Slovakia triumph over Belgium in their EURO match, I travelled north to the lush Taunus mountains for some nature time. My first stop was Oberursel, a pretty town under 20 minutes from Frankfurt by train.  

• Take a walk through Oberursel’s fairytale-like Old Town and enjoy the sight of its half-timbered houses and flower boxes. For an inside look at the town, travellers can book an official tour.
• Treat yourself to an afternoon cake and coffee at one of the town’s cafes. Craftwork Coffee & Cake is conveniently located down the street from Oberursel’s central Marktplatz. 

• Go for a hike into the Taunus mountains, using Oberursel as your home base. A handful of circular hiking trails are easily accessible from town. 

Bad Homburg, a luxe spa town, is just one stop on the S-Bahn away from Oberursel. It’s a relaxing place to end your EURO 2024 experience – or any adventure that brings you to Germany. 

• I began my time in Bad Homburg with a visit to the romantic Bad Homburg Palace, which includes a medieval tower that dates back to the 14th century. Take your time and relax among the roses that grow in the Palace Park. 

• Try flammkuchen, a delicious flatbread specialty from the French/German border region at Flamm’s in Bad Homburg.  

• Unwind after a fulfilling Interrail trip at one of Bad Homburg’s spas; for 200 years, royals, celebrities, artists and beyond have been seeking rest and rejuvenation in Bad Homburg’s waters.