Does anyone know about the emissions stickers required for driving in some German cities? Can u purchase these online and if so where can you get them? Theres a few sites out there offering them but have no idea if they are legitimate and meet official requirements.
If you really want to be 100% sure that the sticker conforms, then order directly from the TUEV (tha main vehicle inspection body in Germany) https://www.tuev-nord.de/en/private/traffic/car-motorcycle-caravan/emissions-sticker/order/ (The "general inspection" mentioned on the order form means the MOT)
Ryanair have rescheduled 2 of my flights by 4 hours 50 minutes and 4 hours 45 minutes, so I'm not entitled to refunds. Sneaky bastards!
That trip is relatively short, just over an hour on an ICE. Advance purchase fares can usually be found for less than the DB ticket so that might be a better option for you.
Note that the train back after 21:00 kick-off games is quite tight but doable - train is 23:42. If you miss that then find a party and come back at 03:29. Looks to be a 20 min walk from the ground to station.
It wouldn't surprise me if they make more changes. If the first change is by 4 hours say, and they make an other change of 2 hours, it probably means they don't have to pay any refunds when the total change is over the 5 hour minimum.
Hi, quick question. Would train travel not using the high speed trains (local trains) be free with a match ticket between Dusseldorf, Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen please? Not sure if I need to book and pay in advance- thanks
There's really no reason to book non-IC/ICE trains that far in advance as they are plentiful and almost all don't do seat reservations anyway. It should be free in that 36 hour window based on what I have read.
Local trains are free with a match ticket between these cities providing it is within the validity period: from 06:00 on your matchday until 18:00 the following day. For matches in these three cities you mentioned, it is anywhere in the VRR and VRS transport network. It's explained thoroughly on the UEFA website here https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/event-guide/ticket-holders/ just scroll down to "36 Hour Travel Pass".
Hey everyone, I’m hoping those from Germany or those far more experienced in travelling throughout Central Europe can help me navigate and affirm some travel ideas I have! I’ve purchased tickets to Portugal’s group stage matches, and want to make a bit of a Euro trip out of it, seeing a few cities I’ve always wanted to visit (Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Brugge, Amsterdam). I need to build the trip around the following schedule/locations. Leipzig - June 18 Dortmund - June 22 Gelshenkirken- June 26 Frankfurt - July 1st Tentatively, I’ve had the following idea: Fly into Prague (or land in Frankfurt then connect, whichever is cheaper) from June 14-17. Train from Prague to Liepzig (close) on the eve of June 17. After the Liepzig match, go to Berlin via train on the 19th and stay there, OR fly to Copenhagen and spend a few days there (It might be frantic to do both) Train to Dortmund on the 21st and watch the game on the 22. Then train to Hamburg on the morning of the 23rd, spend a couple days there, and train back to Dortmund on the eve of the 25 (Gelsenkirken is super close). The train isn’t to far from Hamburg. After the game on the 26th train to Amsterdam or Brugge and spend a couple days there, train to Frankfurt on the eve of the 29th. Frankfurt from 30th to July 2/3. For those who have travelled to these locations and/or in Germany… is training to each location with Eurorail feasible? Should I just see Copenhagen over Berlin as the one extra short flight in the trip? Is Brugge accessible and worth the 5/6 hour train ride? Or should I go to Amsterdam that’s closer to Dortmund? Any good day trips from Frankfurt? Looking to gain some great insights from locals of those of you who are well experienced in the area. Any input would be really appreciated. Cheers everyone!
Others know Germany better than me but it sounds like you've planned it well. I'd maybe leave Copenhagen till the end of your trip if you have time, and possibly stay in Utrecht instead of Amsterdam or Brugge, Amsterdam especially will be horrendously busy and expensive to stay in June. Utrecht is like a small version of Amsterdam with far fewer tourists. Frankfurt is not too popular a place for visitors to stay, maybe some locals could advise you on that.
Agree with above about skipping Copenhagen in this trip. It just doesn't make any sense unless there's something you really want to do there. But for the rest, it sounds feasible and straightforward. If you can't find any accommodation in Dortmund itself there is still availability in many nearby cities. I've never been to Frankfurt but plan to stay in Mainz for a week (attending two matches in Frankfurt and using it as a base for two others. My wife who is familiar with Frankfurt once went to Heidelberg as a day trip and I think if we had one more day we would've gone there too. Amsterdam or Bruges are completely different places, so just choose one whether you want somewhere at a quieter pace (although both are quite touristy). Consider Ghent as a base to travel to Bruges as it could have more to offer (I certainly prefer it). If you need any advice or have questions on anywhere or anything to do in Holland feel free to DM me.
Having visited Utrecht my whole life, and lived there for a few years of the last decade, it's always super odd to hear that cliche of Utrecht being "a smaller Amsterdam" every year. They are nothing alike, aside from just being a smaller Dutch city that just happens to also have some canals like everywhere else in Holland (in which you could argue Haarlem or Delft or Leiden are also "small Amsterdams" which is even more ridiculous and untrue). It would be like saying Bristol is a small London, or Leeds is a small Birmingham with zero argument as to why, and sounds ridiculous. But Both Amsterdam and Utrecht are both pretty expensive in summer so if they haven't been before, probably best to base in Amsterdam.
Agree with the others saying Copenhagen should be skipped. Mainly because Copenhagen deserves more than a two day frantic trip. You'll be in Berlin then, so enjoy it there instead. I've never been to Amsterdam, but I feel like spending about 48 hours there seems light to me to see any major European city. A place like Bruges is much easier to see and will be less frantic in that time period. I've been guilty of this before, but it's a vacation and trying to cram too much into a trip will make it feel more like a job than a vacation.
I was just trying to stir up the locals to give the poor guy some advice. Personally having visited Amsterdam recently in the summer, after living there for about a year 20 years ago, I'd be going for Haarlem or Utrecht, you'd get a far better hotel for a lower price and easy access to Amsterdam central.
Guys, the train (ICE) after the Spain vs Italy game (Gelsenkirchen - Cologne) that i booked long time ago at 00:44 21 June got canceled, got an email from DB about that. Must say i am very surprised, instead of making the trains more often they cancel one of them, i am curious why. Do you have experience regarding canceling trains from DB, i see there is a refund option i am thinking of just getting my money back and using the regional trains to go back to Cologne that night. Seeing the schedule ICE trains are arriving around the same time as some of the regional ones, none of those are direct to Cologne sadly. And with regional i can at least use my 36hrs pass and ride free of charge. Must say i am unpleasantly surprised that after a night game i will need more than 3hrs or even 4hrs to go from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne. Germany should be the easiest country in the world train-wise but i don't like the hours after 23 that they offer for now. There should be trains every 20 min to escort all those fans from the cities.
I'd be looking at buses/coaches as well, closer to the time. Could well be some enterprising companies sorting out fan shuttles.
I've personally seen DB add trains and routes the night before, so I wouldn't be overly concerned at this point. Just keep checking the route you need. This is also why I advised on here not booking so far in advance unless you are going cross country and need a seat.
Thanks! Any experience with the refund from DB ? I expect to be easy and receive 100% what i gave them earlier ? Anything specific i should know about it ?
Keep in mind there will also be the special trains in the NRW that go hourly between 09:30h and 01.30h during the tournament. Connecting the four North Rhine-Westphalian venues of Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Düsseldorf and Cologne and has a few other stops in the way (eg. Duisburg, Oberhausen and a few others). So your journey won't be 3-4 hours but more like 90 minutes or a bit longer. Edit: An article on the trains (otherwise Google search EM 2024 NRW zug): https://www.vrr.de/de/presse/em-sonderlinie-zwischen-dortmund-gelsenkirchen-duesseldorf-und-koeln/