Football City Break

paulocon2 · 07-10-2021 1:55pm #1

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of doing a European City Break taking in a match?

Looking to combine a city break with a game and looking for recommendations/advice.

Considering Dortmund for next spring but don't know how easy it is (or where to start) to get tickets.

Fr Tod Umptious · 07-10-2021 4:25pm

If I were going to Dortmund I would stay in Dusseldorf rather than Dortmund, it's about an hour away on the train

Dusseldorf is lively, I don't think Dortmund is

paulocon2 · 07-10-2021 4:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117989184#Comment_117989184

Thanks, I was looking at flights last night and the prices to DUsseldorf were very good.

Anyone been to a game in Berlin? Was in Berlin years ago but was too young to appreciate the history - would love to visit again and take in a game..

~Rebel~ · 07-10-2021 4:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117989240#Comment_117989240

Haven't been to a game there, but the city is brilliant. Have been a few times, and heading later this month again. And Union Berlin have been doing quite well in the Bundesliga, so a game would probably be good craic. Seems an easy stadium to reach by train too.

paulocon2 · 08-10-2021 1:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117989271#Comment_117989271

Great stuff. I think Herta play out of the Olympic Stadium which is obviously a very historic venue.

Wonder how easy it is to get tickets for some of these European clubs.

Cookiemunster · 08-10-2021 2:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117989184#Comment_117989184

Agree here. Dusseldorf is definitely a nicer place to stay. Also your match ticket (if you can source one) also works as your train ticket from anywhere in NRW.

OP, if you can't get Dortmund tickets you could still base yourself in Dusseldorf anyway where Dusseldorf (2.BL), Koln, Schalke (2.BL), Leverkusen and Gladbach are all less than an hour away on the train. You're almost guaranteed to be able to get to two of them over a weekend and once 100% capacity is back, they'll all be easier to get tickets for than Dortmund.

Cookiemunster · 08-10-2021 2:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117992965#Comment_117992965

Simple to get Hertha tickets. They rarely sell out as the Olympia Stadion is too big for them.

I don't know about Europe as a whole as I've really only got experience of Germany, but outside of Dortmund and Bayern who are generally sold out, you can usually buy tickets directly off the club websites.

paulocon2 · 08-10-2021 10:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117993205#Comment_117993205

Great advice there, never thought of a double-header!!

Fr Tod Umptious · 08-10-2021 10:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117995528#Comment_117995528

I was at a Dusseldorf v Paderborn game in 2.BL back in 2009.

First game of the season.

Honestly it was rubbish.

The stadium which is a very impressive 40k odd arena was only half full, it was 3-0 to Dusseldorf by HT, all goals scored at the opposite end to where I was.

There were lively and colourful Dusseldorf fans behind the goal in the lower section at the end I was but even their enthusiasm did not make up for the overall dead atmosphere.

kksaints · 08-10-2021 11:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117989240#Comment_117989240

I have been to two Hertha Berlin matches. Berlin is an Excellent city, lots to see and do, good food and transport also. It was very easy to get tickets to the matches I was at in 2016 and 2019, tickets were around €27 for a corner seat and €22 for a seat behind the goals above the Ultras section. That price also includes public transport in the hours before and after the matches.

You could also consider Vienna and Prague if you're willing to accept a non-big five league. Both are fantastic cities, they also have plenty of football clubs so you're spoilt for choices with regards matches. Slavia Prague's ground is very easy to get to and the Prague Derby I was at in March 2020 had one of the best atmospheres and fan displays I've seen and heard. Both Austria Vienna and Rapid Vienna have great modern grounds and usually have excellent atmospheres. Tickets are easy to get unless it's a derby match.

howiya · 09-10-2021 8:25am

I second Vienna. Lisbon another city that's easy to get tickets for either Sporting or Benfica.

paulocon2 · 12-10-2021 9:33pm

Has anyone been to games in Italy?

Looking at Milan in spring as another possibility. Could maybe get a double header given there's a few Seria A sides within a couple of hours of Milan.

Was in Italy years ago and from recollection, the train service is excellent and cheap.

Liam O · 12-10-2021 10:36pm

Was in Krakow last month and got to a Wisla game. The girl in the ticket office put us in with the ultras. Was definitely an experience I'd not had before but definitely better to be outside their signing section as you don't have a clue what they're saying really.

Top city with the perfect amount of things for a 2 or 3 day break with Salt Mines, the Royal Castle and Auschwitz as other good (depending on your definition for the latter😬) things to do in the area.

yourdeadwright · 13-10-2021 11:13am

iv got myself to Barcelona (multiply times ) , Madrid, Munich & Roma in recent years ,

Munich was my favourite but Barcelona was handy as a friend lived there & had season tickets ,

Roma felt dodgy the whole time there ,

paulocon2 · 13-10-2021 11:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118012958#Comment_118012958

Madrid looks a decent bet as you also have Real Vallecano and Getafe so there's a chance for a double-header. Might be hard getting tickets for Atleti at the moment though

IAmTitleist · 13-10-2021 11:58am

Was in Munich a couple of years ago for a city break and found tickets handy enough got on Bayerns website.

They stuffed Wolfsburg 6-0 so not much of a spectacle but the stadium is incredible and sitting having a few pints of beer watching the game was most enjoyable.

Munich a really good city too with plenty to see and lots of watering holes!

yourdeadwright · 13-10-2021 12:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118013072#Comment_118013072

I reckon you'd still get tickets , Iv always found going to games in Spain easier to get tickets than anywhere else , Also there is never more than a couple of hundred away fans its odd like that

Are the stadium's fully open over there now ?

paulocon2 · 13-10-2021 8:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118013270#Comment_118013270

I think they are moving to full capacity at the turn of the year. I'm looking at a spring visit so should be fully open then.

paulocon2 · 07-04-2022 7:18pm

Just an update, we opted for Madrid in the end.

Great city and plenty of interest for football fans. Took in an Atleti match, Wanda Metropolitano is a fantastic stadium, good atmosphere and it's easy to get to and, more importantly, to get away from after the game (unreal metro system over there). No bother getting tickets for the game via the Club website, I don't think they sell out too often.

Visited Bernabeau but the tour was pretty poor due to the ongoing renovation works, nice to see it all the same.

Madrid highly recommended. Lots to see and do, any number of bars to suit all tastes (loads of Irish bars but the local bars have cheaper and nicer beer!), inexpensive and so easy to get around (18 euro for a 3 day metro pass that covered all transport for the trip).

Football City Break

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