2024 is a year packed with sporting events.
If you’re a big fan of all things sporty, which ones are going to be worth the trip for you? If you’re not at all sports-orientated, where should you avoid this year?
UEFA Euro 2024
14 June – 14 July, Germany
Back in 2018, the three-time winners were selected to host the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championships. The opening match will be at the Munich Football Arena on Friday 14 June. The final will be at the Berlin Olympiastadion on 14 July. 10 venues across Germany will host all the 2024 games. These include:
Berlin: Olympiastadion Berlin
Cologne: Cologne Stadium
Dortmund: BVB Stadion Dortmund
Dusseldorf: Düsseldorf Arena
Frankfurt: Frankfurt Arena
Gelsenkirchen: Arena AufSchalke
Hamburg: Volksparkstadion Hamburg
Leipzig: Leipzig Stadium
Munich: Munich Football Arena
Stuttgart: Stuttgart Arena
Tickets are sold out, but people who have purchased them can resell them on the official portal. Match details, ticket prices and everything else you may need to know can be found on the UEFA site. Flights to Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Leipzig are still reasonably priced and accommodation options aren’t too bad either. If you’re hoping to catch your country playing at this year’s Euros, you’d better get planning soon.
If you wish to visit Germany but don’t want to get caught in the football chaos, avoid many of the large German cities on those dates. Germany will take the games very seriously, so you have been warned.
Tour de France
29 June – 21 July, Italy and France
The 2024 Tour de France will be an epic one. For the first time in its 121-year history, this prestigious race will start in Italy. Since the Second World War, 55 towns and cities have hosted the Grands Départs and Florence is set to join them. The first stage starts in Florence. Then racers head to Rimini, Bologne and end in Turin. Stage four sees the start of the French part of the route on the 2nd of July, concluding in Nice on the 21st.
This event will make its way through some of the prettiest landscapes and following the riders’ progress makes for a great road trip. Drive your vehicle down for the trip or hire a camper for a few days or even a few weeks. If you prefer not to drive and just want to catch part of the race, grab a last-minute flight, sit back, relax and watch those colourful riders zip past.
Formula One (F1) World Championship
March – December, worldwide
Formula One is a long-standing adrenaline-fuelled favourite. The sport continues to garner new followers year on year. 10 teams and 20 drivers compete across 24 tracks for the much-coveted Driver’s World Title and Constructors’ Cup. Testing began on 21st February this year and the first race started in Bahrain on 29 February. Races take part in Japan, China, Italy, the USA, Spain, Canada, Azerbaijan, Great Britain and of course, the classic, Monaco. Take advantage of the variety of countries this sport travels to and blend it seamlessly into an extended trip to some places you may not have visited. Tickets do vary in price from country to country, so be sure to take that into account.
If sport and travel are both your passions, this is the perfect combination. Experiencing a new country, watching something you love and feeling inspired. What’s not to enjoy?
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