Germany's top World Cup viewing venues
Germany is getting ready for the football World Cup in Brazil with open-air venues in beer gardens, beach bars and arenas being set up across the country. The Local gives you the lowdown on some of the top places to watch the games in the biggest German cities.
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Hosts Brazil will open the tournament on Thursday at 10pm German time when they play Croatia.
Germans generally love watching the matches with thousands of other people on huge open-air screens. Here are some of the biggest and best.
BERLIN
Fanmeile
The Fanmeile (fan mile) at Brandenburger Tor can hold up to 100,000 football fans on the Straße der 17. Juni - the vast promenade in front of Berlin's famous landmark.
Originally set up for the World Cup in 2006, the Fanmeile with its 60 m2 screen is a popular viewing spot and this year six additional large screens will be set up for viewers.
Open a total of 13 days, the Fanmeile will also show live bands, DJs and host talkshows before and after the matches. Many stalls selling a variety of food and drink will be open during the matches. Entry is free.
BeachBerlin
For a more Brazilian beach feel, there is no better place to watch the games than at one of Berlin's many “beach bars”. BeachBerlin boasts a 2,300 m2 area of sand big enough for 1,000 fans. It will be open on match days throughout the World Cup, showing the games on two LED screens. Chill back on a deckchair with a cocktail or beer to hand as you watch the game surrounded by sand and palm trees. Tickets cost between €4 - €9 and can be booked online.
Prater beer garden
Berlin's oldest beer garden in Prenzlauer Berg has been serving beer under its many chestnut trees since 1837 and it is a great place to watch the World Cup games.
With 600 seats, Prater will show all matches which start before midnight. A variety of German beers are on offer from Prater's own draught beer, wheat beers and the refreshing Berliner Weisse beer as well as typical beer garden food. There is no entry fee but reservations cannot be taken, so get there early to avoid disappointment.
Berlin's Fanmeile
MUNICH
Löwenbräukeller
Traditional Munich beer hall Löwenbräukeller will be showing the matches in their famous beer garden and large hall, meaning all fans should be guaranteed a seat come rain or shine. There is no entry fee.
Kino Olympiasee
Open-air cinema Olympiasee will switch its film programme to football for some of the World Cup matches. For a €6 entry fee, which includes a glass of prosecco, amorous football fans can also enjoy the game in one of the many “Love Seats” – chairs with no arms so you can cuddle up. Germany's group matches will be shown as will every game from the last 16 round onwards.
Seehaus
You can also catch your country's games at Seehaus in the English Garden. Up to 600 people can watch the matches shown on a large screen in the busy beer garden. A great place to catch Germany's games, Seehaus will show every match with a kick-off no later than 10pm. Matches will not be shown in bad weather. No entry fee.
FRANKFURT AM MAIN
Commerzbank-Arena
At 400 m2, the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt will be home to the largest outdoor screen in Hesse. The stadium will open two hours before games and have live music.
Tickets cost €8 when booked in advance and €10 on the day. Fans can either stand on the pitch or sit in the stands of the sports stadium. The stadium is only open for German games. Germany face Portugal on Monday June 16th, Ghana on Saturday June 21st and the USA on Thursday June 26th.
HAMBURG
Kia Fan Fest
The Kia Fan Fest held at Heiligengeistfeld will open on June 16th to show Germany's first game of the tournament. With space for up to 50,000 people, the games will be shown on a 92 m2 screen. The Kia Fan-Arena opens three hours before kick-off on German match days and one hour before for all other games. The Fan-Arena will close after the end of the day's second match or at midnight. There is no entry fee.
Irish pubs
For some expat camaraderie head down to one of Hamburg's many Irish pubs. The Shamrock, Hamburg's oldest Irish pub in the city centre will be showing all of the tournament games. If it gets too crowded at the Shamrock, try the Fleetenkieker Irish Pub, also in Hamburg's centre and enjoy some traditional Irish food with your beer whilst watching the game. No entry fee.
COLOGNE
Pumpwerk
For the largest-public viewing of World Cup games in Cologne, football fans should head to Pumpwerk on Schönhauser Straße. The open-air venue will give around 8,000 fans the opportunity to view Germany's games. Fans can enter three hours prior to the kick-off of German games. Prospective visitors are asked to print out free entry tickets in advance, which can be reserved on Köln-Ticket.
Playa in Cologne
Those looking for an exotic summer viewing experience should head to Playa in Cologne. Situated on the Rhine, this sand-covered beach volleyball, handball and football area also has a large beer garden that will be showing World Cup games on large screens. Entry is free, but fans also have the option to reserve a large table front and centre for €99, which includes ten litres of Kölsch beer and a litre of cola.
Stadtgarten
Cologne's Stadtgarten will host over 600 football fans. The scenic park is in the city's green belt and will screen public viewings of German games in the beer garden, as well as in a large indoor hall. Entry is free and the Kölsch will be flowing.
STUTTGART
Kulturwerk
The Kulturwerk will be hosting public viewings of German games, beginning with the first match next week. Opening an hour before kick-off the entry-free venue provides a relaxed environment to watch the game in Stuttgart's eastern district.
Beer Garden in Schlossgarten
The atmospheric beer garden in Stuttgart's Schlossgarten is the perfect place to watch the World Cup while enjoying the great outdoors. Between June 12th and July 13th, games will be shown on outdoor screens in one of the city's most popular beer gardens, which fits several hundred people.
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Hosts Brazil will open the tournament on Thursday at 10pm German time when they play Croatia.
Germans generally love watching the matches with thousands of other people on huge open-air screens. Here are some of the biggest and best.
BERLIN
Fanmeile
The Fanmeile (fan mile) at Brandenburger Tor can hold up to 100,000 football fans on the Straße der 17. Juni - the vast promenade in front of Berlin's famous landmark.
Originally set up for the World Cup in 2006, the Fanmeile with its 60 m2 screen is a popular viewing spot and this year six additional large screens will be set up for viewers.
Open a total of 13 days, the Fanmeile will also show live bands, DJs and host talkshows before and after the matches. Many stalls selling a variety of food and drink will be open during the matches. Entry is free.
BeachBerlin
For a more Brazilian beach feel, there is no better place to watch the games than at one of Berlin's many “beach bars”. BeachBerlin boasts a 2,300 m2 area of sand big enough for 1,000 fans. It will be open on match days throughout the World Cup, showing the games on two LED screens. Chill back on a deckchair with a cocktail or beer to hand as you watch the game surrounded by sand and palm trees. Tickets cost between €4 - €9 and can be booked online.
Prater beer garden
Berlin's oldest beer garden in Prenzlauer Berg has been serving beer under its many chestnut trees since 1837 and it is a great place to watch the World Cup games.
With 600 seats, Prater will show all matches which start before midnight. A variety of German beers are on offer from Prater's own draught beer, wheat beers and the refreshing Berliner Weisse beer as well as typical beer garden food. There is no entry fee but reservations cannot be taken, so get there early to avoid disappointment.
Berlin's Fanmeile
MUNICH
Löwenbräukeller
Traditional Munich beer hall Löwenbräukeller will be showing the matches in their famous beer garden and large hall, meaning all fans should be guaranteed a seat come rain or shine. There is no entry fee.
Kino Olympiasee
Open-air cinema Olympiasee will switch its film programme to football for some of the World Cup matches. For a €6 entry fee, which includes a glass of prosecco, amorous football fans can also enjoy the game in one of the many “Love Seats” – chairs with no arms so you can cuddle up. Germany's group matches will be shown as will every game from the last 16 round onwards.
Seehaus
You can also catch your country's games at Seehaus in the English Garden. Up to 600 people can watch the matches shown on a large screen in the busy beer garden. A great place to catch Germany's games, Seehaus will show every match with a kick-off no later than 10pm. Matches will not be shown in bad weather. No entry fee.
FRANKFURT AM MAIN
Commerzbank-Arena
At 400 m2, the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt will be home to the largest outdoor screen in Hesse. The stadium will open two hours before games and have live music.
Tickets cost €8 when booked in advance and €10 on the day. Fans can either stand on the pitch or sit in the stands of the sports stadium. The stadium is only open for German games. Germany face Portugal on Monday June 16th, Ghana on Saturday June 21st and the USA on Thursday June 26th.
HAMBURG
Kia Fan Fest
The Kia Fan Fest held at Heiligengeistfeld will open on June 16th to show Germany's first game of the tournament. With space for up to 50,000 people, the games will be shown on a 92 m2 screen. The Kia Fan-Arena opens three hours before kick-off on German match days and one hour before for all other games. The Fan-Arena will close after the end of the day's second match or at midnight. There is no entry fee.
Irish pubs
For some expat camaraderie head down to one of Hamburg's many Irish pubs. The Shamrock, Hamburg's oldest Irish pub in the city centre will be showing all of the tournament games. If it gets too crowded at the Shamrock, try the Fleetenkieker Irish Pub, also in Hamburg's centre and enjoy some traditional Irish food with your beer whilst watching the game. No entry fee.
COLOGNE
Pumpwerk
For the largest-public viewing of World Cup games in Cologne, football fans should head to Pumpwerk on Schönhauser Straße. The open-air venue will give around 8,000 fans the opportunity to view Germany's games. Fans can enter three hours prior to the kick-off of German games. Prospective visitors are asked to print out free entry tickets in advance, which can be reserved on Köln-Ticket.
Playa in Cologne
Those looking for an exotic summer viewing experience should head to Playa in Cologne. Situated on the Rhine, this sand-covered beach volleyball, handball and football area also has a large beer garden that will be showing World Cup games on large screens. Entry is free, but fans also have the option to reserve a large table front and centre for €99, which includes ten litres of Kölsch beer and a litre of cola.
Stadtgarten
Cologne's Stadtgarten will host over 600 football fans. The scenic park is in the city's green belt and will screen public viewings of German games in the beer garden, as well as in a large indoor hall. Entry is free and the Kölsch will be flowing.
STUTTGART
Kulturwerk
The Kulturwerk will be hosting public viewings of German games, beginning with the first match next week. Opening an hour before kick-off the entry-free venue provides a relaxed environment to watch the game in Stuttgart's eastern district.
Beer Garden in Schlossgarten
The atmospheric beer garden in Stuttgart's Schlossgarten is the perfect place to watch the World Cup while enjoying the great outdoors. Between June 12th and July 13th, games will be shown on outdoor screens in one of the city's most popular beer gardens, which fits several hundred people.
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