To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the European Championship in 2020, UEFA is having a continent-wide tournament where 13 different European nations will host games.
That means the Euros are heading to some of the best vacation spots in the world. Whether someone is planning a trip around the Euro’s or some other soccer competition or even without soccer, these cities are wonderful places to visit. Based on the quality and quantity of soccer in the city as well as the overall appeal of each city as a vacation destination, let’s rank each of the thirteen Euro 2020 host cities.
13) Budapest, Hungary – Hosting Group Stage and Round of 16 games
Soccer (3/10): Budapest has five teams total within the first division of Hungarian soccer. Like Azerbaijan, Hungary doesn’t have the best soccer teams in Europe (ranked 29th in UEFA) but due to it being where the majority of teams are from, that quantity gets them something.
Vacation spot (5/10): Budapest has a thriving fashion scene as well as a focus on opera and music. In addition, Budapest is home to a Formula 1 race and was the first F1 race from behind the “Iron Curtain” as they raced there near the end of the Cold War and have raced every year since.
Final score: 8/20
12) Baku, Azerbaijan – Hosting Group Stage and Quarterfinal games
Soccer (3/10): Except for local games within the Azerbaijan Premier League (currently ranked 25th in UEFA), there isn’t much to see that’s soccer related.
Vacation spot (6/10): Not as well-known compared to the other European cities on this list but it seems like a nice coastal city that intertwines it’s history with the future. Being separated from most of Europe by the Black Sea, it seems very far away from the other cities and somewhat hurts it as a destination.
Final score: 9/20
11) St. Petersburg, Russia – Hosting Group Stage and Quarterfinal games
Soccer (6/10): Zenit is the main attraction when it comes to soccer in St. Petersburg. They are usually in European competition every year so there’s a chance to see a great contest. Also, Russia will host the 2018 World Cup.
Vacation spot (4/10): Being so far north has its benefits in summer due to over 20 hours of daylight. That, and St. Petersburg has some of the most beautiful buildings in the world. But despite that, St. Petersburg is far away from the rest of Europe and Vladimir Putin isn’t too fond of the United States, so it’s not really the most ideal European place to visit.
Final score: 10/20
10) Copenhagen, Denmark – Hosting Group Stage and Round of 16 games
Soccer (4/10): FC Copenhagen is in the Champions League Group Stage for the first time in decades. But other than them and Brondby, there isn’t much else soccer-related in Copenhagen.
Vacation spot (6/10): Copenhagen looks like a beautiful coastal city. A place where you can give up all your modern problems and get away from it all. Copenhagen also has some of the best art museums in the world.
Final score: 10/20
9) Bucharest, Romania – Hosting Group Stage and Round of 16 games
Soccer (5/10): Bucharest is home to the (Romanian) Eternal Derby between the two most successful teams in Romania, Steaua Bucharest and Dinamo Bucharest. The games can be potentially dangerous among the Ultra fans on both sides, with fans literally willing to die for their team.
https://youtu.be/ZQrkldU1XrU
Vacation spot (6/10): Bucharest is a very modernized city with great architecture that mixes communist with modern styles. It is a good distance away from most European cities, but it’s one of the largest and most modernized cities in Eastern Europe. Oh, and the Transylvania region is nearby, so…
Final score: 11/20
8) Dublin, Ireland – Hosting Group Stage and Round of 16 games
Soccer (3/10): Ireland has the worst club coefficient among all countries hosting (41st place) but Dublin has three League of Ireland teams including Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers and St. Patricks Athletic.
Vacation spot (8/10): The Guinness brewery is surely one of Dublin’s most well-known tourist spots. In addition, Dublin has one of the best climates in the world. It’s not too hot in the summer and not too cold in the winter. Dublin also has one of the best entertainment and music scenes in all of Europe.
Final score: 11/20
7) Brussels, Belgium – Hosting Group Stage and Round of 16 games
Soccer (5/10): Anderlecht, as well as the Belgian National Team, play in Brussels. With Belgium being one of the rising powers in international soccer, the quality of play is improving.
Vacation spot (7/10): In addition to being the center of the European Union as well as an established art scene, Brussels is a short distance to most European cities. So a trip to Brussels is ideal if you want a starting point from which to visit multiple places throughout the continent.
Final score: 12/20
6) Glasgow, Scotland – Hosting Group Stage and Round of 16 games
Soccer (8/10): The Old Firm between Celtic and Rangers is a must-see for any soccer fan, regardless if you have a rooting interest in either team. And now that Rangers is back in the Scottish Premiership, the Old Firm will be played a lot more often.
Vacation spot (6/10): The theatre is one of Glasgow’s most well-known things to take in. Glasgow is also a very natural city that values it’s park system. Try your best to understand Glasgow patter while you’re there.
Final score: 14/20
5) Bilbao, Spain – Hosting Group Stage and Round of 16 games
Soccer (8/10): Athletic Bilbao is typically in the top half of the La Liga table. A strong side that isn’t usually able to compete with the likes of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, or Barcelona but Bilbao is typically on the next level down.
Vacation spot (7/10): It’s not the most well-known or largest city in Spain, but what Bilbao lacks in notoriety, it makes up for in beautiful weather. When you are in a coastal city and have a temperature range between 40 and 80 degrees, it’s near perfect.
Final score: 15/20
4) Amsterdam, Netherlands – Hosting Group Stage and Round of 16 games
Soccer (7/10): While they have lost a step in recent years, Ajax, as well as the Dutch National Team, play in Amsterdam. Ajax has one of the most revered youth academies in the world and is one of the best teams in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Vacation spot (8/10): Apart from the obvious reasons that people head to Amsterdam, the city has a great nightlife that doesn’t have to do with the Red Light District and has an art scene that has been influenced by van Gogh and Rembrandt
Final score: 15/20
3) Rome, Italy – Hosting Group Stage and Quarterfinal games
Soccer (8/10): Serie A teams Lazio and Roma play at the Stadio Olimpico while the Rome Derby is one of the biggest soccer games in the world. The Italian National Team usually play their home games in Rome.
Vacation spot (9/10): There’s the fountains, the Colusseum and Vatican City. It’s very historic and was the home of one of the most legendary empires in world history. Rome is a historian’s dream.
Final score: 17/20
2) Munich, Germany – Hosting Group Stage and Quarterfinal games
Soccer (9/10): The best team in Germany, Bayern Munich, plays here and many German National Team games are played in Munich. So there is no shortage of great soccer.
Vacation spot (9/10): Berlin is known for Oktoberfest as well as a great classical music and arts due to the influence of Richard Wagner.
Final score: 18/20
1) London, England – Hosting Semifinal and Final
Soccer (10/10): Take your choice. 25 percent of Premier League teams are based in London. Within London, you can see Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Tottenham, and West Ham as well as teams like Brentford, Fulham, and QPR in the Championship.
Vacation spot (10/10): Again, take your choice. You have Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, as well as various museums and theaters within London. You’d be hard-pressed not to find something to do while here. Paying for it is another story…
Final score: 20/20
