Stay & explore Gelsenkirchen
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Gelsenkirchen, known worldwide by international and national football fans alike as the home of FC Schalke 04, offers more than just football. The city culture has a great blend of art, leisure, and industry. Its nickname, the city of thousand fires, comes from the mines and blast furnaces that once characterised the region.
The 1960s marked a turning point for Gelsenkirchen. Mines became recreational areas and cultural sites and the old railway tracks were repurposed into cycling routes, preserving traces of the city’s past. Yet modernity is omnipresent. The music theatre (Musiktheater im Revier) is considered one of the most important post-war cultural buildings, and the Church of the Holy Cross, which was converted into a venue, stands out with its distinctive 1920s brick Expressionist architecture.
Nature enthusiasts will feel at home at the ZOOM Erlebniswelt where they can explore various themed worlds all within Gelsenkirchen.
✨ Host City ambassador
Gerald Asamoah, a Ghanaian-born striker who played 43 games for Germany from 2001 to 2006, is the Gelsenkirchen ambassador for EURO 2024. After a long spell with Schalke as a player, he now works for the club behind the scenes.
💡 Helpful tips when visiting
🗣️ Sprinkle a little Deutsch: German might not be the easiest language to learn, but a simple "Bitte" (please) and "Danke" (thank you) will go a long way with the locals.
💶 Cash matters: While debit cards are widely accepted, having some cash on hand is wise. It's especially helpful at independent eateries, bakeries and markets, where cash is still king.
🪙 Tipping etiquette: Tipping is customary in Germany. In restaurants, it's common to round up the bill, and in bars, leaving a modest tip for excellent service is appreciated.
💧 Stay hydrated: German tap water is safe and delicious. Carry a reusable bottle, allowing you to refill at public drinking fountains.
🏪 Lazy Sundays: Most shops and supermarkets are closed on Sundays, so plan ahead and get your shopping done on Saturdays. Don’t worry, restaurants and attractions remain open.
Recycle like a champion ♻️
Germany takes recycling seriously – and it’s great for your wallet too!
🪙 Did you know that you pay a refundable deposit on your bottle in Germany? Simply bring them back to any supermarket to claim 25ct for every PET bottle and 8ct for every glass bottle.
🚮 Be like the Germans and sort your waste into different bins to score eco-friendly points during your stay.
👀 What to do
Just north of Arena AufShalke you’ll find the late baroque castle situated within a lush green space – an oasis for escaping the city centre. In addition to the castle, enjoy a stroll by the lake in the English park and stop for a drink at one of the beer gardens or for some food at one of the restaurants in the area.
Take some time to relax at the Graf Bismarck Marina. It’s very easy to reach the marina by bicycle via the Erzbahn-Ttrasse cycle route, approximately 20 to 30 minutes from Gelsenkirchen Central Station.
Near the Fan Zone in Nordsternpark is one of the oldest buildings in Gelsenkirchen, Schloss Horst. You can visit the museum within this Renaissance castle and grab a drink in its garden.
You’ll find this magnificent place 3km south of Gelsenkirchen Central Station. Once you’ve walked up the stairs to reach the Halde Rheinelbe at the top, you’ll have great views over the city and the wider Ruhr area.
Zoom Erlebniswelt is one of the most popular zoos in Germany. Explore themed regions of the world, such as Alaska, Asia, and Africa, and learn more about their animals.
Find more activities and sights on the city’s website.
🛏️ Where to stay - powered by Booking.com
Accommodation guides 🌟
We’ve partnered up with Booking.com to help you find the perfect accommodation for your budget and travel needs. Check out the location and budget guides below to find out which areas and types of accommodation are most suitable for you to stay in.
💶 Gelsenkirchen accommodation budget guide
There are plenty of hotels and apartments suitable for your stay in Gelsenkirchen during EURO 2024. The city’s compact size allows for quick and easy journeys between the Fan Zone, stadium and attractions.
For those on a budget, the Altstadt offers the largest variety of accommodation types, while the refurbished 18th-century mansion Schloss Berge, situated north of Arena AufSchalke, is renowned for its picturesque grounds and luxury rooms.
🛏️ Hostels from €24/night*
🏘️ Rental apartments from €52/night*
🏨 Hotels from €87/night*
🏙️ Luxury hotels from €238/night*
*Rates may increase closer to the tournament. Book early for the best deals ⬇️
📍 Gelsenkirchen accommodation location guide
With your 36 Hour Travel Pass, you’ll be able to travel across the entire VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr) and VRS (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg) networks at no additional cost on matchday and the following day. This includes Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund, so it’s worth exploring accommodation options in these cities too.
If you’re looking to stay close to the football action, consider the district of Gelsenkirchen-Erle. Erle offers hotels, a cinema, restaurants and bars that come alive on matchdays. On non-matchdays, enjoy a walk through the grounds of Schloss Berge.
Gelsenkirchen-Erle is located within walking distance of Arena AufSchalke and approximately 25 minutes from the city centre by tram.
To the west of Gelsenkirchen, you’ll find Fan Zone Nordsternpark in a 247-acre green space straddling the Rhine-Herne Kanal. With an extensive programme planned for EURO 2024, the Fan Zone is an ideal location to spend any matchday. In addition, the Nordsternpark features a skatepark and picturesque heritage landscapes. The closest station to the Fan Zone is "Schloss Horst", accessible from Gelsenkirchen Mitte, where you’ll find a handful of popular accommodation options.
From Fan Zone Nordsternpark, Arena AufSchalke can be reached in 10 to 15 minutes via Shuttle Bus.
If you want to be based close to the city’s main transport hub, the Altstadt (Old Town) is your best option. From here, you can make use of Gelsenkirchen’s public transport system, which offers convenient links to Arena AufSchalke as well as the nearby cities of Bochum, Essen and Dortmund.
The Altstadt is located 20 minutes from Arena AufSchalke and 15 to 20 minutes from the Fan Zone by public transport or Shuttle Bus.
If you’re keen on exploring the local pub culture, the greatest location for an accomodation is Buer, only 2 tram stops away from Arena AufSchalke.
Another option for nightlife enthusiasts is the Altstadt. Its most popular nightlife venues can be found within Altstadt’s Weberstraße and Heinrich-König-Platz. This area features a range of hotels and apartments, making it an ideal spot within walking distance of landmarks like the music theatre (Musiktheater im Revier).
The Altstadt is 20 minutes from Arena AufSchalke and 15 to 20 minutes from the Fan Zone by public transport or Shuttle Bus.
🍴 What to eat & drink
Wherever you’ll stay in Gelsenkirchen, you’ll have easy access to lots of local food and drink options.
A delicious go-to street food option that you should try when in Gelsenkirchen is döner kebab, a dish consisting of grilled meat and salad wrapped in pitta bread. You will also often find vegetarian and vegan kebabs, with the meat replaced by grilled vegetables.
Very popular in Germany, this street food has a unique blend of savoury and spicy flavours that makes it a favourite among both locals and tourists. Give it a try!
Take a currywurst, add French fries and gyro meat and you have a taxiteller. This plate can be found in most of Gelsenkirchen’s restaurants. Don’t forget to dip your food in tzatziki!
Local beer can be tasted in the many pubs and bars of Gelsenkirchen. Check out the trendy Ückendorf district and its Bochumer Straße, starting south of the Justizzentrum intersection, which is about a 10-minute walk from Gelsenkirchen Central Station.
🏳️🌈 Gelsenkirchen is known for its diversity and has a friendly and open LGBTQI+ community. Though not highly active, the community proudly organizes a Christopher Street Day (CSD) each year. While Gelsenkirchen itself has no specific LGBTQI+ hotspots, venues with an open-minded crowd are found throughout the city.
Its central location in the heart of the Ruhr area, including cities like Düsseldorf, Dortmund, and Cologne, also makes a variety of other LGBTQI+ friendly leisure activities easily accessible within a short time.
ℹ️ ️Tourist and emergency info
With the abundance of things to see and do in the city, make sure to read Gelsenkirchen’s official tourism page for regular updates and ideas when planning your trip.
Local emergency services 🚨
Sometimes, unforeseen accidents happen. We want you to stay safe in Gelsenkirchen, so if you are involved in an emergency of any kind, immediately dial 112, the European emergency number free of charge to receive assistance from police, fire or ambulance service.