Matchday dates
Listed below are the group-stage matchdays by date, plus accommodation booking links and suggestions for each game.

Alternative options:
In case the host city rates are already too high for you, I've also listed an out of town option that you could try. In each case there is a direct rail link. The times I've shown are from main station to main station using local or regional services, not express trains that are excluded by some rail passes like the Deutschlandticket. If you have an Interrail pass, however, you can use express trains, so could reach the out-of-town locations faster.

All kick-off times shown are local time (CET).
 

MATCHDAY 1: 16 June, Serbia vs England

Kick-off: 21:00
Venue: Gelsenkirchen
Stay: Hotels Hostels Campsites Holiday homes

Hotel suggestions:

Ibis Styles
Located directly opposite the main station. Soundproofed, no-frills rooms. Free Wi-Ffi. Breakfast buffet. Approx. 26 minutes to the ground by tram. 

Good morning Gelsenkirchen
Also right outside the main station. Free Wi-Fi. Bar and breakfast buffet. As for the Ibis Styles, c. 26 minutes by tram to the ground.

Hotel La Scala
Away from the city centre, in the district of Buer, this hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Dorfkrug pub/restaurant mentioned above. It has its own restaurant and bar, and, if you're driving, free parking.

Hostel suggestions:

The Bunk Hostel
Located down the road in Essen, but right by the main station (and thus also the FlixBus coach stop), so you can be at Gelsenkirchen main station by train in just 13 minutes. New, modern hostel. Rated 'Fabulous' on Hostelworld. Free Wi-Fi.

a&o Dortmund Hauptbahnhof
Also out of town. This time in Dortmund. Budget hotel rooms and beds in dorms on offer. Situated less than 200m from Dortmund main entrance to the main station, with trains to Gelsenkirchen that take under 30 minutes. 24-hour reception. Free Wi-Fi.

Campsite suggestions:

Campingplatz Tögemannsfeld
750m walk to OER-E. Jugendherberge bus stop, then bus and regional train via OER-E. Mitte and Recklinghausen Hbf to Gelsenkirchen Hbf. Total journey time: 55 minutes. See Deutsche Bahn website for train times and tickets.

Knaus Campingpark Essen-Werden
700m walk to Essen Werden bus stop, a 5-minute bus ride to Essen Bredeney, then 12 minutes on a tram to Essen Hauptbahnhof, followed by 8 minutes on a regional train to Gelsenkirchen Hbf. Total journey time: 46 minutes. See Deutsche Bahn website for train times and tickets.

Holiday home suggestions:

Large apartment with garden
Located in a suburb of Bochum, but less than 25 minutes by car from the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen). Well appointed, large apartment with garden. Quiet location. Sleeps 5. Terrace.

Apartment in central Gelsenkirchen
25 minutes on the bus to the Arena AufSchalke and 10 minutes to the main station. Modern, as new apartment with three bedrooms. Sleeps 5. 

Holiday home with charm and comfort
A fully furnished villa, just a 10-minute drive from the Arena AufSchalke. Sleeps 9. With pool and hot tub in the garden. Owner lives next door and is on hand to provide any necessary assistance.

Alternative locations:

Gelsenkirchen rates too high? Try Essen instead (10 minutes away).
For other options, all within the match ticket 36-hour free travel area, see my Transport networks page.
 

Travelling to match 2 by train? Here are the Gelsenkirchen to Frankfurt times and fares (for train times and fares between all host cities see my 'Train times' page).

MATCHDAY 2: 20 June, Denmark vs England

Kick-off: 18:00
Venue: Frankfurt
Stay: Hotels Hostels Campsites Holiday homes

Hotel suggestions:

Flemings Hotel Frankfurt Central 
Stayed in by Liverpool and Union fan John for an Union away game against Eintracht a few seasons ago. Described by him as “OK” and picked largely due to its location: directly opposite the main station (and thus also the adjacent FlixBus coach station).

Adina Apartment Hotel
A tip from another Union fan, Felix, this centrally located 4-star hotel is just an 11-minute walk from the main station and about the same to the Römerberg. By public transport it's just over half an hour to the stadium.

Lindner Hotel Frankfurt Sportpark
(Part of JdV by Hyatt). Directly across the road from the stadium. 3-star hotel. Modern design. 24-hour front desk. Restaurant and bar. Free Wi-Fi. 11 minutes on foot to the Stadium S-Bahn (suburban train) station, from which the airport is a 5-minute journey and Frankfurt main station a 9-minute ride.

Hostel suggestions:

Five Elements Hostel Frankfurt
If you don't mind being in the red light district, this inexpensive hostel is handily located only 200m from the main station. 24-hour reception and breakfast buffet served up until noon.

a&o Frankfurt Galluswarte
A 20-minute walk or just one stop on the S-Bahn (metro) to Frankfurt main station (and thus the adjacent FlixBus coach station). Single, double and shared rooms. 24-hour reception. Rooftop bar.

a&o Frankfurt Ostend
Located, as the name suggest, in the east end of Frankfurt, this hostel is a 24-minute tram ride from the main station. Designed in a&o's 'next generation' style, it offers single, double, family and shared rooms. 24-hr reception. Free Wi-Fi.

Campsite suggestions:

Campingplatz Maaraue
Near Mainz. From the campsite it's 1000m to Wiesbaden-Mainz-Kastel station, then 26 minutes on the train to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof. See Deutsche Bahn website for train times and tickets.

Campingplatz Mainkur
1400m to Frankfurt Mainkur Bahnhof (station), then a 31-minute journey to Frankfurt main station.  See Deutsche Bahn website for train times and tickets.

Holiday home suggestions:

Cozy apartment in the heart of Frankfurt
Newly renovated apartment with two bedrooms and a living room that can also be used as a bedroom. Located in Frankfurt am Main Süd, adjacent to the Sachensen cider tavern district. 10 minutes by car to the stadium. Frankfurt Lokal metro station nearby.

Lovely apartment in Brentanopark
Located to the northwest of Frankfurt city centre, this apartment in Brentanopark has two bedrooms and sleeps four. In some designated areas, smoking is allowed. 20 minutes by car to the stadium or 45 minutes by metro and tram. Rödelheim metro station is a 10-minute walk away.

Zum Kelterhaus, Ober-Hilbersheim
If you can read German, then I can personally recommend this place, as I made it my base for the 2006 World Cup. Lovely farmyard-style apartment over two floors in a sleepy village around 45 minutes' drive out of Frankfurt.

Alternative locations:

Frankfurt rates too high? Try Darmstadt instead (17 minutes away).
For other options, all within the match ticket 36-hour free travel area, see my Transport networks page.
 

Travelling to match 3 by train? Here are the Frankfurt to Cologne times and fares (for train times and fares between all host cities see my 'Train times' page).

MATCHDAY 3: 25 June, England vs Slovenia

Kick-off: 21:00
Venue: Cologne
Stay: Hotels Hostels Campsites Holiday homes

Hotel suggestions:

Hotel Maritim
“I like Cologne, because it’s easy to walk to most places and has plenty of bars”, says Liverpool fan John. “I stayed in Hotel Maritim, which is very nice and conveniently located.”

Wyndham Köln
While the Maritim is located directly outside the front of the station, the Wyndham is right outside the rear doors. Bristol City fans Liz and Dave, who have stayed at both, preferred the Maritim, but say the Wyndham was also "a very good location if you're travelling by train".

Meininger Hotel Köln West
Budget accommodation just a 20-minute walk from the stadium. Single, twin, triple, quadruple and dormitory-style rooms available. 24-hour front desk, bar and free Wi-Fi. 

Hostel suggestions:

Station - Hostel for Backpackers
It's been many years since I was a backpacker staying in hostels, so I can't vouch for this place personally. But it certainly looks convenient, being only 150 yards from the main station (and therefore also from the cathedral and city cente).

Die Wohngemeinschaft
The name is German for 'The flat-share' or 'Communal living'. It's 19 minutes on public transport or a 30-minute walk to/from the main station. A 20-minute direct tram ride to the stadium. Rated 'Superb' on Hostelworld. Has its own cafe/bar.

a&o Köln Hauptbahnhof
Less than 5 minutes on foot to the main station. A former hotel, acquired by a&o and remodelled as a hostel / budget hotel in 2016. 24-hr reception and own bar.

Campsite suggestions:

Camping Stadt Köln
1500m walk to Heinrich-Lübke-Ufer station, then 21 minutes on the underground to Cologne main station.

Camping Berger
950m to Uferstr., Köln-Rodenkirchen bus stop, then a 9-minute bus ride to Rodenkirchen and 24 minutes by underground to Cologne main station.

Holiday home suggestions:

Pretty apartment in Bergisches Land
Located in the village of Overath about a 30-minute drive from central Cologne, this holiday flat is on the upper floor and loft level of a detached house on the edge of a nature conservation area. Wooden floors, spiral staircase, balcony and countryside views.

Apartment between Bonn and Cologne
Located in Bornheim Walberberg, between Cologne and Bonn, this self-contained apartment is an 8-minute walk from a tram stop linking you to central Cologne. 2 bedrooms. Terrace. Easy access from the main Bonn-to-Cologne road.

Complete apartment between Cologne and Düsseldorf
Located in Monheim, between Cologne and Düsseldorf, this complete apartment is just over 30 minutes by car from both the RheinEnergie Stadion in Cologne and the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf. Two bedrooms. Free Wi-Fi.

Alternative locations:

Cologne rates too high? Try Bonn instead (20 minutes away).
For other options, all within the match ticket 36-hour free travel area, see my Transport networks page.


Group-stage base:

For a potential group-stage base away from the host cities, see my Group C Base page.