Your Guide To The UEFA Euro 2016

Anna Dairopoulos

Bordeaux

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Known for its friendly people, surrounding wine region and beautiful promenade

Little known fact: You can surf down La Garonne river at certain times in the year.

Just a short TGV trip from Paris, consider combining a few days in the magical capital with a visit to this fabulous wine region.

Nice

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Sunshine, charming coastal villas and chic sunbathers, you’ve made it to the French Riviera.

Nice is pronounced “niece”, and the people of Nice are Niçoise, like the famous salad.

Getting there: find inexpensive flights to Nice here.

Marseille

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Known as the Paris of the South this mighty harbour city is packed with interesting history and character

Little known fact: Marseille was founded 2600 years ago and is the oldest city in France.

Things to do: be sure to visit the picturesque old port.

Getting there: find inexpensive flights to Marseille here.

Paris & Saint-Denis

Need we say more? The City of Lights and love is packed with museums, cafés, art, food, wine, hidden gardens and tangos by the Seine.

Saint-Denis is a northern suburb in the Paris precinct. It is a working class neighbourhood with interesting gems to discover particularly the famed Basilica St Denis. It is cheaper to stay in this area than in central Paris however for a more romantic experience central Paris, Le Marais and the area around Canal St Martin are good options. Transport to the stadium from central Paris is quick, inexpensive and easy on the metro.

Little known fact: it’s worth your while to visit the Tour Montparnasse rather than join the queues for the Eiffel Tower. You can sip a cocktail while getting the best view of all from the 689-foot skyscraper. 33 Avenue du Maine, 75015 Paris
Métro stop: Montparnasse–Bienvenüe (line: 4, 6, 12 and 13)

Eat your way through Paris like Lori- read:

• Paris: a food affair

Getting there: It’s only a 39 minute metro ride door to door, from the iconic Arc de Triomphe to the Stadium. You will also find that accommodation in Saint-Denis (near the stadium) will be cheaper than in central Paris as it is a more suburban area, formerly an industrial area.

Find affordable flights to Paris here.

Where to stay

Consider renting an apartment on airbnb in the more peripheral arrondissements like the 19th, 11th and 18th (Paris is divided into 20 mini-quarters, all with subtly differing characters). It’s easy to walk, bike or use the metro. The Stade de France (where the final is taking place) is very easily accessible via a 40 minute metro ride from the CBD.

How to use the métro

When you enter the metro you will see a vending machine where you can choose the English language option and buy metro tickets with Euro notes. Alternatively approach a kiosk if there is one (there are always open kiosks in the larger stations). A single ticket costs 1.70€ and allows unlimited travel and transfer within the Metro for up to 90 minutes, I recommend buying a pack of 10 per day if you are doing a lot of sight-seeing. Operating hours are from 05:30 – 00:30 Monday to Friday and 05:30 – 02:15 Saturday and Sunday and the nights before holidays. For a more in depth overview of zones and the difference between the RER and metro lines go here.

Basilica Saint-Denis

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This working class suburb has one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris. The Basilica Saint Denis is one of the earliest examples of Gothic architecture and is a must visit for any culture vultures especially since it is relatively close to the stadium.

Lens

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This former coal-mining town is in prime position for visitors to hire a car and explore the interesting historical sites along the northern coast particularly Dunkirk, Dieppe and the picturesque white limestone cliffs at Étretat.

Lille

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For a taste of Belgium without leaving France, Lille delivers beautiful Flemish architecture.

Don’t miss the cathedral and the botanical gardens.
Find inexpensive flights to Lille here.

Lyon

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Charming Lyon rivals Paris, France’s third biggest city is a thriving powerhouse with leafy boulevards.

Find cheap flights to Lyon here.

Saint-Étienne

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Saint-Étienne is football crazy and is a great place to get into the UEFA spirit. You can find it in between Toulouse and Lyon.

Toulouse

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Known for its blush pink walls and ochre roofs, Toulouse has the nickname ‘the pink city’. This southern belle near the Pyrenees has that friendly franco-spanish vibe, siestas and must-try local delicacies.

Getting your Schengen Visa

Travelstart’s Nick Paul explains everything you need to know about getting your Schengen visa.

Below find the schedule of matches and stadiums: