The Best 25 European Destinations for Soccer Fans

Best Cities in Europe for Soccer Lovers
You would have had to be living in a cave to have not noticed the uptick in interest in European soccer over the last decade or so. With European soccer now becoming a regular feature on television, more and more North Americans are following the players, teams and leagues across the pond. Naturally, when they travel to Europe, seeing a European soccer game is landing higher on the priority list of travelers than ever before. So what cities are the best soccer destinations in Europe? A good European soccer city should be home to a team or two that owns a rich heritage of winning in addition to offering all the enduring appeal of a top-flight European travel destination and luckily for us, there are plenty of them. Click on the slideshow to see which cities are simply the best places to visit in Europe for soccer fans.

Manchester, England
A city united by a passion for soccer: that’s Manchester. Home to two of the world’s most illustrious teams Manchester United and Manchester City in addition to England’s National Football Museum, this city should be a stop on any soccer-centric trip to Britain. Since the Premier League was formed in 1992-1993, The two clubs have combined to win 19 of the 30 titles awarded and a visit to either Old Trafford or The Ethiad is sure to be a thrill. The city they call home is also legendary for its live music and lies a short train ride from the beautiful Peak District National Park.

Barcelona, Spain
Messi may have moved to Paris, but Barcelona is still an elite destination for any fan of the beautiful game. Head out to Camp Nou to see FC Barcelona—a club that is only second to Real Madrid in the number of La Liga titles won—play or watch their intra-city rival Espanyol, who also currently plays in the top league of Spanish soccer. Then, chat about the results with locals at the beach, in the city’s tapas & cava bars or while in line at one of the vibrant local markets.

Istanbul
Home to a group of clubs that together have combined to win nearly 90 percent of all Turkish Super Lig championships, Istanbul is the undisputed “title town” of Turkish football. The big historical clubs are Galatasaray (22 titles) Fenerbahce (19 titles) and Besiktas (16 titles), but upstart Basaksehir just crashed the party by winning its first-ever championship in 2020. See a game or two before touring the sights, sounds and flavors of a city that can compete in the history department with places like Athens and Rome.

Bruges, Belgium
Perhaps nowhere combines picture-perfect European charm and championship pedigree like the medieval town of Bruges. Fresh off their 18th domestic title, Club Brugge owns the second-most titles in the history of the Belgian First Division A and they enjoy a fiery crosstown rivalry with Cercle Brugge, who also plays in the top league.

Glasgow, Scotland
You’d have to go all the way back to 1985 to find a winner of the top Scottish League that wasn’t from Glasgow. Yes, to say that Celtic and Rangers have dominated the sport in Scotland is an understatement. Visit the country’s biggest city to take in a game or stadium tour before heading out on the West Highland Line for one of Britain’s most scenic train journeys.

Bern, Switzerland
Fresh off reeling off four straight Swiss Super League titles from 2018-2021, BSC Young Boys have made Bern synonymous with top-flight soccer in Switzerland. Explore the charming Old Town of the Swiss capital and explore the nearby Alpine peaks before taking in a game at Wankdorf Stadium.

Lisbon, Portugal
Home to a pair of the “Big Three” of the Portuguese Primeira Liga—a trio of teams that have won every title except for two—Lisbon is heaven for soccer lovers. Both Benfica (37 titles) and Sporting CP (19 titles) have enjoyed wild amounts of success, with their two annual “Lisbon Derby” matches providing many memorable moments over the years. Off the field, the city and its surrounds are a treasure trove of winding streets with scenic overlooks, rustic restaurants & bars (some that feature traditional soulful fado music) and fine beaches.

Bilbao, Spain
Along with Barcelona and Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao is one of only three teams to have never dropped out of La Liga—the top league of Spanish soccer. The team hasn’t won a title since the 80s, but they still maintain one of the most loyal fanbases in the country and a trip out see the squad play at San Mamés stadium will be a memorable one. Outside of soccer, the town is known for its architecturally-stunning Guggenheim Museum, food markets and gastronomy. Combine a visit here with a stop in nearby San Sebastian—home to Athletic Bilbao’s top rival Real Sociedad—for a one-two punch of Basque Country soccer culture.

London, England
Chelsea. Tottenham. Arsenal. West Ham. Fulham. Brentford. Crystal Palace. That’s a total of seven of the current 20 Premier League squads that call London home, meaning the possibilities are seemingly endless on weekends throughout the season to catch one of them at home or perhaps playing each other. Yet another reason why London is an all-star destination.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The winner of the most Dutch league titles, Ajax Amsterdam is as synonymous with its hometown as canals, skinny gabled buildings and bicycles. Head to Johan Cruyff Arena to watch them take the field before soaking up all the cultural attractions in the Canal Belt or dive into the hip social scene of neighborhoods like De Pijp or Amsterdam Noord.

Salzburg, Austria
The winners of nine consecutive championships in the top Austrian league (is nine-peat a word?), Red Bull Salzburg has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in European soccer. Come for the games, then embrace all the elegance this town set against the Alps has to offer.

Milan, Italy
Perhaps the most stylish soccer city on the list, Milan is home to two absolute powerhouses of the Italian game: Internazionale (Inter) and AC Milan. The clubs own a combined 38 titles between them and both enjoy extremely loyal followings. Since they share the same stadium, a trip to San Siro will definitely be in the cards when you visit, a cathedral to the sport which is the largest stadium in Italy.

Madrid, Spain
Home to the most successful Spanish soccer club of all time and their seriously good crosstown rivals, Madrid makes for a marvelous sports-filled trip. Real Madrid has won more titles than any other squad in Spain (35 to be precise) and Atletico Madrid has won 11 of their own, including as recently as 2021. After the game, bounce between wine bars and food halls before stopping for some late-night churros like the locals.

Liverpool, England
This port city on the Mersey River is home to two of English football’s most successful clubs: Liverpool and Everton. There’s no question that Liverpool FC and their legendary stadium Anfield are much more well-known around the world, but in the city, the squads split loyalties. Besides the soccer, the city is known for its great nightlife, shopping, cultural offering and musical heritage that of course counts a certain four-piece band called The Beatles among its alumni.

Munich, Germany
It’s hard to overstate Bayern Munich’s recent dominance over the German Bundesliga as they have won ten consecutive league titles. The club also competes at a high level in the European Champions League and to top it off, their stadium Allianz Arena is an engineering marvel. In the city, Munich never disappoints travelers with its mix of royal palaces, beer gardens and cultured slices of the Bavarian good life.

Porto, Portugal
Winners of the second-most domestic titles in Portugal and the most recent Portuguese club to win the Champions League (2004), FC Porto is always a force to be reckoned with on the field. Off the field, the city exudes a gritty yet cool aesthetic, which is balanced out by the bucolic Duroro River Valley located in the surrounding countryside.

Paris, France
PSG has put the City of Light firmly on the map of sports fans in recent years with its run of success. This deep-pocketed club may not own the history as many other clubs on this list, but their recent run speaks for itself: they’ve won eight of the last team Ligue 1 titles. Spend a few days taking in the art, landmarks and culinary delights of Paris before heading out to Parc des Princes to see some soccer.

Turin, Italy
Home to Juventus, who has won 36 Italian top-flight titles—the most in Italy by far—and very respectable crosstown rival Torino FC, Turin is truly a soccer powerhouse. Off the field, you’ll find a splendid city full of graceful porticos, grand cafes and sensational foodie finds all with the Alps as a backdrop.

Dortmund, Germany
The last team to win the Bundesliga not named Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund is beloved in its hometown, which is located in the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia, a region that is widely considered the heartland of German soccer. This city is also home to the German Football Museum, where visitors can walk in the footsteps of players past and present and learn all about the culture of the game in Germany. Dortmund can also be used as a springboard to see two other top-flight teams that play nearby: VfL Bochum & Schalke 04.

Rome, Italy
The Eternal City needs no introduction but many folks may not know that it’s also a dream for soccer fans too. Sure, AS Roma and SS Lazio don’t have as much hardware as those big clubs up north, but the stadium experience at Stadio Olimpico (a venue they share) and the passion of the fans can compete with anyone on the continent.

Naples, Italy
Like their rivals in Rome, Napoli hasn’t collected a ton of titles lately, but the spirit of the late 1980s glory days is never far from the surface in this southern Italian city. Root on the club at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, which is named for the most famous player in their history, Diego Maradona the Argentine who led their ascendance. Naples itself is a thrilling place to visit, full of pizzerias (they invented it here, you know) and piazzas teeming with city life all sitting in the shadow of dramatic Mount Vesuvius.

Brussels, Belgium
Home to Anderlecht—the squad that has won the most titles in the history of the top Belgian league—and strong side Union SG, Brussels has a rich soccer tradition. Mix in some games with trips to local breweries, tracking down comic-inspired murals and exploring the cool neighborhoods of this perpetually underrated European destination.

Prague, Czech Republic
Home to Slavia Prague and Sparta Prague—two clubs who have combined to win approximately two-thirds of all titles in the respectable Czech First League—Prague has all you need for a soccer-centric trip. In between trips to the stadiums, settle in for pints of the world’s best pilsner at great bars in its storybook Old Town, before striking out to explore the lesser-known neighborhoods, which are full of leafy parks, cool cafes & coffee shops and far fewer other travelers.

Copenhagen, Denmark
The Danish capital region is home to four soccer clubs in the top division, but none is as well known as FC Copenhagen and Brondby IF, who have combined to win 25 Danish Super Liga titles. In between games, tour royal palaces & castles, take a spin on the rides at Tivoli Gardens amusement park and delight your taste buds at both world-famous New Nordic kitchens and down-to-earth cafes & bakeries.

Nice, France
OGC Nice may not have won a Ligue 1 title in decades but they have recently been a very respectable team in the league. What makes this city on the French Riviera so appealing as a soccer destination (besides the sunshine and glamour of the region of course) is that it presents the chance to make the quick hop over to Monaco to catch AS Monaco—a perennially elite team—play, too. Ideally, watch them play each other during the Derby de la Côte d’Azur.