I'd give at least an hour to get to the stadium from the city centre, and would advise you avoid the 'fan fest' altogether. There's a better atmosphere in bars in the centre of town.

Can recommend a good bar just beside the HauptBahnhof, called Hibernia. They serve Gruben Pils there and the stuff is like amber nectar. The big screen is quite good too.

We had three Gelsenkirchen games, and stayed in Cologne or Dusseldorf for each of them. Would recommend either place ahead of Gelsenkirchen. (Dusseldorf is a little closer to Gelsenkirchen, but isn't a host city.)

Hibernia Brauhaus: Bahnhofsvorplatz 2, Gelsenkircen;
tel: 02 09 20 8531;
www.brauhaus-hibernia.de

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Munster has the Kuhviertel, with loads of different bars and clubs, also for the religiously inclined there are more churches than you can count.

Munster is 50 miles from Gelsenkirchen and there are regular trains services between the both places

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

We all know that you British love to have a good time after the match regardless of whether you win or lose. And we all agree Gelsenkirchen is not the place you want to stay.

Nearest city for having a good time would be Bochum with its 'Bermuda Dreieck' next to the main station. Best city would be Dusseldorf with its famous 'Altstadt' and lots of international people, and lots of Irish Pubs if you don't want to party with us. Cologne will also be a very good place to party but Dusseldorf has got far better local beer. Actually I think Dusseldorf or Cologne will be best because of the airports. I guess it is very likely most of you will depart from either Cologne/Bonn or Dusseldorf airport.

Just my 2 Cents

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

I was in Gelsenkirchen for the US-Czech match and can confirm, there is not a whole lot to do in town. Nevertheless, the advantage of Gelsenkirchen being a small town is that that atmosphere before the match is fantastic.

If the match I saw there is anything to go by, you have to make sure you get the tram/bus up from the centre of town to the stadium early, because there were simply not enough trams.

If you are looking for a good night out, stay in Cologne and just travel up to Gelsenkirchen on match day.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends