Touchdowns and Travel: What to Know About Seeing Your NFL Team Play in Europe

Once your NFL team announces a game in Europe, the clock starts ticking. You have a confirmed city, a fixed date, and a decision to make. Do you simply attend the game, or do you turn it into a trip that feels intentional and truly worth the investment?

For many football fans, seeing your team play live is already a special experience. But watching them take the field in Europe transforms it into something entirely different. The familiar energy of game day collides with historic cities, iconic landmarks, and a style of travel that turns a single weekend into a once-in-a-lifetime journey.

NFL games in Europe are not just sporting events. They are cultural moments. Fans from across the continent gather in one place, jerseys from every team fill the streets, and the excitement stretches far beyond the stadium itself. The city becomes part of the experience, and the game becomes just one chapter of a much larger story.

Seeing your NFL team play in Europe is not something you plan on a whim. The dates are fixed, the tickets are limited, and the opportunity may not come again anytime soon. With the right planning, the game becomes the anchor for a European journey that feels seamless rather than rushed.

As a European travel planner, we have helped clients build trips around these international games that feel thoughtful, well-paced, and memorable. From securing the right seats to curating the days before and after kickoff, seeing your NFL team play in Europe becomes about much more than four quarters on the field.

Below, we break down what makes these games so special, where they are played, and how to plan a trip that goes far beyond the stadium.

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HOW TO PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE

Once the date and city are announced, your schedule should be built backward from game day. Most European NFL games take place on Sundays, which means arrival timing matters more than many travelers expect.

We typically recommend arriving two to three days before the game. This allows time to adjust to the time change, explore the city while energy is high, and enjoy the pre-game atmosphere that builds across the city. Fans gather early, team colors appear in cafés and pubs, and the excitement becomes part of the experience.

The day after the game is just as important. This is not the day to rush to the airport. Giving yourself at least one full day after the game allows you to decompress, revisit favorite spots, or enjoy a slower-paced experience that contrasts with the energy of game day.

CITY-BASED PLANNING BY STADIUM

LONDON

London remains the most common location for NFL games in Europe, with games typically hosted at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or Wembley Stadium. These stadiums are well connected but located in very different parts of the city, which impacts where you stay and how you move around.

For fans traveling to London, we recommend four to five nights total. This allows time to enjoy the city before the game, experience game day without stress, and still explore afterward.

Game day in London feels like an event across the entire city. Pubs near the stadiums fill early, fans gather in neighborhoods long before kickoff, and the atmosphere carries well into the evening. Staying in a central neighborhood allows you to enjoy London beyond football while still having efficient access to the stadium.

Activities that pair well with a London game weekend include guided neighborhood walks, markets and food halls, West End performances, and relaxed sightseeing that does not feel rushed. For the Story Vacations can book private transfers, game tickets, and experiences that fit naturally into the rhythm of the weekend.

GERMANY

Germany has quickly become one of the most exciting places to see NFL games in Europe. Cities like Munich and Frankfurt offer passionate crowds and exceptionally organized logistics, which makes game weekend feel smooth even with large attendance.

For these destinations, three to four nights is usually ideal. German cities are compact, walkable, and efficient, which means you can experience a lot without feeling overwhelmed.

Game day in Germany starts early. Fans arrive well before kickoff, public spaces buzz with activity, and the energy inside the stadium is intense. The day before the game is perfect for exploring the city center, enjoying food and drink culture, and soaking in the anticipation.

Activities that work well around German game weekends include city walking tours, food-focused experiences, and short regional excursions. We can book centrally located accommodations and coordinate transportation so the weekend feels seamless.

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HOW TO DECIDE IF THIS TRIP IS WORTH IT FOR YOU

This kind of trip is worth it when you allow it to be more than just a game. If your plan is to fly in, attend the game, and fly out the next morning, the experience often feels rushed and incomplete.

When you give yourself time to enjoy the city, adjust to the pace, and layer in experiences that complement the game, the value shifts. The game becomes a highlight, not the entire story.

This is where working with a European travel planner matters most. We help you decide:

• How many days are truly needed

• Where to stay based on stadium location

• How to balance high energy days with slower moments

• What to do before and after the game so the trip feels complete

WHAT A TRAVEL PLANNER MAKES POSSIBLE

1. Staying in the right neighborhood for the way game weekend actually unfolds.
   Stadium proximity is only part of the equation. A seasoned European travel planner knows where fans naturally congregate before kickoff, which neighborhoods empty out after the game, and where you can slip away for a relaxed dinner while the crowds disperse. Choosing the right area means you experience the energy when you want it and calm when you need it.

2. Arriving with enough margin to enjoy the game instead of enduring it.
   European NFL games often start earlier in the day, which means jet lag hits harder than expected. Planning the trip around your arrival time, sleep cycles, and the day of the week ensures you are present for the atmosphere, not counting the minutes until it ends. This is one of the most common mistakes fans make when planning on their own.

3. Transportation that accounts for street closures and post-game realities.
   European cities handle major sporting events very differently than U.S. cities. Streets close early, rideshares disappear, and public transport becomes packed fast. Planning ahead means knowing exactly how you will arrive and how you will leave, without standing in a crowd wondering which direction to go next.

4. A game-day rhythm that builds anticipation instead of stress.
   The best experiences are paced intentionally. Planning allows the day to unfold naturally, whether that means a relaxed morning walk, a proper meal before kickoff, or time to soak in the fan atmosphere without rushing. When everything is timed correctly, the game feels like the highlight of the day, not the entire day.

5. City experiences chosen specifically for a game weekend.
   What works in a city on a quiet Tuesday does not always work on a game weekend. Planning takes into account crowd patterns, availability, and timing, so the experiences you pair with the game still feel special. This might mean doing certain activities earlier than usual or saving others for after the crowds thin.

6. Local partners who understand the city during major events.
   Trusted drivers, guides, and hosts know how a city behaves when tens of thousands of visitors arrive at once. These relationships allow the trip to move smoothly behind the scenes, even when the city feels busy and unpredictable. This is the kind of access that cannot be replicated with last-minute bookings.

7. A trip that feels intentional from start to finish.
   Instead of feeling like a series of reservations, the journey feels cohesive. Each day has a purpose, each transition makes sense, and the game fits naturally into the larger experience. This is what turns a special event into a trip you will talk about long after the season ends.

In closing, Seeing your NFL team play in Europe is a rare opportunity. With the right planning, it becomes a trip that feels intentional, exciting, and deeply memorable.

If your team has announced a European game and you are considering building a trip around it, a travel chat is the best place to start. We can talk through the city, timing, and how to create a schedule that lets you fully enjoy both the game and the destination.

For the Story Vacations can book the game experience and everything that surrounds it, so your focus stays on the moments that matter.