Kaiserslautern: World Cup Host City
City facts: More than 100,000 people call Kaiserslautern home. Nicknamed the "City of Wood", it is known for its nearby forests. Kaiserslautern was a host city for the Final of the European Women's Football Cup 1995 and European Cup and Champions League matches.
How to get there/get around: The closest airport to Kaiserslautern is Saarbrücken, 55km away, while Frankfurt Rhein-Main Airport is approximately 120km away. To find the best flight deals, search our airfare engine. Keep in mind that the cheapest days to fly are Tuesday and Wednesday.
If you're coming overland, trains can be taken from Frankfurt and Heidelburg. The best way to travel across Germany is the World Cup Eurail Pass. This pass allows you flexible days of travel within Germany. Youths under 26 and two or more adults traveling together can also save money. Advantages include not having to deal with traffic or signs in foreign languages, easier navigation from one city to another and increased socialization with other excited World Cup fans!
If you'd rather be on your own schedule, then hiring a car might be a better option. Renting a car in Germany allows you to get off the beaten path and explore more of Germany's varied countryside. Hitting the road can give you a much needed break from other sports enthusiasts and the chance to drive no-holds-barred on the Autobahn!
Trams and buses offer in-city transport.
Who's playing: Australia, Italy, Japan, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, USA
What's the schedule:
Monday June 12: Australia vs. Japan
Saturday June 17: Italy vs. USA
Tuesday June 20: Paraguay vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Friday June 23: Saudi Arabia vs. Spain
Monday June 26: Second Round TBD
Full World Cup Schedule
Stadium information: The Fritz-Walter-Stadion underwent an extension and now seats almost 40,000 fans. With the 48 million euro expansion, the 1920 stadium reopened in 2005.
Where to get tickets: You can get tickets to every match played in the World Cup through World Cup Blog! Find tickets by team, grouping, individual game or city. Buy World Cup tickets for matches in Kaiserslautern.
What else to do: If you need a break from the soccer madness, Kaiserslautern boasts a number of attractions including the Imperial palace and Casimir palace, Palatinate Gallery and Beer Stein Museum. For those that just want to relax, travel to the nearby Palatinate Forest biosphere reserve.
Where to stay: You can find accommodation throughout the country with World Cup Blog's hotel database. It allows you to search multiple sites at once for the best deals on rooms in Germany. Use the search box in the right column, or find hotel deals in Kaiserslautern. Hostels more your style? Check out these hostels in Germany.
How to keep in touch: If you own a mobile phone with a removable SIM card, you can buy a pre-paid German SIM card. You can find out your local German number before you arrive, and get free incoming calls while in the country. If you don't have a phone that will work, look into renting a German cell phone, which costs less than you think!
Wireless hot-spots and internet cafes can be found around the city. Locations include Hacienda Internet-Cafe.
How to protect yourself: Many insurance carriers do not provide coverage overseas. Beat the odds and make the most of your holidays with affordable travel health insurance. In case of trip cancellation, you can also recover your costs with trip protection insurance.
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