Euro 2016 matches: travel guides to the host cities in France

Marseille

England v Russia, June 11
One quarter final tie
One semi final tie

At a glance

“As in other troubled ports, 20th-century decline saw Marseille specialising in football, music, crime and defiant bombast,” writes Anthony Peregrine, our Marseille expert. “Of late, though, the city has been trying to go straight. After enormous urban renewal schemes, there are enough new trams, designer hotels, galleries, chic restaurants and shops to fill a year’s-worth of lifestyle.” See our full Marseille city guide for more expert advice.

Marseille's modernist stadium is part of the city's regeneration (AP)  Photo: AP

Getting there

British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com) flies to the city from London Heathrow, easyJet from London Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester (0905 821 8905; easyjet.com) and Ryanair (0871 246 0000; ryanair.com) from London Stansted and Edinburgh. Flying time is around two hours. Marseille is also easily accessible by rail, with direct Eurostar service from London. Travel time is 6h 27mins. If you factor in the time travelling to and from airports, and wait time at airports, it actually isn’t much slower.

Skyscanner.net is currently showing flights to Marseille from London Stansted, returning to Gatwick, from £332 for travel June 10-13. A return Eurostar from London on the same date is £249.

• Marseille: getting there

Getting around

UEFA Euro 2016 matches take place at the Stade Vélodrome to the south-east of the city. Marseille's public transport network consists of the metro lines M1 and M2, two tram lines and a comprehensive bus network; buy tickets at the station or on the bus. The stadium is accessed by M2 from the centre of Marseille. See rtm.fr/en for more information

Central Marseille is the place to head for a post-match drink (AP)  Photo: AP

Where to drink

Marseille is both a port and a big city so, obviously, it doesn’t lack bars, some of them with pretty raucous reputations. Many of the best of the rest cluster around the Vieux Port, while a younger crowd head to those near the beach at the Escale Borély. See Anthony Peregrine’s guide for more information.

Where to stay

Marseille Mama Shelter is centrally located and near metro lines for accessing the stadium, with Philippe Starck design, friendly staff, and, all importantly, a great bar. Rooms from £42. See our guide to the best hotels in Marseille.

Lens

England v Wales, June 16
One last 16 tie

At a glance

This former coal-mining town is one of the friendliest places in France, largely because it is normally overlooked by visitors. The Stade Félix-Bollaert, home to FC Lens and the venue for England’s tie with Wales, is very close to the main station, which is an hour from Paris by TGV. An annexe of the Louvre opened here in 2009, should fans require a dose of culture.

Getting there

Take the Eurostar to Paris or Lille – SNCF offers regular departures from Paris Nord to Lens (journey time 1 hour 10 mins) or Lille (40 minutes). SNCF currently has returns from London-Lens departing the UK on June 15 and returning on June 19 from £114.50 - see uk.voyages-sncf.com for the latest fares.

Getting around

Public transport in Lens is provided by a public-private company, Tadao. Stade Bollaert-Delelis is 2km from the city centre, and is served by buses 22, 40 and "BuLLe 3". See tadao.fr to plan your route from the centre of Lens (website in French only).

Where to drink

The Irish Tavern on 6 ave Raoul Briquet is sure to be popular. Find sustenance at L'Huîtrière, a famed fish shop, founded in 1882 and decorated with mosaics of underwater creatures.

Where to stay

To search for the best hotels in Lens at the lowest prices, look to booking.com

Bordeaux's monumental centre is as dignified an expression of 18th-century trading prosperity as exists anywhere (AP)  Photo: AP

Bordeaux

Wales v Slovakia, June 11
Belgium v Ireland, June 18
One quarter final tie

At a glance

“No-one ever doubted Bordeaux's elegance,” says Anthony Peregrine, our city expert. “The monumental centre is as dignified an expression of 18th-century trading prosperity as exists anywhere. But it also seemed stuck in a cut-glass patrician past, as if the French Revolution hadn't travelled this far. But that was then, this is now and the city has been buzzing for a bit - with riverbanks rehabilitated, new-wave trams, a swirl of life through the medieval quarters, and no fear of festivity. Meanwhile, mega-starred chef Joël Robuchon arrived in town last year, on the heels of Philippe Starck's Mama Shelter cut-price design hotel. Bordeaux just went hip, up and down the scale. A vivacious little vintage, in short.”

Getting there

The simplest way of getting to Bordeaux is probably by air. British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com) flies from Gatwick. EasyJet (0905 821 8905; easyjet.com) wings in from Luton, Gatwick, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow and Belfast; Ryanair (0871 246 0000; ryanair.com) from Stansted and Edinburgh; Flybe (0871 7002000; flybe.com) from Southampton and Birmingham and Aer Lingus (0871 7185000; aerlingus.com) from Dublin.

Skyscanner.net is currently showing BA flights to Bordeaux from London Gatwick, from £279 for travel June 10-13 and £326 for travel June 17-19.

• Bordeaux: getting there

Getting around

The Stade de Bordeaux is eight km from the city centre, and is accessible using tram route C. The city is served by three tram lines and 65 bus routes, and visitors can also use BatCub boats as a shuttle service on the river Garonne, and the VCub hire bike scheme. See infotbc.com/en for more information on public transport in Bordeaux.

Where to drink

“Bordeaux nightlife has developed a variety, liveliness and funky sophistication unbelievable to anyone who knew the city 20 years ago,” says Anthony Peregrine. “There are three key zones. Most good evenings start off amid the winding streets and many possibilities of the medieval St Pierre district. Many also end there.

“Then again, serious night-people might continue south of the centre to the Quai de Paludate. Fittingly, perhaps, this is by the wholesale meat market. Liberal local licensing laws tailored to the needs of market workers made this an ideal spot for the later sort of bars and neon clubs. There’s now a sub-Vegas strip of them.

“More recently, the old, abandoned Wet Docks (Bassins-à-Flots) to the north of the centre have also been colonised by folk offering most entertainment you might need through till dawn.” See Anthony's full guide to Bordeaux nightlife for more expert advice.

Where to stay

Bordeaux has an increasing number of decent places to stay - try L'Hotel Avant-Scene, which is centrally located, or the larger Hotel Le Continental. Then check our selection of the rest of the best Bordeaux hotels.

Saint-Etienne has a Byzantine Saint Marie church, attractive parks and Michelin-starred restaurants (AP)

Saint-Etienne

England v Slovakia, June 20
One last 16 tie

At a glance

This is a city full of architectural delights, such as the Byzantine Saint Marie church, attractive parks and Michelin-starred restaurants. It also has a contemporary art museum housing works by the likes of Matisse and Gilbert and George.

Getting there

Saint-Etienne lies around 40 miles south west of Lyon, and is served by regular rail services from its larger neighbour (journey time, 40 minutes). Eurostar (03432 186 186; eurostar.com) runs services to Lyon - or else fly with British Airways (0844 4930787; britishairways.com) or Easyjet (0330 365 5000; easyjet.com).

Skyscanner.net is currently showing flights to Lyon from London Luton, returning to Gatwick, from £283 for travel June 19-21.

Getting around

Stade Geoffrey Guichard is four km from the city centre. From Place Dorian in the city centre, take the tram line T1 in the direction of Hopital Nord and get off at "G. GUICHARD (ST ETIENNE)". See reseau-stas.fr (in French) for a journey planner for Saint-Etienne and the region.

Where to drink

The Smoking Dog, 5 Rue Georges Dupré, is open until 1.30am (0033 4 77 47 23 57).

Where to stay

To search for the best hotels in Sainte-Etienne at the lowest prices, look to booking.com.

Toulouse

Russia v Wales, June 20
One last 16 tie

At a glance

“Toulouse is best known for rugby and aeroplanes, but there’s plenty more to discover, from the pink-brick streets struggling to contain southern life to the St Sernin basilica, Europe's mightiest Romanesque church. A drink by the River Garonne, or on the vast Place-du-Capitole, a cassoulet chez Emile on Place-St-Georges, and the conversion's complete," writes Anthony Peregrine.

Toulouse's place makes the centre piece for a beautiful city (AP)

Getting there

EasyJet (0330 365 5000; easyjet.com) and British Airways (0844 4930787; britishairways.com) fly direct from Gatwick and Heathrow, respectively.

Skyscanner.net is currently showing flights to Toulouse from London Gatwick, from £212 for travel June 19-21.

Getting around

The Stade de Toulouse is 3.5km from the city centre accesible from Line B stations Palais de Justice, Empalot or Saint-Michel Marcel-Langer. The city has three Métro lines (A, B and C), a tram line (T1) and a comprehensive bus network.

Where to drink

Sample the lively bar scene around place Place St Pierre or try the more refined bars in place St George (the site of executions in the 18th century).

Where to stay

To search for the best hotels in Toulouse at the lowest prices, look to booking.com.

Nice

Poland v Northern Ireland, June 12
One last 16 tie

Nice is an attractive city for a break alongside the football (AP)  Photo: AP

At a glance

“Nice, the capital of the Côte d’Azur, is beautifully curved round the Bay of Angels, desirable and as lively as you like,” says Anthony Peregrine. “Its reputation for glamour is enhanced by an equal reputation for top-end scandal. The clearest-possible light spangles the Mediterranean to create a setting for sybarites, and shadows for well-dressed decadence. The inauguration, in autumn 2013, of the brand new Promenade du Paillon - 30 acres of park running from the city centre to the sea - indicates that it has the imagination and drive to fulfill its ambitions. This is a glorious, and playful, slice of urban greensward. And it’s bewitching at pretty much any time of year.”

Getting there

Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport (00 33 489 88 98 28; en.nice.aeroport.fr) is served by British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com) from Heathrow and Gatwick. Aer Lingus (0871 718 5000; aerlingus.com) from Dublin; Flybe (081 700 2000; flybe.com) from Southampton and Exeter; Jet2 (0871 226 1737; jet2.com) from Leeds-Bradford and Manchester; easyJet (0905 821 0905; easyjet.com) from Gatwick, Luton, Liverpool, Bristol, Stansted, Edinburgh, Belfast and Newcastle; Monarch (08719 405040; monarch.co.uk) from Birmingham and Gatwick; and Norwegian (0843 3780 888; norwegian.com) from Gatwick.

Skyscanner.net is currently showing flights to Nice from London Luton, from £181 for travel June 11-14.

Nice's stadium hosts regular matches as well as Euro 2016 next summer

Getting around

The Stade de Nice is 12 km from the city centre, accessed by bus 70 towards Carros Pagnol, and then a walk of approximately 15 minutes. Lignes d'Azur offers an extensive bus network across the city and visitors can also use the Velo-Bleu hire bike scheme. For more information, visit: allianz-riviera.fr/en/practical-information/itineraires

Where to drink

“The evening-tide HQ, without any doubt, is the Old Town (Vieux Nice),” says Anthony Peregrine. “Here you may sip a glass on a terrace in civilised fashion, slip in among the wood, sweat and beers of an English music pub or find pretty much any other sort of drinking outlet to suit your mood. It is also, though, very agreeable to take a table on the Promenade des Anglais and enjoy the night-time spectacle in quieter surroundings.”

See Anthony Peregrine’s guide to Nice's nightlife to more information.

Where to stay

The 120-room Hotel Nice Riviera is an airy four-star offering a decent buffet breakfast and access to the town, beach and stadium. See our guide to the best Nice hotels in our expert guide.

Lyon

Ukraine v Northern Ireland, June 16
One last 16 tie
One semi final tie

At a glance

“France's second city never deserved its dull reputation,” says Anthony Peregrine. “It has not one but two world class rivers, France's finest Renaissance old centre, a history of silk, of insurrection and resistance, of gastronomy and of inventing cinema. The bouchons are the liveliest possible neighbourhood restaurants, where a pot of Beaujolais is only a start. The Fourvière basilica may well be France's ugliest 19th-century church, so is obviously worth a look. In recent times, though, Lyon has put on a spurt into the 21st century. The place has re-discovered its riversides with landscape design and arty promenades, developed an entire new district, the Confluence, where Rhône and Saône meet - and become a continental leader in electro-music via the Nuits Sonores spring fest (nuits-sonores.com). If all that's dull, I'm not sure I could stand interesting.”

• A weekend break in Lyon

Better transport links and beautiful architecture make Lyon a worthwhile destination in itself (AP)  Photo: AP

Getting there

Eurostar (03432 186 186; eurostar.com) runs services to Lyon Part Dieu. Lyon is served by British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com) from Heathrow and Easyjet (0905 821 0905; easyjet.com) from Gatwick, Luton, Bristol and Edinburgh. Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport is about 12 miles from the city centre and operates the Rhône Express shuttle bus to Lyon Part-Dieu (rhonexpress.fr).

Skyscanner.net is currently showing flights to Lyon from London Luton, from £257 for travel June 15-18.

Getting around

The Stade de Lyon is about 12 km from the city centre The city has four Métro lines (A, B, C and D), two funicular railways, five tram lines and many bus routes. See www.tcl.fr/en for more information on public transport.

Where to drink

La Cave des Voyageurs at 7 Place St Paul (0033 4 78 289 228; lacavedesvoyageurs.fr) is a sophisticated choice with wine tastings and knowledgeable staff.

Where to stay

To search for the best hotels in Lyon at the lowest prices, look to booking.com.

Paris

Northern Ireland v Germany, June 21
Ireland v Sweden, June 13
Two last 16 ties
One quarter final tie
The final

At a glance

The French capital needs very little introduction. “Paris is at once a film set (Grace Jones on the Eiffel Tower, Audrey Tautou in Montmartre, Audrey Hepburn in a St-Germain jazz cellar), one of the world's most beautiful cities (with its golden stone facades and famous monuments), and a vibrant, densely packed collection of villages,” says Natasha Edwards, our resident expert. It is one of the world’s most visited cities, with some of its finest restaurants, attractions and cultural institutions.

Getting there

The simplest way to travel is by Eurostar, which takes travellers from London to Gare du Nord in central Paris in as little as 2hr 15min. Most international flights arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle (aeroportsdeparis.fr), 17 miles north of the city, including British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com), EasyJet (0905 821 0905; easyjet.com) and Air France (0871 663 3777; airfrance.co.uk) from the UK.

Skyscanner.net is currently showing flights to Paris from London Gatwick, from £65 for travel June 11-14 and £70 for June 20-22.

• Paris : getting there

Getting around

The Parc des Princes is accessible by Porte de Saint-Cloud , Exelmans and Michel Ange Molitor Metro stations, on line 9 - for more public transport information, see ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/visiting-paris

The Parc des Princes is the venue in Paris for Euro 2016 matches (Getty)  Photo: Getty

Where to drink

Paris nightlife is surprisingly varied and, while no Parisian would dream of going anywhere near the can-can girls, plenty of more interesting places exist. See Natasha's full guide for more recommendations on the best places to celebrate in the capital.

Where to stay

Molitor Paris by M Gallery hotel has a legendary Art Deco swimming pool, where future Tarzan Johnny Weismuller once gave lessons", says Natasha Edwards, and " it has been reborn as a hotel and sports club after 20 years of abandon." It is near the Parc des Princes stadium and the Boid de Boulogne; central Paris is a Metro ride away. See our full guide to the best hotels in Paris.

Lille

Italy v Ireland, June 22
One last 16 tie
One quarter final tie

At a glance

“The charm of this city is that, despite being the largest in northern France, it doesn’t behave like a grand French city – all icy hauteur and spike-heeled arrogance,” writes Helen Pickles. “On a wet Friday afternoon, the outdoor cafés of its central “places” were buzzing, while the slow-moving traffic was patient, not an angry horn to be heard.

“Possibly this agreeableness is because the Lillois feel no need to impress. Who would when the heart of your city is such a pleasing cat’s cradle of streets? Paved with stone and lined with steeply gabled houses, handsome in brick and golden sandstone, its 17th- and 18th-century buildings – now elegant shops – hint at its Flemish roots. The city only became French when Louis X1V captured it in 166.”

Getting there

Eurostar (08432 186186; eurostar.com) has up to nine daily services to Lille from London St Pancras. The centre is a 10-minute walk from the station, or take the Metro. Returns departing London June 21 and returning June 23 are currently from £69.

Lille's charm is that, despite being the largest city in northern France, it doesn?t behave with icy hauteur and spike-heeled arrogance (AP)

Getting around

Stade Pierre-Mauroy is seven km from the city centre, accesible via Metro line 1, stops Cité Scientifique and 4 Cantons, or line 2, station Les Près, and then a free shuttle bus to the stadium. Lille has an automated Metro system, two tram lines and an extensive bus system. For more on public transport, visit: uk.transpole.fr

Where to drink

Students head to the bars around Rue Solférino; more relaxed drinking is to be had in the establishments around rues Barre, Bouchers, Basse and Royale.

Where to stay

To search for the best hotels in Lille at the lowest prices, look to booking.com.

Telegraph Travel Show: start planning your next adventure

Levison Wood, Monty Halls and Will Greenwood will be among the celebrity speakers at next month's inaugural Telegraph Travel Show, which aims to inspire, advise and help you plan your next great adventure.

Over 200 exhibitors - from the leading tour operators and cruise lines to the best tourist boards - will be offering insights, tips and exclusive show-only offers.

Telegraph Travel experts will also be on hand to answer your questions at the Genius Bar, while exotic food from around the world and wine tasting sessions are among the other attractions.

The event takes place at the ExCeL London from January 8-10. See telegraph.co.uk/travelshow for full details. Telegraph readers can claim a third of all entry tickets with the discount code: TELETRAVEL16.