The Most Impressive German Sports Venues

There’s no denying that football is king in Germany, with the Bundesliga games held in some of the sport’s most iconic stadiums. However, the country is also home to many other sporting venues that wow not only with their size, but also with their unique designs. Here’s our pick of the best.

1. Olympic Stadium Munich

Stadium

With an original capacity of 80,000, the Munich Olympic Stadium was the centrepiece of the 1972 Summer Olympics. The venue has since seen numerous big football matches, including the World Cup Final in 1974 and the Euro Final in 1988, plus a multitude of open-air concerts of international stars from Michael Jackson to the Rolling Stones. The iconic tent-like roof was a sensation at the time and spans across the stadium and the neighbouring pool and the Olympic hall. The complex was landmarked in 1997.

Nürburgring

Germany’s second motorsports complex fits 150,000 people and thereby outranks the previously mentioned Hockenheimring regarding capacity. All major races are held on the 5.15 km (3.2 mile)-long Grand Prix track. The race lap record is held by one of the biggest Formula One stars of all times – Germany’s seven-time world champion Michael Schuhmacher.

Nürburgring Boulevard 1, Nürburg, Germany

Veltins Ice Arena

Winterberg in the Sauerland region is a magnet for winter sports enthusiasts – that goes for amateurs as well as professionals. While visitors take on the ski slopes and cross-country trails, the Veltin-Eis-Arena hosts national and international bobsleigh and skeleton competitions. Participants shoot down the 1,609 metre (5,279 feet)-long run with speeds of up to 140 km (87 miles) per hour.

Arenaring 1, Gelsenkirchen, Germany