The decision to make Poland a co-host of Euro 2012 was greeted with surprise, both inside and outside Poland, as well as by jubilation that Michel Platini and his UEFA committee had the foresight and courage to bring such a successful tournament here. Once the hangovers wore off however it became clear what a huge task the country had taken on. The country was already trying to repair the damage of 50 years of Communist rule and decades of under-investment. Progress was being made and EU entry 3 years previously promised huge inward investment via the EU’s Structural Funds - - Poland was modernising already. The award of EURO 2012 meant that this process would have to be accelerated and a few new stadiums would have to be built while they were at it.

Despite getting off to a potentially disastrous start when UEFA threatened to suspend Poland and withdraw the tournament after the government of current Prime Minister Donald Tusk tried to impose change on the Polish FA (PZPN), disagreements were settled and work began in earnest. The task has been nothing short of huge. Motorways have had to be built from scratch; an aged railway network and rolling stock needed to be modernised; and the small issue of 3 brand new (and 1 updated) stadia had to be addressed. While much has been achieved rumours continue to circulate that UEFA is not entirely satisfied with the progress that has been made so far. While Gdansk and Wroclaw’s entirely new and Poznan’s expanded stadia are complete and have already hosted competitive matches, the National Stadium in Warsaw - - where the opening match of the tournament will be played – was only just completed in December with the first actual game taking place in February (the original completion date was June 30, 2011).

For fans looking to visit Poland for the tournament there is plenty to be excited about: the best summertime weather (temperatures in the 20s Celsius); prices for food and beer are a competitive steal when compared to western Europe; and the traditionally hospitable people of Poland are well prepared to show their hosting capabilities for Europe’s biggest football event.

While much of the news coming out of Poland is good at the moment – especially compared with other countries in the Eurozone - - there are still a number of issues the country has had to tackle. As you might imagine from a country of over 300,000 square kilometres that is attempting a complete overhaul of its dated infrastructure, there are plenty of issues that fans should be aware of in advance.

Getting here

While getting to Poland will be a far simpler affair than getting to Ukraine, navigating your travel to the country requires some forethought. For example, Ryanair does not fly to Warsaw from anywhere while until recently domestic flights in Poland could only be booked with LOT Polish Airlines and meant always being routed through its Warsaw hub. All things considered your best bet is to book flights to Poland well in advance. While Ryanair do fly to Wroclaw, Gdansk and Poznan amongst others you will also find budget carrier Wizzair, who serve all four Polish host cities from various cities around Europe. Poland’s national carrier, the aforementioned LOT, has a number of direct routes to Poland from major European cities and is also a member of Star Alliance, which adds to your potential flight options. We recommend looking at the game schedules and searching for flights between host cities for the easiest transport. Eurolot and OLTJetair now also fly some domestic routes direct, with new routes being introduced all the time. Fans are advised to look at the various carriers in the coming months to book flights as a timesaving transport plan for getting between cities for the games.

Poznan itself

Poznan might be the least-known of the four Polish host cities, but this well-kept-secret has an Old Town Square with heaps of old-world charm that is lined with bars and restaurants sure to keep fans entertained into the wee hours. Even when they aren’t hosting a major international tournament the city of Poznan has a bustling nightlife, with a large student population keeping the place young and vital. Some of our favourite seasonal bars can be found in Poznan, where residents understand the need to take advantage of the long daylight during Poland’s summer months.

Those looking for a slice of history will find that the easily walkable city has lots of sights to explore, including the lush Citadel Park which plays host to an impressive Armaments Museum and the graves of several Great Escape victims. Anyone interested in the story of the Great Escape – and who isn’t entranced by the story of 76 prisoners digging their way out of a German prison camp during World War II that became a famed Hollywood film – can make a side trip to the city of Zagan to see where it all happened.

Sticking closer to the city you’ll find that just outside the centre of Poznan sits a small island “where Poland began” according to Pope John Paul II. Ostrow Tumski (Cathedral Island) is where the country was ushered into Catholicism, and the towering Cathedral of Poznan houses the remains of the first Polish monarchs. Budding archaeologists will note the remains of 19th century Prussian fortifications that are still visible along the Cybina riverside.

But if football is your sole focus then you’ll still be happy with drawing Poznan. Municipal Stadium is the only stadium in Poland that was refurbished rather than built from scratch, which also means it was the first stadium to be fully completed for the tournament. Inaugurated in 1980, the stadium’s modernisation for the Euros began in January 2009 and primarily focused on increasing capacity and constructing a roof over the stands. The new roof was made of three sections that can fold like an accordion thanks to the 7,000-ton steel frame that supports it. The stadium, which can now hold 43,000 football fans, reopened on September 20, 2010 with a concert by Sting and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

Getting around

Getting around the country to catch games at more than one of these stadiums during your stay in Poland may cause some problems. Major road and rail construction is ongoing, and we can confidently say all the work won’t be completed on time. Add to that the strange composition of the groups, with Wroclaw/Poznan and Warsaw/Gdansk far more natural partners in terms of infrastructure available and distances that will have to be covered than the actual groupings of Warsaw/Wroclaw and Poznan/Gdansk. Driving in Poland, while not completely discouraged, is not as straightforward as it is in most western European countries and travel times can be outlandish. Visitors are surprised to find there is no direct motorway between Poznan and Gdansk, for instance, and the 300km haul will take at minimum 4 hours despite a stretch of 100km on the new A1 dual carriageway. On the rails the Intercity train between Gdansk and Poznan currently takes between 4-5 hours and more trains are expected to be added during the tournament.

Accommodation

When hoping to ensure a comfortable and convenient night’s rest away from home, early booking is always recommended, but never more so than in this case. While the accommodation options available in every Euro 2012 host city have expanded dramatically since Poland won the right to host the tournament in 2007, many rooms, and indeed entire hotels, have already been reserved by UEFA and the ‘football family’ for the duration of the tournament, meaning availability is already limited. While accommodation prices are generally affordable in comparison to Western Europe, the high demand around match days will no doubt drive their value upwards. Rooms will likely become available again in February, so its worth keeping your eyes peeled for more accommodations.

Poznan’s role as Poland’s epicentre for conferences and fairs means the number and range of accommodations is not only impressive, it’s often of a higher standard (flat screen televisions, wireless Internet) than other Polish cities. In fact, one of the country’s most arresting hotels, Blow Up Hall 5050, calls Poznan home. If you like your accommodations mixed with high art then Blow Up Hall 5050 should be your first stop. Other high-end options include the IBB Andersia, the Sheraton and the NH Poznan (which was good enough for Radiohead when they came through town). At the mid-range level you’ll find recogniseable brands like Ibis, Gromada and Campanile along with great local spots like Rzymski (striking distance from the Fan Zone) and Garden Boutique Hotel. Wallet watchers will be pleased with budget accommodations like Pomorski and Mini Hotelik. The city boasts some of our favourite hostels in Poland, and you can’t go wrong with a night at Melody, Fusion or Hill hostels. If you prefer to stay outside the city for quiet and recreation purposes then Novotel Poznan Malta on the shores of sparkling Lake Malta and and City Park Residence (swank!) will fit the bill. Many industrious citizens in Poznan are offering their homes for rent during the tournament, an excellent option for families or groups who want more space and amenities like kitchens and parking. AccPol.pl acts as a go-between for homeowners and fans to set up contracts for such rentals; the website is in six languages and covers all four Polish host cities. And for the truly hardcore, our camping section will help you find the perfect place to nail tent stakes directly into the ground for the chance to rough it during the best months to sleep outside in Poland. 

Euro 2012 in Poznan

Matches to be played in Poznan (all kickoffs CET)

Ireland vs. Croatia, Sunday June 10, 20:45
Italy vs. Croatia, Thursday June 14, 18:00
Italy vs. Ireland, Monday June 19, 20:45

The Poznan Fan Zone

Football fans in Poznan can expect big things from the city’s official UEFA Fan Zone, which is located just 500 metres from the Stary Rynek at Wolności square in the heart of Poznan (the city commissioned the Department of Logistics at Poznan University of Technology to analyse numerous locations in the city based on a list of criteria in order to select the best spot for the Fan Zone – that’s how serious they are about fan fun). The Zone dominates 17,000 square metres and will accommodate up to 30,000 fans at a time. A giant 120 square metre screen will air all the matches, and days games are played in Poznan the Zone will be open from noon to 2 a.m. On non-Poznan game days the Zone opens from three hours before kickoff until midnight - - that means fans can gather for all 31 matches. In addition to airing games the Fan Zone will have live concerts, DJ sets, a full range of food and beverages and entertainment for families too.

An alternative to the official UEFA fan zone is the Carlsberg Fan Camp, which springs up in each host city and offers on-site camping, live broadcasts of the matches, a Sport Zone where you can act out your best football moves, an enormous Catering Zone filled with Polish and International dishes, and even a Relax Zone that simulates a sandy beach in the middle of the city. The best part: the Camp will be green (like the beer!) and have an Eco Zone devoted to running the event in an environmentally friendly way.