Top Places to Watch the World Cup in Europe

There is nothing quite like watching World Cup matches in Europe. The passion, the fans, the bars, and the parties are enough to make anyone a fan of the game. I recently had the pleasure of being able to catch a few matches while I was traveling through Ireland, Italy, and Spain and I can honestly say that this American gal has become a fan for life. My favorite World Cup experience was in Rome where soccer is serious business and for some people their life blood. In Rome you can hear the chanting across the city, people stop their cars in the middle of the road to check to score at a local bar, and everywhere you look people are huddling around flat screen TVs in all the major Piazzas throughout the historic city. After experiencing the World Cup in that fashion, I decided I would have to share my knowledge on some of the hotspots for you world travelers.

Rome, Italy

Italy may be have been out of the World Cup running for quite some time now, but that's not going to stop Italians from watching. The best spots to see the matches are right smack in the center of the city. If you want the real Roman experience, I suggest checking out the area around Campo di Fiori. This famous piazza is easy to find and has a plethora of bars and restaurants where you can get into the game with the locals. Many of these bars also put massive flat screen TVs outside of their establishments so the entire Piazza can watch the game together.

For those of you who may be somewhat intimidated by the absolute passion with which Italians watch the World Cup there are several English and Irish pubs throughout the city. I ended up watching a few of the matches at The Bulldog Inn, where they have a giant TV and great drinks. The particular pub is located near Camp di Fiori so you can still catch some of the Italian World Cup action without getting completely caught up in it.

Dublin, Ireland

It may not be Rugby, but rest assured soccer is big in Dublin. With over 800 pubs throughout the city its easy to find a place to watch the World Cup. I suggest watching the games in the Temple Bar area. Dublin is famous for this area which is adorned with cobble stone streets and brightly colored bars and restaurants. There is also live music every night for those of you who would like to partake in a little Irish jig while watching the games.

Spain

What better place to watch a World Cup match right now than in Spain? With their team making it as far as they have ever gotten in a World Cup the Spanish are full of excitement, passion, and pride. Naturally, the best place to watch the games would be in Madrid, the nation's capital and one of my favorite cities to visit. There are several districts throughout the city with various bars, however just as in Rome I suggest going to the city's well known plazas. Plaza Mayor for instance, has little bars and pubs that will cater to every foreigner's needs. It is also in the center of all the action in the city. Bilbao is also a great city to check out the game and gives you many options. I suggest wandering into the older parts of the city as it is full of character and charm. For those of you in the more tourist oriented Spanish cities such as Santander, there are a plethora of cafeterias and bars right along the beautiful blue water of the sea. If the Spanish countryside is more to your liking look for local hole-in-the-wall bars. These should not be difficult to find as the Spanish are big night cap enthusiasts. While you are in these local bars don't forget to order some "queso manchego" or "chorizo" as they will probably be the best places to satisfy your hunger with some authentic Spanish cuisine.

And there you have it, a few of the top European cities to watch the World Cup. Proceed with an air of caution, as this kind of amazing experience will make it that much harder for the European traveler to leave.