So you've come out to Germany for the football and, ticketed or not, you've happily adapted to a daily diet of matches, celebrations and commiserations. Until now that is, when for the first time in the tournament there's not a single match for two whole days. So what to do until tomorrow afternoon?
If you're already in Berlin for Germany v Argentina you should have no trouble filling your days, but if you're in need of inspiration, we've collected other readers' travel tips on getting the best out of all the host cities - yes, even Gelsenkirchen. You can also download Chris Alden's lively "walk and talk" audio city guides to your iPod and listen as you explore the city.
In the capital, the Been there readers' vote goes to visiting the East Side Gallery on Mühlenstrasse, which houses more than 1km of original Berlin Wall. A climb up the Victory Column to the west of the Brandenburg Gate is a close runner-up, while if you're happy to go soft, the Tajikistan Tearoom in Unter den Linden is the hottest tip for a tea break.
If you're passing time in Frankfurt until Brazil v France, one user has recommended spending an hour on board the Ebbelwei Express tram (you get a free packet of pretzels thrown in) even though it's "just one of the most stupid things to do in town", while another tips the ClubKeller live music club on Textorstrasse. After visiting to research his World Cup podcast guide, Chris Alden judged the city seriously "underrated" and much more than a bankers' playground. His top recommendations are to take in the view from the 56th floor of the Main Tower and visit to the Jewish Alley museum.
And did you know that Hamburg has more bridges than Venice? One Been there user suggests making the most of the Alster lake by hiring a canoe or a boat and taking a picnic on board, while the Schanzenviertel student district is also highly rated for its good food, drink and prices. Hamburg also gets its 15 minutes of fame in our dedicated podcast city guide.
So far, so good. But what about Gelsenkirchen? There's no arguing with the stadium itself, but I have to admit that neither our large body of users (or the Guardian's own Andrew Culf it seems) are convinced that the city will provide entertainment for more than the 90 minutes of the England v Portugal game on Saturday. The city's location, however, means it's easy to base yourself in nearby Düsseldorf, Cologne, Essen, Bochum and even Dortmund. Though if you're into mining history, you have a rich seam of local opportunities, from the German Mining Museum in Bochum to Nordstern Colliery in Gelsenkirchen itself. Otherwise, one Been there user tips checking out the Folkwang art museum in Essen and another aficionado recommends ordering your beers well in advance as it takes 20 minutes "to pull a perfect Pils". The good news, though, is that "any bar will serve you a decent beer".
• Have you been there? Do you know better? Share your travel tips on our Been there World Cup special
Liane Katz is acting editor of Guardian Unlimited Travel
