One of the biggest sports events of the year, the UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2016), kicks off on Friday evening (22:00) with the match between France and Romania.

For a month, between June 10 and July 10, most of the TVs in Romania will be showing the same thing: the Euro 2016 matches. The bars, pubs and restaurants in Bucharest and major cities will for sure keep their TVs on PRO TV or Dolce Sport in this period, as these are the two local televisions that will broadcast the football matches in Romania. Don't expect to find empty place easily, especially when Romania will be playing. An early reservation may spare you the hassle of finding seats with a good view.

Some popular places in Bucharest and other big cities will also have big screens installed outdoors to offer the ultimate viewing experience to football supporters. Here are some of them:

Therme Bucuresti, the newly opened thermal wellness center near Bucharest, promises “the most spectacular viewing of the European Football Championship.” A huge led screen (16x9 meters) will be installed on the new outdoor beach located in the center’s Palm area, and another big screen of 9x6 meters will await football fans at the beach within the Galaxy area. During the Euro 2016 (June 10-July 10) Therme Bucuresti will stay open until 1:00 allowing fans to enjoy the late night matches. Those who want to enjoy this experience will have to pay for access in the wellness center.

If you are looking for a premium location to watch the matches with friends, you can try The Garden at JW Marriott hotel or the poolside garden at Radisson Blu hotel.

One of Bucharest's most popular parks, the Alexandru Ioan Cuza Park (also known as IOR or Titan), will also have a space dedicated to football fans. The Pensioners' Island will become Supporter Island for the duration of the Euro 2016. The island will have several big screens installed. Access to the Supporter Island will be free.

The ice skating rink in Drumul Taberei neighborhood was turned into a large open air terrace and will have a big led screen where people living in the area can watch the matches. A big screen will also be installed in Bucharest's Bazilescu Park, but it will only stay on until 23:00 each evening.

Football fans will also have the chance to see Euro 2016 matches on the rooftop of Promenada shopping center, at the second floor of the Mega Mall, and at Beraria H, one of the biggest beer houses in the capital. Beraria H will have a giant screen on its terrace, in Herastrau Parc. Access to all of these places is free of charge.

Outside Bucharest, the matches will also be screened in Shopping City Targu Jiu’s food court area, on the terrace of the Ploiesti Shopping City mall, and on giant screens installed in 25 Octombrie Square in Satu Mare, and Unirii Square in Oradea. The match between Romania and France will also be screened at the Student Complex in Timisoara, in the Constanta's Ovidiu Square. However, Cluj-Napoca will have probably the most authentic viewing experience, as it will open its main stadium Cluj Arena and broadcast the Euro 2016 matches on big screens there.

Romania’s national team qualified for the European Football Championship for the fifth time. Romania also played at Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Their best performance at the European Championship was is 2000, in Germany/Netherlands, when they reached the quarterfinals.

Romania will play the opening match against France on June 10, 22:00 (local time). Then, on June 15, Romania meet Switzerland, and, on June 19, they play against Albania.

Romania chooses official slogan for the Euro 2016

Euro 2016: PM will attend opening match between Romania and France

Euro 2016: Opening match between France and Romania is a possible terrorist target

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com