15 of the Top Sports Experiences Around the World, According to Viator Travelers

Work off those gyros and feel truly virtuous on vacation in Athens by joining a workout session at the Panathenaic Stadium—an Olympic sports trip with a difference. Race around the ancient track (updated to modern standards) and work up a sweat with a trainer while learning more about Greece’s enduring contribution to the world of sport. If you’d like to tour ancient sites without the workout, there are plenty of options for that, too—sometimes with loukoumades (Greek doughnuts) included.

What one reviewer said: “Our trainer was great—very knowledgeable and obviously a great athlete. We had a really fun time and would recommend this to anyone who likes to be active.” Brianne_P, July 2025

Sumo wrestling is on many travelers’ sporting events bucket list. Sumo is a quintessential part of traditional Japanese culture, but it can be hard for many people to know how to access it. Tokyo’sRyogoku neighborhood is where much of the action takes place. Get a close-up view of the sparring during an early morning practice session while sumo wrestlers prepare for their next big bout.

What one reviewer said: “Glad I went, it was amazing to see. The brute strength of the wrestlers is something you have to see in person. You sit to the side and observe and are quiet as a mouse. (...) Try to get there a little early so you get a seat with an unobstructed view.” Donna_P, April 2025

The ancient practice of yoga—a philosophy and form of physical activity all rolled into one—originated in South Asia many thousands of years ago. Nowadays, you can practice yoga across India and Nepal in modern studios, but for a truly atmospheric experience, few places beat the ghats on the banks of the Ganges River (Ganga) in Varanasi. Get personalized attention from your instructor during a class on a rooftop overlooking the city—one of the oldest in the world—and the river.

Melbourne holds a special place in the sporting hearts of Australians, as it’s where test cricket was “invented,” at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Cricket fans won’t want to miss a behind-the-scenes tour of the legendary stadium, which is one of the most iconic sports venues worldwide. If you’d prefer to broaden your scope and learn more about a range of sports played in Melbourne, a sports-focused walking tour of the city covers attractions related to Australian football (AFL), rugby, tennis, horse racing, and more.

What one reviewer said: “I went on this tour with my partner who is footy and cricket mad. I, on the other hand, know nothing about cricket and I’m only just remotely interested in footy. Well, I can honestly say the tour was so enjoyable for both of us. Brian our guide was fantastic. (...)” Simone_G, August 2025

If you need any further proof that Australians take their sport very seriously, swing by the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra before or after checking out the parliamentary attractions in the nation’s capital. The AIS is an elite sports training institute—a kind of university for athletes—and an AIS tour will help you understand how and why Australian athletes are often such formidable opponents. There are interactive zones, too, where you can test your own athletics skills. No pressure.

What one reviewer said: “Wonderful tour! Our guide is currently an athlete at the AIS and was a wealth of knowledge. You get to see a fair bit of the place and if you’re lucky enough, some athletes might be training!” Jessica_L, June 2025

New Zealand is a proud rugby-playing nation, even when its team, the All Blacks, is not the current world champion (that would be South Africa’s Springboks). Unless you’re visiting in winter—not exactly peak tourism season—there’s little chance of actually seeing a rugby match being played, but you can head to the fun All Blacks Experience in central Auckland. Face the All Blacks as they perform their haka war dance (virtually!), take part in interactive activities, or book a guided tour. Rugby tours in New Zealand don't get more immersive than this.

What one reviewer said: “If you are an All Blacks fan or just love the game of rugby, you won't be disappointed! Loved every minute of it. The best part was meeting Ian Jones, legendary All Black. Such a lovely, humble man who took photos with us and signed our merchandise. (...)” Karen_G, September 2025

As a country that features a whole lot of frozen lakes in winter, it’s no wonder ice hockey is so popular in Canada. Learn more about the country’s national winter sport at Toronto’sHockey Hall of Fame. Admire ice hockey artifacts and memorabilia from around the world, go inside a replica dressing room (sweaty sports clothing probably not included), and have a go defending your goal against a life-size replica of a famous ice hockey player.

What one reviewer said: “This is a shrine to hockey. There is so much reverence for the game shown here. The interactive exhibits were so much fun and the staff was very knowledgeable. (...)” Ralph_L, October 2025

There are many places around the world where you can learn to surf, or practice your skills—Costa Rica, Bali, and Portugal, among others. But as surfing is originally a Polynesian activity, and Hawaii is considered the birthplace of modern surfing, what better place than Hawaii to learn to surf? Practice key skills on land first before taking to the warm Pacific Ocean. It’s one of the most thrilling sports adventures you can have on vacation.

What one reviewer said: “The instructor was very professional, thorough in his teaching & patient with the student while surfing. The surf class was worth every penny. Thank you.” Alisa_V, November 2025

Fans of soccer (or, depending on where you’re from, simply football) haven’t lived until they’ve watched a game in Buenos Aires, capital of the current world champions, Argentina. The passionate crowds create an electrifying atmosphere, and you can join in the pre-game buildup by going with a guide and small group, grabbing some drinks, and making your way to the stadium together. This is an ultimate soccer stadium tour worldwide.

Take a break from the beaches of Mallorca and learn about the Spanish island’s favorite son at the Rafa Nadal Museum. The interactive museum makes good use of multimedia to teach visitors all about the famous tennis player. But you don’t need to be a big tennis fan to enjoy this museum: it also has a Formula One simulator where you can practice racing at high speed, and other virtual sport experiences.

Formula One racing is the glamorous European cousin of the sports world, and you can see where one of its most important races—the Monaco Grand Prix—takes place on a walking tour in Monaco. “Walking tour” and “Formula 1 race” might not normally be words you see together in the same sentence, but the Monaco Grand Prix is only held on a few weekends of the year, and the rest of the time the 2-mile (3.3-kilometer) course is quiet. Amble along the circuit while learning about the history of the race, and admiring the surroundings, during this top F1 Grand Prix experience. It’s a must-see sports landmark for lovers of fast cars.

What one reviewer said: “If you love F1, you have to do this tour! You get to walk all around the Monaco circuit while exploring the city itself, so it’s like a 2-in-1 experience, which makes it super fun. David was awesome and explained everything so well, from cool facts to behind the scenes stories.” SofiaNicole_V, November 2025

One of Portugal’s greatest exports—alongside pastel de nata and canned fish—soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo has a museum dedicated to him in his home city of Funchal. The CR7 Museum is a bit out-of-the-way to get to, located as it is on Madeira, an island around 650 miles (1,000 kilometers) southwest of mainland Portugal, but die-hard Ronaldo fans won’t mind the journey to this sports pilgrimage destination. The spectacular scenery and beaches of Madeira aren’t bad, either.

What one reviewer said: “Ideal for the Ronaldo hard core fans. Super knowledgeable guide and funny. Engaging with questions. Saw all the key sights. Learned a lot.” Satish_S, June 2025

Sports enthusiasts will be spoiled for choice in London, one of the best sports tourism destinations. If you’re more of an all-rounder than a specialist, this sports-focused tour of London lets you pick your preferred two sporting destinations from a list of three: Wembley Stadium, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, or Lord’s Cricket Ground. Explore the public areas and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of restricted-access areas, too.

Sort of like the Olympics for traditional sports and dances in Scotland, the Scottish Highland Games in the Scottish Highlands is a fun event for travelers with all kinds of interests. In fact, it’s one of the best sporting events to attend, as you don’t need to know anything about the individual sports to get a lot out of the experience. Enjoy watching Highland dancing, hammer tossing, caber throwing, and bagpipe tooting on a day trip from Edinburgh.

What one reviewer said: “Tim was so much more than a bus driver. He was awesome. His brief Scottish history put so much into perspective and the tidbits along the way broke up the journey. The experience itself was well planned from travel to admission and all the rest.” Mark_L, September 2025

While many beloved sports have been around since the days of the original Athenian Olympians, others have been developed much more recently. Coasteering combines sea swimming, cliff jumping, and rock scrambling that developed in Wales in the 1980s (although we’re sure people have been swimming, jumping, and scrambling in coastal places since the dawn of modern humanity). If you like abseiling or caving, you’ll probably enjoy coasteering, which is a family-friendly extreme sports adventure. You can try it in many places around the world but, as far as adventure sports destinations go, Wales is up there.

What one reviewer said: “If you've never tried coasteering and/or cliff jumping you really should with Sol and his team at Adventure Activities Wales. Dom was our instructor and he was excellent. Our children, aged 12, 11 and 10, had never experienced anything like this before and they had a blast.” Andy_H, August 2025