By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated
From guided night tours of Tel Aviv to stadium-adjacent city experiences, GetYourGuide lists Israel activities that pair well with a sports trip — evening city walks, food tours after the game, and sports history guided experiences.
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Pair a Maccabi TLV EuroLeague night or a Jerusalem Marathon weekend with Viator's evening experiences — Old Jaffa at night, rooftop dinners, and Jerusalem after-dark walking tours. Most evening experiences depart at 19:00–20:00, making them practical pre-match or post-race activities.
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Bloomfield Stadium (Maccabi TLV football) sits in south Tel Aviv; Menora Mivtachim Arena (basketball) is in the same neighbourhood. North Tel Aviv hotels add a 20–25-minute cab. For the Jerusalem Marathon, book central Jerusalem or German Colony hotels up to 6 months ahead — race weekend fills fast.
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Israel is better known for its archaeology and beaches than its stadiums — but for the sports-minded traveller, the country offers genuine bucket-list live experiences: a Maccabi Tel Aviv EuroLeague night in one of Europe’s loudest arenas, a marathon through the streets of the Old City, and the quadrennial Maccabiah Games. This guide covers the key events, how to get tickets, and how to plan a sports-focused trip to Israel.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is the dominant force in Israeli sport and one of the most decorated clubs in European basketball history. With six EuroLeague titles (the most of any non-NBA team), 56 Israeli Premier League titles, and a fanbase that fills the Menora Mivtachim Arena on most nights, a Maccabi game is one of the loudest live-sports experiences available in the Middle East.
The EuroLeague season runs October through May, with the regular season giving way to the Top 16 and Final Four (held in a different European city each year). Home games in the regular EuroLeague season against clubs like Real Madrid, Panathinaikos, or CSKA Moscow regularly draw near-capacity crowds with a high proportion of international visitors in the stands.
Venue: Menora Mivtachim Arena (Yad Eliyahu Arena), Yad Eliyahu, south Tel Aviv. Capacity: approximately 11,700.
Tickets: Buy through the official Maccabi TLV website (maccabi.co.il) or from secondary ticket platforms. EuroLeague nights sell faster than Israeli Premier League games — aim for 1–4 weeks ahead depending on the opponent. Prices typically run ₪100–₪300 for standard seats; courtside and VIP sections cost more.
Getting there: Bus lines 46, 61, or 68 from central Tel Aviv; or taxi/Gett (₪25–40 from central TLV). The Tel Aviv Light Rail provides useful connections. On match nights the stadium is easy to navigate — follow the crowd.
Atmosphere: Expect yellow and blue flags, drum sections, deafening noise on big European nights, and a stadium food experience that includes falafel, bourekas, and Israeli street food alongside the usual arena snacks. Fans mix Hebrew chants with crowd-standard European basketball atmosphere. English is widely spoken around the arena.
The Jerusalem Marathon (typically held in early March) is internationally regarded as one of the most visually spectacular and physically demanding urban marathon routes anywhere. The full 42.2 km course crosses the Old City by the Western Wall observation point, winds through East Jerusalem and over the Mount of Olives, passes the Knesset, and descends through residential Jerusalem neighbourhoods — a combination of religious significance and serious elevation change that makes Jerusalem a genuine distance-running pilgrimage.
Distances: Full marathon, half marathon (21 km), 10 km, and family run. Tourists participate heavily in the 10 km and half marathon categories; the full marathon draws serious runners who train specifically for the hills.
What makes it distinct: Running through the gate of the Old City, past 2,000-year-old stone walls and through the neighbourhood streets of West Jerusalem, with the entire city out on the pavements cheering, is an experience available nowhere else on earth.
Entry and planning: Registration opens approximately 9–12 months before race day at the official Jerusalem Marathon website. Book accommodation in Jerusalem or nearby at the same time — the race weekend fills the city, particularly hotels in the centre, German Colony, and Mamilla. A useful pairing: run the half marathon on Saturday morning and spend Sunday exploring the Old City without race-day crowds.
The Samsung Tel Aviv Marathon (typically late February or early March) is the largest road race in Israel, drawing 40,000+ participants from 60+ countries in recent years. The course is flat, fast, and scenic: it follows the seafront promenade, winds through the White City (UNESCO Bauhaus district), passes through the Yarkon Park, and finishes near the beach.
For competitive runners seeking a personal best, Tel Aviv’s flat course and mild late-winter temperatures (15–22°C typical race morning) make it one of the better marathon options in the region. For tourist-runners, the beachfront sections and the White City passage combine training and sightseeing in a way that few city marathons manage.
Distances: Full marathon, half marathon, 10 km, family fun run.
Entry: Via telavivmarathon.com; registration typically opens 9–12 months before race day. Book accommodation near the seafront (Hayarkon Street, the beach hotels along the Tel Aviv Promenade) for the shortest walk to the finish area.
Israeli Premier League football (Ligat HaAl) runs from mid-August through May with a winter break in January. For football tourists, there are three meaningful match-going options:
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC — the country’s most successful football club (26 Premier League titles) plays at Bloomfield Stadium in south Tel Aviv, capacity ~16,000. The club also competes in UEFA club competitions (typically the UEFA Europa League or Conference League). International UEFA nights at Bloomfield generate genuine atmosphere. Local derbies against Hapoel Tel Aviv (at Bloomfield, or away at Bloomfield when Hapoel plays there under ground-share arrangements) are the most intense fixtures of the domestic season.
Beitar Jerusalem FC — Jerusalem’s most supported club plays at Teddy Kollek Stadium (commonly called “Teddy”) in west Jerusalem, capacity ~21,600. A Beitar home game — particularly against Maccabi Tel Aviv — gives visitors an experience of Jerusalem sports culture that is quite distinct from the pilgrimage trail: noisy, passionate, and very Israeli.
Hapoel Tel Aviv FC — plays at Bloomfield Stadium; the working-class counterpart to Maccabi TLV in the city’s football identity.
Fixture lists and tickets are available at ligat-haal.co.il. Prices typically run ₪60–₪150. On most weekdays there is no need to book in advance; for derbies and end-of-season title races, buy ahead.
The Maccabiah Games are held every four years in Israel and constitute the world’s third-largest multi-sport games by athlete count. The 22nd Maccabiah Games ran 30 June–13 July 2026, with athletes from 90+ countries competing across 42 sports at venues throughout Israel — Bloomfield Stadium, the Wingate Institute (Netanya), Jerusalem’s Teddy Kollek Stadium, and specialised venues for swimming, tennis, and equestrian events.
For tourists visiting Israel during a Maccabiah year, the games offer access to a wide range of sports across 14 days at low or no cost. Many sessions at smaller venues are free; opening and closing ceremonies at Bloomfield require tickets in advance.
The next Maccabiah Games are scheduled for 2030 — the 23rd edition. Check maccabiah.com for future dates and registration information as an athlete or spectator.
For full spectator logistics for the 2026 games or future editions, see the dedicated Maccabiah Games spectator guide.
The Israel Open is an ATP 250-level tournament typically held in Tel Aviv or Ra’anana in February. ATP 250 events feature players ranked inside the world top 100; ticket prices are significantly lower than the equivalent Grand Slam or ATP 500 events, and the relaxed atmosphere makes it a good spectator experience. Current year fixtures and tickets via the Association of Tennis Professionals (atptour.com) or Israel Tennis Association (ita.co.il).
Israel hosts road cycling events through the season, including stages of the Giro Cycling Classic Israel. The country’s compact geography (Galilee to Eilat in five hours by car) makes it possible to attend multiple stages of a multi-day race without complex logistics.
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem regularly host international martial arts competitions — BJJ, judo, and Krav Maga demonstrations and tournaments. These are usually smaller-venue events with open spectator access. The Israel Martial Arts Sports Association maintains a national events calendar.
Best time for spectator sports: October through May covers both the full EuroLeague basketball season and the Israel Premier League football season. The Tel Aviv and Jerusalem marathons fall in late February–early March, making that a particularly sport-dense window.
Jerusalem or Tel Aviv as base? Tel Aviv is the practical sports base — Maccabi TLV basketball and football are based there, and the Tel Aviv Marathon starts and finishes by the seafront. For the Jerusalem Marathon, stay in Jerusalem for race weekend and consider the city itself as part of the running experience. The two cities are 70 km apart and connected by express trains (35 minutes) and frequent Egged buses — day-tripping between them for events is entirely practical.
Shabbat: Israeli football and basketball do not schedule matches on Friday evening (from roughly sunset) through Saturday night, in keeping with Shabbat. Sunday is a standard match day in Israel. Jerusalem Marathon race day is typically Saturday morning, which is significant for observant Jewish runners — but the race organisers accommodate the timing within Israeli law (the race starts before full Shabbat closure would apply in practical terms). Always confirm current rules and race-morning logistics directly with event organisers.
Ticket safety: Avoid purchasing from unofficial scalpers on the street. Official team websites and reputable secondary-market platforms are the safest options.
Maccabi Tel Aviv plays its home EuroLeague and Israeli Premier League games at the Menora Mivtachim Arena (also known as Yad Eliyahu Arena) in the Yad Eliyahu neighbourhood of south Tel Aviv. Tickets are sold via the official Maccabi Tel Aviv website (maccabi.co.il) and on secondary ticket platforms. EuroLeague nights (October to May) sell faster — buy at least one week in advance for regular-season games, and 2–4 weeks ahead for top-tier European matchups. Ticket prices typically range from approximately ₪100–₪300 depending on the section and opponent; EuroLeague knockout rounds cost more. The arena holds around 11,700 spectators. Bring your passport or photo ID; no large bags.
The Tel Aviv Marathon (Samsung Tel Aviv Marathon) is held annually in late February or early March. It is one of the Middle East's largest running events, attracting 40,000+ participants from over 60 countries. Tourists are welcome to register — distances offered typically include a full marathon (42.2 km), half marathon, 10 km, and family run. The course runs through central Tel Aviv, past the beachfront, through the White City neighbourhood, and along the Yarkon Park. Registration opens around 9–12 months before race day via the official event website; early entry prices are lower than late entry. Check the current year's registration at telavivmarathon.com.
The Jerusalem Marathon is held in early March and is widely regarded as one of the most scenically extraordinary urban marathon routes in the world. The full marathon (42.2 km) course winds through the Old City streets, past the Western Wall (seen from the observation platform above), through East Jerusalem, up and over the Mount of Olives, past the Knesset and into the green Jerusalem corridor. The combination of religious significance, ancient stone streets, and the physical drama of Jerusalem's hills makes this a bucket-list event for runners who want more than a flat city course. A 10 km race runs on the same morning and is popular with tourists. Entry via the official Jerusalem marathon website; book accommodation 6 months ahead as the race weekend draws thousands of international runners and hotel rooms fill early.
Israeli Premier League football (Ligat HaAl) runs roughly from mid-August to May. Maccabi Tel Aviv FC and Hapoel Tel Aviv FC play home games at Bloomfield Stadium in south Tel Aviv; Beitar Jerusalem FC plays at Teddy Kollek Stadium in west Jerusalem. Derby matches and top-of-table games sell out; most other matches have good availability at the gate on match day. Ticket prices are typically ₪60–₪150. The atmosphere at an Israeli football derby — particularly the classic Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Tel Aviv or the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv rivalry — is passionate and worth experiencing if you have even casual interest in the game. Check current fixtures at ligat-haal.co.il.
The Maccabiah Games are a quadrennial Jewish Olympic-style multi-sport event held in Israel. Athletes from across the Jewish diaspora (and non-Jewish Israeli athletes) compete across dozens of sports. The 22nd Maccabiah Games were held 30 June–13 July 2026 at venues across Israel including Bloomfield Stadium, the Wingate Institute in Netanya, and Jerusalem. The next Maccabiah Games are scheduled for 2030. As a spectator event for tourists, the games offer free or low-cost access to a wide range of sports across 14 days, from track and swimming to tennis and table tennis. See the dedicated Maccabiah Games spectator guide for more.
Yes. The Menora Mivtachim Arena is located in the Yad Eliyahu neighbourhood in southern Tel Aviv, approximately 3 km from Tel Aviv Central Bus Station. On match nights the area is well-signposted and heavily policed. From central Tel Aviv, take bus lines 46, 61, or 68 to the arena area, or a taxi/Gett cab (₪25–40 from central TLV). The Red Line light rail (Tel Aviv Light Rail) provides connections to the area from the Universita HaAretz and Givatayim stations within easy walking distance. Parking is available near the arena on non-Shabbat evenings; public transport is preferable on EuroLeague nights when traffic is heavy. The arena has English-language signage and is tourist-accessible.
Yes. The Giro d'Italia has visited Israel (Stage 1 of the 2018 Giro started in Jerusalem); the country has also hosted international tennis and swimming events. The Tour de France has not visited Israel but the country hosts the annual Israel Cycling Academy's domestic races. In winter the Israel Premier League basketball season runs simultaneously with the EuroLeague. The Israel Open (tennis, ATP 250 level) typically takes place in Tel Aviv or Ra'anana in February. Consult current fixtures through the Israel Sports Authority (sport.gov.il) or local event listing sites for the year you are visiting.
By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated