From the Bird's Nest to golf on the border: 10 arenas worth seeing
Not every sports arena is interesting only for its matches. Some of them make it onto tourists’ itineraries as full-fledged attractions: one surprises with its shape, another with its location, and a third is built from other people’s records and stories.
The tennis court on the helipad of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai sits 211 m above the ground (as of 09/2026, Guinness World Records). Below are 10 venues from around the world that you can see on a trip. Schedules and access rules for each venue should be checked in advance.
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Our picks: 10 arenas that surprise
💡 In short:
- The list includes 10 venues from different countries: from the Bird’s Nest in Beijing to golf on the border of Finland and Sweden.
- Some arenas are open to tourists year-round, while others can only be entered with a ticket or on a tour.
- We verified the history of the Bird’s Nest against data on the National Stadium in Beijing (as of 09/2026).
No. | Arena | Where | What makes it surprising |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bird’s Nest | Beijing, China | A facade of steel strands instead of walls |
2 | Court at Burj Al Arab | Dubai, UAE | Tennis on a helipad |
3 | Olympic Stadium | Montreal, Canada | The world’s tallest inclined tower |
4 | Floating platform | Singapore | Stands on shore, field on water |
5 | Stadium in Eiði | Faroe Islands | An arena for a few hundred residents |
6 | Avicii Arena | Stockholm, Sweden | A spherical dome over the arena |
7 | Pigalle Duperré court | Paris, France | A court in a courtyard between buildings |
8 | Climbing center | Mazandaran, Iran | A climbing wall shaped like a boulder |
9 | Il San Pietro court | Positano, Italy | Tennis on the cliffs of Amalfi |
10 | Green Zone Golf | Tornio and Haparanda | A course in two countries at once |
1. The bird’s nest in Beijing
The National Stadium in Beijing was built for the 2008 Summer Olympics, and later it also hosted the 2022 Winter Games. Beijing became the first city where the opening and closing ceremonies were held at both a Summer and a Winter Olympics (as of 09/2026, National Stadium statistics).
The arena has no walls. Instead, steel strands wrap the facade, and from a distance the structure looks like a large nest. Hence the popular name "Bird’s Nest." The round shape of the stands gives an even view, so you will see a race equally well from any side.
You won’t miss the arena even if you arrive without a competition ticket: the outside is open for walks year-round.
© N509FZ · CC BY-SAPhoto: N509FZ, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons2. The tennis court at Burj Al Arab
You won’t find the world’s highest tennis court on a mountaintop. In 2005 it was set up right on the helipad of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, 211 m above the ground (as of 09/2026, Guinness World Records data).
The surface was made round rather than rectangular: it normally serves as a helipad and only temporarily turns into a court. In February 2005 Roger Federer and Andre Agassi played here. A net is stretched around the perimeter as a fall safeguard.
The catch: a ball that flew over the edge could not be brought back.
3. Montreal Olympic Stadium
The Olympic Stadium in Montreal opened for the 1976 Summer Olympics. Canadians nicknamed it the "Big O." The inclined tower above the arena is considered the tallest inclined structure in the world: it is 165 m high (as of 09/2026, official Olympic Park website).
Maintaining the complex is expensive for the city. To cover the arena’s costs, Quebec authorities introduced a special "tobacco" tax on cigarette sales. Today the stadium hosts football, athletics competitions, and concerts.
The catch: maintaining the arena is still a significant line item in the city budget. On the plus side, going up the tower gives you one of the best views of Montreal.
4. The Marina Bay floating platform
The stadium in Singapore was built directly on the water: the stands sit on shore, while the field rests on a floating platform. The platform appeared as a temporary replacement for the National Stadium during its reconstruction.
The location was not chosen by chance. Land is scarce in Singapore, and a venue on the water saves expensive plots. The stands can hold tens of thousands of spectators.
The opening and closing ceremonies of the Youth Olympic Games were held here, and during the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix the platform is used as part of the race track. Keep that in mind when planning a trip around a specific event.
5. The stadium in Eiði, Faroe Islands
A football stadium can be built even in a village with a population of a few hundred. That's how the arena in Eiði on the Faroe Islands came about: the stands have enough seats for nearly every resident of the town.
The arena sits among hills and residential houses with brightly colored facades. The stands offer views of the ocean and mountains, so spectators often come here not just for the local club's match.
You're unlikely to find a separate ticket for such a game: matches here are family-oriented and intimate. But it's worth stopping by for the Faroese scenery alone.
© Ekrem Canli · CC BY-SAPhoto: Ekrem Canli, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons6. The spherical Avicii Arena in Stockholm
Stockholm's sphere-shaped arena opened in 1989 and represents the Sun in the "Sweden Solar System." It received its current name, Avicii Arena, in 2021 in memory of the musician and producer Avicii (as of 09/2026, Avicii Arena). It was previously called Ericsson Globe.
The Swedish national hockey team became world champions here, and Nelson Mandela gave a speech. The arena has hosted Eurovision finals and dozens of concerts.
You can see the panorama of Stockholm from the dome on days when access to the top is open: check the schedule in advance, tickets for the observation deck and for concerts are sold separately.
© Holger.Ellgaard · CC BY-SAPhoto: Holger.Ellgaard, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons7. The Pigalle Duperré basketball court
This court is squeezed between two residential buildings in Paris and fills the entire courtyard space. Its dimensions don't meet standards, but anyone can play here, and you'll definitely sink a few baskets.
The court was created by Pigalle brand founder Stéphane Ashpool on the site of a former parking lot. He wanted to combine sports, art, and culture in one project.
The surface colors change every few years. Over the years, the court has been painted with motifs from fashion collections, video games, and the works of Kazimir Malevich.
The catch: due to its non-standard dimensions, the courtyard is a bit cramped for serious play, but for photos it's one of the most recognizable in the city.
8. The climbing center in Mazandaran
Architects built this center in northern Iran with an eye on Mount Damavand, the country's highest peak. More and more climbers want to conquer it.
The building's shape reflects the movement of tectonic plates, and the white color references the snow-capped summit. The training hall inside resembles a pile of natural boulders and prepares you for a real ascent.
Besides the climbing wall, the complex has gyms and guest rooms. So even those who come for several days can stay overnight here.
9. The tennis court at Il San Pietro di Positano
This tennis court on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast is open only to guests of the Il San Pietro di Positano hotel. Everyone else is not allowed in, so people come here not for an hour but for an overnight stay.
The court sits among crags and cliffs. The court offers a view of the Mediterranean Sea, and that alone is worth lingering on the coast for a few days.
The court dimensions are standard, and you can play without restrictions. Among those who have played here is Maria Sharapova: the tennis player admitted she'd love to return to this court again.
- Not for: if you're not a hotel guest, you won't be allowed on the court.
© SullyShave · CC BY-SAPhoto: SullyShave, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons10. Green zone golf club on the border
The Green Zone Golf course stretches right along the border between Finland and Sweden, on the banks of the Torne River. The 18-hole course is split between two countries: 11 holes on the Swedish side in Haparanda and 7 on the Finnish side in Tornio (as of 09/2026, official Green Zone Golf website).
During a single round you cross the border several times and find yourself in two time zones at once. On hole 6 you can actually make the longest "hole in one" in terms of time, thanks to the time difference.
In summer the sun shines here almost all night, so you can play late in the evening when the course is less crowded.
© AleWi · CC BY-SAPhoto: AleWi, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsWant to see one of these venues on your trip? Below is a selection of tours in the cities where they are located.
Tours and tickets
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⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
Can you go inside the Bird's Nest?
On competition and concert days, entry is by ticket only; the rest of the time the stadium operates as a tourist attraction with guided tours. The exact schedule of viewing days changes, so check it on the stadium page before your trip. Without a ticket you can still walk around the outside of the stadium.
Where is the world's highest tennis court?
On the helipad of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, 211 m above the ground. The record was certified by Guinness World Records after the Federer vs. Agassi match in 2005 (as of 09/2026, Guinness record page).
Can you play on the court at Il San Pietro?
No, unless you are a hotel guest. The court on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast is reserved for guests only, so to play you would have to book a room.
What makes the Green Zone Golf Club special?
The course sits in two countries at once. The eighteen holes are divided between Sweden and Finland, and during a single round you cross the border several times and play in two time zones (as of 09/2026, course description on the club website).
What makes Montreal's Olympic Stadium different from other venues?
Canadians call this stadium the "Big O." Above the stadium rises the world's tallest inclined tower, 165 m high (as of 09/2026, Parc Olympique data).
In short: what's worth booking
All ten sites can be seen as part of a regular trip, but tickets and access to each venue should be checked in advance. Venues in major cities host matches and concerts on a schedule. The private Il San Pietro court is open only to hotel guests.
If Beijing or Stockholm is on your itinerary, book a tour of the venue itself. If you're heading to the Amalfi Coast, plan to stay overnight at the hotel with the court. If you're planning a northern trip, include golf on the Finland-Sweden border in your route.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.