Is it possible to embark on an athletic adventure while being kinder to the planet? Yes, says Richard Thurston, who picks five events that have sustainable sustainability credentials.
Amid growing concerns about climate change and the impact of air travel on the environment, the focus on sustainable tourism continues to grow. At the center of these concerns is athletics. Participating in global sports requires international travel, but it is still possible to act sustainably to reduce the environmental impact of travel. Across Europe, people are making the decision to replace air travel with more sustainable alternatives such as rail, ferry and bus.
Swapping air travel for train travel could cut an individual’s emissions by more than three-quarters, according to a UK government analysis. Train operator Eurostar is demanding even bigger cuts.
Sustainable travel is also becoming easier with greater awareness of greener travel alternatives, as well as the addition of overnight train services and high-speed rail lines that make it faster to reach a long list of destinations. Rail travel takes you to the heart of the city without having to wait hours at the airport.
A strong core of Brits have taken the train to the 2023 World Cup in Budapest, Hungary. Across the European Union, rail journeys are set to grow by almost six percent in 2024, the latest full year on record, driven by government policies that have promoted greener choices across the continent.
“There has been an increase in interest in rail travel due to two things: airport and flight fatigue and a desire to travel more sustainably,” said Mark Smith, sustainable travel expert and founder of the rail travel website. seat61.com. “When people take the train, the journey becomes part of the holiday. It’s a lot less stressful than airports and flights, and you can see things on the way.”
You may be thinking of setting off on your travels in the coming year, so to give you a little inspiration, we’re highlighting five athletics events taking place across Europe in 2026, how to get to each event sustainably, with some fun travel and exploration along the way.
Many of these events have introduced their own sustainability initiatives focused on waste and water reduction, trail rehabilitation, shared transportation, and local sourcing, among other strategies, further expanding their green credentials.
1 – Scandinavian Adventure
Diamond League double with optional Arctic Circle Marathon
Dates:June 7 (Stockholm, Sweden), June 10 (Oslo, Norway), June 20 (Troms)ø, Norway)
Audience experience. 5/5
Participation: 5/5
A challenge: 3/5
Exploration: 5/5
Travel time: seven days Stockholm and Oslo. Add 12 days for the Arctic Circle extension
* Ratings include Midnight Sun Marathon
The adventure begins with a Sunday evening packed with Diamond League athletics at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Stadium. This ‘romantic-style’ stadium is built on the walls of a medieval city and has retained its character throughout a turbulent history. It offers great views wherever you sit. Check out the athletics records carved into the pavement outside on Lidingövägen.
Catch an archipelago tour, visit a museum and munch on Swedish meatballs before heading to Oslo for a Diamond League double at the Bislet Games. Oslo also has a heritage, with international athletics having been staged here since 1924 (the first Bislett Games were held in 1965) and it is fertile ground for high performance, seeing no fewer than 70 world records.
After your Diamond League fix, head north through Norway to the Lofoten Islands for great mountain running trails and views of peaks and ocean.
Continue on to the Tromsø Arctic Circle Remote Midnight Sun Marathon in midsummer. At that time of year, there is 24-hour daylight, offering the unique experience of running a marathon in the sun as the clock strikes midnight.
Sustainable travel. The entire trip can be done without a flight. On June 6, take the train to Hamburg (Eurostar from London to Brussels, then change at Cologne). Book a cabin on the Hamburg to Stockholm sleeper train to arrive fresh and ready to explore the Swedish capital on June 7. A train will take you to Oslo directly from Stockholm, then a boat to Lofoten at the Bodø railway line. Two buses then take you for the Tromsø Marathon. For the return journey, a faster train route from Narvik will take you to Stockholm.
Additional information: diamondleague.com
2 Combined events in the mountains
The world’s best heptathletes and decathletes compete Goetz HypoMeeting:
Dates:May 30-31 2026 (Götz, Austria)
Audience experience. 5/5
Participation: N/A
A challenge: 1/5
Exploration: 3/5
Duration of the trip. Four days
This unique two-day summer Alpine festival of combined events is a must-attend event for heptathletes and decathletes, and fun to watch. See the world’s best athletes up close as they zip around Mösle Stadium, tuck into pasta in the food tent and engage children in face painting and their own special athletics day.
Sustainable travel.
On May 29, travel by Eurostar from London to Paris, then Götzis via Strasbourg (France), Basel and Z.u:rich (Switzerland). On the way back, leave some time to explore the beautiful Vorarlberg region or cross the border to visit mountainous Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Additional information: meeting-goetzis.at/en:
3 The Hallowe’en Ultra
A tough ultramarathon to test the resilience of body and mind
Dates:October 30-31 (Sweden, near Bastad)
Audience experience. N/A
Participation: 5/5
A challenge: 5/5
Exploration: 3/5
Duration of the trip. Six days
For endurance athletes preparing for their next big challenge, Kullamannen has been described as a “monster” and “killer of strong men and women”. Part of the UTMB World Endurance Race, the 106-mile trail race in Sweden is not for the faint of heart, with a DNF rate of over 40 percent. Based on the age-old local legend of Cullamaneni, you can expect rugged weather that attracts rocky shores, nature reserves and technical tracks on Kulberg mountain. Shorter options are available and you can share the Halloween race spirit with your kids by signing them up for the Kullamannen Kids Race on Friday afternoon or Saturday.
Sustainable travel.
On October 28, board the train according to Nordic Adventure to Hamburg, dine at one of the many restaurants in this lively Hansa, and relax for the night. Continue the next day by train to Bastad, Sweden, changing in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, where you will have time to explore. Hear talks at the exhibition on Friday before boarding the bus to start your spooky trail adventure.
Additional information: kullamannen.utmb.world:
4 Sandy Atlantic parkrun
A beautiful park on a spectacular stretch of Atlantic Beach
Dates:Any Saturday – kick off 9.30am (Ireland)
Audience experience. N/A
Participation: 4/5
A challenge: 2/5
Exploration: 4/5
Duration of the trip. Three days
One of the most beautiful parks in a country dotted with amazing 5km options. A beautiful stretch of golden sand and dunes jutting out from an estuary into the Atlantic Ocean on the Dingle Peninsula on Ireland’s west coast, Inch Beach is an exclusive park. Inch Beach’s hardy volunteers have previously organized events during Atlantic storms, so come prepared for rain, shine and wind. However, the views across the Atlantic Ocean and across the estuary to the Iveragh Peninsula are spectacular. Great stay in the nearby Irish-speaking town of Dingle craic
Sustainable travel.
Travel by train to Holyhead, Wales (overnight in Chester or Manchester if necessary) and catch the Friday morning ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Ferry Port. Then from Houston station in Dublin take an Irish Rail to Tralee (the capital of County Kerry) and then a bus to Dingle. Saturday morning bus will take you direct from Dingle to Inch Beach parkrun; On the way back, use the stop at Annascaul (6km), take a lift with the friendly locals or head to lively Killarney for some traditional Irish Saturday entertainment.
Additional information: parkrun.ie/inchbeach
5 trail runs with the elites
European Athletics Cross-Country Championships
Dates:June 5-7 (Slovenia)
Audience experience. 2/5
Participation. 5/5
A challenge: 4/5
Exploration: 3/5
Duration of the trip. Seven days
Biennial European Athletics Cross-Country Championships successor of the European mountain running championship. combines stunning trail and mountain running with racing for both elite and recreational athletes. The open races of this third edition of Ljubljana-Kamnik are the Velika Planina climb (1280m ascent) on June 7th and the 25km and 52km races on June 8th. You can watch the elite athletes on all three days.
Sustainable travel.
Travel by Eurostar on Wednesday 3rd June from London to Munich (via Brussels) and spend the night in this beautiful Bavarian city. The next day, take the train from Munich to Kamnik via Salzburg and the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana. Alternatively, take the overnight train from Munich to allow time to explore fascinating Ljubljana before heading to Kamnik for the opening ceremony on Thursday evening.
Additional information: european-athletics.com
Best tip: For all travel except Ireland, try the Global Pass interrail.eu:choosing the number of days you need. It covers all your journeys, including getting to London’s Eurostar terminal. Smaller additional seat booking fees apply. For Ireland, try the Sail Rail offer from Stena Line and Irish Ferries, which offers a combined ferry and train ticket. The future of Sail Rail remains in doubt at the time of writing, however, so separate rail and ferry tickets may be required.
