Runners around the world are increasingly combining major sports events with short holidays in a growing travel trend called a "race-cation." Instead of traveling only to run, many athletes now plan 24-hour city trips to explore popular destinations right after crossing the finish line.
According to research from travel company Bókun, online searches for marathons abroad have grown dramatically over the past year. Autumn is especially busy for these trips because 42 percent of all global marathons take place during the season, with almost a quarter occurring in October alone. Major European events in cities like Berlin, Amsterdam, Lisbon, and Budapest are driving strong interest.
As a result, internet searches for short city itineraries have surged ahead of upcoming autumn races. For example, searches on what to do in Hamburg for a day jumped by 500 percent in the last month, while similar queries for Lisbon increased by 400 percent. Many runners are also looking for local experiences like day tours and cooking classes to make the most of their brief stays.
Travel experts say this trend connects to the rise of "micro-cations," where people try to experience as much of a city as possible in a short time. Social media platforms like TikTok have also helped spread the trend, with popular videos showing marathon holiday itineraries and advice for traveling fitness enthusiasts.