5 Oldest Olympic Stadiums Still Standing For Visitors
Imagine standing in the very spot where athletes competed thousands of years ago, feeling the echoes of ancient cheers ripple beneath your feet. Olympic stadiums are more than concrete and stone; they are living chapters of human history, holding stories of triumph, struggle, and glory.
Ancient Greek ruins and grand early 20th-century arenas have withstood wars, weather, and the passage of centuries. Step inside five of the oldest Olympic stadiums still open to visitors, relive the spirit of historic competitions, and feel the thrill that inspired generations of athletes.
1. Stadium at Olympia, Greece
Where it all began! Long before hashtags and highlight reels, athletes raced barefoot across this very track starting around 776 BC.
The Stadium at Olympia is the original home of the Olympic Games, and walking through its ancient tunnel still gives visitors serious goosebumps.
Though much of the structure has weathered over millennia, the stone starting line is still visible. How cool is that?
Runners once crouched right there, hearts pounding, ready to chase glory for their city-state.
2. Panathenaic Stadium, Athens, Greece
Built originally in the 4th century BC and later rebuilt entirely in gleaming white marble, the Panathenaic Stadium is honestly one of the most jaw-dropping sights in Athens. It hosted the very first modern Olympic Games in 1896, making it a two-time champion of history.
Visitors today can walk onto the actual track, sit in the marble seats, and even hold a replica Olympic torch. If stadiums had superhero origin stories, this one would have the best comic book cover ever.
3. Francis Olympic Field, St. Louis, USA
Constructed in 1902, Francis Olympic Field at Washington University in St. Louis quietly holds one of Americas most underrated sports history badges. It hosted the 1904 Summer Olympics, the very first Games held on American soil, which is a pretty big deal for a campus field.
However, what makes it extra special is that it still hosts sporting events today! Registered as a historic landmark, this field proves that great things do not need a flashy renovation to stay relevant.
4. Stockholm Olympic Stadium, Sweden
Opened in 1912 for the Summer Olympics, Stockholm Olympic Stadium looks like it walked straight out of a fairy tale with its iconic red-brick towers and medieval-inspired design. Incredibly, it has never stopped being used since opening day, which is more than a century of nonstop action!
Today it hosts football matches, athletics events, and even concerts. Few venues anywhere on Earth can claim that kind of unbroken legacy.
Visiting feels like shaking hands with a very well-aged legend.
5. Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany
Massive, dramatic, and loaded with complicated history, the Olympiastadion in Berlin was built between 1934 and 1936 for the controversial 1936 Summer Olympics. Jesse Owens famously won four gold medals here, delivering one of sports history’s greatest mic-drop moments on the world stage.
After a major renovation completed in 2004, the stadium now hosts Bundesliga football and major concerts. Though its past carries heavy shadows, today it stands as a powerful reminder of resilience, transformation, and the enduring spirit of athletic competition.
