Tennis Vacations: Where to Play and Watch
A tennis holiday comes in two flavours: trips where you go to play (camps, clinics and resorts), and trips where you go to watch the best in the world. Both are bucket-list material. Here's how to plan either one well, with the tips experienced travelling fans share again and again.
Watching the pros: the four Grand Slams
The majors are the ultimate tennis pilgrimage, each with its own character: the Australian Open (Melbourne, January) is relaxed and sun-soaked; Roland-Garros (Paris, late May) is clay and atmosphere; Wimbledon (London, late June–July) is grass, tradition and strawberries; and the US Open (New York, late August–September) is loud, late and electric.
The insider move: buy a grounds pass for the first week. Early-round days let you roam the outer courts and watch stars up close for a fraction of a show-court ticket — often the best value in tennis.
The Masters events are the value pick
If a Slam feels too pricey or crowded, the Masters 1000 events are the sweet spot: nearly the same field, far better access and lower prices. Indian Wells (California, March) is so relaxed and well-run that fans nickname it 'the fifth Slam'; Rome, Madrid, Miami, Canada, Cincinnati and Shanghai all deliver world-class tennis with shorter queues and cheaper seats.
At these events you can often stand a few feet from top players on the practice courts — something a Slam rarely allows.
Ticket-buying tips
- Buy from the official tournament site or its authorised partner — resale prices balloon fast.
- Wimbledon runs a public ballot (lottery) months ahead; enter it, and know that a famous same-day queue also exists.
- Early-round grounds passes give the most tennis per dollar.
- Weekday and first-week sessions are cheaper and less crowded than finals weekend.
Going to play: camps and academies
For an immersive week, adult tennis camps and academies pair daily coaching with match play. Spain is the heartland — the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca and the Sánchez-Casal academy among the best known — while in the US, Florida academies like Saddlebrook and IMG run adult programs. They range from serious skills weeks to sociable, all-levels clinics.
Tennis resorts and all-inclusives
If you want tennis mixed with a proper holiday, resort tennis is the answer. Club Med and many Caribbean, Mediterranean and Mexican resorts include courts, clinics and hitting partners in the package, so you can play in the morning and be on the beach by lunch. Great for couples and families where not everyone is a fanatic.
Just want to play on holiday?
You don't need a dedicated tennis trip to get a hit in. Pack your racquet, and use our Court Finder to locate public and club courts wherever you land — many parks have free courts, and local clubs often welcome visitors for a small guest fee. A morning rally is a brilliant way to see a new city.
Practical trip tips
- Book Slam tickets and accommodation early — both sell out and spike close to the event.
- Check the tournament calendar so your dates line up with play (and ideally your favourite players' likely rounds).
- Pack court shoes suited to the surface you'll be on, and a spare grip.
- Sun, hydration and a hat — spectator days are long and exposed, especially in Melbourne and New York.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best way to get affordable Grand Slam tickets?+
Buy a grounds pass for the first week. Early-round days let you roam the outer courts and watch stars up close for a fraction of a show-court ticket — often the best value in tennis. Always buy from the official tournament site to avoid inflated resale prices.
Which tennis tournament is best to attend in person?+
The four Grand Slams are the ultimate pilgrimage, but Masters 1000 events (like Indian Wells, nicknamed 'the fifth Slam') are the value pick: nearly the same field with better access, shorter queues and cheaper seats — plus close-up practice-court viewing.
Are adult tennis camps worth it?+
Yes, if you want an immersive week of coaching plus match play. Spain (the Rafa Nadal Academy, Sánchez-Casal) and Florida academies run adult programs ranging from serious skills weeks to sociable all-levels clinics. Resort tennis is a great option if you want a proper holiday too.
Is there a way to watch pro tennis for free?+
Often, yes — the qualifying rounds and 'fan week' before the main draw are usually free or very cheap. At the US Open, for instance, Fan Week grounds access is free with a registered pass, letting you watch qualifiers battle for a main-draw spot and top players practising just feet away before a single main-draw ticket is needed. You miss the marquee matches, but for close-up, low-cost, low-crowd tennis it's the best value there is — arrive early and court-hop.
Planning around a tournament? Our living calendar shows every event, dates and official ticket links.
Open the Tournament Calendar →Curated from r/tennis travel and 'which tournament should I go to?' threads plus widely-shared fan advice — the grounds-pass and 'Masters-are-better-value' tips come up constantly. Paraphrased, not quoted.