The complete guide to buying concert tickets in Europe: Wembley, O2 Arena, Accor Arena, prices, ticket types, standing vs. sitting, and tips for Israelis.
Europe is the world of live shows — dozens of huge artists perform every week at venues holding 20,000–90,000 people. This guide will explain how an Israeli buys tickets for shows in Europe, what to expect, and how not to fall into a trap.
Not every venue is equal. The venue where the artist performs affects the experience, the price, and even the acoustics:
The largest stadium in Britain, upgraded in 2007. Hosts huge summer shows — Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Coldplay. Tip: The back wall (Upper Tier) is very high. Floor Standing in front of the stage = the best experience. Full guide to Wembley.
The largest indoor venue in England. Excellent acoustics, accessible location (Jubilee metro line). Most of the big “residencies” take place here — 10 consecutive nights for an artist. The best: Block 103-110 (Floor) for a close experience, Block 412-415 for an overall view. Full guide to the O2 Arena.
Paris's central venue. Easy to reach — metro line 14 to Cour Saint-Émilion station. Shows in French and English. Middling acoustics in the Upper Tier. Recommendation: The Fosse (around the stage) for an intermediate experience. Full guide to Accor Arena.
One of the best acoustic venues in Europe. Completely round — there's no bad seat. Amsterdam Arena (Johan Cruyff) also hosts huge shows. Easy to reach, less crowded than London/Paris.
Berlin = the music capital of Europe. Also Waldbühne (22,000, open-air) and Olympiastadion (74,000) for big artists. Relatively cheap tickets, a city accessible to Israelis (a direct flight of 4 hours).
For huge stadium tours — U2, Rolling Stones. Germany hosts shows over 3–5 dates, so there's a better chance of getting tickets.
Ticketmaster is the biggest ticketing company in the world and holds exclusive rights to most of the big venues. The problem: an English interface, service fees that add up (15–25% on top of the price), and for sales for very popular artists — you enter a “Waiting Room” that can take hours.
Most of the big artists (Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran) run an exclusive Pre-Sale for Fan Club members 24–48 hours before the public. Signing up for a Fan Club dozens of days in advance — sometimes worth the €10 a year.
When the official sale ends within minutes, TikTik provides tickets guaranteed tickets with a transparent price, support in Hebrew, and full security. Ideal for Israelis planning a flight to Europe who want certainty.
Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, IG Stories — full of scams. Fake concert tickets are a huge industry. A simple rule: if it doesn't come from an authorized site — don't buy.
| Seat Type | Average Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standing / Pit (facing the stage, standing) | €40–150 | Closest to the stage, no seat |
| Floor Seated | €80–200 | A seat close to the stage |
| Lower Tier | €60–180 | A good view, seated |
| Upper Tier | €40–100 | Far but you see everything |
| VIP / Floor Experience | €200–800 | Early entry, sometimes a meet & greet |
| Hospitality Suite | €500–2,000 | A private room, full service |
For huge-demand tickets (Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Coldplay on limited dates): Expect prices to double — Standing can reach €300–500 once the official sale has ended.
Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd — these are artists who sell out all of Wembley within 10 minutes. Sign up for the Pre-Sale, have your credit card ready in advance, be on Ticketmaster 30 minutes before opening.
For most artists — even very popular ones — tickets are available up to two weeks before. Expect the price to rise as the date approaches, but not dramatically.
Sometimes there are tickets on the day of the show — mainly Upper Tier. It's not recommended to plan a flight to Europe based on this hope, but if you're already there — it's worth checking.
Print at home. The most common and convenient. Important: don't photograph and share — a barcode that's scanned once blocks all duplicates.
Shows at the O2, Wembley, and modern venues have moved to digital tickets only. The Ticketmaster app is required. Have an internet connection ready on the day of the show — there are sometimes overloads.
Collected at the box office with ID. Usually for expensive / VIP tickets. Requires early arrival (30–60 minutes before doors open).
This is a question all of Israel asks — and there's no single answer:
Many VIP tickets include Early Entry — entry 60–90 minutes before the public. In the Pit/Standing this is critical — that's how you reach the front row. Price: +€30–80 on top of the regular ticket.
Usually include: early entry, a meet & greet with the artist (usually with a photographer), merchandise (a shirt, a bag), a VIP bar, entry to a separate area. Price: €200–800. Worth it for an artist you love a lot.
All the big venues in Europe are legally required to provide access for people with disabilities. Accessibility tickets are usually cheaper and allow early entry. You must state an accessibility need at the time of purchase — it can't be changed afterward.
Israelis attending a show in Europe for the first time are always struck by the difference:
At Wembley, the O2, the Ziggo Dome — if it says 20:00 for the opening act and 21:30 for the main act, that's exactly what will happen. Not 22:15. Not “soon”. Arrive on time — because the artist arrives on time.
In European Standing Areas — people stand and no one complains. But in seated areas — you don't stand unless everyone else does. Unlike in Israel, no one will start dancing between the seats if the rest of the block is sitting.
The big venues have a bar inside. Prices: £7–12 for a beer, £3–5 for a soft drink. It's recommended to eat beforehand — food at venues is expensive and mediocre.
A show at the O2 that ends at 23:30 — you'll find yourself at the Jubilee metro station with 19,000 other people. Think about accommodation close to the venue, not far from it.
London: a hotel in Canary Wharf for the O2, a hotel in Wembley Park for Wembley. Paris: a hotel in Bercy for Accor Arena. Amsterdam: Ziggo Dome — 10 minutes by metro from the center. A hotel close by = you won't get stuck in transport at midnight.
London: the metro runs until 00:30 on Saturdays, 00:00 on weekdays. The Night Tube runs on weekends. Uber is available but expensive with surge pricing after a show. Paris: the metro runs until 01:15, the RER until 02:00 on weekends. Berlin: the S-Bahn and U-Bahn run all night on weekends.
The most common situation: an artist you love announces a show, Ticketmaster opens, and within 8 minutes everything's gone. What now?
TikTik provides tickets guaranteed tickets for the big shows even after the official release. Tickets come from authorized sources, a transparent price including fees, and support in Hebrew that will help with any question — from booking to the day of the show.
A full cancellation — you get a full refund. A postponement to a new date — the tickets are valid for the new date, usually with a refund option if the date doesn't suit you. TikTik updates Israeli customers in Hebrew about every change and handles refunds when needed.
It depends on the ticket type. Tickets with a PDF barcode — can be transferred. Mobile App tickets (Ticketmaster) — usually can be transferred to another person through the app. Paperless (Will Call) tickets — cannot be transferred, only the original buyer can enter with ID. Check the ticket type before buying.
It's entirely up to you. Standing / Pit = close to the artist, high energy, standing for 4–5 hours, arriving early to secure a front spot. Seated = you sit, see the whole stage, more comfortable for ages 35+ and families. For huge stages with lighting and effects (Beyoncé, Coldplay) — Upper Seated is sometimes better than the Pit for seeing everything.
Usually: the tour announcement comes 3–6 months before. Pre-Sale for Fan Club members and Verified Fan — 48 hours before the public. General Sale — usually a Friday at 10:00 local time. Follow the artist on social media, sign up for the newsletter, and TikTik will alert you too.
Standing / Pit: if you want to be at the front — arrive 3–4 hours before doors open. People wait in line outside the venue from the morning. Seated: 45–60 minutes before doors open is enough. VIP: check the specific instructions you get with the ticket — usually early entry 60–90 minutes.
Absolutely — this is the “Concert Tourism” approach that's gaining momentum. London: combine it with 3 days of sightseeing — museums, theater, food. Paris: meals, the Louvre, and Accor Arena in one day. Berlin: the cheapest and most accessible from Israel, a fascinating city to explore. Amsterdam: a short ride from London on the Eurostar or a one-hour flight.
