Best Marathons in Germany
Germany’s marathon calendar is a powerhouse mix of World Marathon Majors, lightning-fast PB courses, and scenic city routes lined with enthusiastic supporters. Whether you want a record-chasing flat track or a cultural weekend with friends and family, these ten races showcase the best of the country’s running scene.
Expect meticulous organization, efficient public transport, and plenty of post-race sightseeing. From the Brandenburg Gate to the Rhine waterfront, each event offers its own flavor of German hospitality—and a great excuse to turn race day into a memorable city break.
Run the BMW Berlin-Marathon on 27 Sep 2026 in Berlin, Berlin, Germany! For more information, check out the official website.
The Berlin Marathon is the jewel in the crown of German road racing. It’s part of the World Marathon Majors, known for its pancake-flat course and a long list of world records. If you’re chasing a personal best or dreaming of a sub-3, this is one of the most forgiving and rewarding routes you can find. The crowd support is almost continuous, with bands, cheering zones, and a finish that sends you under the iconic Brandenburg Gate.
Beyond the race, Berlin is an amazing city to explore on foot, once your legs recover, anyway. You can dive into history at the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, and Museum Island, or enjoy the city’s vibrant food scene. Public transport is excellent, accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to stylish boutique hotels, and the whole city feels geared towards embracing big international events. Make it a long weekend and you’ll leave with sore legs and a very full photo roll.
Run the Haspa Marathon Hamburg on 26 Apr 2026 in Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany! For more information, check out the official website.
The Haspa Marathon Hamburg is often called Germany’s fastest spring marathon. The course is flat, flowing, and scenic, weaving past the harbor, through handsome neighborhoods, and along the Alster lake. It’s big and well-organized without feeling chaotic, which makes it a great option if you like the energy of a large city race but don’t necessarily want the scale of Berlin.
Hamburg itself has a distinct maritime atmosphere, with cranes, docks, and the Elbe River giving the city a working-port charm. It’s also a surprisingly pretty city, with elegant streets, leafy parks, and loads of waterfront cafés and bars. The Speicherstadt warehouse district and Elbphilharmonie are must-sees, and if you still have energy after the race, the nightlife around the Reeperbahn offers more than enough distraction.
Run the Frankfurt Marathon on 25 Oct 2026 in Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany! For more information, check out the official website.
The Frankfurt Marathon is all about speed and efficiency, just like the city’s financial reputation. The course is impressively flat and designed to be fast, with several long, straight sections where you can settle into your goal pace. Many runners come here specifically to chase a PB, and the crowd support in the city center sections keeps you moving when it starts to hurt.
Run the Marathon München on 11 Oct 2026 in München, Bayern, Germany! For more information, check out the official website.
The Munich Marathon delivers a wonderful mix of big-city race and relaxed Bavarian charm. The route usually takes you past many of the city’s main sights, through broad avenues and past historic squares, before finishing in or near the Olympic area. The atmosphere is friendly rather than frantic, and the organization is typically German: efficient, clear, and reassuring.
Munich is a fantastic city trip destination in its own right. Think beer gardens, traditional Bavarian food, and beautiful architecture. You can stroll through the English Garden, visit the Residenz or Nymphenburg Palace, or simply wander around Marienplatz. If your marathon is in October, you might even catch the tail end of Oktoberfest or similar festivities. Just be sure to book your accommodation early if you’re combining the two.
Run the Generali Köln Marathon on 4 Oct 2026 in Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany! For more information, check out the official website.
The Cologne Marathon is a great blend of party and performance. The course is flat and relatively fast, but what runners remember most is the atmosphere. You start on the eastern side of the Rhine, cross over the river, and at the end, the cathedral (Kölner Dom) towers over your finish. Along the way, spectators bring a bit of carnival spirit, with costumes, music, and plenty of noise.
As a city, Cologne has a very warm, open personality. The old town along the Rhine is full of bars and restaurants, perfect for post-race refueling with a local Kölsch beer. You can visit the cathedral, explore the chocolate museum, or just enjoy the relaxed riverside vibe. It’s a good race to combine with friends or family who aren’t running, there’s plenty for them to do and see while you’re out on the course.
Run the Marathon Hannover on 12 Apr 2026 in Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany! For more information, check out the official website.
The ADAC Marathon Hannover is a bit of a hidden gem for runners who love fast courses. It’s known for being very flat, with wide roads and few sharp corners, which makes it ideal if you want to run even splits and go after a personal best. The field is big enough to give you company at almost every pace, but not so massive that you’re stuck in traffic jams.
Hannover itself might not be as famous as Berlin or Munich, but it’s a pleasant, green city with good options for a relaxed weekend. You can explore the Herrenhausen Gardens, wander through the old town, or enjoy the lakes and parks that dot the city. Because it’s not as heavily touristed, prices for hotels and restaurants tend to be quite reasonable, which is a nice bonus when you’re already spending on race travel.
Run the Düsseldorf Marathon on 26 Apr 2026 in Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany! For more information, check out the official website.
The Düsseldorf Marathon has long been known as a scenic Rhine race with a focus on speed and style. The route typically runs along the river and through the city center, giving you plenty of waterfront views and glimpses of Düsseldorf’s modern architecture. The course is quite flat, and the weather in late April often lands in that sweet spot that runners love: cool, but not freezing.
Düsseldorf is a stylish city with a strong fashion and art scene. The Königsallee (“Kö”) is lined with designer stores and cafés, and the Altstadt is packed with bars that locals jokingly call “the longest bar in the world.” It’s a fun place to celebrate your race finish, whether you’re more into craft beer, traditional Altbier, or just a good meal. Add in the easy accessibility by train or plane, and it’s an appealing choice for a quick marathon getaway.
Run the Dresden-Marathon on 24-25 Oct 2026 in Dresden, Sachsen, Germany! For more information, check out the official website.
The Dresden Marathon is often praised for its beauty. The route typically follows sections along the Elbe River, crossing bridges and dipping into both the historic old town and leafier areas like the Großer Garten. While it’s not as large as the biggest German marathons, that’s part of its charm, you get plenty of support in key areas without feeling overwhelmed by crowds of runners.
Dresden is one of Germany’s most picturesque cities, rebuilt after the war with incredible attention to its baroque architecture. Landmarks like the Frauenkirche, Zwinger Palace, and the riverside skyline look almost like a painting, especially at sunset. It’s a wonderful city for slow strolling, café-hopping, and museum visits in the days before or after your marathon. If you like combining running with culture, Dresden deserves a spot on your list.
Run the Marathon Bonn on 19 Apr 2026 in Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany! For more information, check out the official website.
The Deutsche Post Marathon Bonn is a lively spring race with a very friendly atmosphere. The course usually runs along the Rhine and through the city, mixing riverside views with stretches in residential areas where locals come out to cheer. It’s a popular event with a strong community feel, and you’ll see many company teams and charity runners on the course.
Bonn, the former capital of West Germany, has a compact, pleasant city center that’s easy to explore on foot. You can visit the Beethoven House, explore the museums along the so-called “Museum Mile,” or simply walk along the Rhine promenade. Because Bonn is not as hectic as some bigger cities, it’s a nice option if you want a marathon weekend that’s active but not overwhelming.
Run the Leipzig Marathon on 19 Apr 2026 in Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany! For more information, check out the official website.
The Leipzig Marathon is one of the older marathons in Germany, and it has a loyal following among runners. The route typically includes some of the city’s main landmarks and green areas, with a course profile that’s mostly flat and quite manageable for beginners and experienced runners alike. The race has a more low-key, runner-focused atmosphere compared to the mega events, which many people find refreshing.
Leipzig itself is a creative, youthful city with a lot going on beneath the surface. There’s a strong arts and music scene, plenty of cafés and bars, and a nice mix of historic buildings and more alternative districts. After the race, you can visit the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, explore the canal network by boat, or just enjoy the relaxed vibe in one of the many parks. It’s the kind of place where a marathon weekend can easily turn into a trip you want to repeat.
Run the Schwarzwald-Marathon Bräunlingen on 10-11 Oct 2026 in Bräunlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany! For more information, check out the official website.
The Schwarzwald Marathon is a true classic of European running history. First held in the town of Bräunlingen in the late 1960s, it’s often described as one of the world’s oldest nature marathons and was among the first to welcome women officially. The course is hilly and mostly off-road, with a large part of the route on well-maintained forest paths and the rest on asphalt. It’s not a course for setting a huge personal best, but it’s perfect if you like a more challenging profile surrounded by trees instead of skyscrapers.
As a race weekend, Schwarzwald Marathon feels very different from the big-city marathons. The atmosphere is friendly and down-to-earth, with a strong local character and a focus on nature rather than spectacle. Bräunlingen and the wider Black Forest region offer plenty of opportunities to turn the event into a cosy mini-holiday: think hiking, spa hotels, traditional guesthouses, and hearty German food after your run. If you want a marathon that feels like a celebration of trail and history rather than urban speed, this is an excellent choice.
Run the GutsMuths-Rennsteiglauf on 9 May 2026 in Suhl, Thüringen, Germany! For more information, check out the official website.
The Rennsteiglauf Marathon, part of the larger GutsMuths Rennsteiglauf event, is Germany’s most famous cross-country race. Held every May on sections of the historic Rennsteig trail in the Thuringian Forest, the marathon distance comes with serious elevation gain and long stretches on forest trails. It’s not a traditional road marathon, it’s more of a trail-style challenge with big-event organization and thousands of participants spread across multiple distances, including a legendary ultra.
What really sets Rennsteiglauf apart is the culture around the event. Aid stations serve not only the usual drinks, but also local specialties like porridge, broth and sometimes even beer, and the finish in Schmiedefeld is known for its festival-like atmosphere. Outside of race day, the Rennsteig region is quiet and green, with plenty of options for hiking and nature walks. It’s a brilliant marathon if you want a tough off-road challenge, lots of local flavour, and a very different experience from city tarmac.
Run the 3-Länder-Marathon on 11 Oct 2026 in Bregenz, Vorarlberg, Austria! For more information, check out the official website.
The 3-Länder-Marathon (Sparkasse 3-Country Marathon) is one of the most unique marathons in Europe, because you run through three countries in a single race: Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The course starts at the harbour in the spa town of Lindau in Germany, follows the shore of Lake Constance, crosses briefly into Switzerland near St. Margrethen, and finishes in the stadium in Bregenz in Austria. The route is very flat, with minimal elevation difference, and a large part of the course runs right next to the lake, perfect if you like combining scenic views with a fast time.
As a marathon weekend, the 3-Länder-Marathon is a paradise for anyone who loves lakes and mountains. You get constant views of Lake Constance and, on clear days, snow-covered Alpine peaks in the distance. The region is ideal for gentle cycling, boat trips, or café-hopping in small lakeside towns before or after race day. Because the event literally crosses borders, it has an international feel despite being relatively relaxed in size, and it’s easy to reach by train or plane via several nearby cities. If you’re looking for a marathon that’s both photogenic and fast, this one should be high on your list.