Hotels for Berlin Marathon 2027

A single closed course loops through the capital's streets, drawing runners chasing personal bests on some of the flattest tarmac in distance running. Wheelchair athletes and elite fields set off in waves ahead of the main pack, and pavements along the route fill early with people banging on barriers and calling out names.

The finish line comes after a long straight run through the historic centre, where families wait for hours to catch a glimpse of one runner among thousands.

The BMW Berlin Marathon, first run in 1974, is one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors and the fastest big-city marathon on earth: its flat, wide and largely straight course through the German capital has hosted an extraordinary run of world records. Eliud Kipchoge lowered the men's world record here in both 2018 and 2022, and in 2023 Tigist Assefa set a women's world best on these roads.

The race starts and finishes in the central Mitte district, looping from the Straße des 17. Juni beside the Reichstag out through the city and back to a finish beneath the Brandenburg Gate — one of the sport's iconic sights. Held on the last Sunday of September, when the weather is typically cool and calm, it draws tens of thousands of runners and huge, good-natured crowds.

There is no race-day number collection, so plan to visit the expo in the days beforehand, and base yourself near the Tiergarten for a short walk to the start.