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Berlin Marathon

Flat, fast and iconic — the world record marathon course through the heart of Berlin.

World Marathon Major Good for PB Good for Debut Destination Race
1.9/10 Difficulty
94m Elevation Gain
54,000 Field Size
91% Finisher Rate
1974 Founded

Course Map

Elevation Profile

Indicative — verified figures shown above.

About this Race

The BMW Berlin Marathon is one of the world's most celebrated road races, coursing through the heart of the German capital on a predominantly flat and fast route. Starting and finishing near the iconic Brandenburg Gate, the course winds past landmarks including the Reichstag, Potsdamer Platz, and the Berlin Victory Column. The race attracts elite athletes and recreational runners alike, regularly producing world record performances thanks to its favourable course profile and exceptional organisation. With over 40,000 finishers from more than 140 countries, it ranks among the largest marathons in Europe. Pacers are provided for a wide range of finish times, making it equally suitable for debut marathoners and seasoned athletes chasing personal bests. The atmosphere along the route is electric, with spectators lining the streets throughout.

flat fast city debut major world-major

Difficulty Breakdown

1.9/10

Mostly due to very flat.

Elevation
1.9
Hill Placement
0.8
Weather
3.0
Altitude
1.0
Turns
3.5
Surface
1.5

How we calculate difficulty →

Course Details

Course type
Loop
Elevation gain
94m
Elevation loss
96m
Highest point
78m
Lowest point
32m
Net drop
-2m
Certified
AIMS / World Athletics
Start
Tiergarten, Straße des 17. Juni
Finish
Brandenburg Gate
Cutoff time
6h 15m

Course Records

Men
2:01:09
Eliud Kipchoge
Kenya — 2022
Women
2:11:53
Tigist Assefa
Ethiopia — 2023

★ A world record has been set on this course.

Race History

First held in 1974 with just 244 runners in the Grunewald forest, the Berlin Marathon moved to its current city-centre course in 1990 following German reunification.

Plan Your Trip

Nearest airport
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) — 30km from city centre
Best area to stay
Mitte or Tiergarten — easy access to start area near Reichstag
Getting to the start
S-Bahn lines S3, S5, S7, S9 to Hauptbahnhof, then walk to start
Race expo
Messe Berlin, Messedamm 22 (Friday and Saturday before race day)