Destinations
Race cities, post-race itineraries, and the stories behind the roads
Long Read
Running Into Colour: Rotterdam and the Dutch Tulip Season
The NN Marathon Rotterdam falls in late April, two weeks after the Keukenhof opens. That timing is not a coincidence. This is what the rest of the week looks like.
The City That Puts Half of Italy Within Reach
Florence is 37 minutes by Frecciarossa. Venice is 75. Verona is under an hour. The Termal Bologna Marathon runs in early March, before the crowds arrive. One hotel room, four cities.
Running Out of Darkness: A Night Race in Daylight
An 8:30 PM start in Tromsø, nearly 70 degrees north, with a finish after midnight in full daylight. Its winter counterpart, the Polar Night Marathon, runs the same streets in darkness five months later.
Chicago in October: When the City Runs Gold
The Chicago Marathon and peak autumn colour in the Illinois River Valley share the same ten-day window. Ninety minutes west of O'Hare, the sandstone canyons at Starved Rock are at their fullest.
The European City Weekend
Race day on Sunday. Book the rest of the week.
Flat, fast, and on the waterfront. The Nyhavn finish is worth the flight.
The Copenhagen Marathon runs a flat loop through the city in May, finishing in the harbour district. Spring temperatures are ideal for marathon pace, the entry is open, and the city's cycling infrastructure means the days after the race need no car hire.
October on the east coast of Ireland. Lively, generous, and genuinely fun.
The Dublin City Marathon runs through the Georgian streets of the capital and along the coast, finishing in the city centre. The October atmosphere is warm, the entry is open, and it consistently ranks among the most welcoming races on the circuit.
February warmth, flat streets, and a course record pace waiting for you.
Seville is arguably Europe's fastest marathon course - flat, sheltered, and run in February warmth mild enough for a personal best. The old city is a compelling reason to arrive a few days early.
The Colosseum, the Forum, St Peter's Square. More ancient stone per kilometre than anywhere else.
The Acea Rome Marathon passes more World Heritage sites than any other major race. Spring weather is mild, the entry is open, and the post-race city is everything you hope it will be.
The Champs-Élysées finish. There is no second place for scenery.
The Paris Marathon finishes on the most famous avenue in the world. The spring course heads east through the Bois de Vincennes and west through the Bois de Boulogne, with the city as backdrop throughout.
Flat and fast, close to the North. One of the biggest open-entry fields in the UK.
The Manchester Marathon runs a flat course through the city's southern suburbs, returning to Old Trafford. It is consistently one of the fastest road marathons in the UK and one of the largest open-entry events in the country.
Fewer finishers. More memorable.
Granite streets, the Douro, and the best city in Portugal for a long weekend.
The Porto Marathon follows the Douro riverfront and runs through the historic Ribeira district. November temperatures are mild and the entry is open. The city rewards the days either side of the race generously.
Walled medieval city, vineyards on the doorstep. A first edition in 2026.
The Marathon d'Avignon runs through the Papal city in late September, its first edition taking place in 2026 with 4,000 places. Provence in autumn has the light and the temperature exactly right.
Baltic Art Nouveau and a May morning when the city belongs to runners.
The Riga Marathon passes through the largest intact Art Nouveau district in Europe. May temperatures are cool and consistent, the entry is open, and the city centre is compact enough to walk everywhere in the days around the race.
December on the Gulf. The one month when the desert city runs fast.
The Adnoc Abu Dhabi Marathon runs in December, when Gulf temperatures drop to marathon pace conditions. The flat course follows the Corniche and the waterfront, with the city's skyline in view throughout.
Around the Bay of Kotor. 44 kilometres of UNESCO coastline.
The Boka Marathon follows the perimeter of the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, one of Europe's most dramatic enclosed bays. The field is small, the entry is open, and the route passes through five medieval towns.
West Africa on the Atlantic. A route through Morocco's largest city.
The Casablanca International Marathon runs through Morocco's commercial capital in October, with Art Deco and Moorish architecture lining the route. The field is compact and the entry is open.
Where to Go Next
Post-race itineraries. Leave on Monday, return on Friday.
Starved Rock, Lake Geneva and Milwaukee
4 nightsThe Illinois River Valley in peak autumn colour, the Lake Geneva lakefront path, and Milwaukee by the brewery district. Returns to O'Hare on I-94.
Milwaukee by train
2 nightsArt Museum by Calatrava on Lake Michigan, the Harley-Davidson Museum, Lakefront Brewery, and the Third Ward. No hire car needed.
Brighton and the South Coast
2 nightsTwo nights on the seafront. Day one in The Lanes, day two at the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs. Depart from Brighton direct to Gatwick.
Bath and Oxford
4 nightsRoman Baths, the rooftop thermal pool at 33.5 degrees, Georgian crescents. Then Oxford: punting, Christ Church Meadow, and a direct coach to Heathrow.