The Race
| Next Race Date | Sunday 18 April 2027 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Two laps of a half-marathon circuit from one base |
| Registration | Open online entry, no ballot |
| Ballot opens | Not applicable |
| Start | Eleftherias Square, in front of the Town Hall, 07:30 with the half marathon |
| Finish | Eleftherias Square |
| Total finishers | Not published |
| Avg race-day temp | 14 to 20°C (April daily low to high) |
| Cutoff time | 6 hours, with halfway crossed within 3 hours |
| Free race-day transport | To be confirmed |
| Course certification | Organiser states SEGAS approval; no measurement certificate published |
History
The Rhodes International Marathon was first run on 12 October 2014. The organiser credits the idea to the late George Zaras, a Greek-American expatriate from Rhodes, working with the committee president Marietta Papavassiliou and the American runner and author Wayne Kurtz. A contemporary report said Georgios Magkafas won the first marathon in 3:02:09. The race moved to April for its second edition in 2015.
Editions do not follow the calendar years. The planned seventh edition in May 2020 was cancelled, the 2021 race was virtual and the seventh physical edition ran on 10 April 2022. AIMS lists later editions on 30 April 2023, 21 April 2024, 6 April 2025 and 26 April 2026, and the 2027 race on 18 April is the twelfth.
The organiser reported Kenyan runner Moses Kurgat setting the men's course record of 2:16:08 in 2024, and uses that time as the men's record-bonus threshold in the 2027 rules, with 2:50:32 for women. In 2026 the men's winner was Nicolas Dalmasso of France in 2:35:54 and the women's winner Ourania Rempouli of Greece in 2:55:02, according to World Athletics listings. A results aggregator lists 267 finishers for 2026 but its split by sex sums to 266, so no finisher figure is given here.
TUI became title sponsor in 2025, and its own report put the 2026 festival at more than 5,000 participants from 65 countries. That figure includes the half marathon, the 10 km, the 5 km events and the children's races; the marathon cap is 500. The organiser is a nonprofit whose stated aim is to support Dodecanese athletic clubs and athletes, and it is a full AIMS member. No World Athletics Label has been found.
The course
The race starts and finishes at Eleftherias Square in front of Rhodes Town Hall, and the marathon is two laps of the half-marathon circuit. Each lap has three turnarounds, six across the race.
On each lap the course follows 7is Martiou, Akti Sachtouri and Australias Street south-east to a turn on the Rhodes to Kallithea road at about km 4.7. It returns to the harbour at Mandraki, reaches the windmills and turns near Elafaki at about km 9.7, then passes within about 130 m of the square at km 10.8. The western half follows the town streets, Akti Kanari at km 13, the Ialyssos and Kritika roads at km 14 to 16 and a turn near Iliades Street and Faneromeni at about km 16.1, the furthest point at 3.9 km from the square. It returns by Akti Miaouli at km 20 and Georgiou Papanikolaou Street to the square at km 21.1.
The second lap repeats the first, with turnarounds at about km 25.8, 30.7 and 37.1 and passes of the square at km 31.8 and the finish at 42.195.
The course sits between 1 m and 19 m above sea level, with no sustained climb. The largest changes are short rises of 8 to 11 m near km 13 to 14 and 18 to 19 of each lap, at km 34 to 35 and 39 to 40 on the second. The organiser calls the race a road course and publishes no total climb.
Kilometre by kilometre
Km 0 to 5: out of the square to the first turn. The marathon and half marathon start together at 07:30, so the first kilometres carry runners with very different plans. Faster half-marathon runners pull away early, and a marathon runner who follows them pays for it on the second lap. The route heads along Akti Sachtouri at km 1 and Australias Street at km 2, then onto the Kallithea road, where the first reversal comes at about km 4.7.
Km 5 to 11: back to the harbour. The return runs north past the windmills, reaching the second turnaround near Elafaki at the harbour entrance at about km 9.7 (elevation 2 m, the lowest point on the first lap). The course then comes within about 130 m of the square at km 10.8, which is the nearest the first lap gets before the half-marathon point.
Km 11 to 16: the western streets. The route crosses Plateia Koundouriotou at km 11, runs along Akti Kanari at km 13 and takes the Ialyssos and Kritika roads to the third turnaround at about km 16.1, the furthest point from the square. This is where wind off the sea is most likely to be felt, though no race-morning data exists. A short rise of 8 to 11 m comes between km 13 and 14.
Km 16 to 21: back to the square. The return uses the same western streets, with a second short rise at km 18 to 19, then Akti Miaouli at km 20 and Georgiou Papanikolaou Street. Halfway, at 21.1 km, is beside the square. Half-marathon runners finish here and marathon runners go out again, which is worth planning for.
Km 21 to 42.2: the second lap. The second lap repeats the first, with turnarounds at about km 25.8, 30.7 and 37.1. The field is thinner and the air warmer. Every turnaround shares the road between runners going both ways, so keep right and follow the marshals. The halfway control is an eligibility checkpoint: runners must cross it within three hours of the start, which is 10:30 on the clock, and anyone aiming for the six-hour limit should plan realistically before entering.
Two reversals before km 10, at the Kallithea road and at the Mandraki windmills. Hold your own pace while half-marathon runners move past.
The furthest turnaround at about km 16.1, then back to the square. The three-hour halfway cutoff applies at km 21.1.
Same roads, thinner field, warmer air. Aid stations come every 2.5 km.
Turnarounds at about km 30.7 and 37.1, then the run in along Georgiou Papanikolaou Street to the square.
Course Map
Two laps from Eleftherias Square, each with three turnarounds: the Kallithea road, the Mandraki windmills and the western streets near Faneromeni. Tap a marker for details, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
The organiser documented a Kallipateira flame ceremony, lit at the Ancient Stadium, for the 2025 edition. No 2027 time, access arrangement or programme has been published, so treat it as part of the race's character and not as a scheduled event.
April in Rhodes has a monthly mean near 17°C, an average low near 14°C and a high near 20°C, from a 1992 to 2021 airport record. Those are monthly figures, not an average for a 07:30 start. Rain is light, about 24 mm for the month, average wind is around 26 km/h and humidity is about 72 per cent.
The start is cooler than the second half of the race. A runner needing four to five hours is out for the warmest part of the morning on an exposed waterfront, so carry a cap or visor and sunscreen. A light layer for the wait suits a cool or windy morning. The organiser provides baggage storage in front of the Town Hall, and only the organiser-issued bag with a bib sticker is accepted, so a bag is safer than a throwaway garment. No clothing-donation scheme has been confirmed.
Entry
Entry is open and online through the organiser's MyRace registration link, with no ballot, no Good For Age route and no confirmed charity or tour-operator place. A submitted form is not a completed entry until payment is made, and the minimum age is 18. Registration closes on 7 April 2027, or earlier if the 500 places sell out; the organiser's longer races sold out early in 2026. The rendered registration page shows "not available" next to some links, which may mean sold out, disabled or login required, so check the actual form.
The price rises once, on 1 February. Sterling figures use the ECB rate of €1 = £0.85033 on 2 October 2026 and exclude card and conversion charges. The group rate applies to more than ten participants, not ten exactly, and a captain collects payment and race packs.
Cancellations and refunds are accepted until 10 March 2027, with €5 deducted for administration, and not after that date. Entries cannot be transferred to another person. If the event is postponed, entries move to the new date; deferral to a later edition has not been published.
A discretionary elite programme offers free entry and travel support to men who have run faster than 2:45:00 and women faster than 3:10:00 in official competition in the previous two years, applying at least four weeks before the race. Meeting the standard creates no entitlement. The race also appears in the Abbott World Marathon Majors age-group qualifying directory as Roads to Rhodes Marathon, so check the Majors' own list for the edition before counting on a qualifying time.
| Registration window | Individual | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Until 31 January | €45 (about £38) | €40 (about £34) |
| From 1 February | €55 (about £47) | €50 (about £43) |
Fast runner standards
There are no Good For Age or fast-runner standards for general entry. The discretionary elite programme above is separate.
Register on the organiser's site →Race Weekend
Number collection
Number collection is at Rhodes Town Hall, 1 Eleftherias Square, which is also the start and finish square. The registration centre is open on Friday 16 April from 15:00 to 20:00 and on Saturday 17 April from 10:00 to 19:00. The organiser also advertises collection at the start-area information kiosk 45 minutes before each start, but collecting beforehand is safer on a race morning that already has several steps.
It is a registration centre and not a commercial expo; nothing in the sources describes exhibitors or a pasta party. The organiser's documents list slightly different requirements, so bring photo identification (ID card or passport), the confirmation email and proof of payment, and keep the confirmation available offline. A medical certificate is not requested and entrants accept responsibility for their own fitness.
The pack includes a bib with chip, an official shirt and bag, with a medal and digital diploma after the race. The marathon page describes a cotton bag and the athlete instructions describe a backpack, so confirm what is issued. Proxy collection is described but the English wording on whose identification is needed is unclear, so ask the organiser before sending a companion. Group captains have a separate procedure.
Getting to the start
The marathon starts at 07:30 at Eleftherias Square, in front of the Town Hall, together with the half marathon. The organiser's pages disagree on arrival: the athlete page asks for 07:00 and the registration rules for 45 minutes before the start. Plan for 06:45 until the final instructions are issued.
A runner staying in the New Town can walk to the square. Test the route on Saturday, when the registration centre is open, so there is no map-reading on the morning. Old Town hotels work, but ask about stairs, paving and luggage access. A hotel in the west or a coastal resort needs a confirmed early transfer that can reach a drop-off outside the road closures; the airport bus and municipal services are not a race shuttle, and no free race-day transport has been verified.
Bags go in at the designated area in front of the Town Hall, and marathon runners must hand theirs in at least 15 minutes before the start, which is 07:15. Use the organiser's bag with the bib sticker, leave valuables out and bring the bib for collection afterwards. The Plaza hotel's published breakfast opens at 07:00, later than most runners need to eat, so ask your hotel about an early or packed breakfast the day before and carry familiar food.
No wave letters, corrals or staggered recreational starts have been published, and the start-area facilities have not been described. The organiser has not said whether headphones, pushchairs or handcycles are allowed. After finishing, follow the recovery route, collect your bag and agree a meeting point outside the controlled area.
Nutrition on course
The organiser's athlete instructions put water in bottles at every station, every 2.5 km, with sports drink in cups at every 5 km station. Chemical toilets are listed every 2.5 km for all distances, and a sports massage is advertised at the finish. The two laps share the same roads, so a station on the first lap is passed again on the second, but the organiser lists bananas only later in the race, so check how lap-specific provision is handled in the final instructions.
No source gives the drink or gel brand, carbohydrate or caffeine content, bottle size, or whether sponges and ice are supplied. A runner relying on a particular gel should carry it. Personal drinks are mentioned in the rules but the procedure and deadline are not published.
| Provision | Where |
|---|---|
| Water (bottles), toilets and medical help | Every 2.5 km |
| Sports drink (cups) | Every 5 km from 5 km |
| Gel | 20 and 30 km |
| Banana | 25, 30 and 35 km |
| Finish area | Water, sports drink, bananas, energy bars, recovery supplements and a massage |
Spectating
The two-lap course lets a supporter see a runner several times without leaving the town. The course comes within about 130 m of Eleftherias Square at km 10.8, 21.1 and 31.8 as well as at the start and finish, so a central spot is the strongest default. The organiser has published no spectator map, closure plan or live GPS tracking; the results system promises intermediate controls online, which is not continuous tracking.
No bus line is named here because none could be verified for race morning. Journeys are on foot, and the walk times are planning estimates to check on site. Estimate when a runner reaches a point from their pace and the turnaround positions, not from the distance between landmarks. The fixed points are halfway at about km 21.1 and the finish at 42.195, and the organiser has not published a post-race meeting point, so agree one away from the finish funnel.
- Stay on a public side of Eleftherias Square for the start, the passes at about km 10.8, 21.1 and 31.8, and the finish.
- No walking is needed, which suits companions with children or limited mobility. Shade and seating are not guaranteed.
- Agree a meeting point outside the finish area.
- Watch the start, then walk towards the Mandraki harbour and windmills along the pedestrian route officials keep open, about 0.4 km in a straight line.
- Runners turn near the windmills at about km 9.7 and 30.7. Do not cross a live runner lane for a photograph, and do not assume the turnaround area is open to the public.
- Return to the square for the finish.
- Choose a permitted spot near Akti Miaouli and the northern town streets, which runners pass at about km 20 and 41, and return to the square for the finish.
- Abandon the plan if barriers make movement impractical. The far western turnaround near Faneromeni cannot be recommended without a verified race-day bus.
Post-race food
The finish area offers water, sports drink, bananas, energy bars and recovery supplements, according to the athlete instructions, which bridges the gap to a proper meal. The restaurant at the Best Western Plus Plaza, 7 Ierou Lochou Street, is a central seated option, serving Greek and international cooking. Its own site lists lunch from 13:00 to 15:00 and dinner from 18:30 to 22:00, so a faster finisher should not expect lunch to be ready immediately.
Agalma, at 14 Iroon Politechniou, is another New Town option with Greek specialities and steak dishes. Its Sunday lunch hours and capacity were not found, so book it. A booked meal after returning to the hotel may be easier than queuing at an uncertain walk-in. Ask for a familiar main course with a starch side.
Where to Stay
The start and finish share one square, so there is no trade-off between a start hotel and a finish hotel. The choice is how far to walk on each side of the race and which part of Rhodes suits the rest of the trip.
Mandraki and the Town Hall side of the New Town
The default base. Plaza, Horizon City and Acandia are all within about 0.3 km of the square in a straight line, which makes bag collection and the return straightforward. Busy streets or race set-up can make some rooms noisy, so ask for a room facing away from them.
Niochori and the northern New Town
Ordinary city hotels, a short walk to the square. The course passes several nearby streets. Ask about room orientation, since some face busy evening streets.
Akti Kanari and the western town edge
Close to the beach and still walkable, with Semiramis City on Ioannou Metaxa the organiser's listed example, about 0.9 km from the square in a straight line. Rooms on the coast road can be exposed to wind and traffic sound.
The Medieval City
The best setting for a longer cultural trip, about 0.6 km from the square to the Palace of the Grand Master in a straight line. Tired legs and luggage make the property's entrance important, and paving and stairs vary, so ask the host about the practical route and any lift.
Ixia, Kritika and Ialyssos in the west
Coastal hotels where a vehicle is the practical assumption. Being on the marathon's western corridor does not put a hotel near the start, and no early bus or shuttle has been verified.
Faliraki, Kallithea, Kolymbia and Lindos
Destination extensions and not race bases. A property can suit a holiday and fit a 07:30 start poorly: a 2025 press report from one participant described a rushed transfer from a distant resort. Check April opening, since one hotel looked at lists May to October only.
The organiser's accommodation page lists Horizon City, Semiramis, Life, Plaza and Acandia, but the offers are undated and Semiramis appears twice with different prices. Treat the list as a source of leads to contact and not as a 2027 rate card. Whichever district you choose, ask about breakfast before the start, Sunday showers, late checkout and the cancellation date.
Recommended hotels
A central address and an organiser-listed partner. The organiser's undated offer was about €80 for a double plus tax; do not treat it as 2027 availability.
A coastal city hotel listed by the organiser with two conflicting sets of rates. Ask for a written quote for the race weekend.
An organiser-listed hotel whose offer mentioned breakfast and use of the room until 18:00, subject to availability. The hotel's own phone number differs from the one on the race page.
A central, year-round hotel with its own restaurant. Standard breakfast starts at 07:00, so ask about an earlier meal. The organiser's Plaza listing has not been confirmed as this hotel.
A lower-cost city option that states it is open all year. No race partnership, early breakfast or 2027 rate has been verified.
Booking timeline
There is no ballot, so there is no results date to wait for, and AIMS lists the date independently, so refundable accommodation can be held while operational details appear. Compare the hotel's free-cancellation date with the points at which the entry fee steps up (1 February) and refunds close (10 March). Book flights once the entry is paid, and prefer fares with a change option until the race instructions are issued.
The organiser sold out its longer races early in 2026, so places can close before the 7 April deadline. That shows capacity can run out, not when. Secure a paid entry, then book changeable travel. No hotel sell-out curve or race-weekend price premium was found, so no month is given as a booking deadline. Ask the organiser's hotels for a written quote for 16 to 19 April 2027 stating taxes, breakfast time, cancellation terms and any late checkout. The 2026 ferry discount applied to that year only.
In the final week, reconfirm the start time, arrival time, collection hours, bag-drop rules, breakfast and any airport transfer.
See & Do
Everything below is within a short walk or taxi ride of the square. Distances are straight-line from the start pin.
Palace of the Grand Master and the Street of the Knights
The Hellenic Heritage page lists April to October hours of 08:00 to 20:00, with admission at €20 and €10 reduced and last entry 20 minutes before closing. The paving is historic and uneven and the interiors involve standing, so a short visit suits tired legs. The city walls are scheduled separately and are not a Sunday walk. The same site lists 18 April as a free-admission day, which is race day, so expect larger crowds and check the 2027 policy.
Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
The official page lists April to October hours of 08:00 to 20:00 and admission of €10, €5 reduced. Choose it in place of combining several museums straight after the race, and confirm step-free access to the rooms you want to see.
Mandraki harbour
The harbour front is next to the race area and gives a flat, adjustable promenade walk once the barriers allow. The windmill and turnaround area may not be open to the public while runners are racing, and an excursion boat is not certain to run in April.
Acropolis of Rhodes and the Ancient Stadium
The hill site is a longer walk with an uphill approach, so a taxi or a short visit is kinder to sore legs. Check opening and step-free access first. It is a later-recovery choice and not a Monday hike.
Kallithea Springs
The April schedule is 08:00 to 16:00 with admission of €3, shorter than the May to October hours. Go by taxi or car and expect seating and sea views; do not count on a therapeutic soak. The mass moth display in Butterfly Valley runs June to September, so April is not that season.
After the Race
Mid-April on Rhodes is mild and the sea is cold. The four itineraries run from a morning at Kallithea Springs to three nights across Lindos and the south-west coast. Journey times are planning estimates; check KTEL Rhodes and municipal timetables for April.
A restored spa on the coast 9 km from Rhodes Town, with a café and a short walk round the rotunda. April hours are shorter than in summer.
A whitewashed village below an ancient acropolis on the east coast. The village is traffic-free and the full climb is optional.
A west-coast base for the excavated Greek town of Ancient Kamiros and the wine village of Embonas below Mount Attavyros.
Two nights around Lindos and one on the south-west coast near the castle of Monolithos, with a slow drive between them and no hard walking.