The 10 Best Marathons in Europe for Runners (2027)

Direct Answer

The best marathon to run in Europe is the BMW Berlin Marathon, our Best Overall: the fastest of the World Marathon Majors, a flat late-September course that has produced more men's world records than any other race, with an entry fee around €169 and a field near 45,000–55,000 runners.

For a fast European marathon with the best value, the Valencia Marathon is the Best Value at roughly €85–€120 on one of the quickest courses in the world. This list is for runners chasing a personal best, a Major, or a memorable European city race. Prices range from about €60 for smaller national marathons to over €100 for the marquee events.

Every race below is a real, currently-run European marathon; they are ranked on course speed, atmosphere, organization, and travel experience.

1. BMW Berlin Marathon 🏆 BEST OVERALL

The Berlin Marathon on the last Sunday of September is the fastest World Marathon Major, a flat course through the German capital finishing at the Brandenburg Gate. Eliud Kipchoge ran 2:01:09 here in 2022, one of many world records set on the course.

Lottery entry is roughly €169, with charity and tour spots available. The field is around 45,000–55,000 with huge crowd support. It ranks #1 because no European marathon better combines a record-eligible course, a true Major, and reliable cool weather.

This is for any runner targeting a personal best or the six-star Majors medal.

2. Valencia Marathon 💎 BEST VALUE

The Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon in December is one of the fastest non-Major marathons in the world, a flat course finishing on a floating bridge over the lake at the City of Arts and Sciences.

Entry runs about €85–€120, far below the Majors, with a field near 30,000 and excellent pacing groups. It earns Best Value because no marathon offers near-record-fast conditions at this price.

Choose Valencia for a personal best without the Major price or lottery stress.

3. TCS London Marathon

The London Marathon in April is famous for raising more charity money than any marathon on earth, with a course past Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, and a finish on The Mall near Buckingham Palace.

The ballot fee is about £69.99 for UK residents and £99.99 internationally, though most of the roughly 50,000 finishers enter via charity places. The deafening crowds the entire route are the main draw.

Pick London for the most electric spectator atmosphere in Europe.

4. Marathon du Médoc

The Marathon du Médoc in France's Bordeaux wine region every September is the world's most famous "fun" marathon, with 23 wine-tasting stops, costumes, and oysters and steak served on course.

Entry runs about €90–€110, with a generous 6.5-hour limit. It is a festival on the run rather than a PR race.

Choose Médoc for a marathon that doubles as a celebration.

5. Paris Marathon

The Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris in April runs from the Champs-Élysées past the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and the Eiffel Tower along the Seine, one of Europe's largest marathons with around 50,000 runners.

Entry runs about €100–€130. The world-famous monuments and spring timing make it a top destination race.

Pick Paris for a scenic, monument-lined course in a great travel city.

6. Amsterdam Marathon

The TCS Amsterdam Marathon in October starts and finishes in the Olympic Stadium, with a flat, fast course along the Amstel River, popular for personal bests.

Entry runs about €75–€100. The stadium finish and flat profile make it a favorite autumn PR race.

Choose Amsterdam for a fast, flat course with an iconic stadium finish.

7. Rotterdam Marathon

The NN Marathon Rotterdam in April is one of the fastest marathons in the world, a flat city course with enthusiastic crowds that has hosted multiple national and world-class times.

Entry runs about €75–€95. The flat roads and lively support make it a strong, affordable PR choice.

Pick Rotterdam for one of Europe's quickest courses at a fair price.

8. Athens Authentic Marathon

The Athens Authentic Marathon in November follows the original route from the town of Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, finishing where the modern Olympics began.

Entry runs about €70–€100. The course is hilly and challenging, but the historic significance is unmatched.

Choose Athens to run the original, history-soaked marathon route.

9. Stockholm Marathon

The Stockholm Marathon in late May or June runs across the bridges and islands of the Swedish capital, finishing in the 1912 Olympic Stadium, with cool early-summer weather.

Entry runs about €90–€120. The waterfront city scenery and historic stadium finish make it a beautiful Nordic race.

Pick Stockholm for a scenic island-and-bridge course with a historic finish.

10. Copenhagen Marathon

The Copenhagen Marathon in May is a flat, fast loop through the Danish capital past Nyhavn and the city's canals, a well-organized World Athletics-labeled race.

Entry runs about €90–€110. The flat course and smooth roads make it another solid Northern European PR option.

Choose Copenhagen for a flat, well-run Scandinavian city marathon.

How to Choose

• Chasing a PR? Berlin, Valencia, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam are the fastest flat European courses for a personal best.
• Want a Major? Berlin and London are Europe's two World Marathon Majors; plan around their lotteries.
• Prefer scenery and monuments? Paris, Athens, and Stockholm offer the most historic and photogenic routes.
• On a budget? Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Athens run €70–€100, below the marquee Majors.
• Want pure fun over time? The Marathon du Médoc, with its wine stops and costumes, is the most festive choice.
• First marathon? A flat, well-supported race like Amsterdam or Copenhagen is a forgiving debut.

FAQ

Which European marathon is the fastest for a personal best? Berlin holds the most men's world records thanks to its flat course and cool September weather, with Valencia, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam close behind. All four are flat, well-paced, and reliably cool, making them the top European choices for a fast time.

How do I enter the Berlin and London marathons? Both use lotteries, with Berlin entry around €169 and London's ballot about £69.99 for UK residents. Both also offer guaranteed charity places that require a fundraising minimum, plus tour-operator packages, which is how many international runners secure a bib.

What is the cheapest good marathon in Europe? Rotterdam (about €75–€95), Amsterdam (about €75–€100), and Athens (about €70–€100) are among the best-value major European marathons, costing well under the marquee Majors while still offering fast or historic courses and strong organization.

Which European marathon is best for first-timers? Flat, well-supported races make the best debuts. Amsterdam and Copenhagen offer flat courses, iconic finishes, and good organization, while the no-pressure festival format of the Marathon du Médoc, with its 6.5-hour limit, is also forgiving for newer runners.

Bottom Line

For the best European marathon, Berlin wins on speed, prestige, and atmosphere, while Valencia is the Best Value, delivering one of the fastest courses in the world at a fraction of the Major price. Match the course profile to your goal and register early for the lotteries.

Sources

• BMW Berlin Marathon (bmw-berlin-marathon.com)
• Valencia Marathon (valenciaciudaddelrunning.com)
• TCS London Marathon (tcslondonmarathon.com)
• Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris (schneiderelectricparismarathon.com)
• TCS Amsterdam Marathon (tcsamsterdammarathon.nl)
• NN Marathon Rotterdam (nnmarathonrotterdam.org)
• Athens Authentic Marathon (athensauthenticmarathon.gr)
• World Athletics records (worldathletics.org)