You don’t need to cross the Atlantic to run a great marathon: Europe has two World Marathon Majors, the fastest courses in the world and races in unique settings. Here’s our pick of the 10 best marathons in Europe for 2027, with dates and how to get a bib. To go further, each country has its own detailed guide, linked in the article.
The short answer
- For a PB: Berlin (26 September 2027), Valencia (early December) or Seville (21 February 2027).
- The Majors: Berlin and London (24-25 April 2027), mostly by ballot.
- No ballot: Amsterdam (entries open 19 December 2026), Prague or Stockholm.
- For history: Paris for its 50th edition (4 April 2027), Rome (14 March 2027) and Athens, on the original marathon course.
Contents
The 10 best marathons in Europe
1. Berlin Marathon (Germany): the fastest in the world
Eliud Kipchoge ran 2:01:09 here in 2022, and 13 world records have fallen here since 1974. In 2026, Tigst Assefa set the women’s course record of 2:11:04.
- Date: Sunday 26 September 2027
- Entry: ballot from 1 October to 12 November 2026, bib €215.
- Best for: record hunters.
More details in our best marathons in Germany.
2. London Marathon (UK): the record-breaking Major
It was in London, in April 2026, that Sabastian Sawe ran the first official sub-2-hour marathon, in 1:59:30. In 2027 the race becomes a two-day event.
- Date: Saturday 24 or Sunday 25 April 2027
- Entry: the 2027 ballot is over. Charity places and official tour operators remain.
- Best for: Majors collectors.
Everything in our guide to the London Marathon and our best marathons in the UK.
3. Paris Marathon (France): the 50th edition
The Paris Marathon celebrates its 50th edition in 2027 under a new name: ASICS Marathon de Paris. The organiser and entry system have changed too: for the first time, general-entry bibs go through a ballot.
- Date: Sunday 4 April 2027
- Entry: the free ballot was open from 8 to 30 September 2026, with results from 1 October 2026.
- Course: the 2027 route hasn’t been officially unveiled yet.
- Best for: runners who want to experience an anniversary edition in the French capital.
All the details in our article on the 2027 Paris Marathon.
4. Valencia Marathon (Spain): the PB factory
The course record is 2:01:48 (Sisay Lemma, 2023), and more than 30,000 runners finished in 2025. The course is flat and the December weather often ideal.
- Date: early December 2027, not yet announced (the 2026 edition is on 6 December).
- Entry: by ballot in 2026. The 2027 details haven’t been published yet.
- Best for: runners who want an end-of-year PB.
Our full guide to the Valencia Marathon and our best marathons in Spain.
5. Seville Marathon (Spain): the flattest in Europe
Seville bills itself as the flattest marathon in Europe. The course record is 2:03:27 (Deresa Geleta, 2024).
- Date: Sunday 21 February 2027
- Entry: sold out, with a record 20,000 entrants. Waiting list on the official website.
- Best for: a PB at the end of winter.
6. Amsterdam Marathon (Netherlands): an Olympic Stadium finish
The TCS Amsterdam Marathon starts and finishes in the 1928 Olympic Stadium. In 2026, Buze Diriba set the women’s course record of 2:16:12.
- Date: Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October 2027
- Entry: opens on 19 December 2026, first come, first served.
- Best for: a big autumn marathon with no ballot.
Read our guide to the Amsterdam Marathon and our best marathons in the Netherlands.
7. Rome Marathon (Italy): an open-air museum
Starting at the Imperial Fora, the course passes the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, Castel Sant’Angelo and faces St Peter’s. In 2026 it sold out four months in advance.
- Date: Sunday 14 March 2027
- Entry: open on the official website.
- Best for: runners who want a spectacular marathon.
Compare with Milan, Venice and Florence in our best marathons in Italy.
8. Prague Marathon (Czech Republic): six bridges and cobbles
The course passes Charles Bridge, the castle, the Vltava, the Jewish Quarter and Old Town Square. It crosses six bridges ten times and has about 1.5 km of medieval cobbles, with 196 m of climbing. More than 17,000 participants last year.
- Date: Sunday 2 May 2027, 8am start
- Entry: €70 for the first 1,500 entrants, €95 up to the 4,000th, then €120.
- Best for: runners who want a beautiful capital at a reasonable price.
9. Stockholm Marathon (Sweden): a 1912 stadium finish
The course crosses a city built on 14 islands and finishes in the 1912 Olympic Stadium, where 83 world records have been ratified.
- Date: Saturday 29 May 2027
- Entry: from 1,295 to 1,995 Swedish kronor depending on when you enter.
- Best for: a cool, friendly late-spring marathon.
Discover Copenhagen, Oslo and Tromsø too in our best marathons in Scandinavia.
10. Athens Marathon (Greece): the original course
The Athens Authentic Marathon starts in the town of Marathon and finishes in the marble Panathenaic Stadium in central Athens. It’s a tough course, with a long climb in the second half, but steeped in history.
- Date: early November 2027, not yet announced (the 2026 edition is on 8 November).
- Entry: on the official website, with no qualifying time. It often sells out before the deadline: sign up early.
- Best for: runners who want to race where it all began, without chasing a time.
The 2027 calendar of Europe’s 10 best marathons
| Marathon | Country | 2027 date | Main highlight | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seville | Spain | 21 February | Flattest in Europe | Sold out (waiting list) |
| Rome | Italy | 14 March | Monuments | Open |
| Paris | France | 4 April | 50th edition | Ballot (closed) |
| London | UK | 24-25 April | Major, double edition | Ballot over |
| Prague | Czech Republic | 2 May | Charles Bridge | €70 to €120 |
| Stockholm | Sweden | 29 May | 1912 Olympic Stadium | SEK 1,295 to 1,995 |
| Berlin | Germany | 26 September | Fastest in the world | Ballot |
| Amsterdam | Netherlands | 30-31 October | 1928 Olympic Stadium | Opens 19 December 2026 |
| Athens | Greece | Early November (TBA) | Historic course | Official website |
| Valencia | Spain | Early December (TBA) | Records | Ballot (in 2026) |
No bib for Berlin, London or Paris? Amsterdam, Prague and Stockholm have no ballot, and Valencia remains the best end-of-year option for a PB.
How to prepare for a marathon abroad
- Allow 16 to 20 weeks. Time the start of your training to the race date: early November for Rome, June for Berlin.
- Arrive the day before at the latest. Bib collection is at the race expo, often the day or two before.
- Work on your marathon pace. Calculate your split times and practise holding them, especially on flat courses.
- Match your goal to the course. Cobbles in Prague and Rome, a climb in Athens: don’t aim for the same time as in Berlin or Valencia.
A plan built around your race date
RunMotion Coach builds your marathon training plan, personalised to your level, your goal and your race date, with personalised paces. Try it free for 7 days.
FAQ
What is the fastest marathon in Europe?
Berlin, where 13 world records have been set, including Eliud Kipchoge’s 2:01:09 in 2022. Valencia and Seville are also among the fastest.
Which European marathons are World Marathon Majors?
Berlin and London.
Which big European marathon has no ballot?
Amsterdam (entries open 19 December 2026, first come, first served), Prague or Stockholm.
What is the most historic marathon in Europe?
Athens: the Athens Authentic Marathon links the town of Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium, on the route that gave the distance its name.
Want to explore a specific country? Find all our guides: Germany, UK, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Scandinavia and the SuperHalfs series. Further afield: the fastest marathons in the US, Canada, Australia, the best trail races in the USA and our ultra trail lottery guide.
Ready for your next marathon in Europe? Start your 7-day free trial and let RunMotion Coach build your plan all the way to race day.
Updated 28 October 2026.
