Since the 2000s, tons of marathons have popped up worldwide. Race organizers keep raising the bar with routes that are more breathtaking and more original every year. Here is our ranking of the most beautiful and most unusual marathons to add to your endurance running bucket list.
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The most beautiful marathons
Here is our selection of the most beautiful marathons in the world. Every race has its own magic, and picking just a few was almost as hard as running 26.2 miles 😅 Their common point: a 42.195 km course, aka 26.2 miles!
The Paris Marathon
The Paris Marathon is, without a doubt, the most famous marathon in France. It attracts elite and international runners, like Kenenisa Bekele in 2014 (2:05:02). Even if the course is not the fastest in the world, you get to run past iconic landmarks that let you mix marathon performance with a little sightseeing. The Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, and the Seine riverbanks are all on your race-day route 😉
The Lewa Safari Marathon, Kenya
Runners get the rare chance to race a half marathon or full marathon inside the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Since its creation in 2000, participants have been able to cross the wild plains of East Africa while spotting lions, elephants, and cheetahs. You could almost say you are running with them, although the cheetah would finish your marathon twice as fast 😅 This event has raised more than $7.5 million to support projects in Kenya.
Midnight Sun Marathon, Norway
In Tromsø, up in Scandinavia, the sun never sets from May 18 to July 26. That unique natural phenomenon inspired a very special race, the Midnight Sun Marathon. Every year, more than 1,000 runners from 50 countries get the opportunity to run under the midnight sun and, with a bit of luck, catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights 🎅☄🌈
The start is at 8:30 p.m., in full daylight, and whatever your finish time, you will make it back before night falls 😉
Two Oceans Marathon, South Africa
Created in 1970, it is often considered one of the most beautiful races on the planet. Even though, technically, it is not a true marathon because the total distance is 56 km, more of a challenging ultramarathon. At the southern tip of Africa in Cape Town, runners get incredible views of the Indian Ocean on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. It is a tough course, but the scenery is absolutely worth the effort.
Jungfrau Marathon, Switzerland
The most beautiful races are often the toughest. Yes, you have to earn those views 🏞 The Jungfrau Marathon in Switzerland combines both. To give you a sense of the difficulty, you start at 560 m above sea level and finish your 42.195 km at 2,000 m. In other words, you need solid marathon training and smart pacing. The reward is huge though, because at that altitude you get a panoramic mountain view that is pure motivation.
Finishers enjoy a spectacular view of the Swiss Alps peaks.
The most unusual marathons
In recent years, organizers have really outdone themselves with original, quirky marathon events. Expect challenge, food, music, and plenty more. Your job is to pick the one that fits you best, then prepare like a pro with the right endurance training plan! PS: our app can also coach you for the most unusual marathons 😉
The Médoc Marathon, France
All about good vibes and French food culture, this marathon is sometimes called the longest in the world, thanks to the generous breaks you can take along the way. Right in the middle of the vineyards, runners face constant temptation to stop at the roughly twenty stations on the course for a little apéro 🍷. You will find local specialties from Médoc, like oysters, cheese, and steak. Costumes are even encouraged.
As you have probably guessed, the goal is not to set a PR, it is to have an unforgettable time and test the most food-loving runners among us.
Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon, Nepal
The Everest Marathon is one of the most extreme races on Earth. Held in tribute to the first mountaineers to reach the summit of Everest, Tenzing Norgay’s grandson joined the start of the adventure with around a hundred runners in 2003. Athletes are invited three weeks early to acclimatize to altitude. Winners are most often Nepali, so good luck to any Western runner who dares to take it on 💪
The Great Wall of China Marathon
Since 1999, the Great Wall of China has hosted a marathon and a half marathon, giving 2,500 participants the chance to run several kilometers on the Wall itself. With more than 5,164 steps, you can bet this course feels a lot like trail running. Medical staff are stationed at key points to help anyone in trouble. Runners have 8 hours to finish, compared to the usual 6-hour cut-off at many road marathons. The event is famous for welcoming athletes from more than 50 countries, aged from 10 to 85.
It is a spectacular route that blends history with pure running passion.
The Reggae Marathon, Jamaica
A marathon with one clear mission: party vibes. “Come for run, stay for fun”. The slogan says it all. It takes place in Jamaica on the country’s stunning beaches every first Sunday of December. A live percussion band plays, and a line of flaming torches lights up the start area on Negril Beach.
All along the course, reggae groups play, including the greatest hits of Bob Marley, born in Jamaica and a true icon of the genre. After the finish line, marathoners can keep the celebration going while soaking up the island’s Caribbean landscapes.
Las Vegas Marathon, United States
A race that keeps evolving, this “marathon of lights” has been run at night since 2011. That change turned it into the biggest night race in the world, with more than 50,000 bibs each year. It is an original urban course in a larger-than-life city, right in the middle of the desert. Runners cruise down Las Vegas Boulevard past some of the city’s most legendary hotels. Police officers on Harleys manage traffic. It is your chance to shine like a marathon star 😎🌟
In this selection, there is something for every type of runner. Which of these marathons makes you want to sign up the most? Join us on social media and tell us!