Looking for a flat marathon to chase a personal best in 2027? The course matters almost as much as your training: little elevation, few sharp turns, smooth tarmac and cool weather save energy on every kilometre. Here are the 10 flattest and fastest marathons in the world, updated with 2027 race dates and the latest course records.
The short answer
- Flattest marathon in the world: Berlin (26 September 2027), where the men’s world record has fallen again and again.
- Fastest marathon ever run: London, where Sabastian Sawe ran the first official sub-2-hour marathon (1:59:30) in 2026.
- Flattest marathons in Europe outside the Majors: Valencia, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Milan.
- Is London flat? Mostly, yes: a gently downhill start and very little climbing, though it has more turns than Berlin.
Contents
- 10 – Deauville Marathon (France)
- 9 – Dubai Marathon (United Arab Emirates)
- 8 – Milan Marathon (Italy)
- 7 – Amsterdam Marathon (Netherlands)
- 6 – Rotterdam Marathon (Netherlands)
- 5 – Tokyo Marathon (Japan)
- 4 – Valencia Marathon (Spain)
- 3 – Chicago Marathon (United States)
- 2 – London Marathon (United Kingdom)
- 1 – Berlin Marathon (Germany), the flattest marathon in the world
- 2027 calendar of the flattest marathons
- How to make the most of a flat marathon
- Frequently asked questions about flat marathons
- Break your personal best on a flat marathon in 2027
Our criteria: low elevation gain, smooth roads, few tight corners and a race date with usually good conditions. Paris, for example, doesn’t make the list: it has around 200 m of elevation gain. And a flat course is only half the job. You’ll still need a structured marathon training plan built around your goal time.
10 – Deauville Marathon (France)
The youngest race on the list. The Deauville Marathon in Normandy runs on a flat seaside course and finishes on the famous boardwalk, Les Planches. The one thing to watch is the coastal wind in November.
2027 date: mid-November, exact day not yet announced (the 2026 edition is on 14 and 15 November). Aiming for sub-3? Try our sub-3-hour marathon training plan.
9 – Dubai Marathon (United Arab Emirates)
An almost perfectly flat course with long out-and-back stretches along Jumeirah Beach Road, past the Burj Al Arab. The course records are 2:03:34 for men (Getaneh Molla, 2019) and 2:16:07 for women (Tigist Ketema, 2024). The limiting factor is heat: the race starts early in the morning, but coming from a European or North American winter, warm conditions can still cost you time.
2027 date: Sunday 17 January 2027.
8 – Milan Marathon (Italy)
Is the Milan Marathon flat? Yes, and since 2026 it’s also a point-to-point race: it starts on Corso Sempione by the Arch of Peace and finishes in Piazza del Duomo, passing the CityLife towers and San Siro stadium. The first 13 km were redesigned to be flatter and straighter. On the new course, Vitalis Kibiwott won in 2:06:35 and Yeshi Kalayu Chekole in 2:20:15. The course record of 2:02:57, set by Titus Ekiru in 2021, was run on the old loop.
2027 date: Sunday 4 April 2027, with online registration open until 31 March 2027.
7 – Amsterdam Marathon (Netherlands)
Is the Amsterdam Marathon flat? Very, like most of the Netherlands. The race starts and finishes in the Olympic Stadium and runs under the Rijksmuseum. Records keep falling: 2:03:29 for Geoffrey Toroitich Kipchumba in 2025, and 2:16:12 for Buze Diriba in 2026, in the rain. It’s not higher on our list because of the often wet and windy October weather and the many turns that force you to accelerate again.
2027 date: Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October 2027, as the race now runs over two days. Registration opens on 19 December 2026, first come, first served (no ballot).
6 – Rotterdam Marathon (Netherlands)
Even straighter than Amsterdam, Rotterdam is one of the fastest marathons in Europe, with a spectacular crossing of the Erasmus Bridge and around 85 m of elevation gain. Bashir Abdi set the European record here in 2021 (2:03:36), and Mekides Shimeles broke the women’s course record in 2026 with 2:18:56.
2027 date: Sunday 11 April 2027 (46th edition); registration opened on 4 November 2026.
5 – Tokyo Marathon (Japan)
One of the World Marathon Majors, Tokyo opens with about 5 km of gentle downhill before long straight sections through the city. A few hairpin turns break the rhythm, but the times speak for themselves: 2:02:16 for Benson Kipruto in 2024, and a new women’s course record for Brigid Kosgei in 2026, 2:14:29. The field grows to 40,000 runners in 2027.
2027 date: Sunday 7 March 2027.
4 – Valencia Marathon (Spain)
The Valencia Marathon has become the go-to marathon for amateur runners chasing a PB. A flat course, a slightly downhill finish over the last 2 to 3 km, mild early-December weather and huge depth: in 2023, more than 5,000 runners finished under 3 hours. The course records are 2:01:48 (Sisay Lemma, 2023) and 2:14:00 (Joyciline Jepkosgei, 2025).
2027 date: early December 2027, exact day not yet announced (the 2026 edition is on Sunday 6 December).
3 – Chicago Marathon (United States)
Starting and finishing in Grant Park, crossing many of the city’s neighbourhoods with views of Lake Michigan, the Chicago Marathon is one of the fastest World Marathon Majors. Kelvin Kiptum set the world record here in 2023 (2:00:35), since broken in London. The women’s course record is 2:09:56 (Ruth Chepngetich, 2024); that world record still stands despite her three-year doping ban, because it predates her positive test. In 2026, Amos Kipruto won in 2:01:09 and Hawi Feysa in 2:13:33.
2027 date: Sunday 10 October 2027. The application window closed on 29 October 2026, with drawing results on 8 December.
2 – London Marathon (United Kingdom)
Is the London Marathon flat? Mostly. The course starts with a gentle downhill and stays fast all the way to The Mall, with a few more turns than Berlin and a short cobbled section near the Tower of London. And it’s now the fastest marathon in history: on 26 April 2026, Sabastian Sawe ran 1:59:30, the first official sub-2-hour marathon, since ratified as the world record. The same day, Tigst Assefa improved the women-only world record to 2:15:41. More on the race in our London Marathon guide.
2027 date: London moves to two race days, Saturday 24 or Sunday 25 April 2027. The ballot, with a record 1,338,544 applicants, is closed; charity places and official tour operators remain.
1 – Berlin Marathon (Germany), the flattest marathon in the world
Thirteen world records have been set at the Berlin Marathon since 1974, including Eliud Kipchoge’s 2:01:09 in 2022, still the course record. In 2026, Tigst Assefa set a new women’s course record of 2:11:04. Berlin has everything a record needs: a flat loop through the city centre, few major turns, smooth roads and often cool conditions in late September.
2027 date: Sunday 26 September 2027. The ballot closed on 12 November 2026, with results on 3 December; the entry fee is €215.
2027 calendar of the flattest marathons
| Marathon | 2027 date | Men’s record | Women’s record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | 17 January | 2:03:34 (2019) | 2:16:07 (2024) |
| Tokyo | 7 March | 2:02:16 (2024) | 2:14:29 (2026) |
| Milan | 4 April | 2:02:57 (2021, old course) | – |
| Rotterdam | 11 April | 2:03:36 (2021) | 2:18:56 (2026) |
| London | 24 or 25 April | 1:59:30 (2026, world record) | 2:15:41 (2026, women-only world record) |
| Berlin | 26 September | 2:01:09 (2022) | 2:11:04 (2026) |
| Chicago | 10 October | 2:00:35 (2023) | 2:09:56 (2024) |
| Amsterdam | 30 or 31 October | 2:03:29 (2025) | 2:16:12 (2026) |
| Deauville | Mid-November | – | – |
| Valencia | Early December | 2:01:48 (2023) | 2:14:00 (2025) |
How to make the most of a flat marathon
A flat course doesn’t forgive pacing mistakes. If anything, it makes them easier: with no hills to slow you down, it’s tempting to start too fast. Set a realistic goal from your recent races with our race time predictor. On race day, remember that many amateurs slow down by around 10 seconds per kilometre after 30 km: banking a little time early is fine, but never run more than 5 seconds per kilometre faster than your goal pace.
Train for the terrain, too. On a flat course, the same muscles work for 42 km without a break, so long runs at marathon pace matter more than hill sessions. Work out your splits with our marathon split times calculator and plan your race with Race Strategy, which takes the course profile into account. Finally, check the usual race-day weather: a flat marathon at 25 °C will always be slower than a slightly rolling one at 10 °C.
Frequently asked questions about flat marathons
What is the flattest marathon in the world?
Berlin is the one most often cited: its flat, smooth loop has produced thirteen world records. Rotterdam, Valencia, Chicago and Dubai also have very flat profiles.
What is the flattest marathon in Europe?
Berlin, followed by Rotterdam, Valencia and Amsterdam. Seville, in February, is another fast and flat option that doesn’t appear in our top 10.
What is the easiest marathon for a first-timer?
No marathon is easy, but a flat course, cool weather and big crowds help a lot. Valencia, Amsterdam and Rotterdam tick those boxes, and Amsterdam has no ballot at all. Also check the cut-off time so it leaves you a comfortable margin at your pace.
Which is the fastest World Marathon Major?
London now holds the men’s world record (1:59:30 in 2026), Chicago holds the women’s (2:09:56 in 2024), and Berlin remains the most consistent course for records. Learn more about each race in our guide to the World Marathon Majors.
Break your personal best on a flat marathon in 2027
Berlin, London, Chicago, Valencia or Rotterdam: pick your course based on your season and the usual weather, then focus on what matters most, your training. The RunMotion Coach app builds a personalised marathon plan around your race date and goal time, and adapts it as you train. Browse our marathon and race training plans, or try the app free for 7 days.
