Next race
Sunday, 25 October 2026
9:00 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Historic urban road
Elevation
Rolling · 150 m gain
150 m climbing
Race profile
The Aachen Marathon draws approximately 1,800 finishers each October through Charlemagne's imperial city at the German-Belgian-Dutch border. The course passes the Aachen Cathedral — Germany's first UNESCO World Heritage site — the Dreiländereck tripoint area, and the Carolus Thermen spa district on rolling borderland terrain. October's golden autumn in the Eifel foothills makes it a historic tri-border marathon.
Aachen Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 1,800 finishers
Course & terrain
The Aachen Marathon is a historic urban road that starts and finishes at the Aachen Cathedral (Dom) or the Elisenbrunnen. The loop passes the cathedral, the Dreiländereck border area, and the Eifel foothill roads. Flatter corridors and river valleys offer the easiest miles, while the moderate climbs through hills, bridges, or bluffs are the tougher sections once fatigue builds. Crowd support is strongest around the historic start-finish hub and along the landmark districts that define the city's character.
The Aachen Marathon course is rolling over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 150 metres of climbing and 140 metres of descent, with a net climb of 10 metres from start to finish.
Rolling · 150 m gain — approx. 266 m above sea level
↑ 150 m · ↓ 140 m · net +10 m
Registration
The Aachen Marathon is held in October, typically on the fourth Sunday. Registration is at https://www.aachen-marathon.de/.
Getting there
Maastricht (MST)
Maastricht Aachen Airport
27 km / 17 mi
Race footage
Common questions
Official resources
Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Close to this race
Other races closest to Aachen.
The Cologne Marathon (Generali Köln Marathon) attracts about 8,000 finishers each October on a fast loop through Germany's cathedral city. The course passes Cologne Cathedral, crosses the Rhine on the Deutzer Brücke, and finishes on the Rheinauhafen waterfront. October running weather and a flat profile make it one of Germany's premier autumn marathons.
Next race: Sunday, 3 October 2027
The Düsseldorf Marathon attracts about 5,000 finishers each April on a flat Rhine riverfront loop through the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. The course passes the Rheinturm TV tower, Königsallee shopping boulevard, and MedienHafen harbour district. Düsseldorf's spring marathon is a fast, scenic tour of one of Germany's most prosperous cities.
Next race: Sunday, 25 April 2027
The Bonn Marathon attracts approximately 1,200 finishers each April through the former West German capital on the Rhine. The course passes Beethoven's birthplace, the Post Tower, and the Rhine meadows (Rheinaue) on flat Bonn terrain. April's Rhine spring and the Beethovenstadt cultural heritage make it a charming Rhineland marathon.
Next race: Sunday, 11 April 2027
The Marathon Eindhoven attracts about 3,000 finishers each October on one of the Netherlands' fastest courses. The flat loop through Brainport Eindhoven passes the Philips Stadium area, high-tech campus districts, and the city centre. October cool weather and dead-flat Dutch terrain make Eindhoven a popular personal-best attempt in the south of the Netherlands.
Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
The Rhein-Ruhr Marathon attracts approximately 1,144 finishers each May through Duisburg at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers. The course passes the Inner Harbour (Innenhafen), the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, and the Rheinpark on flat industrial-heritage terrain. May's Ruhr spring and the transformed industrial landscape make it a unique marathon in Germany's largest urban agglomeration.
Next race: Sunday, 23 May 2027
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
What flat, rolling, and hilly really mean — and how to read elevation gain, net change, and altitude on a marathon course.
How temperature, humidity, wind, and rain affect marathon performance — and how to use typical race-day weather when choosing a start line.
Match a race to your goals — personal bests, sightseeing, atmosphere, or a major milestone — using course data and realistic expectations.
