Next race
Sunday, 8 November 2026
8:30 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Historic urban road
Elevation
Net downhill · 74 m gain
74 m climbing
Race profile
The Athens Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 14k finishers on a historic urban road in Athens, Greece. The course runs from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens — the original 490 BC route. Expect significant climbs on this hilly course.
Athens Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 14k finishers
Course & terrain
The Athens Marathon is the original point-to-point route from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, beginning with relatively flat coastal running through Marathon and Nea Makri before a long climb into the city that steepens in the final 5 km. The early miles are the easiest, the uphill approach is the defining test, and the biggest crowds gather near the city-centre run-in and stadium finish.
The Athens Marathon course is net downhill over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 74 metres of climbing and 92 metres of descent, with a net descent of 18 metres from start to finish.
Net downhill · 74 m gain — approx. 70 m above sea level
↑ 74 m · ↓ 92 m · net −18 m
Registration
For the Athens Marathon, the race is held on the second Sunday of November. Registration is open (no lottery) through the official website, typically opening in spring. The field is approximately 12,000–15,000 in the full marathon, with roughly 40% of finishers coming from outside Greece. November temperatures are typically 12–18 °C (54–64 °F) — post-summer heat has fully dissipated, making conditions tolerable for the demanding course. Official travel packages are available through partner organisations for international runners.
Getting there
Spata-Artemida (ATH)
Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport
20 km / 12 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 Athens.
The Alexander the Great Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers each April on a point-to-point road in Thessaloniki, Greece. The finish on Thessaloniki's waterfront is the marathon's signature moment. The route passes Macedonian plain roads and ends beside the Thermaic Gulf promenade. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
Next race: Sunday, 4 April 2027
The Skopje Marathon draws approximately 2,500 finishers each October on an urban road in Skopje, North Macedonia. It is one of the Balkans' major international marathon weekends. The course passes the Vardar River, large city squares, and broad roads on the Macedonian plain. The course is very flat throughout.
Next race: Sunday, 3 October 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.
