The Budapest Marathon draws approximately 8,000 finishers on an urban road in Budapest, Hungary. The course starts and finishes on the Chain Bridge. The route crosses the Danube several times, passing Buda Castle, the Parliament, and Heroes' Square. Mostly flat with short climbs on bridge approaches.
Budapest Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
The next Budapest Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 11 October 2026 with a 9:00 am start. The certified course covers 42.195 km (26.2 miles) with 250 m of climbing on a mostly flat with gentle undulations layout.
The Budapest Marathon is a loop starting and finishing on the Chain Bridge, crossing the Danube multiple times past Buda Castle, Parliament, and Heroes' Square. Short climbs on the bridge approaches are the main challenge, and spectators line the Chain Bridge and the river embankments with castle and parliament views.
The Budapest Marathon course is mostly flat with gentle undulations over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 250 metres of climbing and 250 metres of descent, with minimal net elevation change from start to finish.
Registration is available at marathon.runinbudapest.com. Entry fees are very competitive by European standards, making Budapest one of the best-value international marathon destinations — especially combined with the city's famous thermal baths and café culture.
Race-day footage from the course to help you picture the route, crowds, and key landmarks on marathon day.
Last updated 18 July 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Other races closest to Budapest.
The Bratislava Marathon attracts about 4,500 finishers each April through Slovakia's capital on the Danube. The course passes Bratislava Castle, the Old Town, and the UFO Bridge (Most SNP) with views of the Danube and Austrian border. April race day on the flat Danube plain is Slovakia's premier marathon.
Next race: Sunday, 4 April 2027
The Košice Peace Marathon is the oldest marathon in Europe, first run in 1924. About 9,000 finishers each October run through Slovakia's second city on a historic course that has hosted world-class runners for a century. The flat urban loop and deep marathon tradition make Košice a pilgrimage for students of the sport.
Next race: Sunday, 4 October 2026
The Wachau Marathon draws approximately 2,500 finishers each September on a point-to-point riverside road in Krems, Austria. The valley is a UNESCO landscape, making the marathon one of Europe's prettiest river races. The course passes Danube villages, vineyards, and postcard river scenery through the Wachau. Danube villages, vineyards, and postcard river scenery carry September's point-to-point race through the UNESCO Wachau, one of Europe's prettiest river marathon landscapes.
Next race: Sunday, 6 September 2026
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