Next race
Sunday, 18 April 2027
9:00 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Urban road
Elevation
Rolling · 110 m gain
110 m climbing
Race profile
The Vienna City Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 11k finishers on an urban road in Vienna, Austria. The course starts and finishes at the Reichsbrücke on the Danube. The route passes Schönbrunn Palace, the Ringstrasse, Prater, and the UN headquarters. Mostly flat with short climbs on Danube and canal bridges.
Vienna City Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 11k finishers
Course & terrain
The Vienna City Marathon is a loop starting on the Ringstrasse and finishing in the Prater near the Riesenrad, crossing the imperial centre, the Danube Canal, and the long Hauptallee. The Prater and Ringstrasse sections are the easiest because they are flat and fast, while the short climbs on Danube bridges are the toughest gradients on the course. Spectators line the Ringstrasse, cheer through the Prater's Hauptallee, and gather at the Riesenrad finish.
The Vienna City Marathon course is rolling over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 110 metres of climbing and 94 metres of descent, with a net climb of 16 metres from start to finish.
Rolling · 110 m gain — approx. 171 m above sea level
↑ 110 m · ↓ 94 m · net +16 m
Registration
Vienna City Marathon is held in April — typically the last Sunday of the month. Registration is open (no lottery) at vienna-marathon.com, opening months in advance. The combined event (marathon, half marathon, and relay) attracts approximately 40,000 participants across all distances, with around 10,000–12,000 full marathon finishers. The race expo is held at the Messe Wien exhibition centre and is one of Central Europe's largest running expos.
Getting there
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
18 km / 11 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 Vienna.
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 Karnten Lauft Marathon draws approximately 1,500 finishers each August on a lake road in Klagenfurt, Austria. Summer lake scenery makes it more of a holiday marathon than a city-center one. The route passes lake roads, resort areas, and scenic sections around one of Austria's best-known summer lakes. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
Next race: Sunday, 1 August 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.
