Eight Popular Marathons In Europe For A Great Fitness Holiday

Demand for “fitness holidays” is on the rise, with marathons in Europe ascending to the top of the list for people looking to combine travel and sightseeing with physical challenges in 2025.

A recent study by the online holiday company Travel Republic found that the demand for “fitness holidays” went up by 84% in the past month and Google searches for “European marathons” by 403%.

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Based on those indicators, the company ranked “the most sought-after marathons for spring 2025,” including in the first five positions:

1. Vienna Marathon, Austria, April 6

2. Limassol Marathon, Cyprus, April 27

3. Prague Marathon, Czech Republic, March 30

4. Paris Marathon, France, May 4

5. Copenhagen Marathon, Denmark, April 13

The list also features marathons in Rotterdam, Netherlands, May 4; London, U.K., April 13; Stockholm, Sweden, May 31; Hamburg, Germany, April 27; and Madrid, Spain, April 27.

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Here is a list of a number of the most popular European marathons that, according to experts, are worth the trip to combine with a great vacation.

Prague: 42.195km, May 4

The Orlen Prague Marathon, one of the most prestigious on the continent, follows a scenic urban route. With average May temperatures ranging between 9 and 19 degrees Centigrade (48 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit), it offers prime conditions for runners.

The course follows the Vltava, the city’s longest river, crossing the iconic Charles Bridge and passing by the Saint Vitus Cathedral and the Prague Castle. These medieval and Gothic architectural landmarks, along with the fabulous gardens of the imposing Imperial Castle, give the marathon a very charming route.

If you’re too late to register, on the same day the city has the ČT 2Run Prague Marathon, 2 x 21km, offering a half marathon route.

Also, on May 3, the “dm Family Mile,” open to run or simply walk, is a non-competitive mile for families, including kids, beginners, parents and grandparents. And the free “dm Bambini Run” just for kids, also on May 3, is divided among three categories according to the age of the competitors and gives each participant a t-shirt, starting number and chocolate medal at the finish line.

Paris Marathon: 42.195km, April 13

With more than 50,000 finishers in 2024, the “Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris,” one of the five largest in the world, offers a picturesque sporting and cultural experience in the heart of Paris, running along the banks of the Seine River and passing by some of the city’s most iconic locations including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Palais Garnier, the Bastille and the Arc de Triomphe.

This year’s 48th edition starts on the Champs-Élysées, with an exceptional view of the Arc de Triomphe, then heads east around the Palais Garnier, continuing along Rue de Rivoli before reaching Place de la Bastille at the sixth kilometer. This edition will include hoofing through Place de la Nation and then back to the usual crossing at the Bois de Vincennes and returning to the city center along the right bank of the Seine, graced by the view of the Eiffel Tower. The final 10 kilometers cross the Bois de Boulogne, leading to the finish on Avenue Foch.

The race appeals to elite runners from Kenya and Ethiopia, among other global runners. It’s a great way to test speed, timing and performance, and to prepare for other athletic challenges in the year. The event also features musical shows, spectators and a festive atmosphere along the route.

This race is more challenging and less accessible to weekend athletes than the Paris Half Marathon, which ran in March and has already opened registrations for the next edition on March 8, 2026.

Also, children can run their own “Marathoon’s,” a free, non-timed race especially dedicated to children ages 5 to 12, taking place at Place Fontenoy on April 12.

Here is some advice on how to prepare.

Marathon Du Médoc, France, 42.195km, September 6

Famous for its festive atmosphere, the Marathon du Médoc is known by a number of different names including “the world’s booziest marathon,” “the longest Marathon in the world,” and “the funniest marathon.” This event offers wine and cheese stops, live music and plenty of creative costumes as it winds through Bordeaux’s famous vineyards.

“The cheerful atmosphere and stunning vineyard views make it a joy to watch and join in the fun,” according to Travel Republic.

Created in 1985 and held every year in September through the vineyards of the Médoc region, the race includes wine-tasting stops, musical breaks along the course, oyster tasting at the 38th kilometer and steak at the 39th.

The marathon attracts thousands of participants from around the world, many of them wearing colorful and funny costumes, who run the circuit that crosses the vineyards and chateaux of Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe, Médoc and Haut-Médoc, beginning and ending in Pauillac.

London Marathon, 42km, April 27

For many runners, this is the European marathon to participate in at least once in a lifetime. The London Marathon (also known by its sponsorships as the TCS London Marathon) is one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors, which are the world’s top-level marathon races and include Tokyo, Boston, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

But it’s in London that the marathon world record has been broken on seven occasions.

Although probably too late to include it in your fitness holiday plans for this year, it’s not late to start training. Given its popularity, with thousands of international runners trying to gain access each year, it’s organized around a lottery system.

The course, mostly flat, starts near Blackheath in Greenwich and goes along the River Thames, crossing the Tower Bridge, passing Big Ben and the London Eye and finishing in front of Buckingham Palace.

The event features a mass race for the public, professional races for men and women long-distance runners, elite level wheelchair races for men and women and a three-mile mini marathon event for under-17 athletes.

Tromso Marathon, Norway, 42km, June 21

The official name of this Scandinavian event is the Tromsø Midnight Sun Marathon, drawing more than 6,000 participants from around the world each year. Last year, 7,000 runners from 88 nations took the challenge.

It’s been held since 1990 in Tromsø, the Arctic capital of Norway located at 69 degrees north and some 350km north of the arctic circle. Most of the city is situated on a small island surrounded by the sea and beautiful mountains.

The Midnight Sun Marathon also includes a 21km half marathon, a 10km Coop Mila marathon, a 5km Mini Marathon and an 800m version.

The race starts at 8:30 p.m., in total daylight—it doesn’t get dark this close to the Arctic Circle in summer—and winds through gorgeous views of the surrounding peaks, the sea and wandering reindeer.

Berlin Marathon, Germany, 42.195km, September 21

The BMW Berlin marathon, defined by records, diversity and a unique energy, is one of the largest marathons in the world.

As an event in the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series, it allocates race entries by lottery.

Among the flattest of the World Marathon Majors, it runs along the most beautiful sights of Berlin including the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag, with massive crowds cheering runners on and is a favorite for record chasers.

Held since 1974, the event includes many other races spread over a weekend, such as elite level road-running competitions for men and women, a race for the public, an inline skating race, a wheelchair race, a handcycle race and a children’s marathon.

Budapest Marathon, Hungary, 42.2km, October 11-12

Hungary’s largest sporting event, the Budapest marathon, touted as “the queen of distances,” is a two-day running festival.

Taking part in the marathon is essentially a sightseeing-by-fleet-of-foot tour of beautiful Budapest. The course winds through the heart of the city, crossing several bridges and showcasing iconic landmarks including the UNESCO World Heritage Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle the Chain Bridge and the Hungarian Parliament. Music performers and cheering crowds add a festive tone to the event.

There are shorter distance races for less experienced runners ranging from 400m to 42km, in which everyone in the family can find their own challenge.

Amsterdam Marathon, Netherlands, 42.195km, October 19

This is a special year for the TCS Amsterdam Marathon because it will mark two anniversaries: Amsterdam’s 750th birthday and its own 50th anniversary.

For that reason, the program has been expanded into a full weekend. On Saturday, a 7.5km race will take place in celebration of Amsterdam’s anniversary, and both full and half marathons will be held on Sunday.

This event is a World Athletics Platinum Label Road Race, renowned for being one of the fastest courses in the world.

Highlights of the flat course include the start and finish in the Olympic Stadium, the passage through the Rijksmuseum and along the Heineken Experience, stretches along the Amstel River and through the Vondelpark.

Although a renewed route through the city center had been considered for this year, due to the high number of participants already registered, plans have been postponed for the 2026 edition.

Other Marathons In Europe To Prepare For

To keep in mind for next year:

The Stockholm Marathon on May 31 through the streets of this beautiful European capital built on 14 islands. The course offers spectacular views of the medieval city center and equally stunning natural scenery to finish at the Olympic Stadium.

The Vienna City Marathon, scheduled for April 6, has a generally flat route with some slight variations. The course offers a picturesque journey through many of Vienna’s historical and scenic landmarks.
Run Rome The Marathon, in Italy, which took place on March 16, 2025. Runners pass by the Colosseum, Spanish Steps and other Roman landmarks, with a challenging stretch of cobblestones adding to the experience.
The Limassol Marathon, on the southern coast of Cyprus, runs at the end of March and offers a scenic coastal route, widely praised for being flat, fast and straight.
The Copenhagen Marathon on April 13 winds around Copenhagen’s most famous landmarks, including the Little Mermaid statue, Rosenborg Castle with its stunning gardens, and the vibrant Tivoli Gardens.

As the trend of fitness tourism abroad grows, marathons in Europe become more popular, offering something for everybody and at all levels. For that reason, travel experts advise to choose well in advance, register in time—and take time to prepare.

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