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The 10 Best Marathons in Europe, Picked by a 2:17 Marathoner
Ten great European marathons and two wild cards, from a runner who has raced them: the fastest courses, race-day weather, when you'll have to train, and the cities themselves.
Quick answer
For a personal best, run Seville (February), Valencia (December) or Berlin (September): all three are very flat. For atmosphere, London is the race to do. For a bucket-list experience, Paris. For a relaxed first marathon abroad, Copenhagen in May. And don't overlook my two wild cards, Florence and Dublin.
Speed isn't everything. When you choose a marathon abroad, weigh up the temperature on the day, the months you'll have to train through, the city, the scenery and how easy it is to get in.
The full list, by month:
- Seville, February: flat, fast and beautiful (where I ran my PB)
- Barcelona, March: an iconic city with PB potential
- Paris, April: the bucket-list race
- Rotterdam, April: flat, cool and quick
- London, April: the best atmosphere anywhere
- Copenhagen, May: an extra month of spring training
- Berlin, September: the famous fast one
- Amsterdam, October: flat, with an Olympic finish
- Frankfurt, October: finish indoors in the Festhalle
- Valencia, December: the hot trend
Wild cards: Florence (November), where I ran my first marathon, and Dublin (October), Europe's most underrated.
I've raced marathons across Europe, from my first in Florence, where I broke 2:20 at the first attempt, to my 2:17:36 best in Seville. I've also had a bad day: I dropped out of Frankfurt at 18 miles. This list comes from that experience, not a search engine.
The 10 races
1. Seville Marathon, Spain: February
When: usually a Sunday in late February. Course: about 10 metres of total climb on smooth, wide roads. Typical weather: cool, dry and calm.
I'll admit my bias: Seville is where I ran my 2:17:36 personal best. It's one of the flattest big-city marathons anywhere, the roads are smooth and wide, and the times show it: the men's course record is 2:03:27.
The weather is close to perfect. On my day it was 2 or 3°C at the start and rose by 5 or 6 degrees, dry, cool, with barely any wind. In February you're very unlikely to get a heatwave in southern Spain, and you won't get snow or freezing conditions either.
It's also an easy trip. A taxi from the airport into the city centre costs around €20, hotels are good value, and once you're there everything is walkable: no long journey to the start on race morning. It's a growing race but not a World Marathon Major, so it's usually much easier to get into. And the city is beautiful, with plenty to see and do afterwards.
The one thing to weigh: if you live in the UK, your whole build-up happens through a dark, cold winter.
Best for: a PB, in one of Europe's most beautiful cities.
2. Barcelona Marathon, Spain: March
When: usually a Sunday in March. Course: mostly flat, from Passeig de Gràcia to the Arc de Triomf. Typical weather: around 10 to 16°C.
Barcelona is an iconic city with loads going on. I've raced there twice, in the 10K and the half marathon, and it's another flat course with real PB potential: the course was redesigned in 2024 and the men's record now stands at 2:04:13. It's much easier to get into than a World Marathon Major.
It can warm up by the finish, and there can be a sea breeze along the waterfront late on, so don't bank time in the first half.
Best for: a spring PB with a city break attached.
3. Paris Marathon, France: April
When: usually a Sunday in early April. Course: starts on the Champs-Élysées and finishes at Porte Dauphine, through the Vincennes and Boulogne woods, with some cobbles and tunnels along the Seine.
Paris is a bucket-list race. It's a fairly quick course, but there are undulations. I think the scenery makes up for a lot: a marathon doesn't have to be flat all the way. You've got to be inspired by the place and the course, and Paris certainly does that.
Best for: a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
4. Rotterdam Marathon, Netherlands: April
When: usually a Sunday in April. Course: flat, starting near the Erasmus Bridge and finishing on the Coolsingel.
The Netherlands is known for flat courses and cool weather, which is ideal for marathon running. Lots of British and European runners set quick times in Rotterdam. It's a strong option if you miss out on a World Marathon Major. See my Rotterdam Marathon training plan.
Best for: a spring PB when you can't get into London.
5. London Marathon, UK: April
When: usually a Sunday in late April. Course: mostly flat, with a quick first half and a slightly slower second half.
London is the race to do. It's the best atmosphere I've ever raced in; I've never known crowds like it. That can work for you or against you. The first half is quick, the crowds are loud, and the nervous energy makes it very easy to get carried away. The second half is a little slower, but it's still a quick course overall.
The thing most people don't consider is the heat. If you live in the UK or anywhere colder, you've trained all winter in cold weather. Then the first warm day of the year can land on race day, and the sudden jump in temperature hits performance hard. London has caught out a lot of runners this way. Professional athletes often go to warm-weather training camps, so they've already adapted. If you can, do some heat training before race day, and have a plan to slow down if it's warm. See my London Marathon training plan.
Best for: atmosphere. Every runner should do it once.
6. Copenhagen Marathon, Denmark: May
When: usually a Sunday in May. Course: a flat loop from Fælledparken through Nyhavn, Christianshavn and Frederiksberg. Typical weather: around 11 to 18°C.
Copenhagen gives you an extra month of spring training compared with the April races, so your body has more time to adapt to warmer weather. It's another really good option, and a friendly, easy city for a first marathon abroad.
Best for: a first marathon abroad, or a later spring race.
7. Berlin Marathon, Germany: September
When: usually the last Sunday in September. Course: a flat loop of central Berlin, finishing just after the Brandenburg Gate.
Berlin is a bucket-list race with a reputation for being fast, and several world records have been set there. Honestly, I'd say it's no faster than several others on this list; it just has the reputation. It's a World Marathon Major, so getting in through the ballot is tough.
Think about the weather too. Late September can still bring a warm Indian summer. And you'll train through the height of summer: good for heat adaptation, but hard on your key sessions. See my Berlin Marathon training plan.
Best for: ticking off a World Marathon Major.
8. Amsterdam Marathon, Netherlands: October
When: usually a Sunday in mid-October. Course: flat, along the Amstel river and through Vondelpark, starting and finishing in the 1928 Olympic Stadium.
Another flat course in a lovely city, with generally decent temperatures. Being a few weeks later than Berlin, there's more chance of cooler weather. Like Berlin, you'll build up through the summer, so think about whether you can train well through the peak of the heat where you live. See my Amsterdam Marathon training plan.
Best for: an autumn PB with a finish on an Olympic track.
9. Frankfurt Marathon, Germany: October
When: usually the last Sunday in October. Course: very flat, about 28 metres of total climb, finishing indoors in the Festhalle.
Frankfurt is one I've run, but I had to drop out at 18 or 19 miles. That was nothing to do with the course, which was quick until then. The finish is something to behold: you run indoors into the arena with the music blaring, which I sadly missed out on. Like most big German races, it runs like clockwork. It's easier to get into than a World Marathon Major, but you still feel like you're running in a big city. First held in 1981, it's Germany's oldest city marathon.
Best for: big-city speed without the ballot.
10. Valencia Marathon, Spain: December
When: usually the first Sunday in December. Course: very flat, finishing on a blue walkway over water at the City of Arts and Sciences.
Valencia is the hot trend among runners. World records have been set at its half marathon and 10K, so it has a reputation for being fast, and the fields are deep. December is a good time to run a marathon in Spain.
The timing is a big plus: you build up through late summer and autumn, one of the best times of year to train. The race comes just as winter arrives, and you recover over Christmas. See my Valencia Marathon training plan.
Best for: an end-of-year PB.
Two wild cards
Florence Marathon, Italy: November
When: usually a Sunday in late November. Course: flat with some undulations, crossing the Ponte Vecchio.
Florence was my first marathon, and I broke 2:20 on my first go. It's an iconic city. Back then there was a long downhill, and a lot of cobbles towards the end, which were tough. The course has changed over the years, and it no longer goes through as many twisty, cobbled streets. I went back a few years later and ran quickly again.
A November race lets you train through late summer into autumn, which suited me perfectly. It's also very spectator-friendly: my family could see me at lots of points as the course circles in and out of the city.
Best for: a fast autumn marathon in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
Dublin Marathon, Ireland: October
When: usually a Sunday in late October. Course: gently undulating, on surprisingly smooth roads, with the last couple of miles gently downhill.
Dublin is wildly underrated. I left it until I was over 40, when I ran it as part of the European Police Championships, and I didn't expect anything special. I was blown away.
The undulations are good ones. On a pancake-flat course you use the same muscles for every stride, and they can tire and cramp. Some ups and downs work slightly different muscles and keep it interesting. The city is brilliant, and there are plenty of local bars to enjoy afterwards.
Best for: a fun, underrated race with a great city attached.
How to choose your European marathon
Pick the race that fits your training months, not just the city. A marathon needs about 16 weeks of focused training, so the race date decides when the hard work happens.
| Race month | Start your 16-week block | Training happens in |
|---|---|---|
| February (Seville) | Late October | Dark, cold winter |
| March to April (Barcelona, Paris, Rotterdam, London) | December to January | Winter, through Christmas |
| May (Copenhagen) | January | Late winter into spring |
| September to October (Berlin, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Dublin) | June | Summer heat and holidays |
| November to December (Florence, Valencia) | Late July to mid-August | Late summer into autumn |
Four more things to weigh:
- Race-day heat. The most overlooked factor. If you train through a cold winter for a spring race, the first warm day of the year can land on race day and cost you minutes. Do some heat training, and have a plan to slow down if it's warm.
- Entry. Berlin and London are World Marathon Majors with tough ballots. Most of the others are much easier to get into, though popular races can sell out.
- Travel. Arrive at least two days early. A late flight, a strange bed and unfamiliar food can cost you more than any hill. A walkable city like Seville makes race morning much easier.
- Your goal. For a PB: Seville, Valencia, Berlin or Frankfurt. For the experience: London or Paris. For a first marathon abroad: Copenhagen. For something different: Florence or Dublin.
Want a plan written for your race?
I'm Martin Williams, a former GB and Scotland international with a 2:17:36 marathon best and the 2010 Commonwealth Games on my record. I coach runners online across the UK and Europe.
- Marathon Plan, €60 one-off: a personal schedule of up to 16 weeks, written for your race, goal time and available days.
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FAQs
What is the fastest marathon in Europe?
Berlin has the reputation, and several world records have been set there. In my view Seville, Valencia and Frankfurt are just as quick, and Seville and Valencia are usually far easier to get into.
What is the flattest marathon in Europe?
Seville, with only about 10 metres of total climb. Frankfurt is also very flat, at about 28 metres.
Which European marathon is best for a first marathon?
Copenhagen or Amsterdam. Both are flat, well organised and easy to travel to, and Copenhagen's May date lets you train in spring rather than deep winter.
Why do so many runners struggle in the heat at the London Marathon?
UK runners train for London through a cold winter. If the first warm day of the year falls on race day, the sudden rise in temperature hits performance hard. Professionals often train in warm-weather camps first. Some heat training and a plan to slow down on a warm day help.
When should I start training for a European marathon?
About 16 weeks before race day, after at least a couple of months of regular easy running. For a December race like Valencia, that means starting in mid-August.
Can I get coaching for a marathon abroad if I don't live in the UK?
Yes. I coach runners online across Europe in English, with plans in the RunnersRoute app and video review calls. Coaching costs €60 a month with no minimum term, or €60 for a one-off plan.
More marathon guides: marathon coaching with Martin Williams · London Marathon 12-week build-up guide · how much a running coach costs