Running guide

Berlin Marathon course guide: route, landmarks and 2027 entry

Updated 8 November 2026

The Berlin Marathon is a loop through the German capital that starts and finishes near the Brandenburg Gate. It is one of the World Marathon Majors and is best known for speed: the flat course has seen the marathon world record broken many times.

Berlin Marathon 2027: date, start, entry

The 2027 race is on Sunday 26 September 2027. From 2027 it has a new name, the Generali Berlin-Marathon. The course starts and finishes near the Brandenburg Gate.

The race weekend also has wheelchair and handbike races, inline skating and a mini-marathon, plus a 5K on Saturday 25 September 2027.

Marathon places are given out by lottery. Lottery registration runs from 1 October to 12 November 2026, and results are emailed on 3 December 2026. The marathon entry fee is €215, charged only if you are drawn. Runners with a qualifying time can apply as fast runners, and there are also charity places and tour operator packages.

The 5K costs €34.50, with registration open from 27 November 2026 to 25 September 2027. Fees for the other events are listed on the official website.

Official website: www.generali-berlin-marathon.com/en

Checked on 8 November 2026 against the official race website; confirm details there before you enter.

The course

From the start the route passes through Charlottenburg, around the Tiergarten, through Moabit and Mitte and south to Friedrichshain. It then runs west between Kreuzberg and Neukölln, through Schöneberg, Friedenau and Zehlendorf, before turning north again towards the centre. The loop closes as runners pass through the Brandenburg Gate to the finish.

The organisers describe it as the flattest course of the World Marathon Majors. On our map the line covers about 42.1 km with only about 38 m of climbing.

Why Berlin is so fast

The race was founded in 1974 and is usually held on the last weekend of September. Its flat roads regularly produce fast times, and the marathon world record has been broken in Berlin many times, which makes it a popular choice for runners chasing a personal best.

Running it

Do not go off too fast: on a flat course it is easy to bank time early and pay for it later.
Look at the official course map before race day so you know where the aid stations are.
Plan how you will reach the start area well before race morning.
Save something for the run back into the centre, so you pass through the Brandenburg Gate strong.

Frame your Berlin finish

The Berlin Marathon is available as a framed 3D map: the real terrain of the city printed in relief, with the course raised in colour. Add your name, date and finish time and we work out your pace. If you ran with a GPS watch, upload your GPX and we print your exact line.

Common questions

When is the Berlin Marathon 2027?

Sunday 26 September 2027. From 2027 the race is called the Generali Berlin-Marathon. Lottery registration runs from 1 October to 12 November 2026, and the entry fee is €215 if you are drawn.

Is the Berlin Marathon course flat?

Yes. The organisers call it the flattest of the World Marathon Majors, and on our map it has only about 38 m of climbing.

Where does the Berlin Marathon start and finish?

Near the Brandenburg Gate. The course is a loop through the city, and runners pass through the Gate on the way to the finish.

How do you get a place in the Berlin Marathon?

Most places are given out by lottery. Runners with a qualifying time can apply as fast runners, and there are also charity places and tour operator packages.