What to Do in Frankfurt on Marathon Weekend?

Before the start: bib, pretzel and a lie-in 🥨

The weekend in Frankfurt kicks off at the Messe Frankfurt, the exhibition center in the Westend district. Your bib is waiting for you in Hall 1, level 2: Friday, October 23 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday the 24th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for the most daring 🎟️ .

Right next door, the Marathon Mall, the official expo with free entry, lines up shoes, gels and apparel. You know the marathoner's golden rule: nothing new on race day, not even the pair that shines under the neon lights.

On Saturday morning, the "Brezellauf" at 10 a.m. takes thousands of runners out for an easy jog, with a pretzel in sight. In the afternoon, head to the Pasta Party at the Festhalle from 1:30 p.m., where the carbs flow freely 🍝 . The mini runners aged 5 to 9 set off on the "Shaggy Peter Race" (420 m, Saturday 11:30 a.m.), a nod to Struwwelpeter, the hero of a children's book dreamed up by a Frankfurt doctor.

Bonus gift: during the night from Saturday to Sunday, Europe goes back to winter time. At 3 a.m., it will be 2 a.m. An extra hour of sleep the night before a marathon: even Doc Brown couldn't have set his DeLorean better ⏰ .

Sunday, the Frankfurt Marathon rolls out the red carpet 🏁

The start is at 10 a.m. on the Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage, in waves. On the menu: 42.195 km and barely 27 m of elevation gain, a fast profile that makes time-chasers drool. The Frankfurt Marathon, Germany's oldest urban marathon (1981), is celebrating its 43rd edition, carries the World Athletics Elite Label and is part of the European Marathon Classics circuit. A sought-after event: it has been sold out since late August.

The benchmark time? Wilson Kipsang, 2:03:41 in 2011, four seconds off the world record of the time. Among the women, Hawi Feysa broke the record with 2:17:25 in 2024. This year, Amanal Petros, the German record holder and world vice-champion in Tokyo, is aiming for the national record on this asphalt made for record-breaking races.

Is your crew running too? The four-person relay marathon starts at 10:35 a.m., and the "Mini-Marathon" of 4.2 km at 10:55 a.m. Devoted supporters, meanwhile, move along to the beat of the bands stationed along the course, from the banks of the Main to Sachsenhausen.

The grand finale takes place indoors: since 2003, the finish has been decided in the Festhalle, on a red carpet, under the spotlights and music 🎉 . The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon gives you 6 hours to complete the distance, with showers and changing rooms in the basement of Hall 1.

What to do in Frankfurt after the finish line? 🍎

For your legs: the recovery version of the city

On Monday, are stairs scaring you? The Main Tower lifts you by elevator up to its terrace, 187 m above the skyline nicknamed Mainhattan 🏙️ . Down below, the Römerberg lines up its half-timbered houses rebuilt after the war. The 328 steps of St. Bartholomew's Cathedral? Save those for the following week.

Want some slow-paced culture? On the south bank, the museums along the water, including the Städel, can be visited while dragging your sneakers 🎨 . Literature fans head to the birthplace of Goethe, a local son born in 1749. For the souvenir photo, medal around your neck, the Eiserner Steg footbridge frames the skyline perfectly.

On your plate: refueling the Hessian way 🍽️

Head to Sachsenhausen and its Apfelwein taverns, serving the local cider in a stoneware pitcher, the Bembel. There you dip your potatoes in Grüne Soße, a green sauce made with seven herbs, Goethe's favorite dish according to legend. The boldest order the Handkäse mit Musik, a cheese marinated with onions whose "music" plays out... later. The Kleinmarkthalle, the covered market in the center, rounds off the tour of Hesse's flavors.

Ready to beat your time? 🏁

Bib in hand? Enjoy the extra hour, savor your pasta and save some legs for the red carpet. No spot this year? Since the race is sold out, mark your calendar for 2027 or tune up your stride at the Frankfurt Half Marathon in late March. For your next finish line, browse the calendar of marathons in Germany and book your bib 📅 .