Hamburg Marathon 2027

We’re in Hamburg in Northern Germany 🇩🇪, near the North Sea. Home to the country’s largest port, the city was completely rebuilt after World War II (thanks Jamy 👨🏻‍🏫)! Today, Hamburg is one of Germany’s most dynamic cities thanks to its demographics and its major economic activity (aerospace, maritime, banking 😯). But Hamburg is also the country’s "green lung." In fact, the city is home to countless lakes, rivers and forests 😍. All in all, there are no fewer than 26 hectares of green spaces 🌿. In short, Hamburg is a magnificent playground for marathoners! 🏃‍♀️ And as it happens: a legendary one takes place here: the Hamburg Marathon (or Haspa Marathon Hamburg)!

By the way, what about the marathon itself? 🤔 Held in April for more than 40 years, the Hamburg Marathon is the biggest spring marathon in Germany! The event is hugely popular with runners. Every year, no fewer than 30,000 runners take part, and the half marathon is sold out months in advance 🤯. Two courses are offered: a half marathon (21.0975 km) and a marathon (42.195 km) that you can run solo or as a four-runner relay 🏃‍♂️. If you and your friends choose the relay, you’ll need to split the 4 distances as follows: 15.7 km, 11.4 km, 5.3 km and 9.7 km! Also note that the half marathon course is, at the start, roughly the same as the marathon course (ideal if you’re starting with a group of mixed levels)! 😉

But whatever you choose, if you take part in this event, you’ll have the chance to run through the city and right in the middle of nature! 🍀 That’s the strength of the Hamburg Marathon ! 💪 You’ll discover the Port of Hamburg, the historic city center, as well as the small borough of Altona and its artists... 👨‍🎨 But you’ll also and above all discover absolutely fantastic natural spots like Stadtpark, a 148-hectare botanical park! 🌲 You’ll also have the chance to run along the shores of the two largest artificial lakes in Hamburg 🏊‍♀️: the Binnenalster and the Außenalster (where Hamburg locals regularly row, kayak, run, and more). As for the weather, we can’t promise anything. Still, it’s generally fairly dry in the area and temperatures hover at around 13°C to 15°C! 🌥 So it will be rather chilly, but the lively atmosphere of this event should do plenty to warm you up! 😎

Eins, zwei, drei... Off we go! 🔫 The Hamburg Marathon passes through all the city’s key spots. The perfect opportunity to discover Germany’s second-largest city! 😌 The race begins in the middle of the Hamburg Congress Center, in the St. Pauli district (famous for its bars, nightclubs, and its second-division football club). Then you’ll head toward the south of the city. You’ll run alongside the Große Wallanlagen, a huge park along the old city’s ramparts. After a few kilometers, you’ll make your way to Altona, THE city of artists 👨‍🎨. This small borough is packed with boutiques, designer shops and art galleries! 🎨 Next, you’ll discover the city’s port ⚓️. You’ll also run along the shores of the two major artificial lakes, the Binnenalster and the Außenalster, before discovering Stadtpark - the city’s lung - a 148-hectare park with many gardens and a planetarium 🌟.

Well prepared, the Hamburg Marathon is a race with no major difficulty and little elevation gain 👍. Proof: the record for this marathon is 2 hours, 4 minutes and 9 seconds ⏱️. How can such a performance be explained? First, the atmosphere at this marathon is absolutely unique 👌. The many spectators allow runners to push beyond themselves from the start of the race all the way to the finish line! 🏁 You might even have the chance to meet Michel Descombes, a Frenchman present every year at the Hamburg Marathon, dressed in the French tricolor to cheer on the runners! 📣 What’s more, the organization is absolutely flawless: Hamburg is easy to reach by train or plane, runner management is optimal, aid stations are numerous, and the hotel offering is extensive... 👏 Everything is in place to run in excellent conditions! 😏

Running is great, but what else is there to do? First, an expo is held on the Friday and Saturday before the 42 km, at the Hamburg Messe & Congress (just a few steps from the start line 🚩). This expo brings together nearly 80 exhibitors specialized in endurance, outdoor and lifestyle... Plenty to get properly equipped before the start! 😬 Plus, a kids race, the "Das Zehntel", is organized the day before! For the record: it’s the biggest kids’ race in Germany, welcoming 9,000 schoolchildren, aged 6 to 17, who run 4.2195 km (i.e., one tenth of a marathon). Still not convinced? You can always keep the party going and head into the city center to visit the Hamburg Dungeon, a museum that traces the city’s dark history ! More into nature? You can stroll along the Alster 💦, a truly ideal spot for a walk with family or friends, or to enjoy a fischbrötchen (a fish sandwich) 🥪, or a franzbrötchen (a cinnamon pastry) 😋.

Plenty to bring your blood sugar back up before you wolf down a Hamburger! 🍔