Athens Marathon 2026

Following the ‘Original Course’ from the ancient city of Marathon to the Athens Olympic Stadium, the Athens Marathon offers a historic course that welcomes runners with its various sights along the way, including the Marathon Tomb. You will start the Athens Marathon with a twelve-kilometer flat stretch, giving the perfect time to warm up those legs before taking the slightly more demanding nineteen kilometers with slowly climbing hills. All is made worthwhile as the climb then allows runners to take on a downhill final 7 miles towards the finish. After the 26 miles, you will be greeted by thousands of cheers from spectators as you cross the finish line in the breath-taking Athens’ magnificent Panathinaikos Olympic Stadium.

Getting to Athens
Athens International Airport (ATH): The main gateway to Greece, located about 20 km (12 miles) east of the city center.
• Bus: Express airport buses operate 24/7 to key points in the city. Journey times are typically 45–60 minutes, depending on traffic, with fares around €5.50 ($6.50).

• Taxi: Taxis are available outside arrivals. A journey into the city center usually takes 30–45 minutes and costs about €35–€45. ($40-$50)

Getting around Athens
• Metro: Athens’ modern metro network has three main lines connecting the city center, suburbs, and key landmarks, including the Acropolis and Olympic Stadium. Services run frequently from early morning until midnight.

• Taxi: Taxis are widely available and relatively inexpensive.
• Walking: Many of Athens’ main sights, cafés, and historic districts are within walking distance of each other, making it easy to explore on foot.

With Sports Tours, you never run alone. We’ll meet you at your hotel, escort you to the race expo and get you to the start line with ease. Join us for a 5KM shakeout run, meet fellow runners and celebrate together post-race.

Please arrange your own flight to Athens airport. The Divani Acropolis Hotel is in the center of Athens and is easily accessible from the airport. If you wish to attend the marathon expo yourself separately, you are welcome to do so.
Your Sports Tours rep will be at the hotel throughout the day to welcome you. In the evening, join the team for welcome drinks at the Divani Palace hotel, a perfect opportunity for solo travelers to meet fellow runners before the marathon.
(Please note, runners will receive a full itinerary in the lead up to the event)

After breakfast, we are offering a 5 km shakeout run where everyone is welcome! We will then escort you to the marathon expo today. Should you wish to attend the marathon expo yourself, you can head to the TAE KWON DO Indoor Hall & Exhibition Centre of Athens, at the Olympic Faliro Coastal Zone.
Today is also the official 5 km road race starting at 5:00 PM with a finish at the Panathenaic Stadium. You will have a time limit of 60-minutes to complete the race.

Start your race day with an early breakfast before transferring to the marathon start line. The Athens Marathon begins at 9:00 AM, and the 10 km race starts at 8:15 AM, with a 90-minute time limit to complete the 10 km. Be sure to arrive at least one hour before the race starts.

On race day, transfer buses will run regularly from the center of Athens, with the nearest pick-up point about a mile’s walk from our hotel. Our staff will escort you to the start. A designated spectator viewing point will also be available for friends and family to cheer you on.

Once you’ve crossed the finish line, the celebration continues! Join us in the evening for our exclusive after-party at the Divani Palace Hotel with food and drinks.

Make your own way back to Athens Airport. Free time dependent on your flight time. You also have the option to extend your stay in Athens to explore for longer (subject to availability.)