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.)

The Athens Marathon 2026 will take place on November 8th.

People wishing to take part in the Athens Marathon 2026 can registering on the official Athens Authentic Marathon event website. However, this event is in high demand and sells out fast.

The easiest way to secure your entry into the Athens Marathon is by booking with Sports Tours International, where you can also get accommodation, on-site support and more. We are offering options for the marathon, 10k and 5k race.

Sports Tours International offers careSports Tours International are offering rooms at the 4* Divani Palace Acropolis, with options for twin, twin to share, double and single to suit your travel needs.

The Athens Authentic Marathon is organised by SEGAS (Hellenic Athletics Federation). Other supporting organisations include the Region of Attica, The City of Athens and the Municipality of Marathon.

November in Athens is usually mild to cool with temperature ranging from around 18 – 19 degrees during the day and 10 degrees at night. November is also the wetter month of the year for Athens, with expected rain fall for parts of the day, but still 4-5 hours of sunshine.

We would recommend packing layers and raincoats to protect yourself from the colder days and nights and potential rain.

The Athens Marathon starts at the iconic battlefield in the town Marathon, near the Marathon Tomb (Tymbos).

Athens Marathon will finish inside the historic Panathenaic Stadium, known as Kallimarmaro located in central Athens.

Entry fees vary depending on how you register. When booking through Sports Tours International, your race entry is included as part of the overall package price, along with accommodation at the Divani Palace Hotel, welcome drinks, a 5k shakeout run, post-race celebration drinks, and full support from the Sports Tours International team throughout your trip.

Booking as a package removes the uncertainty of securing standalone race entries or managing arrangements yourself, allowing you to focus fully on your race experience.

The Athens Marathon, officially known as the Athens Authentic Marathon, started in 1896 and follows the historic 490 BC course of Pheidippides from Marathon to Athens.