Budapest Marathon

Budapest Marathon 2018/2019

Budapest Marathon
The Budapest Marathon was first held in 1984. Since then more and more runners return every year and the race has developed quite a bit throughout the years.

In 1984, 650 people finished the course while on 2 October 2011, when the latest Budapest Marathon took place, almost 3000 runners from more than 50 countries ran the marathon. The same is expected for the next Budapest Marathon in October 12, 2014 . 

Aside from the 42.195km individual marathon race, it is possible to enter as a three or five person relay team or a 30km course following the last 30km of the marathon route. In addition to this, a 4km Fun Run for children and a 7.5km mini marathon are taking place. In 2009, a total of 13,800 runners participated in the various distances.

A half-marathon is also arranged on the streets of Budapest. 

The course of the Budapest Marathon is a veritable sightseeing tour. The starting line is placed on the impressive Heroes’ Square, where the anticipating runners are encircled by 24 statues of former kings, governors and other people from 1,000 years of Hungarian history. From there, runners are led directly to UNESCO World Heritage Site, Andrassy Avenue, aligned with neo-renaissance palaces and mansions. 

Soon runners will find themselves touring up, down and across Danube River, passing some of the main attractions of the capital, including Buda Castle, Parliament Building and the 150-year-old Chain Bridge. Because a large part of the marathon is taking place on the banks of Danube River, the course is very flat with the bridges across the river as the only gradients. Feel free to go for that PB, if you can keep your attention off the sights along the route. 

Race weekend will finish stylishly with fireworks and a post-race party, but before that, a treat - which is bound to keep your spirits up during those final gruelling kilometres - is offered to every finishing marathoner. Free entry to one of the oldest spas in the city, the Szechenyi Bath, with saunas, thermal baths, 22 indoor and outdoor pools and many other features that will make your worn-out body think it’s in heaven. 

Registration and further information? Please follow the link to the official Budapest Marathon site here

Budapest Marathon Course
If you follow this link you will find maps of the marathon course, the start and finish areas, as well as course maps of the 4km Fun Run for children and the 7.5km Minimarathon.