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The Athens Marathon
- Sapphire Running Team
- Jul 20, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 7
From where the world of marathon running all started, this is one of the ‘must run’ marathons.
Starting from the town of Marathon to the history rich Panathenaic Stadium, the venue of the Olympics, the Athens Marathon is one you must not miss. When you're done you can make your way to one of the Greek islands and make it a life changing trip.
Athens
Athens, the capital of Greece, is one of the oldest cities in the world. It has a population of over three million and a history dating back over 3400 years. It was named after the Greek goddess of wisdom and inspiration, Athena, and is known as the cradle of Western civilisation. It's the birthplace of philosophy, democracy and drama, is an open-air museum of world-class cultural heritage attractions and is a city of paradoxes and great contrasts,
It's a cosmopolitan hub with gastronomic delights, electrifying nightlife, creative vibes and a booming art scene. Its most famous landmark is the iconic Acropolis, rising above the city and attracting millions each year, but there's also the Parthenon, the National Archaeological Museum, Mount Lycabettus and much more.
25m miles from Athens is the start town of Marathon and the start point for the Marathon itself. Just outside of Marathon is Schinias Beach, a long and sandy beach with beach bars and pine groves. There's also the Attica Zoological Park, a 32-acre zoo that's home to more than 2,000 animals, 30 types of reptiles, 238 species of birds, and more. Lake Marathon, a man-made reservoir, was formed for the Marathon Dam. The dam is the only marble-faced one in the world. No runner will want to miss the Marathon Run Museum, a permanent exhibition of the “Olympic Marathon” from 1896 to the present. More than 4000 exhibits record the history of the Marathon race. The museum features medals, athletic and personal items of Harilaos Vasilakos, the first winner of the Marathon in 1896, cups, relics, and much more.
History
The story of the marathon is the most well known of all sports. It was a true triumph accomplished by a news-bearing foot soldier from ancient Athens, who announced - with his last words - the victory of the Greeks against the Persians during the Marathon Battle in 490 BC. The 42,195m Marathon Race became one of the most competitive events during the revival of the Olympic Games in 1896. A Greek athlete named Spyros Louis, running what has ever since been referred to as the Original Marathon Course from the ancient city of Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, won the gold medal of the first modern Olympic Games and became a legend of Greek and International Athletics.
The Athens Classic Marathon began in 1972 as a joint venture between the Greek tourist board and the athletics association. The race came under the auspices of SEGAS, the Hellenic Athletics Federation in 1983 when it became known as the Athens Peace Marathon for that year. The 2010 edition of the event was combined with the celebration of the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon. As the 2500 anniversary was actually in 2011, this year was also celebrated as the anniversary run.
In 2014 it was announced that the Athens Classic Marathon will now be known as the “Athens Marathon. The Authentic”. According to the federation, the new name highlights, in the most accurate and precise way, the unique world “position” of Greece’s national heritage, of the Authentic Marathon; a Marathon that is not only a “classic” but the only one on the planet that starts from Marathonas and finishes in Athens.
Race Organiser
The event is organised by SEGAS, the Hellenic Athletics Federation,
When?
The race is held annually in November
Distances
Marathon, 10km, 5km and 1.2km kids run.
Is there an Expo?
All runners need to collect their bib numbers and race kits from the Runners' Center, which is hosted in the Faliro Indoor Hall & Exhibition Centre of Athens, at the Olympic Faliro Coastal Zone, from Wednesday until Saturday before the 10km event on Saturday evening.
How many runners?
Marathon - 20,000.
10km - 12,000
5km - 20.000
Kid's run - 8,500
Course
The Marathon Race starts at 9.00am in the historic town of Marathon, running southwest for the first 19km. The first 4 kilometers are downhill along Marathonos Avenue and then it's left to the home of the Marathon Tomb (War Memorial). There's also an Archaeological Museum of Marathon here, built in 1975 and located near the memorial tomb. The museum consists of five halls, each with its own theme. Collections include: pottery from the early Cycladic, Geometric, and Classical period, statues, and other finds from excavations.
The course is flat from 6km to 10km at Nea Makri, with some undulations from there to 17km when there's a hill to Rafina Junction up to 20km. This is the toughest part of the course.
Through Pikermi district there are more hills for the next 5km as runners head northwest towards Athens. The hills continue through Pallini, a suburban town in the Greater Athens Area. By 31km the hills are done and it's much easier in the last section.
There's a steep descent leading to the Agia Paraskevi Square and the crowds really pick up. Then it's Mesogeion Avenue, going through the districts of Chalandri and Cholargos, with flat and downhill parts of the course up to the finish. At the last part of the Marathon Course and having turned on the Herodou Attikou Street, runners can see the Panathenaic Stadium, passing by the Presidential Residency and the National Gardens The runners enter the Panathenaic Stadium to the finish and to an incredible atmosphere. A stadium was built here on the site of a simple racecourse by an Athenian statesman in c. 330 BC, but after the rise of Christianity in the 4th century it was largely abandoned. The stadium was excavated in 1869 and after being refurbished, it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and as an Olympic venue in 2004. Without doubt this is the most iconic finish to any marathon event anywhere in the world. You have to be here!
There are plenty of aid stations, with water every 2.5km and there are energy bars and drinks. The volunteers are excellent.
What's unique?
What isn't? It doesn't get much more unique than this one.
Do charities benefit?
There is no official charity programme but the organisers do support the Special Olympics charity. Running for charity isn't big in this part of the world but plenty of UK and US runners will be raising funds for their preferred charities.
Our verdict
If you're looking for a truly iconic marathon, this is the one. For many runners it's gone under the radar up to now, but with more than 60,000 runners across all distances it's well and truly up there as an event with real global appeal. It's not the easiest and the crowds aren't the biggest but the start and finish areas are out of this world.
How to register
Online via the website. It's a first come first served registration process, with no ballot. The 5km sells out early and all distances are likely to be sold a few weeks before event day. Specialist running tour operators do have entries available.
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