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Berlin Half Marathon 2027: Course, Entry And SuperHalfs Guide,
Updated: 4 days ago
The Berlin Half Marathon takes you through both western and eastern Berlin before a final run through the Brandenburg Gate. Its flat profile attracts runners chasing a personal best, while the landmarks, music and crowds give you plenty to enjoy at any pace.
The 2027 race takes place on Sunday 4 April. It is one of the six SuperHalfs, and its popularity means getting a place now requires some planning. The lottery has closed, but charity and official tour operator entries offer other possibilities.
The Destination
Berlin is worth exploring beyond the race route. You can visit the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island and the Berlin Wall Memorial, then spend time in neighbourhoods that each have a different character. A longer stay gives you room to enjoy the city without trying to fit everything into the day before your run.
Berlin is also bigger than it may appear when you are looking for a hotel. Check the public transport journey to the start near the Brandenburg Gate and to the expo at Tempelhof before booking. Save the longest sightseeing walks for after the race.
History Of The Berlin Half Marathon
The modern Berlin Half Marathon grew from races held in East and West Berlin before reunification. It has become one of the world’s largest half marathons, bringing runners from many countries onto the capital’s streets each spring.
Berlin joined the SuperHalfs series in 2024. For runners collecting the six races, it adds a course that combines the scale of a major city event with a finish at one of Europe’s best known landmarks.
Who Organises The Berlin Half Marathon?
The race is organised by SCC Events, which also organises the Berlin Marathon. The half marathon is part of SuperHalfs alongside Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia.
You can register for a free SuperHalfs passport and provide its number when entering a race in the series. Berlin counts towards your progress whether it is your first SuperHalf or your sixth.
When Is The Berlin Half Marathon 2027?
The race takes place on Sunday 4 April 2027. Runners are currently scheduled to start in waves from 10:05am, following the inline skating, wheelchair and handbike starts.
Your own start time and access instructions will depend on your assigned group. Check the final race information before travelling, along with the weather forecast for the weekend.
Berlin Half Marathon 2027 Expo
You must collect your race materials in person at the Half Marathon Expo. For 2027, it is scheduled for Friday 2 and Saturday 3 April at the former Tempelhof Airport. Bring your start card and a photo ID, and allow time to travel there before it closes.
You will need both a wristband that you collect at the expo and your bib to enter the start and finish area on race day. There is no race material collection on Sunday.
Race Morning
The start is on Straße des 17. Juni, between the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column. It is a large event with wave starts, so leave time to reach the correct entrance and find your block.
Check your baggage choice before leaving your accommodation. Runners who booked a clothing bag can use the designated drop off, while those who chose the finish poncho cannot leave a bag there.
Berlin Half Marathon 2027 Course
The current course starts west of the Brandenburg Gate, runs out to Charlottenburg Palace, then returns through western Berlin towards Potsdamer Platz. From there it crosses the historic centre, heads east to a turning point and finishes along Unter den Linden and through the Brandenburg Gate.
The organiser describes it as a low elevation course, but its appeal is as much about the changing city as its potential for a fast time. The following landmarks and kilometre points reflect the current published route; check the final map before race weekend.
The Start To Charlottenburg Palace
From the start on Straße des 17. Juni, you run with the Victory Column ahead and the Brandenburg Gate behind. The route continues past the Technical University at around 2km, crosses Ernst-Reuter-Platz and follows Otto-Suhr-Allee towards Charlottenburg Palace at approximately 4km. This is a striking but busy opening. The wide roads make it tempting to move around other runners, so concentrate on finding a comfortable rhythm. At Charlottenburg Palace, the course makes a sharp left turn towards Schlossstraße and begins its journey back across western Berlin.
Kurfürstendamm To Halfway
The route reaches Kurfürstendamm at around 6.7km. Music and spectators build along this section as you head past Café Kranzler and towards the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church at roughly 9km. You then continue past Wittenbergplatz, close to the KaDeWe department store, before reaching Nollendorfplatz at around 10.5km. The left turn onto Potsdamer Straße comes near 11km. By now you will have seen a very different side of Berlin from the broad avenue where you started.
Potsdamer Platz And The Historic Centre
Potsdamer Straße takes you past the area of the Neue Nationalgalerie and the Berlin Philharmonie. You reach Potsdamer Platz and nearby Leipziger Platz at around 13km, then continue east along Leipziger Straße. The route turns towards the streets beside Gendarmenmarkt, a square framed by the German and French cathedrals and the Concert Hall. From here you pass towards the Humboldt Forum at approximately 15km. These kilometres offer a succession of landmarks, but they are also a good point to check your effort before the final stretch.
The Eastern Turnaround
Beyond the historic centre, the route passes the Red Town Hall and continues east along Karl-Marx-Allee. There is a turnaround shortly after 17km, bringing you back past the Red Town Hall at around 18.5km. Seeing runners travelling in the opposite direction adds energy to this section. The distance may be starting to tell, though, so focus on maintaining your own pace rather than responding to runners around you. The organiser also has a cut off point at kilometre 18, which matters if you expect to be close to the time limit.
Unter Den Linden And The Finish
The final two kilometres take you west along Unter den Linden. Berlin Cathedral appears at approximately 19.3km, followed by more historic buildings as the Brandenburg Gate comes into view ahead. You run through the gate with about 150 metres still to go. Keep moving until you cross the finish line beyond it. It is a memorable ending, whether you have spent the morning pursuing a time or taking in the journey across Berlin.
Aid Stations And Race Support
The current course information lists refreshment points at approximately 5km, 9.8km, 12.3km, 14.1km, 17.5km and 19.5km. Water is available at most of them, alongside selected drinks or food. The 12.3km point supplies gels but does not supply water.
The stations are on the right hand side of the route. Check the final details when you plan what to carry, and practise any race nutrition during training. Do not rely on taking a gel with water at 12.3km.
How Difficult Is The Berlin Half Marathon Course?
Berlin has a low elevation profile and no substantial hill that dominates the race. That makes it easier to plan an even effort than on a more undulating course, although the crowded opening and the half marathon distance still demand preparation.
The organiser currently lists a 3 hour 15 minute time limit, measured from crossing the start line, and a cut off at kilometre 18. If you expect to be near either limit, read the final participant instructions carefully.
What Makes The Berlin Half Marathon Special?
The course gives you more than a quick tour of famous sights. You move from the broad roads near the Tiergarten to Charlottenburg, through the busy streets of western Berlin and across the historic centre before returning to the Brandenburg Gate.
Music, cheering points and spectators add to the atmosphere along the way. Its place in the SuperHalfs series also means many runners arrive with a wider journey in mind, alongside those running their first half marathon or aiming for a faster time.
Is The Berlin Half Marathon A Fast Course?
Berlin is a strong choice if you are looking for a fast half marathon. The course has little elevation change, and its broad roads can help you settle into a steady pace once the field opens up.
That does not make a personal best automatic. Avoid spending too much energy weaving through the opening kilometres, and keep enough in reserve for the eastern turnaround and the final run along Unter den Linden.
Is The Berlin Half Marathon Good For First Time Runners?
Yes, provided you are comfortable with a large event. There are no major hills to prepare for, and the changing surroundings can help break the distance into manageable stages.
Pay attention to the practical details before travelling. You must collect your race materials before Sunday, wear your bib and wristband on race day, and reach the correct start area. Check that the time limit also suits your planned pace.
How To Enter The Berlin Half Marathon 2027
General runners’ places for the Berlin Half Marathon 2027 were allocated through a lottery. Applications ran from 2 April to 28 May 2026, and the results have been issued. The general lottery is therefore no longer a route into the 2027 race.
The organiser lists official charity partners and tour operators as alternative ways to secure a place. It also advertises entries associated with its running camps. Availability, prices and conditions differ, so check the full offer before booking travel.
Running The Berlin Half Marathon For Charity
Official charity partners offer runners a chance to secure an entry while supporting a cause. This may be an option if you missed out in the lottery, subject to places still being available.
Choose a charity that matters to you and ask about its fundraising target, registration payment and support before applying. Your training and the journey to Berlin can then become part of the story you share with supporters.
Our Verdict
The Berlin Half Marathon deserves its place among the SuperHalfs. The route gives runners a genuine opportunity to run well, but it also delivers a distinctive journey through the city, ending with a run through the Brandenburg Gate.
It takes some planning to get an entry and manage the expo and race morning. Once those details are sorted, there is plenty to enjoy on the course and across Berlin during the rest of your visit.
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