Spring is amazing time to run a marathon, but do you know the best spring marathons in Europe? The weather is perfect, nature is waking up from winter and becoming magical and there are multiple race options which gives an chance to travel and see different countries from a new way. As they say – when you want truly see new destination, run a marathon there.
Spring marathon has one more huge benefit – it’s sometimes really difficult to keep yourself motivated to run in wintertime. Having spring marathon planned and booked gives a huge boost to continue with those runs even when its cold and snowy and all you really want is snuggle up with cup of hot tea (trust me this feels even better after a run, so just hang in there).
But if you are like me – hobby runner – who is juggling with full time job, family and tries to match it with running (and those weekend long runs), then every marathon definitely isn’t a good fit.
So I’ve put together a list of 10 best spring marathons in Europe that I have in my bucket list and focused mostly this time on:
- beginner-friendliness
- beautiful courses
- great organization
- and let’s be honest… travel appeal too 😉
Whether you’re aiming for your first marathon or your fifth, they all are really great options.
10 Best Spring Marathons in Europe
1️⃣ Paris Marathon (France) – April 12, 2026
One of the biggest marathons in Europe, but still incredibly scenic. You’ll run past the Eiffel Tower, the Seine and Champs-Élysées. If you search which are the best spring marathons in Europe, then Paris is definately one of the most mentioned one.
Official website: https://www.schneiderelectricparismarathon.com/en
2️⃣ Vienna City Marathon (Austria) – April 19, 2026
Flat course, great crowd support and the starting line has classical music playing — only in Vienna!
Official website: https://www.vienna-marathon.com/?lang=en
3️⃣ Copenhagen Marathon (Denmark)
Super well-organized and looks like the whole city cheers for you.
Official website: https://copenhagenmarathon.dk/en/
4️⃣ Rome Marathon (Italy) – March 22, 2026
Where else can you run on ancient cobblestones and past the Colosseum?
Official website: https://www.runromethemarathon.com/en/marathon/
5️⃣ Madrid Marathon (Spain)
Hilly, but worth it for the live music, sunshine, and the electric finish at Retiro Park.
Official website: https://rocknrollmadridrun.com/?lang=en
6️⃣ Rotterdam Marathon (Netherlands) – April 12, 2026
Flat, fast, and often used by serious runners to qualify for other races. But it’s also beginner-friendly with great pacing teams and crowd support.
Official website: https://nnmarathonrotterdam.nl/en/
7️⃣ Brighton Marathon (UK) – April 12, 2026
Seaside views, fun atmosphere, and less crowded than London (and way easier to get a place there when its really difficult to get a place in London Marathon). Easy to combine with a London trip.
Official website: https://www.londonmarathonevents.co.uk/brighton-marathon-weekend
8️⃣ Prague Marathon (Czech Republic)
One of Europe’s most beautiful cities and an unforgettable race course through its old town. It has small hills, but it’s still very doable.
Official website: https://www.runczech.com/en/events/orlen-prague-marathon-2025
9️⃣ Stockholm Marathon (Sweden)
Late spring = mild temps. Gorgeous course through water and parks. If you are worried about training in the winter then this marathon is perfect – it’s later in spring, so ideal if you want more training time.
Official website: https://www.stockholmmarathon.se/
🔟 Barcelona Marathon (Spain) – March 15, 2026
Sun, palm trees, tapas. The race is flat and fast with great crowd vibes.
Official website: https://www.zurichmaratobarcelona.es/en/
🏁 Which Spring Marathon Should You Choose?
👉 If you’re a first-time marathoner, go for:
Copenhagen, Brighton or Vienna — all flat and really beginner-friendly. Theres no need to worry on the first time too much about hills or difficult course, marathon is a challenge itself.
👉 If you want race + vacation combo, try:
Rome, Barcelona or Prague. All three are really amazing destinations and make sure you stay bit longer so you can have a nice small vacation as well. Just make sure that you are not doing too much sightseeing and walking before the actual marathon.
👉 Chasing a personal best?
Rotterdam or Vienna are your best bets, they are the fastest marathons, a lot of professionals runners use those to get their best results.
✨ Final Tips for Picking Your Best Spring Marathon in Europe
- Book early: Spring races in Europe are popular, and some sell out fast. If you have troubles deciding which one to take first, make sure to also check flight schedules, ticket prices and hotel availability and costs, so you have better idea on your total budget for the trip.
- Set realistic training goals: Choose a race far enough out that you can train without burnout. During springtime there are many marathons and it pays off to be honest with yourself. If its already new year, then marathon in March might not be the best idea, especially since there are options in May and June too.
- Factor in travel stress: Jet lag and long flights can affect performance — arrive 2 days early if you can, so you can take your time on settling in and don’t have to worry about rushing to running expo from the airport.
- Join the community: Follow the race hashtags on Instagram or Facebook — they’re full of great tips from real runners. A lot of big marathons also have their own Facebook groups where you can share tips and tricks, ask questions and support each other.
💬 Are you planning a spring marathon or have you ran any of these marathons already?
Let me know in the comments — I’d love to cheer you on and read your experience! 🎉