In short
The Athens Marathon (officially Athens Marathon. The Authentic) is expected on Sunday 14 November 2027, but the organisers have not confirmed the date yet. It runs point to point from the town of Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro) in central Athens, and free race buses take runners from central Athens to the start in the early morning. Runners do best around Syntagma or in Koukaki, a walk from a race bus stop, or in Pangrati right by the finish; supporters do well near Evangelismos, on the course with under 2 km to go. In 2026 entries opened on 24 April and sold out in record time, so get your entry first and book a room you can cancel now.
Course sheet In race order, not to scale
- Marathon townStart by the stadium in Marathon. For 2026 the first block starts at 08:30 and the second wave from 09:45.
- Tymvos, the Marathon Tombkm 4 (mile 2)From km 4 the course loops for about 2.2 km around the burial mound of the Athenians who fell at the Battle of Marathon.
- Pallinikm 27 (mile 17)Part of the long middle climb, with uphill sections around km 27 to 28.
- Stavros junction, Gerakaskm 30 (mile 19)The last and hardest climb, km 30 to 31, then a steep drop to Agia Paraskevi.
- Mesogeion Avenue, Nomismatokopiokm 34.2 (mile 21) · cheer spotThe course runs down Mesogeion Avenue above Metro Line 3, about 8 km from the finish.
- Katechaki junctionkm 37.5 (mile 23)Downhill from the Ministry of Defence and under the bridge at km 37.5.
- Vasilissis Sofias, Megaro Mousikiskm 40 (mile 25) · cheer spotPast the Athens Concert Hall and Eleftherias Park at km 40, the last drinks station.
- Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro)The last 170 m are on the track inside the marble stadium. For 2026 the course closes at 18:15.
Race morning
Free official buses take registered runners from central Athens to the start in Marathon, with no booking needed. For 2026, wave 1 (blocks 1 to 10) boards from 05:00 to 06:30 at Syntagma, Panepistimio, Omonia, Evangelismos, Katechaki and Syngrou-Fix (last bus there 06:15), and wave 2 (blocks 11 to 15) from 06:30 to 07:30 at Metro Line 3 stops on Mesogeion Avenue such as Ethniki Amyna, Katechaki and Nomismatokopio. Cars are banned in central Athens from 05:00 on race day 2026, so walk or take the metro to your bus: in 2025 Metro Lines 2 and 3 ran all night and Line 1 opened at 05:00. Since 2025 there has been no bag drop at the start: the official clothing bag is handed in at the expo before race day.
Where to stay
Pick an area to see hotels and rentals there at live prices.
Start Finish Acheer spot Course
Live map · Syntagma and PlakaHotels and rentals at live prices, Fri 12 Nov to Mon 15 Nov
Open the live map for Syntagma and Plaka ↗
Prices and availability come from booking sites through Stay22. Change the dates on the map if you are staying longer.
Watch the race
Watch on Mesogeion Avenue at Nomismatokopio, ride Metro Line 3 into town for the last 2 km on Vasilissis Sofias, then walk to the Panathenaic Stadium to meet your runner.
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km 34.2 (mile 21)
Mesogeion Avenue, Nomismatokopio
Nomismatokopio station on Metro Line 3 sits right on the course with about 8 km to go. After your runner passes, ride Line 3 toward Syntagma (no change) to Megaro Mousikis: your runner needs roughly 30 to 40 minutes for the next 6 km at 5 to 7 minutes per km, so skip this stop for very fast runners.
Stays near Mesogeion Avenue, Nomismatokopio ↗ -
km 40 (mile 25)
Vasilissis Sofias, Megaro Mousikis
Come up at Megaro Mousikis station by the Athens Concert Hall, where runners pass the last drinks station and head down Vasilissis Sofias. Then ride Line 3 one stop to Evangelismos or two to Syntagma and walk about 1 km to the stadium. Most runners will finish before you get there, so plan to meet them rather than watch the finish. Stay off the road: the race lanes and the lanes beside them are closed to spectators.
Stays near Vasilissis Sofias, Megaro Mousikis ↗ -
Meet your runner
Anyone can watch the finish free from the stands of the Panathenaic Stadium, but only runners may go on the track. No family meeting area is published: runners leave by a ramp to the stadium forecourt, collect their bags from trucks on Vasilissis Olgas Avenue by the National Garden (2026) and may go back into the stands, so agree a spot near there in advance.
The official hotels, explained
There is no single official hotel. The organisers list official travel agencies by country, such as PAM DMC in Greece, Sports Tours International in the UK and France, and Marathon Tours & Travel and Apostolos Greek Tours in the USA, which sell hotel packages and can arrange a race entry. Terms differ by agency and are not on the race site, so check deposits and refunds before you pay.
| Official hotel offer | Our maps | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | PAM DMC and other official travel agencies | Every hotel and rental near each area |
| Prices | 2026 example: Marathon Tours & Travel, 4 nights at the Royal Olympic Hotel from 1,110 to 1,460 US dollars per person sharing, plus 500 US dollars for a marathon entry. | Live prices from several booking sites |
| Minimum stay and cancellation | Terms differ by agency. For 2026, Marathon Tours & Travel (USA) took a 30% deposit plus the full entry fee, and all payments were non-refundable. | Filter for free cancellation |
| Need to buy a package? | Not published. Ask before you pay. | No |
See the official hotel offer ↗ · We link to the official option and explain its terms, so you can compare before you book.
When to book
- NowBook a room with free cancellation near the start.
- Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
- Sun, 14 Nov 2027Race day.
Free guide
The Unofficial 2027 Athens Marathon Where to Stay Guide
Every area, the race morning plan and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.
Questions
Where should I stay for the Athens Marathon?
Runners: around Syntagma and Plaka or in Koukaki, a walk from a race bus stop, or in Pangrati right behind the finish. Supporters: Evangelismos and Kolonaki, on the course in the last 2 km. Omonia has a wide choice of hotels and had its own race bus stop in 2026.
Should I stay in Marathon or in Athens?
Most runners stay in Athens: the race buses, the expo and the finish are all there. Marathon town lets you walk to the start, but it is small and you need a way back after the race.
How do I get to the start of the Athens Marathon?
Take the free official bus, open to registered runners with no booking needed. For 2026, wave 1 buses leave from 05:00 to 06:30 from Syntagma, Panepistimio, Omonia, Evangelismos, Katechaki and Syngrou-Fix, and wave 2 buses from 06:30 to 07:30 from Line 3 stops on Mesogeion Avenue. The organisers advise against driving to the start.
Where can supporters watch the Athens Marathon?
On Mesogeion Avenue at Nomismatokopio with about 8 km to go, then on Vasilissis Sofias by Megaro Mousikis at km 40. Both are on Metro Line 3, and the stadium stands are free for the finish.
Where do I collect my bib and drop my bag?
At the Runner Services Centre and allwyn Marathon EXPO at the Faliro Indoor Hall (the former Taekwondo venue), open Wednesday to Saturday before the race in 2026. You hand in your clothing bag there too, as there has been no bag drop at the start since 2025. Bring ID and your bib number email.
When should I book for the Athens Marathon 2027?
Now, with free cancellation. The race is expected on 14 November 2027 but not confirmed, and in 2026 entries opened on 24 April and sold out in record time. Runners from outside the EU can only enter at the Full level (165 euros in 2026), and the official travel agencies can also arrange entries.
Official race site ↗ · Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30