No matter how or where you do it, running serves up all manner of benefits – and your runs needn’t be fast, far or the slightest bit flamboyant to make you feel fantastic.
However, sometimes we like our portions of running to come with a big side of adventure. Whether you’re seeking sweeping landscapes, royal ruins or World Heritage wonders, dig a little deeper and you’ll find an array of marathons across all corners of the world offering 26.2 mile-long experiences that you’ll never forget.
Of course, many people gravitate toward the Abbott World Marathon Majors – a seven-strong series of races located in Europe, North America, Asia and now Oceania, which have gained legendary status among runners in recent years. However, these events are often hard to get into, heaving with participants and, ultimately, not the only events that can create incredible running holidays.
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So, select your training plan, grab your running shoes, dust off your passport and take a look at our selection of the 10 best marathons around the world.
Best marathons around the world
Kangaroo Island Marathon
Where? Kangaroo Island, Australia
When? Sunday 24 August 2025
You’d be hard pressed to find a marathon that boasts a more glorious panorama. With an undulating route that wiggles through Flinders Chase National Park, this one-of-a-kind race on Kangaroo Island, located off the mainland of South Australia, serves up astonishing views of imposing cliffs, vast beaches and lush eucalyptus forests. If you’re lucky, you and your fellow runners may even spot some locals along the way – that is, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, sea lions and more. To really enhance your running trip Down Under, you can double up and do this magical marathon alongside the sought after Sydney Marathon – the newest Abbott World Marathon Majors race, which takes place the following weekend – through Marathon Tours & Travel’s Aussie Challenge. (Dates for the 2026 event will be announced soon.)
Marathon du Médoc
Where? Pauillac, France
When? Saturday 6 September 2025
Calling all wine-loving runners! If you need an incentive in the form of an alcoholic beverage (or several) to get through 26.2 miles, this is the race for you. A famously fun French wine-athon, which has a different fancy dress theme each year, this boozy race has 23 wine tasting stations along the course, which threads along the gorgeous vineyards of Médoc in the Gironde. This outing is a jolly way to see out the summer months while logging a lot of steps – but remember to always run responsibly.
Rimi Vilnius Marathon
Where? Vilnius, Lithuania
When? Sunday 14 September 2025
First introduced in 2001, the Rimi Vilnius Marathon is one of the fastest-growing marathons in the Baltics and the biggest running event in Lithuania. The route stretches through the World Heritage-listed old town – which preserves an impressive collection of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and classical buildings – and glides past lovely green parks and the riverbank of Neris. You won’t be lacking scenery with this race, that’s for sure.
Walt Disney World Marathon
Where? Orlando, Florida
When? Sunday 11 January 2026
One for fans of novelty and nostalgia, you’ll spot an array of iconic Disney characters and landscapes with this over-the-top marathon, which spans all four Disney Parks in Florida and boasts a generously flat route. Offering bountiful support and an uplifting energy, this unique race is bound to transport you back to the magical Disney memories of your childhood.
Lost City Marathon
Where? Palenque, Mexico
When? Saturday 21 February 2026
During this race, you won’t just be journeying 26.2 mile to the finish line – you’ll also be travelling back thousands of years to the ancient era of the Maya civilisation. Staged within the dense, dramatic rainforests and ruins of the Yucatán Peninsula, the Lost City Marathon will see you explore Mexico’s luscious Chiapas jungle, providing an extraordinary running experience will stick with you for life.
Great Welsh Marathon
Where? Carmarthenshire, Wales
When? Sunday 8 March 2026
Offering delicious sea views and salty air along Llanelli’s flat Millennium Coastal Path, the Great Welsh Marathon showcases the beautiful southern coastline of Wales. The country’s oldest marathon, it starts and finishes at Pembrey Country Park and follows a picture-perfect out-and-back route. Although the course is pancake flat, don’t forget that it is also coastal – so it’s still at the mercy of the wind.
Great Wall Marathon
Where? Huangyaguan, China
When? Saturday 16 May 2026
Since its first edition in 1999, the Great Wall Marathon – held in the historic heart of Huangyaguan in China – has been regarded as one of the most gruelling marathons on earth. This is for good reason, because in addition to covering 26.2 miles, runners will also have to walk up 5,164 steps of irregular depth. Thankfully, the course is as picturesque as it is punishing, weaving through local villages and showcasing some of China’s most spectacular countryside.
Great Ocean Road Marathon
Where? Apollo Bay, Australia
When? Sunday 17 May 2026
Hemmed in by expansive greenery on one side and pristine blue sea on the other, the mighty Great Ocean Road stretches for more than 240km along the sand-strewn southern coast of Australia. While most people choose to traverse the Great Ocean Road by car, runners are not most people – so seize the chance to explore (a portion of) this classic coastal highway by foot in a marathon that will take your breath away in every sense. Since the ‘marathon’ actually measures 44km (27.3 miles), you can justifiably claim to have run an ultramarathon when you cross the finish line, too.
Madagascar Marathon
Where? Ranohira, Madagascar
When? Sunday 31 May 2026
The Madagascar Marathon, which takes place in conjunction with a 10K, half marathon and 50K ultramarathon, is a true destination race. Held in the breathtakingly exotic Isalo National Park, this race in Madagascar – the world’s second-largest island nation – blends wild beauty with a warm running atmosphere and (fingers crossed) plenty of indigenous lemur sightings. If one stunning African marathon doesn’t quite satiate your desires, you can sign up to run the Madagascar Marathon and the Cape Town Marathon, held the weekend before, via Marathon Tours & Travel’s all-new African Double challenge.
Victoria Falls Marathon
Where? Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
When? Sunday 5 July 2026
If running through one country isn’t enough, why not run through two? Anchored in Zimbabwe, this incredible footrace dips into neighbouring Zambia via jaw-dropping crossings over the Victoria Falls Bridge, which itself offers outstanding views of the ‘Smoke that Thunders’ crashing into the Zambezi below. As if that wasn’t enough, this stunning marathon also tours the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, where you may even spot some African wildlife mid-race. To run for a great time and a great cause, be sure to take on this race with and in support of Play it Forward – a local charity that transforms the lives of young Zambians through sport, education and healthcare initiatives.
San Francisco Marathon
Where? San Francisco, United States
When? Sunday 26 July 2026
An ever-popular race that is fast approaching its 50th anniversary, the San Francisco Marathon is a feast for runner’s eyes and a challenge for runner’s legs. A hilly hit, this challenging course crosses the famous Golden Gate Bridge and passes celebrated parks and neighbourhoods like Fisherman’s Wharf and the Marina Green, as well as Major League stadiums like the homes of the Golden State Warriors and the San Francisco Giants. Enjoy the generous and loud support along the way – and celebrate with one of the city’s delicious burritos afterward.
Angkor Empire Marathon
Where? Siem Reap, Cambodia
When? August 2026 (date TBC)
This remarkable marathon in Cambodia is set in a World Heritage site of serious historical and archaeological significance. Starting and finishing in front of the Central Sanctuary of Angkor Wat, the route winds past incredible temple complexes and some of the world’s largest religious monuments, making it an almost ethereal – albeit very hot and humid – running experience through unforgettable jungle landscapes.
