Bucharest Marathon

Course & Elevation

The Bucharest Marathon, presented as the Raiffeisen Bank Bucharest Marathon, is a road race through the centre of Romania's capital, held on a Sunday in early October. It is organised by Bucharest Running Club in partnership with the Romanian Athletics Federation and the Bucharest city hall. The first edition took place in 2008 with about 900 participants, and the 2026 race was the 19th. On the Sunday the marathon, a four-person marathon relay and the half marathon start together at 09:00 on Bulevardul Libertății, beside Izvor Park, and finish at Constitution Square (Piața Constituției); a 10K and a 2.5K fun race are held on the Saturday. The organisers describe the circuit as AIMS and World Athletics certified, fully asphalt and marked at every kilometre. The route goes from Libertății along Splaiul Independenței and Bulevardul Unirii, then north through Calea Victoriei and Piața Victoriei to Șoseaua Kiseleff, where runners turn through 180 degrees at the Arcul de Triumf. The half marathon returns to the finish from there. Marathon runners continue on a second section along Bulevardul Unirii, Bulevardul Mircea Vodă and Splaiul Unirii before the final run-in. The time limit is 6 hours for the marathon and 3 hours for the half marathon.