Be patient in the first 5 km
With tens of thousands of runners, the opening kilometers are crowded. Accept a slow start and make it up gradually, not with a surge.
Berlin, Germany · Sunday, September 26, 2027
Berlin Marathon race guide
Berlin is the flattest of the World Marathon Majors and one of the fastest courses anywhere. The whole course sits between about 35 and 55 meters above sea level. It’s one loop: out through Moabit and Mitte, east to Friedrichshain, south through Kreuzberg and Schöneberg, west to the high ground around Dahlem, then back along the Kurfürstendamm and Leipziger Straße to finish through the Brandenburg Gate. These notes use the 2026 course; the 2027 map is due later.
Pace plan
Plan your race on this course
Set your goal and start time. Your checkpoints, the time of day you’ll reach each one, and the course guide below all update to match.
Build your plan01
Pacing
A little slower on the climbs, a little faster on the downhills and flats, for the same finish time. Based on where this course climbs. Treat it as an effort guide.
Enter your wave’s start time. Runners start in six waves between 8:45 and 10:27 a.m. Your block is on your bib.
Splits
Your Berlin Marathon02
Average pace
4:59/km
- First half
- 1:45:00
- Second half
- 1:45:00
- Finish line
Hover or tap a bar to see that km.
| Checkpoint | Elapsed |
|---|---|
| Torstraße, Mitte9 km · Should still feel easy | 44:48 |
| Strausberger Platz12 km · Settled into goal pace | 59:46 |
| Halfway, Schöneberg21.1 km · Even pace, or a few seconds behind | 1:45:00 |
| Dahlem high point28 km · The only real rise, and it’s gentle | 2:19:29 |
| Cut-off point33 km · Must pass by 3:50 p.m. | 2:44:20 |
| Leipziger Straße39 km · Final 3 km. Race from here | 3:14:06 |
| Finish42.2 km · Through the Brandenburg Gate | 3:30:00 |
Save it to your phone, or send the link to the people cheering for you.
- Date
- Sunday, September 26, 2027
- Start time
- Runners in six waves, 8:45 to 10:27 a.m. CEST
- Start
- Straße des 17. Juni, between the Brandenburg Gate and Großer Stern
- Finish
- Straße des 17. Juni, just through the Brandenburg Gate
- Time limit
- 6:15. Cut-off at km 33 by 3:50 p.m.; the finish closes at 5:15 p.m.
- Elevation gain
- About 45 m
- Official site
- generali-berlin-marathon.com
- Profile
- Flat. The course stays between about 35 and 55 m above sea level
- Best for
- A PR. World records have been set here again and again
- Biggest mistake
- Weaving through a huge field in the first 5 km
- Cut-off
- km 33 by 3:50 p.m.; the finish closes at 5:15 p.m.
The course
The course, at your pace
- km0–7
Tiergarten & Moabit Flat
You start on Straße des 17. Juni in the Tiergarten, run west past the Victory Column toward Charlottenburg, then turn north and east through Moabit. The field is enormous, so expect a slow first kilometer and don’t burn energy weaving.
4:58 /km7 km at 34:49
- km7–13
Mitte to Friedrichshain Flat
Through Mitte along Torstraße and east to Strausberger Platz on Karl-Marx-Allee in Friedrichshain. Wide roads and big crowds. Lock into your goal pace here.
4:59 /km13 km at 1:04:42
- km13–20
Kreuzberg Flat
South through Kreuzberg, past Südstern around km 18, with some of the loudest crowds on the course. It’s still flat, so keep it smooth and start fueling on schedule.
4:59 /km20 km at 1:39:34
- km20–26
Schöneberg Flat
West into Schöneberg, past halfway near Goebenstraße and along Hauptstraße. A quieter stretch, and a good time to check in with yourself.
4:59 /km26 km at 2:09:31
- km26–31
Dahlem & Schmargendorf Rolling
The course’s high ground, around 55 m near km 28. It’s a gentle rise you’ll barely see, but you might feel it this late. Run it by effort.
4:59 /km31 km at 2:34:21
- km31–36
Wilmersdorf & the Kurfürstendamm Flat
Down through Wilmersdorf to the Kurfürstendamm, Berlin’s great shopping street, and on toward Wittenbergplatz. The km 33 cut-off is here: 3:50 p.m. The crowds help.
4:58 /km36 km at 2:59:12
- km36–42.2
Potsdamer Platz & the Brandenburg Gate Flat
Past Potsdamer Platz, along Leipziger Straße and up to Unter den Linden. The last few hundred meters run through the Brandenburg Gate to the finish on Straße des 17. Juni. Save something for it.
4:58 /kmFinish at 3:30:00
Every km split for 3:30:00
| Km | Terrain | Pace /km | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flat | 4:58 | 4:58 |
| 2 | Flat | 4:58 | 9:56 |
| 3 | Flat | 4:58 | 14:55 |
| 4 | Flat | 4:59 | 19:54 |
| 5 | Flat | 4:59 | 24:53 |
| 6 | Flat | 4:57 | 29:50 |
| 7 | Flat | 4:59 | 34:49 |
| 8 | Flat | 5:01 | 39:50 |
| 9 | Flat | 5:00 | 44:50 |
| 10 | Flat | 4:59 | 49:49 |
| 11 | Flat | 4:58 | 54:47 |
| 12 | Flat | 4:57 | 59:44 |
| 13 | Flat | 4:57 | 1:04:41 |
| 14 | Flat | 4:59 | 1:09:40 |
| 15 | Flat | 5:00 | 1:14:39 |
| 16 | Flat | 5:00 | 1:19:40 |
| 17 | Flat | 4:58 | 1:24:38 |
| 18 | Flat | 4:58 | 1:29:36 |
| 19 | Flat | 4:58 | 1:34:35 |
| 20 | Flat | 4:58 | 1:39:33 |
| 21 | Flat | 4:58 | 1:44:30 |
| 22 | Flat | 5:01 | 1:49:31 |
| 23 | Flat | 5:00 | 1:54:31 |
| 24 | Flat | 4:59 | 1:59:30 |
| 25 | Flat | 5:00 | 2:04:30 |
| 26 | Flat | 5:00 | 2:09:29 |
| 27 | Flat | 4:59 | 2:14:28 |
| 28 | Flat | 5:00 | 2:19:28 |
| 29 | Flat | 5:00 | 2:24:28 |
| 30 | Flat | 4:57 | 2:29:25 |
| 31 | Flat | 4:57 | 2:34:22 |
| 32 | Flat | 4:58 | 2:39:20 |
| 33 | Flat | 4:58 | 2:44:17 |
| 34 | Flat | 4:58 | 2:49:15 |
| 35 | Flat | 4:58 | 2:54:14 |
| 36 | Flat | 4:58 | 2:59:11 |
| 37 | Flat | 4:57 | 3:04:09 |
| 38 | Flat | 5:00 | 3:09:08 |
| 39 | Flat | 4:59 | 3:14:08 |
| 40 | Flat | 4:59 | 3:19:07 |
| 41 | Flat | 4:58 | 3:24:04 |
| 42 | Flat | 4:57 | 3:29:02 |
| Finish | Flat | 4:59 | 3:30:00 |
Lap your watch at each marker; GPS distance drifts over 26.2 miles. Even-pace card for 3:30:00
Race strategy
How to pace the Berlin Marathon
Run even
There are no hills to manage, so even pacing or a slight negative split is the plan. Check your split at halfway and adjust gently.
Watch the weather
Late September can be cool or surprisingly warm. On a warm day, slow your goal from the start.
The last few weeks
Train for this course
- Do long blocks at marathon pace on flat ground. Berlin rewards a steady rhythm.
- Practice settling into pace in a crowd: start some workouts with a slow first kilometer.
- Practice taking fuel on the move at race pace, since aid stations are busy.
Race-day weather
Late September in Berlin is usually cool and calm in the morning, but warm years happen. Check the forecast in race week and adjust your goal if it’s warm.
Race morning
Getting to the start
- Your bib is a public transport ticket for zones A, B and C from September 23 to 26. Use the U-Bahn or S-Bahn to Brandenburger Tor, Bundestag or Potsdamer Platz.
- Start-area entry opens by block: A–D at 7:00, E–F at 7:30, G–J at 8:00 and K at 8:30 a.m.
- Clothing drop is available only if you chose it at registration. Otherwise your bib shows a poncho symbol and you’ll get a poncho at the finish.
- Clothes you shed at the start are donated to the Berlin City Mission.
Questions runners ask.
Is Berlin really the fastest marathon?
It’s the flattest of the World Marathon Majors, with the whole course between about 35 and 55 m above sea level, and many world records have been set here. Cool weather and big pace groups help too.
What is the time limit?
6 hours 15 minutes. There’s a cut-off at km 33 at 3:50 p.m., and the finish closes at 5:15 p.m.
When do the waves start?
For 2027, runners start in six waves from 8:45 to 10:27 a.m., based on the personal best or expected time you gave when registering.
Has the 2027 course been published?
Not yet. The organizers say the map will be updated for 2027. These notes use the 2026 course, which follows the same well-known loop.
Last checked October 20, 2026. This is an independent guide from Miles. We’re not affiliated with the race organizer. Start times, cutoffs, and logistics can change, so confirm everything on the official race site before race day.
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