Vienna Marathon

Vienna Marathon: More Than a Race, A Tourist Adventure

No need for a ticket on one of those classic city bus tours. Anyone wanting to explore Vienna can simply register for the Vienna Marathon. The city center, known for its exceptional monuments, is mapped out with a route for a day, as it has been for 40 years! While it may not be the largest running event, attracting only some 13,000 participants annually, this race is truly a visual gem. A Viennese waltz awaits the runners at the starting line in front of the United Nations building. As the race sets high standards, participants kick off by crossing the Danube—not by swimming, of course, but over the city’s most famous bridge, the Reichsbrücke—heading toward Vienna’s historic center. 

The Vienna Marathon has a cultural hallmark: it is often called the “Music Marathon”. As Vienna is renowned for classical music, the marathon features musical performances along the route. Runners and spectators will enjoy orchestras playing pieces by Mozart, Strauss, and Beethoven, creating a unique blend of sport and Viennese culture, transforming the marathon into a real open-air musical festival. Ahead lies the Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper), keeping with the theme. Participants will also see the magnificent Hofburg Palace, one of the world’s largest palaces, featuring 19 courtyards and 18 wings. It’s now home to the famous museum dedicated to the Empress of Austria, Elisabeth of Wittelsbach (Sissi). These edifices, built with utmost precision and meticulous craftsmanship, make the race feel like a guided tour of the city’s jewels. 

In addition to its remarkable beauty, the course is considered flat and relatively easy. In 2019, Eliud Kipchoge chose Vienna to attempt breaking the two-hour barrier in a non-official marathon. This special event, known as the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, saw Kipchoge achieve this monumental feat, completing the marathon in 1:59:40. The Kenyan thus became the first man to finish a marathon in under two hours, although this performance isn’t officially recognized by the IAAF due to optimized conditions (freshly paved roads, carbon-plated shoes, etc.).