There's little more we like doing more than combining a race with the chance to travel to different places around the world. Exciting new post-race food, local culture and an opportunity to enjoy some fresh scenery in some of the most popular international destinations.
But there are thousands of running races across Europe, with more being added to the calendar every year. So we’ve helped to sift out some of the best, whatever you’re looking for, whether it’s summiting a brutal European mountain or climbing a remote Icelandic volcano.
- Try these for size: Best world half marathons
- Try these for size: Top half marathons
- Kit yourself out: The best running shoes
Best for scenery
Plitvicki Lakes Marathon, Croatia
When: June
Elevation: 4,771ft
Terrain: ‘Undulating’ would be kind – think more mountainous. Said to be the hardest marathon in Croatia by locals.
Near Croatia’s border with Bosnia & Herzegovina lies a hidden gem – Lake Plitvice is a Unesco heritage site featuring waterfalls, tranquil turquoise water, stunning bridges and more than a little elevation. But the scenery helps soothe the pain of climbing. It’s a small race, so there won’t be a huge expo or crowds lining the roads, but that adds to the beauty and feeling that you’re part of something special. Plus you’ll run past a waterfall called Velki Slap, which is worth a stop for a picture of the sign. Speaking of picture stops, you may well find yourself snapping more than running on this beauty – at least your Instagram feed will look good at the end, even if you don’t.
Alternatives: Lake Maggiore Marathon, Tenerife Bluetrail Marathon
ASICS Windermere Marathon, England
When: May
Elevation: 1,495ft
Terrain: Enough hills to be tough, not enough to give you nightmares
Similar to the incredibly popular Loch Ness Marathon, this English alternatives takes runners 26.2 miles around the country's largest and arguably most beautiful lake. With almost 1,500 ft of elevation, it's also one of the toughest road races you'll find across the UK.
Starting in the impressive ground of Brathay Hall and overlooking the northern shore of Windermere is an incredible place to start a race and sets an accurate tone for what comes next. Expect historic villages and towns, a 200ft climb known as 'The Devil’s Gallop', the famous Newby Bridge and, if the weather is playing ball, amazing views over the Langdale Pikes. Oh, there are also some very enjoyable long downhill sections as well.
Alternatives: Loch Ness Marathon, The Great Welsh Marathon
Route du Vin Semi-Marathon, Luxembourg
When: September
Elevation: 600ft
Terrain: Undulating, but only slightly.
The Route du Vin, if you didn't already know, is one of Luxembourg's most famous wine-producing areas. The half marathon takes runners along some of the impressive River Moselle as the race meanders along its course. Across the route expect beautiful countryside scenery from small towns, riverside bars and restaurants, boat cruises and water skiers.
The start and finish are located in the town of Remich, perhaps one of the nicest places to finish a 13.1 mile slog due to the massive range of places to sit and enjoy the afternoon sun whilst trying the local treats.
Alternatives:Surrey Bacchus Half Marathon, Saint Clair Vineyard Half
Best for wilderness
Hengill 50km Ultra, Iceland
When: September
Elevation: 5,505ft
Terrain: As Mansun famously sang in 1996, you’ll be in a wide-open space. But this wide-open space is exposed, hilly and completely off-road, crossing rivers on wooden footbridges as the ground steams around you.
If you find British hamlets claustrophobic, this is the race for you. You’ll be running in
Alternatives: Laugavegurinn Ultramarathon Iceland
Fjällmaraton, Sweden
When: July/August
Elevation: 6,900ft
Terrain: The fact that the finish times for the race are, in the words of the team that set it up, "well over the norm for a run of a similar distance", should give you some idea. We're talking a lot of elevation, some seriously technical climbs and a whole world of pain.
The race is part of a series of different events that take place between the mountain resorts Vålådalen and Trillevallen in Åre Municipality. It's famous for being one of the hardest races in the country and sees an extremely challenging level of technical climbs across a massive amount of overall elevation. If you're looking for something a little bit easier, there are a range of easier options to tackle – but where's the fun in that?
The best for pushing you to your limit
Great Lakes Fell Race, England
When: June
Elevation: 6,988ft
Terrain: Mud, hills, mud, hills, mud, hills, oh, and more hills. You’re on the highest Lake District fells here – experts only.
A beast. Only 13 miles, but a race that even seasoned fell runners tremble at. No GPS allowed, so your navigation skills should be top-notch, and you need to have had plenty of fell-running experience and know your mountain craft skills inside out before even thinking about tackling this.
If you do, you’ll be summiting the two highest peaks in the Lakes – Scafell Pike and Scafell, potentially in the ‘clag’ (low-hanging, visibility-destroying mist). The fastest runners can do it in under three hours, the slowest take eight hours. Only 50 runners entered last year, so be warned – you will most likely be asked about your previous fell-running experience when entering.
Alternatives: Isle of Jura Fell Race, Ras Y Gader Wales
The best one you’ve never heard of
Rennsteiglauf Supermarathon, Germany
When: May
Elevation: 8,002ft
Terrain: Mainly trails through forests with added hills.
Calling an ultramarathon a ‘supermarathon’ already ups its status in our book. And it sounds like you need to be a superhero to get round this 73.9km race along the Rennsteig, Germany’s most famous hiking trail. You’ll run through Thuringian Forest, deceptively not a forest but a mountain range, alongside 15,000 runners doing different distances up to the supermarathon in one of Europe’s biggest races. But forget the actual running for a minute – more importantly, there’s a special ‘dumpling’ party the night before. Carbs have never sounded so good. The ‘oatmeal gruel’ at aid stations sounds less appealing, but competitors swear by it. That and meat, lots of meat: sausages, salami, lard on bread…
Alternatives: Viking Way Ultra, Lincolnshire
Best for fun
The Great Breweries Marathon, Belgium
When: May
Elevation: 1,173ft
Terrain: Relatively flat, scenic Belgian countryside with added breweries.
Forget the wine-heavy Marathon du Medoc – beer marathons are the new big thing. And where better to take part in one than the home of expert brewing, Belgium? Starting out and finishing at the Duvel brewery north of Brussels, the 26.2-mile course will take you through three breweries – Duval, Palm and Bosteels. And we mean literally through
Alternatives: Beer Lovers’ Marathon Liege, The Craft Half London
The best for wildlife
The Transylvanian 100, Romania
When: May
Elevation: 21,141ft
Terrain: Hills. Well, mountains would be more precise. You’ll even be running through snow.
OK, so we’re not sure if anyone has actually encountered a bear on this Romanian race, but following the demise of the famous Transylvanian Bear Race, this follows similar bear-laden routes through the forests and the Bucegi mountain range, adding a level of excitement (and fear) to the race that few other European runs can compete with. Not only is there the risk of bear and wolf attacks, but the start and finish are at an iconic location – Bran Castle, the birthplace of Dracula. Just try to ignore the fact you’re climbing the equivalent of Everest…
Alternatives: Cheviot Goat Winter Ultra Run, Race To The Stones, Wiltshire
Man v Horse
When: June
Elevation: 4,500ft
Terrain: Hills. Lots of them. Enough to keep any trail runner happy.
If you're well versed in the UK running scene it's likely that you've stumbled across the legendary race that pits humans against horses across the Welsh countryside. However, despite its fame, the 21-mile course is far from a large-scale event.
From the moment you set off from the small Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells, the race seems like a decidedly local affair – which is all part of the charm. The concept may seem a bit unfair to the human participants but the addition of steep climbs, tight paths and various other obstacles means that the riders often have to dismount. To be honest, the horses rarely lose, but often it's only by a few minutes.
Alternatives: Cheviot Goat Winter Ultra Run, Race To The Castle, Northumberland
Best for night-running
Midnight Sun Marathon, Norway
Date: June
Elevation: 1,991ft
Terrain: Pretty flat, it’s mostly run along the waterside, in the shadows of towering mountains.
Starting at 8.30pm as close to summer solstice as possible, this is the ideal race for insomniacs. Strap on your shoes and head to the start line in the northerly Norwegian city of Tromsø for 8.30pm, where you will set off bathed in eternal twilight surrounded by fjord- and mountain-laden scenery that will (hopefully) distract you from any thoughts of sleep. And best of all, no head torch is required. At this time of year, the sun does not set, so surreally you could be finishing past midnight in bright sunshine. The views are so mesmerising – particularly the never-ending expanse of mountains right on the race’s doorstep – that you will never get bored during the 26.2 miles.
Alternatives: Sunrise Ultra Norfolk, Midnight Mountain Marathon
The quad-destroying mountain race
Dolomites Marathon, Italy
When: July
Elevation: 8,038ft
Terrain: We’re talking proper mountain terrain here, so loose rocks, scree, thin air and lots of painful scrambling over huge boulders.
We are fully on board with a marathon that boasts its own hymn. This brutal mountain race has such a song; learn it beforehand to help pick you up during the low points.
“Everyone is a winner/There are no losers/Soon or late/We meet at destination” – pure inspiration when your lungs are collapsing at 8,000ft. There’s no respite in this race: it’s all uphill, with a summit finish. Downhill? Pah, for losers, you’ll be saying at 100ft. Eight hours later you might be thinking a little differently…
Alternatives: Marathon du Mont-Blanc, Snowdonia Marathon Wales
Best for a PB
Seville Marathon, Spain
When: February
Elevation: 1,296ft
Terrain: Roads, dual carriageways (all glamour), but it’s claimed to be the flattest course in Europe. That’s all you need to know.
If you’re searching for a sub-something, this is the marathon that presents the best chance of bagging it. It’s gloriously flat, and organisers boast that 900 runners achieved sub-three hours this year. It’s a functional run – you won’t be here for the sights, as a lot of it is on dual carriageways, but the last 10K makes up for it with fountains and landmarks surrounding you as you make your way into the Estadio de La Cartuja for a stadium finish. PR smashed, you can reward yourself with fine tapas and litres of red wine.
Alternatives: Rotterdam Marathon, Manchester Marathon
Best coastal marathon
Beachy Head Marathon, England
When: October
Elevation: 3,993ft
Terrain: Off-road on steep coastal paths and footpaths.
You’ve trained for months, you’re at the start line, pumped, ready to take on Beachy Head Marathon, then you look up at what is facing you. Metres ahead, looming up like, well, like a cliff, is a daunting climb up a massive grassy hill. This sets the scene for the rest of the race: a brutal course that winds its way around the South Downs and along the coast. Hopefully the bracing, salty air will be enough to get you round the marathon distance. If not, the views will help.
Alternatives: Lulworth Cove Trail Running Challenge
