Course Map
About this Race
The Vienna City Marathon is a stately tour of the Austrian capital's imperial grandeur, passing Schönbrunn Palace, the Ringstrasse, the State Opera, and the green expanse of the Prater, with crossings of the Danube. The course is largely flat and fast, built on wide boulevards that reward steady rhythm, with only minor rises to interrupt the pace. Held in April, it typically offers cool spring conditions and draws a large international field to one of Europe's most elegant cities. The atmosphere blends classical refinement with lively support along the grand avenues. It suits runners who want a fast, scenic spring race amid Habsburg splendor without the scale of the majors.
Course Insight
Vienna is a flat, fast spring course that sweeps along the Danube and the grand Ringstrasse past imperial landmarks, built for personal bests with a soundtrack of Strauss-flavoured fanfare. With little gradient to enforce restraint, the discipline is yours on the long open boulevards. The catch is wind along the exposed riverside stretches, which can turn a comfortable group pace into solo work, so tuck in when you can. April conditions are usually cool and obliging. Pace it evenly and the stately run-in rewards the patient.
Difficulty Breakdown
A fast, runner-friendly course.
Course Details
- Course type
- Point-To-Point
- Elevation gain
- 110m
- Elevation loss
- 95m
- Highest point
- 213m
- Lowest point
- 159m
- Net elevation
- +15m
- Start
- Reichsbruecke (UN City)
- Cutoff time
- 6h 30m
Course Records
- Men's
- 2:05:08 — Samwel Mailu (Kenya), 2023
- Women's
- 2:20:06 — Tigist Gezahagn (Ethiopia), 2026
Race History
The Vienna City Marathon was first held in 1984, touring the imperial grandeur of the Austrian capital past Schönbrunn, the Ringstrasse, and the Danube. Its fast, elegant course quickly made it one of central Europe's premier spring marathons, drawing large international fields. From its early editions it expanded into Austria's biggest road race and a popular personal-best destination. Run each April, it now welcomes tens of thousands of runners across its race weekend.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Vienna International (VIE), Bratislava (BTS)
- Best area to stay
- The Innere Stadt for grand central hotels near the route, the MuseumsQuartier area for stylish stays, and Leopoldstadt for quieter value options by the Prater.
- Getting to the start
- The start is out by UNO City on the Reichsbrücke; take the U-Bahn (U1) to Vienna International Centre and walk to the start.