Course Map
About this Race
The Adidas Stockholm Marathon is a scenic two-lap course threading across the bridges and islands of the Swedish capital, finishing with a lap inside the historic 1912 Olympic Stadium. The route showcases the city's waterways, old town, and royal architecture, but the cobbled patches and gentle undulations make it more honest underfoot than a record course. Uniquely run in early June, it can turn surprisingly warm, adding heat to the list of challenges on the two-loop layout. Crowds are warm and the stadium finish is a genuine highlight steeped in Olympic history. It suits runners who want a beautiful early-summer race and a historic finish over a flat-out fast time.
Course Insight
Run in early summer, Stockholm trades flat-and-fast for warmth and scenery, looping twice through a city stitched across islands so you tackle the same bridges and gentle rises a second time when they hurt more. The June sun is the real variable here; a hot day on the exposed bridge sections can quietly cook an over-eager first lap. Knowing the loop pays dividends, since you can meter your effort against terrain you've already read once. The finish inside the 1912 Olympic Stadium is a historic, goosebump close. Run the first lap with the second one in mind and the heat becomes manageable rather than ruinous.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to tough late hills, lots of turns.
Course Details
- Course type
- Loop
- Elevation gain
- 215m
- Elevation loss
- 215m
- Highest point
- 43m
- Lowest point
- 4m
- Net elevation
- 0m
- Start
- Stockholm Olympic Stadium
- Cutoff time
- 6h 30m
Course Records
- Men's
- 2:10:10 — Nigussie Sahlesilassie (Ethiopia), 2019
- Women's
- 2:28:24 — Grete Waitz (Norway), 1988
Race History
The Adidas Stockholm Marathon was first held in 1979 and is run uniquely in early June, looping twice across the bridges and islands of the Swedish capital before finishing inside the historic 1912 Olympic Stadium. Its scenic but cobble-dotted, summer-warm course set it apart as an experience-driven race rather than a pure speed test. From its founding it grew into one of Scandinavia's most established marathons. Held each summer, it continues to draw a large international field to its Olympic-stadium finish.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Stockholm Arlanda (ARN), Bromma (BMA), Skavsta (NYO) & Västerås (VST)
- Best area to stay
- Norrmalm for central hotels near the stadium finish, Gamla Stan for atmospheric old-town stays on the route, and Södermalm for trendy, better-value options.
- Getting to the start
- The start is central near the Olympic Stadium; take the Tunnelbana (SL) to Stadion or Tekniska högskolan and walk to the start.