Two of the fastest marathon courses on earth, two very different races. Here's every stat, side by side, to help you pick.
Indicative — based on GPX data. Both courses normalised to start at 0m.
✓ marks the better number on that stat.
Germany's two biggest marathons sit at different points on the speed spectrum. Berlin's 58m of elevation gain and 2:01:09 course record make it one of the fastest courses anywhere; Hamburg is noticeably hillier at 135m of gain, with a course record (2:03:46) that's still quick but reflects the tougher terrain.
Hamburg runs in late April with open registration, a straightforward alternative to Berlin's ballot-entry, late-September date. If you're chasing the fastest possible time on home German asphalt, Berlin's flatter course and deeper record history make it the clear choice; if you want an easier-to-enter German marathon on a still-respectable but hillier course, Hamburg fits well into a spring block.