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.
Two of the ancient world's great capitals, and two of the hillier non-Major European courses. Rome nets uphill overall (190m of gain, +55m net) past the Colosseum and the Vatican; Athens is even more demanding, following the original 490 BC route from Marathon into the city with 335m of gain and a +60m net climb.
Rome's course record (2:06:24) is faster than Athens' (2:10:34), reflecting Athens' tougher, more sustained climbing. Both run in their respective historic city centres surrounded by millennia of history rather than purpose-built for speed. If you want the harder of the two — and the actual birthplace of the marathon distance — Athens is unique; for a slightly faster, still-historic Mediterranean course, Rome is the pick.