Vienna City Marathon
The Lowdown
The Vienna City Marathon, first held in 1984, has grown into Austria’s premier road race and a highlight of the international marathon calendar. Held each spring along a largely flat, fast route through the heart of Vienna, the event attracts elite athletes and tens of thousands of mass participants from around the world. Over its decades of history the VCM has become known for efficient organization, strong elite fields, and a festive atmosphere that blends the city’s imperial heritage with modern running culture. The course showcases Vienna’s most famous landmarks and varied urban landscapes: runners pass through the Prater and its tree-lined Hauptallee, run along the Danube and the Donaukanal, and traverse the elegant Ringstraße past the Opera, Rathaus and Burgtheater before approaching the historic center with views of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg. The route finishes in front of the monumental Heldenplatz, providing a dramatic and photogenic closing stretch. Multiple live music and cheer zones, local food stands, and enthusiastic crowds create a lively, supportive atmosphere for both competitive athletes chasing fast times and recreational runners enjoying the sights. The Vienna City Marathon is AIMS-certified and has held World Athletics Label status, making it a recognized course for international rankings and prize-money events; it is also a Boston Marathon qualifying race. Whether aiming for a personal best, a qualifying time, or simply the experience of running through Vienna’s historic streets, participants can expect a well-supported, scenic, and memorable race day.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
World-class event
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
Record 46,000+ Participants Registered for 2025 Edition
Apr 6, 2025The 2025 Vienna City Marathon set a new participation record with around 46,000 registered runners from 146 countries across all events, including a record 13,000 entries for the full marathon distance. The race sold out earlier than ever before, prompting organizers to work with crowd science experts to safely accommodate the unprecedented demand.
21-Year-Old Haftamu Abadi Becomes Youngest Male Winner in Race History
Apr 6, 2025Ethiopia's Haftamu Abadi won the 2025 edition in 2:08:28, becoming the youngest male winner in Vienna Marathon history at age 21. Kenya's Betty Chepkemoi won the women's race in 2:24:14 in only her second career marathon, both achieving huge personal bests despite bitterly cold winds and near-freezing conditions on race day.
Men's Course Record Set by Samwel Mailu in 2023
Apr 23, 2023Kenya's Samwel Mailu set the current men's course record of 2:05:08 at the 40th edition in 2023, breaking the previous nine-year-old record by 33 seconds. The women's course record of 2:20:59 was set by Kenya's Vibian Chepkirui in 2022, who was invited back to defend her title at the 2025 race.
Boston Qualifier
This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.
Heldenplatz / Hofburg
The race passes the historic Heldenplatz in front of the Hofburg imperial palace complex, offering views of Austria’s Habsburg heritage
Vienna State Opera
Runners circle part of the Ringstraße and pass by the ornate Vienna State Opera building on the iconic boulevard
Rathaus (City Hall)
The course runs along the Ring near the neo-Gothic Rathaus, a major spectator hotspot with its grand façade
Prater Hauptallee and Wiener Riesenrad
A long tree-lined stretch through the Prater park culminating near the famous Wiener Riesenrad (Ferris wheel)
Reichsbrücke and Danube views
The marathon includes running across or alongside the Reichsbrücke with panoramic views of the Danube River
Donau City / UNO-City
Participants pass the modern glass skyline of Donau City and the United Nations buildings on the river’s bank
St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom)
The route takes in vistas of Vienna’s medieval cathedral in the city center, a signature landmark for finish-area scenery
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Vienna, Austria
AT
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Official Hotel Partner PortalVerified
This race offers exclusive rates and guaranteed entry packages through their official travel partner. Booking through the portal is recommended.
Eligibility
- Must be at least 18 years old on race day (2026-04-19)
- Registered and fully paid entry required prior to race (no same-day registration)
- Must submit accurate personal and emergency contact information during registration
- Medical clearance recommended; participants should be fit to run a marathon and consult a doctor if unsure
- All runners must wear the official race bib with timing chip and start in assigned start corral
- Participants must follow the Vienna City Marathon race rules and the instructions of race officials and medical staff
- No refunds, deferrals or bib transfers except as permitted by the organizer’s official policies
- No pets, baby strollers or unauthorized wheeled devices allowed in the marathon field
- Cut-off time for the marathon is 6 hours (officially enforced at course checkpoints)
- Wheelchair and handcycle athletes must enter the designated competition categories and meet classification and equipment requirements specified by the organizer
Required Documents
- Photo ID (passport or national ID)
- Proof of age (e.g., birth certificate or ID)
- Medical certificate confirming fitness to run (issued within 12 months)
- Proof of qualifying/seed time (for elite/seeded entry)
- Parental consent for runners under 18
Entry Methods
- Online Registration
- Charity Entry
- Tour Operator
- Club/Group Entry
- Invitation/Elite Entry
- Travel Package (Hotel + Race)
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Registration fees are non-refundable after confirmation
Name changes or transfers to another registered runner permitted until 2026-03-20 for a processing fee
Deferral to the 2027 Vienna City Marathon is allowed until 2026-03-20 for a deferral fee; after that date deferrals are not accepted
Medical deferrals accepted with a physician’s certificate; medical deferral provides credit towards next year’s entry (voucher covering 75% of the original entry fee)
If the organizer cancels the event, registrants will be offered either a full refund or a free deferral to the next edition (organizer’s discretion)
The course is extremely scenic, routing through Vienna’s historic Ringstraße, past the State Opera and Hofburg palace, along the Danube Island and finishing inside the iconic Prater park.
Finishers receive a technical long-sleeve shirt and a commemorative medal, and there is a large post-race food area with hot drinks and regional refreshments plus a beer garden for spectators.
Race weekend includes a large running expo with packet pickup, a pre-race pasta party, and a popular kids’ run (Kinderlauf) to engage families.
There are well-placed aid stations roughly every 3–5 km with water, sports drink and sponges, and medical support is available along the route; watch for short cobbled or uneven sections in the historic center.
Public transport is the best way to reach the start area (huge race-day traffic restrictions apply), and elite and recreational runners alike should plan for variable April weather—layers and a lightweight rain shell are recommended.
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
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