Haspa Marathon Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany · April · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Flat loop with roughly 85 to 129 m (280 to 423 ft) of gain.
- Passes the Reeperbahn, the harbour, the Elbphilharmonie and the Alster.
- Aid every 5 km (3.1 mi) and toilets every 1 km (0.6 mi).
- April starts usually run 13 to 15 °C (55 to 59 °F).
Watch out for
- Places fill early: 15,000 were taken with 5,000 left well ahead of the race.
- Wind off the Elbe, and rain in some years such as 2019.
- Few first-hand runner reviews exist, so the scores lean on guides.
- Cutoff is 6 hours in one guide and 6.5 hours in another.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.8
No runner review set found. One 2026 account describes a sunny 16 °C (61 °F) race with countless spectators; the rest is guide text. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Guides call it well organised, with aid every 5 km (3.1 mi) and toilets every 1 km (0.6 mi). No athlete accounts either way. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.0
Flat, with 85 to 129 m (280 to 423 ft) of gain, a 6 to 6.5 hour limit and a supportive atmosphere per guides. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAmong the fastest4.5
Gold label. Men's record 2:03:46 (2025), women's 2:17:23 (2022); described as Germany's fastest spring marathon. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.9
Reeperbahn, Elbchaussee, harbour, Speicherstadt, Alster and Stadtpark per course guides. No runner comparisons found. · Low confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.7
About 12,000 marathoners plus relay runners. Guides say it does not feel chaotic. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.9
A course guide describes mostly smooth asphalt with a few tiny rollers. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.0
A large city race, so closures are likely, but no runner describes them directly. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat4.2
85 m (280 ft) of gain by one listing and 129 m (423 ft) by a GPS profile. Highest point about 35 m (115 ft). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
A loop; start and finish are both near the Congress Centre. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.7
Start at 08:30 on Karolinenstrasse near the fair grounds in central Hamburg. No runner accounts of queues. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.9
A large gold-label race, so pace groups are likely, but none are confirmed in the sources. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong4.2
Guides and a 2026 account describe thick crowds on the Reeperbahn, in Eppendorf and from 30 to 40 km (19 to 25 mi). · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.9
Aid every 5 km (3.1 mi) and toilets every 1 km (0.6 mi) per a finishers guide, plus massage stations from 32 km (20 mi). · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.4
A course guide flags wind along the Elbe, usually manageable. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.4
April starts usually run 13 to 15 °C (55 to 59 °F) per a finishers guide, and 2026 reached 16 °C (61 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
It rained in 2019, so April weather varies. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.1
A loop through central districts with many metro stops; guides say it is easy to watch. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Near sea level, between 5 and 35 m (16 and 115 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.2
A large city, but race weekend books out with nearly 30,000 entries across events. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No direct evidence; typical for a large German city. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.2
Start and finish are in central Hamburg near the Congress Centre and fair grounds. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.4
The airport is about 13 km (8 mi) from the centre, with S-Bahn rail access. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
A central race village per guides. No athlete accounts of bib pickup. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.4
Harbour, Speicherstadt and the Elbphilharmonie area make a strong city weekend. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inRegister early3.2
Open registration, but 15,000 places were taken with 5,000 left months before the 2027 race. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.7
EUR 135 (about $150) for 2027; one listing shows EUR 89 to 149. No athlete comments on swag. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 25 April 2027
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 12,000 athletes
- First held
- 1986
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 129 m (425 ft)
- Descent
- 129 m (425 ft)
- Start time
- 08:30
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Asphalt
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $150
- Air temperature
- 6–14 °C (43–57 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate (about 65% typical estimate)
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Hamburg Airport (HAM), 13 km (8 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Altstadt, St. Pauli, Rotherbaum, Eppendorf
- Booking
- Marathon weekend is busy; book early.
What racers and reviewers say
- Finishers.com race guideRaced 2027 listing · aggregator · Positive
Describes a flat, fast loop through St. Pauli, Altona, harbour and Alster. Aid every 5 km (3.1 mi), toilets every km, big crowds near 30 to 35 km (21.7 mi). No runner reviews.
- running.life Hamburg guideRaced 2027 listing · article · Positive
Flat, fast, often called Germany's fastest spring marathon; large but not chaotic and excellently organised.
- AIMS course portraitRaced 2016 · article · Positive
Route past Reeperbahn, Elbchaussee, Speicherstadt and Alster, finishing through Eppendorf where crowds are loudest. Almost 15,000 marathoners in 2015.
- Watch Athletics course mapRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Flat, fast and scenic with mostly smooth asphalt and tiny rollers; dense spectators in city areas, lighter in parks; Elbe wind possible.
- BS11 St. Pauli staff reportRaced 2026 · blog · Positive
Staff account of the 40th edition: radiant sun, up to 16 °C (61 °F) and countless spectators.
Show 2 more
- Athletics Illustrated 2019 reportRaced 2019 · article · Mixed
Race held in rain, showing April variability.
- Marathon Index tipsRaced 2027 listing · aggregator · Positive
Calls it beginner-friendly with generous 6.5 h limit and EUR 89 to 149 fee.
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Sources
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