Jerusalem Marathon
Jerusalem, Israel · March · Independent
Why people love it
- Zion Gate, Old City walls and Hebrew University views; one runner called it the most spectacular route she had run.
- Main roads closed for the race, with an early Friday start.
- Cool March start, about 7 °C (45 °F) in 2016.
- Open entry, USD 76 to 95 depending on when you register.
Watch out for
- 680 m (2,230 ft) of climbing, with two big hills in the last 4 km (2.5 mi).
- About 40 turns and cobbles in the Old City.
- 04:30 to 05:00 wake-ups for street closures, plus security checks at the corrals.
- Cold rain and wind in some years; few toilets on the course.
- Only two marathon accounts, from 2014 and 2016, were found.
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: Extreme
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
Two marathoners from 2014 and 2016 recommend it for the scenery but warn it is brutally hilly. Few recent athlete accounts exist. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
Well run and secure in 2014 and 2016, with main roads closed. Complaints: few toilets, long lines and corral security checks. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDemanding2.2
680 m (2,230 ft) of gain, about 40 turns, an early start and cold March days. Marathon-index calls it challenging for beginners. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow1.6
Reviewers say not to chase a PR: winners run well off usual times, and two big hills come in the last 4 km (2.5 mi). · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course scenerySpectacular4.6
Zion Gate, the Old City walls, the Dome of the Rock and Judean desert views. One runner called it her most spectacular route. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points2.5
About 40 turns, narrow streets and crowding for back-of-pack starters, with the half marathon starting 15 minutes earlier. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
City asphalt with a short cobbled Old City stretch and tram rails that are slippery when wet. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresFully closed4.5
Main roads are closed for much of the day and schools shut; one resident complained of being stuck for hours. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessBig climbs1.3
680 m (2,230 ft) of gain by Marathon-index and about 700 m (2,300 ft) by a Runner's World count, with only two short flat stretches. · High confidence
- Net downhillSlightly up2.0
Hilly loop with a long late climb and two big hills in the last 4 km (2.5 mi); no downhill advantage. · Low confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting2.6
Wake-ups at 04:30 to 05:00 for street closures, three or four security checks, long toilet lines, and one runner missed the start. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4
A large event team runs pace groups and timing, but accounts give few details. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
Bands, stilt walkers and a band in Zion Square, but fewer spectators than big city marathons; runners ask for more cheering. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Plenty of water stops and kilometre signs, but little electrolyte drink and few toilets near the course. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.2
Strong winds and cold rain on the hills in one edition; no wind on race day in 2016. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
About 7 °C (45 °F) at the start in 2016 and 10 °C (50 °F) at the finish; cold and wet in other years. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
Cold rain and strong wind in some editions, clear and cool in others. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
Central city loops with the Old City and Zion Square, but road closures make moving around hard. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeModerate2.8
The city sits at about 780 m (2,560 ft), and the climb toward Mount Scopus peaks higher. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Many hotels, though they fill on race weekend. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.0
Jerusalem hotels are not cheap; no rate data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Staying near the centre avoids closures, but start and finish areas are not all walkable. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.4
Long flights to Ben Gurion, then about 50 km (31 mi) to Jerusalem. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Expo and bib pickup, security checks and a Friday race for Shabbat complicate the weekend. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.8
The Old City, markets and food scene make Jerusalem a bucket-list trip. · High 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 inOpen entry4.5
Open entry with tiered prices; no sell-out reported. · High confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.6
USD 76 to 95 for the marathon, with breakfast boxes and a medal, but few post-race perks. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel
- Typical month
- March
- Latest or next date
- 19 March 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 2,000 athletes
- First held
- 2011
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 680 m (2,230 ft)
- Start time
- 06:30
- Surface
- City roads with a short cobbled stretch through the Old City and tram rails
- How to get in
- open
- Entry fee
- About $90
- Air temperature
- 7–15 °C (45–59 °F)
- Humidity
- Around 55% typical; low rain chance
- Altitude
- 780 m (2,560 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), 50 km (31 mi) away
- Where to stay
- City centre near Jaffa Road, Rehavia, German Colony
- Booking
- Book early: hotels fill for the race weekend and street closures mean runners leave at 04:30 to 05:00. Staying near the start or in the centre avoids closed streets.
What racers and reviewers say
- TravelweekRaced 2014 · article · Positive
A first-person account of the fourth edition: steep climbs, about 40 turns, a section behind the Old City walls, main roads closed, a 04:30 wake-up and over 15,000 runners including 2,600 international. The author found it well organised and the most spectacular route she had run.
“this route, hands down, was the most spectacular I had ever run”
- Run Eat RepeatRaced 2016 · blog · Positive
A runner with 30-plus marathons calls it the hardest course she has run: very hilly with only two short flat sections near 14 km (9 mi) and 29 km (18 mi), cobbles in the Old City, views of Jordan, a cold start and breakfast boxes. About 2,000 ran the marathon and over 20,000 all events.
“It was very hilly, the hilliest race I've ever run.”
- RunToTheFinish (2016 half, venue only)Raced 2016 · blog · Mixed
A coach's review of the half: many hills, a cool 7 °C (45 °F) start with no wind, plenty of water but little electrolyte drink, light spectators, a crowded start for rear runners, few toilets, security checks and a 05:00 hotel departure. She would recommend it but never choose it for a PR.
“I would never select this for a PR attempt”
- Marathon Training Academy (2019 half, venue only)Raced 2019 · blog · Mixed
A guest half-marathon report: hills are graded and manageable, crowds massive and chaotic with about 40,000 registrants, long toilet lines that forced a sprint to the corral, and no toilets on the course itself. A commenter says the steepest climbs are on the marathon course.
“totally doable”
- Ellis Shuman blog (2019 10K, venue only)Raced 2019 · blog · Positive
Compares the Jerusalem 10K with the Tel Aviv 10K three weeks earlier: Jerusalem was harder by about four minutes, with steep climbs on Bezalel and Jabotinsky streets, a cold, cloudy day after rain, a band in Zion Square and about 40,000 runners across events.
“Jerusalem is much harder to run than Tel Aviv”
Show 3 more
- Times of IsraelRaced 2014 · article · Mixed
Runners describe one of the world's toughest courses because of the elevation, past Givat Ram, the Old City, the German Colony and the train track park. Spectator turnout is smaller than at New York, and traffic halts for much of the day.
“I'm used to the hills”
- Prospect magazineRaced 2012 · article · Positive
A preview of the second edition: runners leave the Old City through Zion Gate, see the Dome of the Rock and the Judean desert, and climb about 100 m (330 ft) toward Mount Scopus near 30 km (19 mi). The inaugural winner ran 2:26:44, about 20 minutes off his best.
- Marathon-index course dataRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Course database lists 680 m (2,230 ft) of gain, a hilly profile, 55% typical humidity and 18 °C (64 °F) typical March conditions, and advises starting conservatively on a course it rates challenging for beginners.
Raced Jerusalem Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Jerusalem Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.