Ljubljana Marathon
Ljubljana, Slovenia · October · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Flat two-lap loop through the centre.
- Frequent, well-stocked aid with water, energy drink and gels.
- Quick packet pickup and a free pasta dinner.
- Cool October morning, highs often 10 to 17 °C (50 to 63 °F).
- Start and finish in the compact city centre.
Watch out for
- Cobblestone sections on parts of the course.
- Shared 09:00 start with the half marathon is crowded.
- Finish area congested and bag collection slow.
- Runners rate the scenery only so-so.
- Late October weather has swung from snow to 22 °C (72 °F).
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 satisfactionLoved3.6
RaceRaves 3.5 of 5 from two reviews, one warm and one lukewarm. A 2010 report calls it well organised and recommended. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
RaceRaves production scores 5 and 4. A 2025 marathoner praised quick packet pickup and good marking. Slow bag collection and finish congestion cost points. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.1
Reviewers rate difficulty 1 to 2 of 5 and call it very flat. Two laps and a shared half start add some stress. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.8
Flat Gold Label course with a 2:04:55 record, but cobblestone sections, a shared start with the half and two laps hold it below the fastest. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant2.8
A 2025 runner found it nice but not breathtaking, a 2022 runner called it boring, and a 2010 report found part of each lap dull. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.0
Marathon and half start together at 09:00, so early stages are crowded, and the 2022 runner reports congestion at the finish and slow bag collection. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.2
A 2025 marathoner reports cobblestone sections that made running harder on an otherwise flat course. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.2
The 2025 runner praised good traffic control and a well-marked course; city-run road race. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat4.2
Reviewers say very flat; one index lists 380 m (1,247 ft) of gain, which conflicts and is not trusted. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Circular course starting and finishing in the city centre. Boston eligibility not stated. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.3
Marathon and half share the 09:00 start and the finish area was congested with slow bag pickup. Packet pickup was quick and easy. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.5
Chip timing at a Gold Label race; pace groups not discussed in the reviews found. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
A 2025 marathoner reports strong crowds, a 2022 half runner saw few bands, and a 2010 report says spectators thin on the second lap. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
Frequent stations with water, energy drink and gels per both RaceRaves reviewers; a 2010 report says every few kilometres, in cups. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.8
Sheltered basin city with no wind complaints in any report; little direct data. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
09:00 start with typical highs of 10 to 17 °C (50 to 63 °F), though 2022 reached 22 °C (72 °F) and 2012 had snow. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Late October ranges from snow in 2012 and mist in 2025 to a 22 °C (72 °F) high in 2022. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.9
Compact central circuit with two laps, so supporters can see runners several times near the start and finish. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.5
Ljubljana sits about 295 m (968 ft) above sea level, a small effect. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Capital with plenty of central hotels, but a record weekend fills them. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
Prices rise on race weekend; a Best Western by the start is the reviewer pick. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalk to everything4.5
Start and finish are in the centre, and a reviewer recommends a hotel near them. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.7
Airport is 26 km (16 mi) north with limited routes; rail links from Vienna, Zagreb and Venice area help. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.2
A 2025 marathoner reports quick, easy packet pickup and a free pasta dinner. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.5
Compact, walkable capital with a lively riverside; judged from the 2025 reviewer's enjoyment, with little detail from runners. · 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 inEasy4.3
Open registration through October, no qualifier, and the marathon field is a small slice of a record weekend. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.0
EUR 45 to 65 (about USD 50 to 70) buys a tech shirt, medal, backpack and a free pasta dinner per the 2025 runner. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Ljubljana, Central Slovenia, Slovenia
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 18 October 2026
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 2,200 athletes
- First held
- 1996
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- laps
- Start time
- 09:00
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Surface
- Road, with some cobblestone sections
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Entry fee
- About $60
- Air temperature
- 6–15 °C (43–59 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate; fog and damp are common in late October
- Altitude
- 295 m (970 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport (LJU), 26 km (16 mi) away
- Where to stay
- City centre near Slovenska cesta, Old Town
- Booking
- A 2022 half-marathoner recommends the Best Western hotel near the start and finish. Registration weekend fills the compact centre.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves Ljubljana Marathon (2 reviews)Raced 2025 · aggregator · mixed-positive
Rated 3.5 out of 5 from two first-timers. The 2025 marathoner found it very flat apart from cobbles, scenery nice but not breathtaking, with quick packet pickup, a free pasta dinner, strong crowds, frequent aid and good traffic control. The 2022 half-marathoner called the flat course boring with few bands, and reported finish congestion and slow bag collection after a shared 9 am start.
“quite boring”
- Serpentine Running Club race report (2010)Raced 2010 · blog · Positive
Two flat laps through forest and town; generally scenic but the last 5 km (3.1 mi) of each lap run down an uninspiring main road. The half is much bigger and starts with the marathon so early going is a little crowded; marathon had about 1,000 runners. Drink stations every few kilometres with water and sports drink; average temperature about 13.5 °C (56 °F).
“A well-organised race, highly recommended”
- Novak M team blog (2026)Raced 2026 · blog · Positive
A company team write-up of the 30th edition. Spectators lined the route and the morning was misty. A corporate post with no course or logistics detail, so it adds only atmosphere.
“As the city slowly wakes up on a misty Sunday morning”
Raced Ljubljana 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.
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