Malta Marathon
Sliema, Malta · February · Independent
Why people love it
- Net drop of about 200 m (655 ft) from Mdina to the sea, with PBs reported.
- Starts at the Mdina gate at sunrise and finishes on the Sliema promenade.
- Aid about every 5 km (3 mi) with fruit, sponges and sports drink.
- Mild February air, usually 13 to 19 °C (55 to 66 °F), with bands on the route.
- Open entry at EUR 55 to 70 (about USD 60 to 77); no sell-out reported.
Watch out for
- Steep first 0.8 km (0.5 mi) and a few short climbs despite the net drop.
- Loops can mean headwinds; heavy rain hit the 2025 race.
- Spectators are sparse for the marathon; crowds gather at the finish.
- Start time (06:45 or 07:00) and the 5-hour limit need checking with the organiser.
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: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.1
Racecheck shows 420 reviews at 4.6 out of 5 across marathon and half; four 2026 marathoners averaged about 4.8. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
2026 marathoners praised the race pack, finish area and buses to the start. Older reports mention no expo, slow bib pickup and few toilets. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.6
A first-time marathoner rated it 4.4 and praised aid every 5 km (3 mi). Net drop and cool air help; the limit is 5 hours. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.8
A 2026 runner set a PB on the downhill and flat stretches, and a 2020 reviewer called it fast. Short climbs and wind cost time. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.7
Starts at the walls of Mdina, passes old villages, loops by Valletta and finishes on the Sliema seafront. RaceRaves scenery scores 3.2 out of 5. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.2
A half-marathon reviewer said a steep first 0.8 km (0.5 mi) forced walking, and marathoners meet half runners near the turnaround. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.8
No complaints about the road surface in any account; tarmac roads and a promenade. Detail is thin. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Roads are closed in the race window, but accounts say little about full closure on every stretch. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling3.4
Net drop of 200 m (655 ft) with flat sections, but several short steep climbs, including late on. Total gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Net downhillDownhill4.4
RaceRaves and a half-marathon report both cite a net drop of about 200 m (655 ft) from Mdina to the sea. Boston eligibility unconfirmed. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.6
Buses run from Sliema from about 05:30 and bags come back to the finish. Older reports mention too few toilets at the start. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.5
Timing and results run normally, but the reports do not mention pace groups. Evidence is thin. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
Bands and drummers line the course (33 bands in 2019), but a 2026 reviewer found spectators sparse and a 2012 runner saw little earlier support. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
2026 runners found full aid every 5 km (3 mi) with water, sports drink, oranges and sponges. One went hungry near 30 km (19 mi). · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.0
A 2012 runner called the day a bit blowy, and the out-and-back loops give both headwinds and tailwinds. Nothing in 2026 reports. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Highs of 13 to 19 °C (55 to 66 °F) on race dates, with a sunrise start that keeps early miles cool. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.6
Mostly sunny and mild, but heavy rain hit the 2025 race and a 2012 runner met wind. A Mediterranean February varies. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
A point-to-point route from Mdina to Sliema with few spectators along it; the finish has a crowd and a band. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
The start is about 200 m (655 ft) above sea level and the finish is at sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.2
Sliema has many hotels and February is off-season. Travel firms book blocks there because the buses and finish are in Sliema. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.9
Off-season rates are modest, though no rate data was found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Buses leave from Sliema harbour for the start and the finish is on the Sliema promenade, so a Sliema hotel works. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.2
Short, regular flights from UK and European airports, and about 14 km (9 mi) from the airport to Sliema. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
Bus to the start, bag return at the finish and one base in Sliema. Bib pickup was slow and poorly signed in 2018 and 2020. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.3
Sliema promenade, Valletta and Mdina are all within easy reach, and travel firms sell it as a sightseeing race. · Medium 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 entry with early-registration discounts; no sell-out reported. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.9
EUR 55 to 70 (about USD 60 to 77) with shirt and medal; an older review cited about EUR 45 (about USD 49). · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Sliema, Malta, Malta
- Typical month
- February
- Latest or next date
- 28 February 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 1,000 athletes
- First held
- 1986
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Descent
- 200 m (655 ft)
- Start time
- 06:45
- Cutoff
- 5 hours
- Surface
- Closed-road tarmac through countryside, villages and the Sliema seafront
- How to get in
- open
- Entry fee
- About $65
- Air temperature
- 10–18 °C (50–64 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate; coastal winter air
- Altitude
- 200 m (655 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Malta International Airport (MLA), 14 km (9 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Sliema, St Julian's, Valletta
- Booking
- Sliema is the usual base because the start buses leave from there and the finish is on its promenade. February is off-season, so rooms are easier to find than in summer.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck (Malta Marathon)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
420 reviews average 4.60 out of 5 across the marathon and half; four 2026 marathon reviews average about 4.8. Marathoners mention a mix of downhill and flat stretches, aid stations every 5 km (3 mi), fruit and oranges, a sunrise start and a good race pack. One runner went hungry near 30 km (19 mi).
“Full stocked aid stations every 5km”
- RaceRaves (Malta Marathon)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
5 ratings at 4 out of 5 (difficulty 2.6, scenery 3.2, production 4, swag 4.2) from 2017 to 2026. Reviewers describe an early downhill from Mdina, some later climbs, sparse spectators but local bands, water about every 5 km (3 mi), and a seaside finish. Older reviews mention long queues and no expo.
“Early kilometres are mostly downhill”
- Steel City StridersRaced 2026 · blog · Positive
A UK club runner's 2026 report describes an early bus to the start, a route through old villages with Mdina repeatedly in view, and a finish around the stadium area.
“Mdina repeatedly in view”
- Vegan Runners UKRaced 2012 · blog · Positive
A first-person marathon report: net downhill with a short climb then a fast descent, a sunny but blowy day with headwinds and tailwinds on the loops, water in large bottles, sponge, sports drink and fruit stops that still had supplies, and real band support unlike earlier years.
“a bit blowy”
- Racecheck review of the 2020 half marathon (venue only)Raced 2020 · aggregator · Positive
A half-marathon runner describes buses from Sliema harbour to Mdina, a scenic fast course for PBs, a bottleneck on a steep first 0.8 km (0.5 mi), poorly organised bib collection and an unmarked bag van. The marathon starts about two hours earlier and meets the half near the turnaround.
“I enjoyed it over all.”
Show 3 more
- Claremont Road Runners (2018 half, venue only)Raced 2018 · blog · Positive
A local runner's half-marathon report from Mdina: mostly downhill with a few steep climbs, about 19 °C (66 °F) and sunny, aid at 5 km (3 mi) intervals with sports drink and sponges, over 4,500 entrants, bands, and bus transport from Sliema at 07:45.
“keep going”
- DNG24 (club runner profile)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
A Scottish club runner's debut road marathon in 3:54:21 on a warm, sunny morning, starting at sunrise in Mdina, passing through Valletta and finishing in Sliema with more than 5,000 runners across the distances.
“started at sunrise”
- Travel WeeklyRaced 2018 · article · Positive
A sports-travel article calls the race professionally organised, with coach transfers from Sliema, a bag service to the finish, water and sponge stations, mid-teens air temperatures, and Sliema as the most convenient base.
“professionally organised”
Raced Malta Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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