Wizz Air Milano Marathon
Milan, Italy · April · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Flat loop, 72 m (238 ft) of gain, marketed as Italy's fastest marathon.
- Finish at Piazza del Duomo after a tour of Sempione, Sforza Castle and the centre.
- Streets closed to traffic and metro access for supporters.
- Open entry at about EUR 45 to 95 (USD 50 to 105) with a 6.5 hour limit.
Watch out for
- Busy start in 2023 with no entry by wave; check the 2026 Corso Sempione set-up.
- Outer sections near San Siro and Trenno are quiet and less scenic.
- Warm spells (over 20 °C (68 °F) / 68 °F in 2023) and afternoon wind are possible.
- Few athletes have written about the race in English; hotels are costly on marathon weekend.
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 satisfactionLoved3.7
Few independent reviews: a 2023 runner rated the course 5 of 5 and a 2024 report called the Duomo return emotional. Evidence is thin. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
2023 start was busy with no entry point by wave; 2025 organisation described as efficient. Charity and relay formats add volume. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.7
Flat, big crowds and a 6.5 h limit, but a large, busy start and a hot spell in 2023. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.3
Flat loop with 72 m (238 ft) of gain, marketed as Italy's fastest. Cobbles were removed in 2019 and the 2026 route was redesigned. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.0
Duomo, Sforza Castle, Parco Sempione and Porta Nuova; one 2023 runner gave the course 5 of 5. Outer stretches near San Siro are plainer. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.4
Early kilometres were awkward in 2024 and the 2023 start lacked wave entry. The 2026 route was redesigned to improve flow. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
City asphalt; 500 m (550 yd) of cobbles were removed in 2019 but some paved sections may remain. No runner reports on potholes. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.3
Streets closed to traffic along the route per race and press coverage. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat4.3
Gain 72 m (238 ft) per FindMyMarathon; another aggregator lists 45 m (148 ft). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Loop, so no net elevation change. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.1
2023 start busy with poor wave entry; 2026 start moved to Corso Sempione at 08:15. Metro access is strong. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4
Pace groups carry balloons that a 2023 runner found hard to spot. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Loud at the start and Duomo finish; thinner on outer sections per a 2023 runner. Marathon-index cites over 40,000 spectators. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Water about every 4 km (2.5 mi) per a 2023 runner, plus oranges, gels and sugar in older reports. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.8
City buildings shelter most of the route; one 2025 report of strong afternoon wind. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.7
Start averages 12 °C (54 °F) with 80% humidity; one 2023 edition felt over 20 °C (68 °F) and it warms after 09:30. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Rain at 2019 start, heat in 2023, strong afternoon wind in 2025: variable April weather. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Ring-shaped loop with metro links makes it easy to see runners several times. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Milan sits about 120 m (390 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.3
Large city, many hotels; prices spike on marathon weekend. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.8
Milan hotels are expensive in spring and on marathon weekends. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.1
Finish at Piazza del Duomo; metro to the start; compact centre. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.7
Three airports (LIN, MXP, BGY) and excellent rail and metro. · High confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.7
Expo, metro and charity organisations are well established; start entry was messy in 2023. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.9
Plenty of good food and sights around the finish. · 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, about 15,000 participants across events in 2026; no qualifier; sell-out not documented. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.7
About EUR 45 to 95 (USD 50 to 105); medal and tee rated 4 of 5 by a 2023 runner. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Milan, Lombardy, Italy
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 4 April 2027
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 5,559 athletes
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 72 m (235 ft)
- Descent
- 72 m (235 ft)
- Start time
- 08:15
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Surface
- City asphalt with some paved sections; 500 m (550 yd) of cobbles were removed in 2019
- How to get in
- open
- Entry fee
- About $75
- Air temperature
- 11–17 °C (52–63 °F)
- Humidity
- High at the start (about 80%)
- Altitude
- 120 m (395 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Milan Linate (LIN); also Malpensa (MXP) and Bergamo (BGY), 8 km (5 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Near Duomo, Porta Venezia, Sempione and Cadorna
- Booking
- Large city with many hotels, but prices jump on marathon weekend; book early near the Duomo or a metro line.
What racers and reviewers say
- The Outdoor WallRaced 2023 · blog · Positive
Loop from Porta Venezia past the Duomo and Arco della Pace; over 18 km (11 mi) in the centre, then northwest by San Siro and parks. Crowds loud at start and finish, thin elsewhere. Water roughly every 4 km (2.5 mi), pacer balloons hard to see, a poorly organised start and heat above 20 °C (68 °F). Course rated 5 of 5.
“the beauty of the course helped a lot”
- The Running Club (Dario Marchini)Raced 2024 · blog · Positive
Italian race report: start and finish both at Piazza del Duomo for the first time in years, a loud finish crowd, a slightly awkward first few kilometres, and 6,923 finishers. Winners 2:07:12 (men) and 2:26:32 (women). Very positive.
- A cosa penso quando corro (Substack)Raced 2025 · blog · Mixed
Relay runner in 2025: efficient organisation and a fast course through Parco Sempione, with a good number of spectators, cold sunny morning then sudden warmth and strong afternoon wind. Criticises the airline sponsor and charity-heavy fees.
- Tino Masecchia (Substack)Raced 2006 · blog · Positive
Old edition (2006) from a back-of-pack runner: colour-coded corrals, no starting gun, thinning pack, volunteers with oranges and gels, and an emotional finish at the cathedral. Course has since changed, so used for atmosphere only.
“I wasn't about to quit now.”
- Marathon-indexRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Describes a flat course past the Duomo and Navigli with registration from about September to March, EUR 45 to 95 fees and a 6.5 h limit. Unverified claims were ignored.
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- Sky TG24 and local pressRaced 2025 · article · neutral
Race-day coverage: ring-shaped route with start and finish at the Duomo, road closures and a record field over 10,000.
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Sources
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