SwissCityMarathon Lucerne

Overall score 3.9Very good
Thin evidence4 sources#49 of 304 marathons

Lucerne, Switzerland · 42.2 km

Race day Sun 25 Oct 2026

Website (opens in a new tab)

Is it right for you?

First timer
Friendly3.9
PR potential
Fast3.7
Flat course
Mostly flat3.6
Getting in
Easy3.7
Crowds
Strong4.4

Watch out: Old-town cobblestones need attention. All 3

Best for

Provisional: based on 4 sources. Why

Raced it? Your rating helps.

Score breakdown

Every score is out of 5, and 5 is always the better end.

Each bar is a range of 0.25 points; the light bar holds this race. The average race scores 3.4.

What does this score mean?

Why people love it

  • Lake, mountain and historic-town scenery.
  • Strong crowd support and experienced pace groups.
  • Two laps finish inside the Swiss Museum of Transport.

Watch out for

  • Old-town cobblestones need attention.
  • Wind and autumn weather can affect pacing.
  • Half-marathon traffic adds congestion in shared sections.

Latest or next race

Sun 25 Oct 2026

Official race site(swisscitymarathon.ch, opens in a new tab)
How to get in
Open

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What runners say

Overall score 3.9 out of 5

4 reviews and race reports

Tone of the reviews and race reports

  • Positive4
  • Mixed0
  • Negative0

4 reviews

Raced SwissCityMarathon Lucerne? Rate it

Pick a score, then tell the next athlete about the course, conditions and logistics.

Scores

Open a category for its ratings and the evidence behind them.

Very good. 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 satisfactionLoved4.3

    Repeat runners and pacers describe a strong attachment to the event. · Medium confidence

  • OrganizationWell run4.4

    Reports praise personal volunteer attention and carefully managed finish arrangements. · Medium confidence

  • First timer friendlyFriendly3.9

    Pace groups and strong support help, but two laps and cobbles require preparation. · Medium confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • PR potentialFast3.7

    The course is runnable, with bends, cobbles and mixed participant traffic. · Medium confidence

Very good. Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.

  • Course scenerySpectacular4.5

    Lake, mountain and old-town views repeatedly stand out in runner reports. · Medium confidence

  • Room to runRoomy3.6

    Half-marathon traffic and city bends can interrupt a steady rhythm. · Medium confidence

  • Road surfaceGood3.5

    Old-town cobblestones demand attention, especially when tired. · Medium confidence

  • Road closuresMostly closed3.5

    Complete road closure was not independently verified. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Course flatnessMostly flat3.6

    Some undulations are described; a measured gain was not verified. · Low confidence

  • Net downhillDownhill3.5

    A measured net elevation change was not verified. · Low confidence

Excellent. Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.

  • Start logisticsSmooth4.0

    The organizer uses assigned start slots and pace groups. · Medium confidence

  • Pacers and timingGood4.4

    Several firsthand accounts come from experienced pacers who return regularly. · Medium confidence

  • Crowd supportStrong4.4

    Runners consistently praise spectators and music, although support varies by section. · Medium confidence

  • Aid stationsGood4.3

    Reports praise volunteers, food and the finish-area refreshments. · Medium confidence

Good. Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.

  • WindSome wind3.0

    A recent pacer describes persistent wind affecting the race. · Medium confidence

  • Air temperaturePleasant3.5

    Race-day conditions vary; check the forecast. · Low confidence

  • Weather reliabilityVariable3.0

    Wind and variable autumn weather feature in the reports. · Low confidence

  • Spectator friendlyEasy3.5

    Check the current spectator map before planning viewpoints. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Low altitudeLow3.5

    Course altitude was not verified. · Low confidence

Good. Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.

  • Hotel availabilityGood3.5

    Race-week hotel availability was not verified. · Low confidence

  • Hotel valueGood3.5

    Comparable race-week hotel prices were not verified. · Low confidence

  • WalkabilityWalkable3.5

    Choose accommodation around the current start and finish. · Low confidence

  • Travel easeEasy3.5

    Detailed airport and transfer arrangements were not verified. · Low confidence

  • LogisticsSimple3.8

    Race services are well organized, though some bag storage is farther away. · Medium confidence

  • Town and foodGood4.1

    Runners enjoy Lucerne’s old town and post-race meals. · Low confidence

Good. How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.

  • Getting inEasy3.7

    Open registration uses start slots, subject to available places. · Low confidence

  • Value for moneyGood value3.5

    Current entry costs were not independently compared. · Low confidence

Course

Route, 42.2 km (26.2 mi)

Shape
laps

Getting in

Entry
open

Similar races in Europe

Key facts

Location
Lucerne, Switzerland
Typical month
October
Distances
42.2 km (26.2 mi)

Sources

Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.

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