Swedbank Tallinn Marathon
Tallinn, Estonia · September · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Start and finish beside the Old Town at Freedom Square.
- Flat course: half-marathon runners rate difficulty 1 out of 5.
- Water, energy drink, oranges and gels on course, per a 2018 marathoner.
- Mid-September starts are cool: highs of 16 to 22 °C (61 to 72 °F).
- The airport is only 4 km (2.5 mi) from the centre.
Watch out for
- Few marathon reviews exist, so scores are tentative.
- A short trail section around 16 to 20 km (10 to 12 mi).
- Reviewers describe a cobbled climb into the finish; the AIMS guide disagrees.
- The marathon field is small, so expect quiet stretches with few spectators.
- Seafront sections can be breezy.
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
Only one 2018 marathon review (4.8 of 5) and three half-marathon ratings averaging 4.3; the sample is tiny. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
RaceRaves production 4.7 and a 5 of 5 on logistics and staff; a 2018 runner found the 5K and 10K corrals tight. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.9
Flat, with a central start and finish; the 6.5 hour limit is unconfirmed and reviewers were mostly half-marathon first-timers. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.8
Reviewers call it flat, but a short trail section and a cobbled climb near the finish may slow runners. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.5
Streets, forest, beach, parks and the Old Town; RaceRaves scenery is 3.3, while the 2018 marathoner rated it about 4. · Low confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.2
Tight 5K and 10K corrals were reported in 2018; the marathon field is small at about 2,000. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.2
A short trail section from 16 to 20 km (10 to 12 mi) and a cobbled finish incline, per 2018 reviewers. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Organiser-run city race; no runner reports traffic problems. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat3.9
One guide lists 185 m (607 ft) of gain, while half-marathon runners call it flat. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Single loop, so no net drop. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.5
Start near Freedom Square, though a 2018 reviewer found the 5K and 10K corrals tight. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.3
No runner mentions pace groups or timing. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
A 2018 marathoner described a big-city feel that was not crowded; the field is small. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
The 2018 marathoner listed water, energy drink, oranges and gels on course. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.1
Seafront stretches are exposed to coastal wind, but no runner reported wind. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Mid-September highs of 16 to 22 °C (61 to 72 °F) and lows of 3 to 14 °C (37 to 57 °F) over five years. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
Good weather reported in 2017 and 2018; Baltic weather can still turn. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.3
Central start and finish at Freedom Square beside the Old Town; limited detail on route access. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
The city sits at about 10 m (33 ft) on the Baltic coast. · 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
Hotels in the city centre are within walking distance of the race centre. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
No race-weekend rate data; Tallinn is generally cheaper than Western Europe. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.4
The race centre, start and finish are at Freedom Square, at the edge of the Old Town. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.2
Tallinn airport (TLL) is 4 km (2.5 mi) from the centre by tram or taxi. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.2
A top-notch expo and a single start and finish area for all distances, per two reviewers. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.5
A medieval Old Town; one half-marathon reviewer loved the city, but no runner reviewed food. · 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 inOpen entry4.5
Open online registration that does not sell out; 749 marathon finishers in 2021. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.8
Fees run EUR 55 to 75 (about USD 65 to 85); the expo was praised. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Tallinn, Harju County, Estonia
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 13 September 2026
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 2,000 athletes
- First held
- 2010
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 185 m (605 ft)
- Start time
- 09:00
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Surface
- Road, with a short trail section around 16 to 20 km (10 to 12 mi) and a cobbled finish incline per one 2018 runner
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Entry fee
- About $75
- Air temperature
- 10–18 °C (50–64 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Tallinn Lennart Meri Airport (TLL), 4 km (2 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Old Town, Rotermann Quarter, Kesklinn (city centre)
- Booking
- Race centre and start and finish are on the edge of the Old Town at Freedom Square, so hotels in the centre are within walking distance. A 2026 reviewer suggests adding a few days to see the city.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck: Tallinn MarathonRaced 2018 · aggregator · very positive
One verified 2018 marathon review scoring 4.8 out of 5. The runner calls it a good early-autumn marathon and an alternative to Berlin. Likes the big-city feel without crowds, a start and finish near Freedom Square for all distances, and a varied course of streets, forest, beach and a trail section at 16 to 20 km (10 to 12 mi). Aid had water, energy drink, oranges and gels; the finish climbs a cobbled street.
- RaceRaves Tallinn Marathon (3 reviews, half marathon)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Three first-timers who ran the half (2017, 2018, 2026) average 4.3 out of 5 overall, difficulty 1, scenery 3.3, production 4.7. All call it flat. One loved the expo and city but found the run less interesting. The 2018 runner found the 5K and 10K corrals tight and crowded, and the last half mile of the half was a cobbled climb. No marathoners on the page.
“the production and expo were top notch”
Raced Swedbank Tallinn 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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