Warsaw Marathon (Maraton Warszawski)
Warsaw, Poland · September · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Gain of only 83 m (272 ft), flat with long straights.
- Central start by the Palace of Culture, with the expo next door.
- Water about every 2.5 km (1.6 mi), with sports drink, bananas and sugar cubes.
- Pacers from 2:25 to 5:30 and a 6 h 30 min cutoff.
- Fees EUR 60 to 120 (about USD 65 to 130), with a medal for every finisher.
Watch out for
- A bridge rise near 35 km (22 mi) is the main climb.
- The highway section near 38 km (24 mi) has few spectators.
- Late September highs have reached 27 °C (81 °F) in some years.
- The last 10 km (6 mi) runs through residential streets.
- Few English-language reviews exist, so some scores rest on thin evidence.
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 satisfactionLoved4.0
Few independent reviews: RaceRaves has 3, Racecheck gives 5.0 of 5 and MarathonGuide 4.7. All positive, but the sample is small. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
Reviewers praise efficient packet pickup with no lines, numbered bag-drop vans matched to bibs, accurate chip timing and friendly volunteers. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.1
Flat, with 83 m (272 ft) of gain, a 6 h 30 min cutoff, no bottlenecks, a central start and pacers up to 5:30. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.2
The organiser calls it flat with long straights, and a 2026 women's record of 2:24:48 supports it. Weather can swing. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.4
City streets, Vistula bridges, Old Town and Lazienki Park views, but the last 10 km (6 mi) is residential. · Medium confidence
- Room to runRoomy4.0
Reviewers report no bottlenecks and open start pens. Two laps with long straights keep turns few. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.6
The organiser calls it smooth city asphalt. No independent reports of cobbles or potholes, but evidence is thin. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.9
Streets are closed from about 8:00 to 10:00 and a highway section near 38 km (24 mi) is closed to traffic. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.5
Gain of 83 m (272 ft) per the organiser, with bridges and Belwederska street the main rises. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Two laps with the same start and finish elevation of 113 m (371 ft). · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.9
Central start by the Palace of Culture, uncrowded open pens, sector bag drop in the Runners' Village and a warm-up before the gun. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.9
The organiser lists pacers from 2:25 to 5:30 and a 2017 report mentions chip timing. Few runner accounts. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.8
Lots of fans along much of the route, cheering by name, with bands. Thin on the highway near 38 km (24 mi). · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
Water about every 2.5 km (1.6 mi), with sports drink and bananas from 10 km (6 mi) and sugar cubes. Paper cups. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.8
No wind complaints found, and much of the route is among buildings. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Late September starts are usually 9 to 13 °C (48 to 55 °F), with highs up to 27 °C (81 °F) in some years. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
The historic range is wide, 4 to 27 °C (39 to 81 °F), but recent reports were mild. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.8
Central location with trams and metro, and two laps give repeat viewing. The organiser lists spectating spots. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Start and finish at 113 m (371 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
A large capital city with many beds. No sold-out reports. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
Warsaw is cheap by western European standards, but no price data was collected. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Start and finish are in the centre near the Palace of Culture, with many hotels within walking distance. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
Warsaw Chopin is about 10 km (6 mi) from the centre and well connected in Europe. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.9
The expo is next to the race office at Plac Defilad, and a 2017 runner got their bib in minutes. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.8
Old Town, Lazienki Park and a big food scene, though reviewers say little about it. · 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 inEasy4.0
Open entry with a 14,000 limit that was raised in 2025. Early registration is cheaper. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.7
EUR 60 to 120 (about USD 65 to 130) with a medal for every finisher, bag drop and food. Swag ratings are mixed. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 27 September 2026
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 10,800 athletes
- First held
- 1979
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- laps
- Climbing
- 83 m (270 ft)
- Descent
- 83 m (270 ft)
- Start time
- 09:00
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Smooth city asphalt, long straights
- How to get in
- open
- Entry fee
- About $130
- Air temperature
- 9–18 °C (48–64 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 113 m (370 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Warsaw Chopin (WAW), 10 km (6 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Srodmiescie near the Palace of Culture, Old Town
- Booking
- Start is in the city centre, so central hotels are within a short walk or tram ride.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
3 reviews from 2018 and 2023. Mostly flat with small rises on bridges and Belwederska street, strong fan support with names cheered, efficient packet pickup and bag drop, well-stocked aid with sugar cubes and bananas. Swag only fair.
- RacecheckRaced 2017 · aggregator · Positive
Gave 5.0 of 5. About 5,000 runners, uncrowded start, quick bib pickup, mild weather, well-stocked aid, lively finish straight and a highway section at 38 to 39 km (24 mi) with less support.
“I highly recommend it to everyone.”
- MarathonGuide reader reviewRaced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
4.7 of 5. Very flat and good for a PB, efficiently organised, no bottlenecks, plenty of refreshment stops in paper cups, nice medal and a charity option.
“The PERFECT marathon!!!”
- Trail Runner (Substack): Scott DunlapRaced 2024 · blog · Positive
Flat route downtown, over the Vistula and around Old Town, with a bridge climb near 35 km (22 mi). About 7,000 runners, ideal weather, and friends and family cheering along the course.
“It really is fun to have friends and family on the course!”
- Warsaw Marathon official infoRaced 2026 · article · neutral
Organiser facts only: 9:00 start, 6 h 30 min limit, 83 m (272 ft) gain, aid every 2.5 km (1.6 mi), pacers 2:25 to 5:30, EUR 60 to 120 fees. Not counted as a review.
Show 3 more
- Marathon Index tipsRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Calls it flat and beginner-friendly with a difficulty score of 11 of 100, a 6.5 hour limit and PLN 160 to 280 fees. Its start year (2001) conflicts with the official 1979.
- WikipediaRaced 2026 · article · neutral
Held since 1979. 10,830 finishers in 2026, 9,527 in 2025 and 7,079 in 2024. World Athletics Elite Label.
- Polish media (RMF24 and PAP via Flashscore)Raced 2025 · article · neutral
Record field in 2025: nearly 14,000 signed up, first World Athletics Elite certificate, almost one in four runners from abroad.
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Sources
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