Zurich Marathon
Zurich, Switzerland · April · Independent
Why people love it
- Flat lakeside course with a turnaround at Thalwil near 25 km (15.5 mi).
- Finish at Sechseläutenplatz in the city centre since 2025.
- Open entry that does not sell out; registration runs from November to March.
- Trams and trains connect the centre to the start, and Zurich airport is 12 km (7.5 mi) away.
Watch out for
- Gain figures conflict: 98 m (320 ft) in one report, 280 m (920 ft) in another.
- Half-marathoners overtake marathoners and share the final straight, with no separate finish line.
- April starts can be 2 to 5 °C (36 to 41 °F), with rain, hail or snow some years.
- Crowds are thin along the lake, and support is sparse on the return from the turnaround.
- Expensive city; few athletes have written recently about the race.
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 satisfactionLoved3.6
Rated 4.5 of 5 from two ratings. A UK club found quiet lakeside stretches and a shared finish with the half. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
Runners rate production highly and volunteers staff the aid stations. A 2022 runner found timing mats not at exact 5 km (3.1 mi) points. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
Flat course with decent support, but spring weather is cold and the marathon shares roads with the half and 10K. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.1
Runners call it flat and fast. One report cites 98 m (320 ft) gain, another 280 m (920 ft). Cold starts and half-marathon overtaking. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.9
Quaibrücke start, banking district and Lake Zurich with Alps views; reviewers call the lakeside stretch 'a little bit boring' at times. · Low confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.0
Half-marathoners starting later overtake aggressively; no separate finish line for marathon and half; an out-and-back along the lake to Thalwil. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.2
Paved city roads and lakeside paths; no complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.0
Roads closed along the lake; some half-marathoners overtake marathoners on the same roads. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat4.1
Gain reported as 98 m (320 ft) by Newly Swissed and 280 m (920 ft) by Marathon Index; conflicting but low either way. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Out-and-back along the lake; roughly level. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.8
Tram access to a city start at Quaibrücke; a half and 10K share the day. No complaints about corrals found. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.7
12 timing mats and live tracking; timing mats not exactly at 5 km (3.1 mi) points per a 2022 runner. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.3
Bürkliplatz and Bahnhofstrasse get crowds, but runners found the lake and the 24 to 38 km (15 to 24 mi) return sparse. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Refreshments about every 3.5 km (2.2 mi); water, electrolyte, bananas; Lions Club volunteers; finishers get food and drinks. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.5
One 2022 runner reported low wind; Alpine breezes possible. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.2
April starts at 2 to 5 °C (36 to 41 °F) reported in several years; highs 14 to 22 °C (57 to 72 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.4
Reports include rain, hail, snow and sleet in April and clear 5 °C (41 °F) days. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Bellevue, lakeside promenade and the finish area are easy to reach; Thalwil turnaround has a beer garden. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.5
Zurich lies about 408 m (1,339 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Large city; hotels with marathon packages exist. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valuePricey1.8
Zurich hotels are among the most expensive in Europe. · Medium confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.2
Start at Quaibrücke and finish at Sechseläutenplatz are both in the center. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.7
Zurich airport is about 12 km (7 mi) from the center with fast trains. · High confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.2
Efficient trams and trains; expo days before; city center start and finish. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.3
Lake promenade, Limmat riverfront and Swiss food; high prices. · 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
Registration opens in November and closes in March; no cap reported. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.0
Entry about CHF 120 to 140 ($135 to $160); praised medal and shirt, but expensive city. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 11 April 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 4,100 athletes
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- out-and-back
- Surface
- road
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Entry fee
- About $150
- Air temperature
- 3–14 °C (37–57 °F)
- Humidity
- about 65%
- Altitude
- 408 m (1,340 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Zurich (ZRH), 12 km (7 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Altstadt, near Bellevue and Bürkliplatz
- Booking
- Expensive city; some hotels offer marathon packages.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves Zurich MarathonRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Rated 4.5 of 5 from two ratings. Both call the course flat and good for PRs, one found the lake stretch a little boring. April weather included rain, hail and snow. Half-marathoners overtake marathoners; no separate finish line.
“Nice medal and fantastic t-shirt.”
- Steel City Striders: Zurich Marathon 2023Raced 2023 · blog · Mixed
A UK club report: about 12,000 runners across events made for atmosphere, but parts of the lakeside route lacked spectators and sharing the final straight with half finishers diminished the marathon.
- RDRC: A Zurich Marathon 2022 ExperienceRaced 2022 · blog · Mixed
Ran April 2022 in clear skies, little wind and about 5 °C (41 °F). A short steep hill at the 24 km (15 mi) turnaround broke momentum, support on the return was sparse, and timing mats were not exactly at 5 km (3.1 mi) points.
- Newly Swissed: Zurich Marathon guideRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Describes start at Quaibrücke, lakeside turnaround at Thalwil (km 25, mile 15.5), 98 m (320 ft) gain, new finish at Sechseläutenplatz, hotspots and unpredictable April weather.
- MarathonGuide Zurich Marathon 2007Raced 2007 · aggregator · Mixed
Older review: nice course through the city, along the lake and back; well organized but disappointed by the flat atmosphere.
Show 3 more
- Marathon Index: Zurich MarathonRaced 2025 · aggregator · neutral
Lists about 280 m (920 ft) gain, rolling profile, 4,130 finishers and CHF 120 to 140 entry; a typical April estimate of 12 °C (54 °F) and 65% humidity.
- I Am Expat: Zurich MarathonRaced 2026 · article · neutral
Describes marathon, half and 10K, refreshments about every 3.5 km (2.2 mi) and food and drinks for all finishers.
- In Your Pocket: running the Zurich MarathonRaced n/a · article · Positive
Promotional guide: flat course starting near Mythenquai, efficient trams and trains, spectators at Bellevue and the lakeside promenade.
Raced Zurich 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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