Bonn · Germany
Marathon races near Bonn
8 races in 2026
next one in 37 days
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Race calendar
Upcoming Marathon races near Bonn
AUG 4
7AUG
Run · road · Marathon
48. Monschau Marathon
Monschau-Konzen · 62 km away
7AUG
Run · trail · Marathon
Monschau Marathon
Monschau · 64 km away
8AUG
Run · trail · Marathon
Monschau Marathon
Konzen · 62 km away
8AUG
Run · road · Marathon
48. Monschau-Marathon warm-up
Monschau-Konzen · 62 km away
SEP 4
4SEP
Run · road · Marathon
Straberger 1/3 Marathon
Dormagen · 44 km away
Bonn · 80 km
8 races mapped
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Recurring Marathon races near Bonn
Races that repeat — weekly, monthly or yearly
Wilhelminaberg Trappen Marathon
The Wilhelminaberg Trappen Marathon course for runners includes a 248-meter staircase with 508 steps. This race takes place in Landgraaf, South Limburg, situated on the 93-meter Wilhelminaberg, which is the highest slag heap in the Netherlands. It is a lap-based road and stair race, offering distances from 5 km up to a marathon, alongside a kids run and a Business Run for teams of up to five.
Each standard lap is 1,090 meters. Consequently, the 5 km requires 5 laps, the 10 km is 10 laps, the 10 mile is 16 laps, the half marathon is 21 laps, and the marathon is 42 laps. The full marathon involves runners ascending the staircase 44 times, totaling 22,350 steps. This is why Dutch media refers to it as the toughest marathon in the Netherlands. The kids run features a scaled-down version of the central element: it begins at the base of the stairs and concludes at the summit.
Marathon de Cologne
The Marathon de Cologne takes place in early October in Cologne, Germany, offering a full marathon, half marathon, relay marathon, and a school marathon. The main marathon is a 42.195 km road race on mostly asphalt. The shorter and team formats attract runners seeking the city's atmosphere without the full distance. It ranks among Germany’s larger marathon events, with the day emphasizing crowd energy and local cheers as much as fast racing.
The marathon begins at Ottoplatz in Deutz, crossing the Deutzer Bridge toward Cologne Cathedral. The course is a flat single loop through the historic center and adjacent districts, featuring wide streets, no sustained climbs, and minor elevation changes of approximately 42 to 53 meters above sea level. Participants will pass the Rhine promenade, the Sport and Olympia Museum, the Kranhäuser, the Bismarck Column, Severinstraße, Sülz, Dürener Straße, Aachener Weiher, Ehrenfeld, Neusser Straße in Nippes, and Rudolfplatz multiple times. Neumarkt provides a significant crowd late in the race, and the consistent course profile appeals to runners aiming for controlled pacing or a quick finish.
Welterbe-Trail und Rhein-Mosel-Marathon
The Welterbe-Trail und Rhein-Mosel-Marathon is a running event held in Winningen, Germany, offering races from 5 km to 60 km. Scheduled for an October weekend, it provides participants with options ranging from short trail runs to a lengthy endurance race.
The main event is the 60 km Rhein-Mosel-Marathon, with additional routes of 30 km, 20 km, 11 km, and 5 km. The name reflects the Rhine-Moselle region and the Welterbe-Trail, indicating the event is designed for runners seeking distances beyond a typical road race selection.
Rursee Marathon
The Rursee Marathon takes place in Germany's Eifel National Park on the first Sunday of November, with its origins dating back to 1997. This full marathon utilizes natural trails, attracting approximately 400 to 500 participants annually. It is a challenging race, distinct from a straightforward road event.
The course winds through the Rursee region, offering participants forest paths, hilly sections, and lake-adjacent terrain, deviating from urban environments. The event also features a 16.5 km run, introduced in 2004, and a 5 km race held the day prior to the marathon, catering to those seeking the Eifel environment without committing to the full marathon distance.
Walk beim Rursee-Marathon
Rursee Marathon
The Rursee Marathon begins in Einruhr-Simmerath, within Germany’s Eifel National Park. The main race starts at 10:30 on the first Sunday in November. First held in 1997, it is a trail-heavy marathon, not a flat city race, covering 42.2 km of nature tracks with approximately 370 metres of elevation gain. The marathon typically attracts 400 to 500 runners, and the entire event draws about 1,000 to 3,000 participants across multiple distances.
The weekend offers several event options for runners and walkers: a 16.5 km race, a 5 km race, a 2 km children’s race, and a 16.5 km walk or Nordic walk on Saturday. The 16.5 km run was introduced after the marathon was established, and the Rursee-Ultra, a longer distance, is held every second year. While the course setting is a primary attraction, it is not a simple sightseeing run; the marathon is generally considered a challenging race on natural paths around the Rursee area.
29 Rursee-Marathon
The Rursee-Marathon is a running event held in Simmerath-Einruhr during a November weekend. Its races are centered around the Rursee, rather than a single road distance. The program includes a 52 km ultra, a full marathon, a 16.5 km run, a 5 km run, a 16.5 km walking and Nordic walking event, and two children’s races of 600 m and 2 km. This setup allows families and groups of varying abilities to participate in the same event weekend, from young children in free races to adults selecting between short, marathon, and ultra distances.
The primary route concept involves participants running around the Rursee, a reservoir in the Eifel region near the Belgian border. Saturday's schedule generally features walking, children's events, and the 5 km race, while Sunday is dedicated to the longer distances, including the ultra, marathon, and 16.5 km run. Rursee-Marathon e. V. is the organizing body. The event website provides practical information such as course maps, directions, parking details, past results, and photo galleries from previous editions. Entry fees are reasonable compared to larger events, with free children's races and early registration discounts for the longer Sunday races.
Karneval Marathon Köln
The Karneval Marathon Köln is a small fun-run marathon in northwest Cologne, centered on two local passions: running the marathon distance and observing Carnival. It takes place at the beginning of Cologne’s Carnival period, and the field is limited to 50 runners, with a waiting list available. The race is explicitly non-commercial, with organizers stating the aim is enjoyment over a refined big-city race format.
The course follows a repeating loop around Pescher See on Pescher Straße, requiring runners to complete the circuit 15 times to achieve the marathon distance. Costumes are highly encouraged, meaning the participants are more likely to be costumed Carnival enthusiasts than typical serious road racers. Event planning commenced in 2016, and its limited size, lake loop, Carnival timing, and costume tradition give it the feel of a private running gathering rather than a standard marathon.
Karneval-Marathon Köln-Pesch
The Karneval-Marathon Köln-Pesch is a small marathon in Cologne’s Pesch district, centered on the opening of Cologne Carnival, not a large city race weekend. It merges the full marathon distance with the atmosphere of the city’s “fifth season.” The field is limited to 50 runners, with a waiting list if more wish to participate. The organizers emphasize that it is not a commercial event and that enjoyment is the primary goal.
The course is officially measured by the German Athletics Federation under International Competition Rules TR 55.3, meaning results can count for records and ranking lists despite the informal setting. Costumes are highly encouraged, though participants can run without one. The concept originated from planning that began in 2016, combining marathon running and Cologne Carnival for a unique carnival session opening. Expect local running enthusiasts and costumed revelers rather than a large crowd or elite field.
Siebengebirgsmarathon
Eulenkopflauf
Eulenkopflauf is a December road race in Wuppertal, Germany, with half marathon and marathon options for adult runners. The races start in the morning, and the shared finish is at Freibad SV Wuppertal-Neuenhof 1930 e.V.
The route follows the Eulenkopfweg on a rolling course rather than a flat city loop. Listings put the longer race at about marathon distance, with one source giving 42.6 km and more than 700 metres of climbing and descending, while the shorter race is just over 21 km.
53. Königsforst-Marathon
Each spring, the Königsforst-Marathon takes participants into the Königsforst, a wooded area near Bergisch Gladbach, close to Cologne. Established in 1973, it ranks among Germany's long-standing marathon events. The race is a public road race offering three distances: a half marathon, a full marathon, and a 63.3 km ultra.
The course follows a simple lap system: one lap for the half marathon, two for the marathon, and three for the ultra. The half marathon alone involves a 207-meter elevation gain, indicating it's more than just a flat run through a park. TV Refrath's running team organizes the event, guided by the motto “RUN GREEN RUN HAPPY,” and characterizes it as a runner-organized race. The half marathon attracts the largest number of participants, while the marathon and ultra distances add a demanding endurance element to the day.
Looking for something else near Bonn?
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About Marathon races in Bonn
Bonn Base Miles
Bonn hosts 21 Marathon races in 2026 within 80 km of the city centre — upcoming dates, recurring series, and other races nearby, all in one place.
Locals run the Rhine first. The route runs 2 km south to Rheinau Park on a flat line. The pedestrian trail stays quiet and scenic the whole way. The waterside path fills with runners, bikers and strollers near Rheinauen. Rheinau Park gives you the lake, Japanischen Garten, and that more natural side that feels like woods. Community Run Laufladen Bonn meets on Wednesdays at 19:00. Parkrun Rheinaue meets on Saturdays at 09:00. Selfcare Runclub and SocialRunBonn cover the social miles. Bonn-Marathon, Kottenforst 10er, Bonner Nachtlauf, #ZeroHungerRun Bonn, and Bonner Silvesterlauf keep the calendar honest.
Locals ride Bonn like a small gravel hub with a big Rhine engine. The city gives almost 300 kilometers of cycle paths, so Z2 can stay easy along the river. Riders use Baroque in and around Bonn, Bundesviertel and Bad Godesberg, Rheindorfer Runde, Path of Democracy, Museum Route, and the Cycle route of sustainability for steady days. Bonner Gravel Club and Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club Bonn/Rhein-Sieg make the group ride scene simple. Kottenforst has wide forest paths for riding. Siebengebirge brings short, steep climbs, technical forest paths, and fast descents. Voreifel adds long gravel sections and open views. Campus Cycling Circuit, Ride To The Hills Gravel-Ride, and Bonn-Triathlon sit as anchor events.
May and June feel like the cleanest block for both sports because Bonn’s city cycling season runs from May 29 to June 18, 2026. Summer puts runners on the Rhine early and keeps cyclists chasing base miles toward Bad Godesberg, Beuel, Mehlem, Kottenforst, and the Ahrtal. Bonn sits in one of Germany’s warmest regions, so Z2 and intervals need some timing when the day heats up. Winter moves runners toward Bonner Nikolauslauf, Bonner Silvesterlauf, and Winterlaufserie Alfter. Cyclists keep the rhythm on the flatter Rhine paths or take cyclocross energy into Kottenforst when the forest paths suit it.