Destinations & ItinerariesBy Clever Tourists · Published · Last updated
Runners should stay in the Hansaviertel or Tiergarten, beside the start area, or in Mitte near the finish at the Brandenburg Gate. Hauptbahnhof is the practical third choice, with the airport train at the door. The 2027 Generali Berlin Marathon is on Sunday 26 September 2027, according to the organiser and visitBerlin. Generali replaces BMW as title sponsor, so older pages under the BMW name refer to the same race. The hotel search above opens on Friday 24 to Monday 27 September. The entry lottery window is reported as 1 October to 12 November 2026, with results on 3 December. We were in Berlin from 9 to 12 July 2023, so the race details below come from the organiser, visitBerlin and Marathon Handbook.
The organiser's site lists the 2027 Generali Berlin Marathon on Sunday 26 September 2027, and visitBerlin gives the same date. The 2026 race was on 27 September. Generali takes over from BMW, whose name had been on the race since 2011.
The Saturday, 25 September 2027, has the side events: the organiser lists the 5K, the R5K, the mini-MARATHON and the Bambini runs. If you are bringing a family, those can make a Friday arrival worthwhile.
Marathon Handbook reports just over 84,000 people across the 2026 race weekend, about 56,000 of them in the marathon, so the whole city centre feels this event.
Spectators do not need a ticket. visitBerlin suggests watching at the Victory Column (0.6 km), Potsdamer Platz (38.5 km) and the Brandenburg Gate (42 km).
The lottery dates below are reported by Marathon Handbook. The organiser's site confirmed that the lottery was open when we checked, but we could not read the dates on its own page, so check them there before relying on the last day.
• Lottery window: 1 October to Thursday 12 November 2026. After 12 November it is closed for 2027.
• Results: by email on Thursday 3 December 2026.
• Payment: the entry fee is charged to successful runners from Friday 4 December 2026, and it can take up to a week to clear.
• Cost: entering the lottery is free. The fee is €215 (≈ $240) if you are drawn, for the 2027 race, per Marathon Handbook.
Other routes: qualifying times from a 2025 or 2026 marathon, subject to a proof check; the Jubilee Club, for runners with 10 or more Berlin finishes; teams of two or three, using a team code during registration; and charity or tour operator places. The organisers do not publish odds. If you miss the lottery, charity and tour places are the routes to look at.
visitBerlin warns of road closures and transit changes across the weekend. The start and finish are reported to be between the Brandenburg Gate and Kleiner Stern, though that comes from a blog, so check the course map in your runner information. The expo has been held at Tempelhof Airport, which is a separate trip from these areas. The 2027 expo dates were not published when we checked.
From BER airport: the FEX Airport Express reaches Hauptbahnhof in about 23 minutes. From there, the S-Bahn runs to Bellevue and Tiergarten stations, or you can walk. Our Berlin airport guide has the tickets and fares.
The ranking is our own judgement, based on time to the start. All times here are our rough estimates, not timetable figures, so check them in the BVG journey planner and against your start block.
1. Hansaviertel and Tiergarten. Roughly 10 to 15 minutes on foot, beside the start pens. The catch: little evening food, so plan your pasta dinner.
2. Mitte, Unter den Linden side. Roughly 10 to 20 minutes on foot, and the closest base to the finish and the sights. The catch: closures cut you off from taxis.
3. Hauptbahnhof and Moabit. Roughly 15 to 20 minutes on foot, with the airport train and modern chain hotels. The catch: it lacks charm.
4. Charlottenburg and Zoo. Roughly 15 minutes by S-Bahn, then a walk. Better value and quieter. The catch: S-Bahn crowds at dawn.
5. Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. Roughly 20 to 30 minutes. Food, nightlife and a young crowd, good for supporters. The catch: route closures complicate race morning.
We have no sourced hotel rates, so this is general advice. Book before the 3 December draw and take free cancellation, because everyone drawn starts booking at the same moment. If you miss out, cancel. Expect minimum stays near the Tiergarten, and remember that with Saturday events on the calendar, a Friday arrival pays for the full weekend.
September in Berlin can run warm, so pack for a range; see best time to visit Germany. Budget for the Berlin city tax on top of your room. If you are comparing races, we also have guides to the Sydney Marathon, London Marathon and Tokyo Marathon.
Sunday 26 September 2027, according to the organiser and visitBerlin. The Saturday side events are on 25 September.
Thursday 12 November 2026, as reported by Marathon Handbook. Results are due by email on 3 December 2026, and the €215 (≈ $240) fee is charged from 4 December.
Generali is the new title sponsor from 2027, replacing BMW, whose name had been on the race since 2011.
The Hansaviertel or Tiergarten, roughly 10 to 15 minutes on foot from the start, or Mitte near the finish at the Brandenburg Gate.
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