Autumn marathons in Europe: dates, weather and courses

Autumn is Europe’s other great marathon season. A summer of long runs leads straight into cooling mornings, and the calendar is packed with big city races, including Berlin, one of the fastest courses in the world. Below are the European marathons from September to November with at least 1,000 finishers.

“Climb” is the total elevation gain of the course. “Usual start temp.” is the average temperature at the start time over the last 10 years on race day. Races are listed in season order; those that have already run this season show next year’s date. Dates marked “est.” follow the race’s usual slot and are not yet confirmed.

How to choose between them

September: summer is not over

Early autumn races can still start mild and warm up quickly, especially in the south. The upside is a full summer of training behind you. Check the usual start temperature in the table and plan your pacing for the heat if it is above about 15°C.

October: the busiest month

October has the most big races and, in most of the continent, the best balance of cool mornings and stable weather. That also means popular races sell out early and hotels fill up: enter and book as soon as you decide.

November: cool and quiet, with more weather risk

Late-season races are usually cool, which suits fast running, but rain, wind and shorter daylight become more likely, especially in the north. Southern European races in November often give the best of both.

Train in summer, race in autumn

A 16–20 week plan for an October marathon starts in June, so most of your long runs fall in the warmest months. Run early in the day, drink to thirst, and judge your progress by effort rather than pace in the heat: the cooler race day will feel easier.

Compare any of these side by side, or filter by month, climb and temperature in the race finder. For the spring season, see spring marathons in Europe.