The Race
| Distance | 42.195 km |
| Course Type | Flat, city streets and riverside |
| Start | Neue Mainzer Strasse, Frankfurt |
| Finish | Inside the Festhalle, Messe Frankfurt |
| Registration | Open entry |
| IAAF Label | Gold |
| Total Finishers | ~15,000 |
| Avg Race Day Temp | 8-14°C |
| Cutoff Time | 6 hours 30 min |
| Free Race Day Transport | Yes (RMV network with race number) |
The Frankfurt Marathon starts on Neue Mainzer Strasse in the heart of the banking district and finishes inside the Festhalle - the grand glass-domed exhibition hall built in 1909 that forms the centrepiece of the Messe Frankfurt exhibition centre. The indoor finish is one of the most distinctive in European marathon running.
The course is one of the flattest in Germany: approximately 100 metres of total elevation gain over 42 km, running through the Sachsenhausen district south of the Main, along the river, through the Westend, and returning via the Bockenheimer Anlage. The October conditions - typically 8-14°C, low humidity - are well-suited to fast running. Frankfurt's Gold Label pacesetter programme and flat course make it the best German marathon for a PB attempt outside of Berlin.
Entry
The Frankfurt Marathon uses open entry. Registration opens in January or February for the October race at frankfurt-marathon.com. Entry fees are approximately €80-100 depending on registration timing. Places sell out several months in advance.
Trade fair warning: Frankfurt hosts major international trade fairs (including the Frankfurt Book Fair in mid-October). Check the Messe Frankfurt calendar before booking travel. Hotel prices can double or treble during fair weeks adjacent to the marathon.
Enter now →Race Weekend
Friday: Arrive in Frankfurt. S8 or S9 from the airport to Hauptbahnhof: 11 minutes. The city centre is 15 minutes walk from the station.
Saturday: Expo at Messe Frankfurt. One of the larger German marathon expos; allow 2 hours. Spend the afternoon on the Museumsufer (museum embankment) south of the Main - the Städel, the Museum of Film, and the riverbank walk are all flat.
Sunday (Race Day): Walk or U-Bahn to the start on Neue Mainzer Strasse. Race participants travel free on the RMV network (use your race number as your ticket). Post-race: U-Bahn or S-Bahn back to the city centre from the Messe area.
Where to Stay
The city centre (Innenstadt) and Westend give the best access to the marathon start. Sachsenhausen (the cider district south of the Main) is quieter and good value, 15 minutes walk across the river to the start. Avoid the Messe area - it fills with trade fair delegates at inflated prices.
Rocco Forte hotel in a Jugendstil villa with garden. The Westend's finest hotel and the best location for marathon weekend.
Business hotel in the banking district. Heavenly Spa and pool. Walking distance to the marathon start.
Frankfurt's grand traditional hotel. In operation since 1872 on Kaiserplatz, the right address for a marathon city.
Good-value hotel in Sachsenhausen, the cider district south of the Main. Quiet neighbourhood, easy U-Bahn access.
Design budget hotel near the Römer (the old town hall). One of the best locations in Frankfurt at a budget price.
See & Do
Frankfurt's identity as Europe's banking capital obscures a significant cultural city. The **Städel Museum** on the south bank (entry approximately €16) is one of the most important art museums in Germany - 700 years of European painting in a single building, from Van Eyck to Richter. The Römer (the medieval town hall) and the Römerberg (the half-timbered square) are reconstructions post-1945 but well-executed ones.
The **Sachsenhausen cider quarter** south of the Main is the pre-race evening option: the traditional *Apfelwein* (Frankfurt apple wine, served in the distinctive blue-rimmed pottery jug called a *Bembel*) at the taverns on Schweizer Strasse. **Dauth-Schneider** on Neuer Wall and **Zum Gemalten Haus** on Schweizer Strasse are the classics. Order the *Handkäs mit Musik* (cured cheese in vinegar and onions) with your Apfelwein.
After the Race
Frankfurt's position in the Rhine-Main region puts Wiesbaden, Heidelberg, Würzburg, and the Rhine valley all within 40-90 minutes by train. The S-Bahn and ICE network is one of the best in Germany.
The capital of Hesse, 40 minutes from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof. The Kaiser-Friedrich-Therme thermal baths in a converted Jugendstil bathhouse: 19th-century Roman-Irish bathing tradition in a building from 1913. The Kurhaus, the Wilhelmstrasse, and the casino for the evening.
The Residenz - the Baroque palace with Tiepolo's ceiling fresco, the largest ceiling painting in the world - and the Bürgerspital wine cooperative for Franconian wine. The medieval fortress above the Main.
The castle above the Neckar, the Philosophers' Walk, and the funicular that makes the hill manageable on post-marathon legs. The oldest university in Germany still in continuous operation (1386). The Altstadt on the north bank.
Wiesbaden for two nights (thermal baths, Kurhaus, the Neroberg), then the Rhine north to Koblenz for two more - the Deutsches Eck where the Moselle meets the Rhine, and the Ehrenbreitstein fortress across the river.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stay near the start or the finish for the Frankfurt Marathon?
Stay in the city centre or Westend. Both are within 15-20 minutes walk of the start (Neue Mainzer Strasse) and U-Bahn distance from the Festhalle finish.
How far in advance should I book a hotel for the Frankfurt Marathon?
Book six to eight months in advance. Late October coincides with major trade fairs - hotel prices surge during fair weeks. Check the Messe Frankfurt calendar.
Is there free transport to the Frankfurt Marathon start?
Yes. Race participants receive free travel on the Frankfurt RMV network on race day. Check your registration confirmation for the voucher.
What is the best neighbourhood to stay in for the Frankfurt Marathon?
Innenstadt, Westend, or Sachsenhausen. All within 15-20 minutes walk of the start and U-Bahn distance from the Festhalle finish.
When does the Frankfurt Marathon expo open?
The expo is at Messe Frankfurt, typically Friday and Saturday before race Sunday. One of the larger marathon expos in Germany.
What is the weather like at the Frankfurt Marathon?
Late October: 8-14°C. Autumn conditions in the Rhine-Main valley. Morning mist possible. Pack a throwaway layer.
How do I get from the airport to Frankfurt?
S8 or S9 S-Bahn from Frankfurt Airport to Hauptbahnhof: 11 minutes. The Hauptbahnhof is 15 minutes walk from city centre hotels.
Is there a bag drop at the Frankfurt Marathon?
Yes, at the start area near Neue Mainzer Strasse. Bags transported to the Festhalle finish. Use the official bag.
What makes the Frankfurt Marathon finish unique?
The finish is inside the Festhalle (built 1909), a grand exhibition hall with a glass dome. One of the few major marathons with an indoor finish.
Is Frankfurt a good marathon for a personal best?
Yes. IAAF Gold Label, flat course, large pacesetter programme, October temperatures ideal for fast running. Consistently one of Europe's faster marathons by average finishing time.