The Best Marathons to Travel For: A Guide to the World Marathon Majors
Some marathons are worth crossing an ocean for. The Abbott World Marathon Majors — the most prestigious series in distance running — are exactly those: races where the crowds, the courses, and the cities themselves make the trip as memorable as the finish line. Run all of them and you earn the coveted Star Medal, awarded for completing every Major in the series — but you don't need to be chasing the full set to want to travel for even one.
This guide is a quick comparison of the Majors as travel destinations — how they differ, what makes each special, and where to start planning. Each links to a full travel guide with where to stay, where to eat, and what to do around race weekend.
The Majors at a glance
The series has expanded beyond its six long-standing Majors — Berlin, London, Chicago, New York, Tokyo, and Boston — to add Sydney, which joined in 2024, and Cape Town, which became a Major in 2026, the first in Africa. The lineup is still growing, so confirm the current series and medal criteria on the official Abbott World Marathon Majors site. Here's how the most travel-friendly of them compare.
Berlin — the fast one
Berlin is the fastest marathon course in the world, a flat loop through the German capital finishing through the Brandenburg Gate. If a personal best is your goal, this is the race — and the city is tourist-friendly and affordable by Major standards. Late September, cool and ideal.
Read the full guide: Berlin Marathon Travel Guide
London — the biggest, most iconic
One of the largest marathons on earth, with a flat, fast course from Greenwich to a finish on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. In 2027 it runs as a one-off two-day event. Late April.
Read the full guide: London Marathon Travel Guide
Chicago — flat, fast, and friendly
One of the flattest big-city marathons, a loop through 29 neighborhoods starting and finishing in Grant Park. Famously well-organized, with a huge, welcoming crowd. Mid-October.
Read the full guide: Chicago Marathon Travel Guide
New York — the biggest party in running
The largest marathon on the planet, a five-borough tour finishing in Central Park. Not a PR course — five bridges and rolling terrain — but an unmatched atmosphere. Early November.
Read the full guide: NYC Marathon Travel Guide
Tokyo — the only Major in Asia
A flat, fast, immaculately organized point-to-point race from Shinjuku to Tokyo Station, in one of the world's greatest food and travel cities. One of the hardest bibs to get. Early March.
Read the full guide: Tokyo Marathon Travel Guide
Sydney — the scenic newcomer
The newest Major before Cape Town, crossing the Harbour Bridge and finishing at the Opera House. Not flat — a genuinely hilly, spectacular course. Late August/September.
Read the full guide: Sydney Marathon Travel Guide
Cape Town — the newest Major, and maybe the most beautiful
The first Major held in Africa, set against Table Mountain and the Atlantic, starting and finishing in Green Point. Typically May, in the Southern Hemisphere autumn.
Read the full guide: Cape Town Marathon Travel Guide
Which Major should you travel for first?
- Chasing a personal best? Berlin, then Chicago — the two flattest, fastest courses.
- Want the biggest atmosphere? New York or London — enormous crowds, iconic finishes.
- After the most beautiful backdrop? Cape Town or Sydney — mountains, coastline, and world-famous skylines.
- Combining the race with a bucket-list destination? Tokyo or Cape Town — the race is half the trip; the city is the other half.
A note on the other Majors
Two Majors aren't covered in depth here as travel guides yet: Boston, which requires a qualifying time (or charity entry) and is a race you earn your way into, and it deserves its own dedicated planning; and the full logistics of chasing all of them, which is its own project. If you're pursuing the Star Medal, the order you tackle them in is often dictated by the lottery gods more than by preference.
Turn any of these into a plan
Reading about a race is one thing; turning it into a booked, day-by-day trip is another. That's what Claira is for: tell it which marathon you're running, and it'll help you compare stays by distance to the start, find pre-race dinners and recovery-day activities, and pull the whole weekend into one itinerary you can actually follow.
Start planning your marathon trip →
Race details are accurate as of publication; always confirm dates and entry requirements on each event's official website. Claira is an independent travel-planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Abbott World Marathon Majors or any individual race.