01 — The Race
Flat, fast, finish at the Brandenburg Gate
The Generali Berlin Half Marathon is Germany's largest half marathon and one of the biggest in the world. Around 42,000 runners from over 135 nations line up in the heart of Berlin every spring, making it properly international. It's a SuperHalfs race, which means it draws fast elites and fast amateurs: the men's course record stands at 58:42, the women's at 1:03:35 (set in 2025). There is a reason people chase PBs here.
GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON 2026 · Charlottenburg
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Fridolin freudenfett, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Runners start at 10:05 on Sunday, April 4, 2027. Inline skaters go at 09:15, wheelchair and handbike athletes at 09:55. You are assigned to a wave based on your target time registered at sign-up. Waves leave in sequence after 10:05.
The course starts at the Victory Column on Strasse des 17. Juni and loops through the city before returning to the Brandenburg Gate for the finish. You pass Charlottenburg Palace around km 4, run along the Kurfürstendamm shopping boulevard around km 9, past Potsdamer Platz at km 15, through Gendarmenmarkt at km 19, and then that final straight to the Gate. Around 40 live bands and cheering points are spread across the route.
Elevation gain is minimal: the maximum difference across the whole course is 4.3 metres. No hills. No excuses. Six refreshment stations are positioned along the route, with Maurten drink and gels at select stations. Stations are on the right side of the course. The time limit is 3 hours 15 minutes. Runners who haven't reached km 18 by 2:15 pm will be directed off the official course.
Full course details and an interactive map: generali-berliner-halbmarathon.de
02 — Getting There
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is your hub
Berlin has one airport: BER (Berlin Brandenburg). It opened in 2020, so it's modern and easy to navigate. The city centre is around 30 kilometres south-east of the terminals, and there are good public transport options right from the arrivals hall.
FEX Express
The Airport Express (FEX) runs directly from BER to Berlin Hauptbahnhof (central station) in around 30 minutes, every 30 minutes. This is the fastest and most comfortable option. You need an ABC ticket (zones A, B, and C), around €4.80 for a single.
S-Bahn
S9 and S85 both run from BER into the city. Journey time to Zoologischer Garten (Charlottenburg) is around 50 minutes, to Friedrichstrasse (Mitte) around 40 minutes. Trains every 20 minutes. Same ABC ticket applies.
Taxi / Bolt
Bolt and Free Now operate in Berlin. A taxi to Mitte or Charlottenburg runs roughly €35 to €50 depending on traffic. Quicker than the S-Bahn if you have luggage and it's off-peak.
- Book flights early. Berlin is a popular race destination and hotel prices around the April weekend rise sharply.
- Pick up a BVG 7-day AB ticket for the whole weekend (around €41.50). It covers all U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses in zones A and B, which covers the entire city centre. On race day, your bib number works as a free transport ticket from 5am to 6pm in zones A and B.
- Daylight saving time does not affect this race. Clocks in Germany change on the last Sunday of March (March 28, 2027), one week before race day. You will not lose sleep the night before the race.
03 — Where to Stay
Stay close to Tiergarten, and race morning is simple
The start is on Strasse des 17. Juni in Tiergarten, and the finish is at the Brandenburg Gate, also in Tiergarten. Staying within walking distance of either point makes race morning a lot calmer. The neighbourhoods below are all practical choices.
Mitte
Best for race day ease
The historic centre, and most hotels here are within 1 to 2km of the start. Walk to the Brandenburg Gate finish for post-race photos. The most expensive area, but for a race weekend the convenience is worth it.
Charlottenburg
Best mix of value and location
Just west of the start, right on the race course around km 4. Quieter than Mitte, better value hotels, still an easy walk or one U-Bahn stop to the start. Good restaurant options in every direction.
Tiergarten
Start and finish on your doorstep
Fewer hotel options, but if you can find one here, race morning is effortless. Tiergarten park is right outside for a warm-up jog the day before. The Adlon Kempinski is legendary, if you're splashing out.
Prenzlauer Berg
Best for atmosphere
Slightly further out, but one of Berlin's most charming neighbourhoods for eating and wandering the day before the race. U2 line gets you to the start in under 20 minutes. Good brunch scene for Saturday morning.
Book as early as possible. Berlin is a huge city and hotels do not sell out like a smaller race destination, but prices around race weekend push up noticeably. If you're travelling from outside Europe, sort accommodation the moment your ballot result comes through.
04 — Where to Eat
Berlin's food scene is seriously good
CURRYWURST · Berlin's most beloved street food
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (MOs810, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Berlin has one of the best food cities in Europe right now, and the mix is unlike anywhere else: classic German street food alongside some of the best Turkish food outside Istanbul, brilliant Vietnamese spots, and a brunch culture that is taken very seriously indeed. As a runner, you are spoiled.
The night before: carb up properly
Berlin has plenty of pasta options if that's your pre-race ritual. Pasta & Basta in Charlottenburg is a classic Italian trattoria-style spot, good for a straightforward plate of carbs without any fuss. For vegan pizza, two places stand out: Gemello in Prenzlauer Berg (fully vegan, excellent natural wine list, does take reservations) and Gazzo in Neukölln (sourdough pizza with good vegan options — they don't take reservations, but put your name on their text-message waitlist and they'll ping you when a table's free).
Prefer rice? Berlin's ramen scene is excellent. A bowl of ramen in Friedrichshain or Mitte the night before is a solid option. Easy on the stomach, plenty of carbohydrate, and something to actually look forward to.
One tip: if you want one of the bigger pasta or pizza spots on a Saturday night before a race weekend, make a reservation. Places fill up.
Race morning: keep it simple
Most hotels in Berlin serve breakfast from 6:30 or 7am, which works fine for a 10:05 start. It's worth asking your hotel if they're offering an earlier breakfast option on race morning: many places near the start do this during race weekend. Pick up supplies the day before from Rewe or Edeka if you have specific pre-race food habits. Bakeries (Bäckerei) open early and there are good ones all over the centre.
Post-race: you have earned a currywurst
One of the biggest things in Berlin? Currywurst! A grilled sausage sliced and covered in curry spices and ketchup, served with a bread roll. It's as simple as it sounds. And after 21 kilometres, it's a perfect treat. Also, almost every currywurst stand in Berlin has a vegan version, too (I promise it's just as good, if not better).
01
Konnopke's Imbiss
Since 1930, under the U2 elevated tracks in Prenzlauer Berg. The classic Berlin currywurst stall. The recipe hasn't changed. If you eat meat, this is the one. They also do a vegan version. Cash only.
02
Curry 36
Mehringdamm in Kreuzberg. Loud, quick, proper. Both the classic version (if you eat meat) and a vegan currywurst are on the menu. Multiple locations around the city, including near the Hauptbahnhof, so easy to find post-race.
03
Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap
Mehringdamm 32, Kreuzberg. The döner queue is famously long, but this one is worth it. Gemüse means vegetables: the star here is roasted vegetables, fresh feta, and homemade sauces in warm bread. Grilled chicken is available too if you eat meat, but the veggie version is the one people queue for. Good post-race when you have nowhere to be.
04
Café am Neuen See
Right inside Tiergarten park, on a lake. A beer garden for post-race recovery. Walk there from the finish, order a Weissbier, sit in the sun. You've earned it.
05
Schwarzwaldstuben
Tuckermannzeile, Mitte. German classics done properly: Flammkuchen, hearty soups, and schnitzel if you eat meat. Good for a proper sit-down dinner the night before.
06
Vietnamese Restaurant Anjoy
Rykestraße 11, Prenzlauer Berg. They run an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet every Sunday (11am to 3pm, €18 per person). The timing is perfect post-race: you finish, collect your medal, and head straight here. Vietnamese comfort food after 21km is a very good idea. Book ahead for the Sunday buffet.
07
Holzmarkt 25
A creative complex on the Spree riverbank with food stalls, a bar, and an outdoor area. Brilliant post-race if it's sunny: sit by the water, eat something good, decompress. One of those spots that makes Berlin feel like Berlin.
Berlin is a cash city more than most European capitals. Many smaller restaurants, currywurst stalls, and market vendors are cash only. Withdraw €50 to €80 on arrival and keep some small notes on you for the weekend.
05 — Getting Around
The U-Bahn and S-Bahn go everywhere
Berlin's public transport network is very good: U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses all run regularly and cover the whole city. For a race weekend, you barely need anything else. The BVG app is the easiest way to plan routes and buy tickets.
U-Bahn
Ten lines across the city. U2 is particularly useful: it runs east-west through Charlottenburg and Mitte, connecting Zoologischer Garten to Alexanderplatz. U5 serves the Brandenburg Gate area directly (Brandenburger Tor station).
S-Bahn
The suburban rail network, good for longer distances across the city. S-Bahn runs above ground through the centre. The ring line (S41/S42) connects most major neighbourhoods without going through the centre.
Tram
Mainly in the former East Berlin. Great for Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain, and Mitte. Often faster than U-Bahn for shorter hops in those areas.
Cycling
Berlin is a cycle-friendly city. Nextbike and Donkey Republic run bike-share schemes. The Tiergarten park itself has dedicated paths. If you want to explore on Saturday, a bike is a great option.
On race day, road closures are extensive. Strasse des 17. Juni and major roads around the course are closed from early morning. Do not plan to drive or use taxis near the start area on Sunday morning. Walk or take public transit only. Your bib number is your free travel ticket for zones A and B all day.
06 — Race Day
Sunday, April 4, 2027
Bib pickup: at the EXPO only
You must collect your bib at the Half Marathon EXPO before race day. It is not available on race morning. The EXPO is at Flughafen Tempelhof (Platz der Luftbrücke 5, 12101 Berlin): take the U6 to Platz der Luftbrücke station.
EXPO opening times for 2027 (based on 2026 schedule, to be confirmed by organisers closer to the event):
- Friday, April 2: 9am to 8pm
- Saturday, April 3: 9am to 7pm
Bring your start card (downloaded from your account) and a photo ID. Collection is personal: no one can collect your bib on your behalf, even with written authorisation.
Race morning: arrive early
The start is at the Victory Column on Strasse des 17. Juni. Give yourself at least 60 to 75 minutes before your wave. Closest public transport: Bundestag (U5) or Brandenburger Tor (U5, S-Bahn). There is no parking available near the start: public transport only.
Bag drop is available only if you selected the clothing bag option during registration. Other runners receive a warming poncho at the finish. If you want to donate warm-up layers, there are Berliner Stadtmission donation points in the pre-start zone.
GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON 2026 · Halensee
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Fridolin freudenfett, CC BY-SA 4.0)
After the finish
The finish is at the Brandenburg Gate. You will receive your medal at the finish line, with optional on-site engraving available. Your results go online shortly after and you can download a certificate from your account.
Family meeting point: Brandenburger Tor/Scheidemannstr., at the sign with the first letter of your last name. It gets busy, so agree on a specific letter meeting point before the race.
- Check your wave assignment in your account before race day. You can update your target time up to two months before the event to move to a different wave.
- Refreshment stations are on the right side of the course. There are six stations, with the first at km 5 and the last at km 19.5. Maurten gels are available at km 12.3.
- The cut-off is 3 hours 15 minutes from crossing the start line. Anyone who hasn't reached km 18 by 2:15pm will be directed off the official course.
- April in Berlin averages around 12 to 14 degrees Celsius at race time. Can be cool and breezy. A throwaway layer at the start is a good idea.
07 — Things to Do
Berlin has a lot going on
BRANDENBURGER TOR · Finish line of the Berlin Half Marathon
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Norbert Nagel, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Berlin is a proper city break destination. History, food, culture, nightlife: it has everything. For a race weekend you obviously have to manage your legs, but there is plenty you can do on Friday and Saturday that doesn't destroy your race.
🏛️
Museum Island
Five world-class museums on an island in the Spree. The Pergamon Museum and the Neues Museum (bust of Nefertiti) are unmissable. Book ahead, queues are long without tickets.
🌿
Tiergarten Park
The city's main park, right at the start. Walk the paths, find the Victory Column, get your bearings before race day. Calm legs, calm mind.
🧱
East Side Gallery
1.3km of original Berlin Wall, now the world's longest outdoor gallery. In Friedrichshain, free, open always. One of those things you should see.
📡
TV Tower (Fernsehturm)
Berlin's most recognisable landmark. Book a skip-the-line ticket online. Views across the whole city, including your race route. Worth it on Friday evening.
✈️
Tempelhofer Feld
The old Tempelhof airport, now a massive public park. Walk the former runways. An odd and brilliant Berlin thing. Also where the EXPO is held, so you'll be in the area anyway.
🏰
Charlottenburg Palace
You run past this on race day around km 4. Worth a closer look on Saturday. Gardens are free, palace entry around €15. Baroque and grand.
🚶
Free Walking Tour
Berlin has loads of free walking tours and they are genuinely excellent. A great option for Sunday post-race when your legs are moving but you don't want to rush anywhere: let a guide do the work while you learn a lot about the city. Search "Berlin free walking tour" and book in advance.
Saturday plan: EXPO then explore. EXPO opens at 9am on Saturday. Go early to beat the queues, pick up your bib, then spend the afternoon walking the city. Keep it short and flat: Museum Island, a stroll through Mitte, a sit-down lunch somewhere good. Off your feet by 5pm. Early dinner, early bed.
08 — Runner Tips
What the runners say
Things that don't make the official website, from people who have run Berlin and wanted you to know.
The start area gets busy. Even though you're in a wave, arrive early enough to get into your corral comfortably. Trying to squeeze in last minute is stressful and you don't want that energy before a race.
Berlin Half Marathon 2024/2025 runner accounts
The course is flat but the first few kilometres are congested. It's hard to find your pace early. Don't go out too fast trying to get around people: you'll pay for it after km 15 when the field thins and there's no natural momentum to carry you.
Multiple runner reports
The best spectator spots on the course: km 4 outside Charlottenburg Palace, km 9 along the Kurfürstendamm, and km 19 at Gendarmenmarkt. If you have people coming to watch, tell them where to stand in advance. Moving between spots once roads close is difficult.
Runner accounts and course map, Berlin Half Marathon
Pick up your bib on Friday if you can. Saturday EXPO queues get long in the afternoon, especially if the weather is bad and everyone shelters inside. Friday morning is the calmest time of the whole expo. You can spend Saturday properly resting and sightseeing instead.
Berlin Half Marathon runner accounts
The Gendarmenmarkt stretch at km 19 is genuinely one of the most beautiful sections of any urban race in Europe. You are tired by then, but it is worth saving something for it. The Brandenburg Gate is less than 2 kilometres after. That is where you empty the tank.
Runner accounts, Berlin Half Marathon 2024/2025
The finish at the Brandenburg Gate is spectacular. Really. You come down Unter den Linden and the Gate appears in front of you. If you have anything left in the legs, you'll find it there. Save something for the last kilometre.
Multiple runner reports
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