The Baden-Marathon Karlsruhe is one of Germany’s classic city marathons, held each September in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg. First staged in the early 1980s, the event has grown into a well-established regional running festival with a full marathon, half marathon, team marathon, shorter community races, walking options, and children’s events. The race combines a fast urban course with a lively local atmosphere, giving runners a tour of Karlsruhe’s city centre, green spaces, historic districts, and landmark areas before finishing in the Carl-Kaufmann-Stadion.
The marathon course starts near the Europahalle and leads runners through central Karlsruhe, past major city streets, the former residence town of Durlach, Citypark Ost, Karlsruhe Palace, the Marktplatz, Beiertheim, Günther-Klotz-Anlage, Bulach, Weiherfeld, Rüppurr, and sections of the Oberwald. One distinctive feature is the marathon split around 20.5 km, where runners may continue toward the full marathon or follow the half-marathon route to the finish and be classified accordingly. The event is also known for its “Marathon Angels,” who can accompany eligible runners over the final kilometres, adding a uniquely supportive finish-line experience.
For runners looking for a European city marathon with strong community energy, varied scenery, and a well-organized race-day setup, the Baden-Marathon offers a practical and memorable option. Its flat, road-based course, certified distance, pacer support, on-course entertainment, and stadium finish make it suitable for both personal-best attempts and destination race experiences.
