Istanbul Marathon

Istanbul Marathon, officially known in recent years as the Türkiye İş Bankası Istanbul Marathon, is one of the most unique and celebrated road races in the world, held every November in Istanbul, Turkey. First staged in 1979, it has grown into a major international running event and is famous for being the only marathon in the world where the course crosses two continents. Runners begin on the Asian side of Istanbul, traverse the iconic Bosphorus Bridge, and finish on the European side amid historic surroundings such as Sultanahmet Square. The event typically includes a full marathon (42.195 km), a 15 km race, and mass participation runs, drawing both elite athletes and recreational runners from around the globe.