Are you looking for an autumn marathon to sign up to? Here are some of our top picks for road marathons in August, September, October, November and December.
We’ve got the best road marathons in:
UK & Ireland
Europe
North America & Canada
The rest of the world
If you fancy something different, then how about some of the best trail races in the UK?
UK & IRELAND MARATHONS
LOCH NESS MARATHONWhen: 28 Sept 2025Entry: Sign Up PB Potential: 7/10
This point-to-point course runs alongside the length of the loch and is a net downhill route (but with a few challenging uphills!). It’s in a stunning location running through the countryside, though that means much of the course is quiet without many supporters. The finish leads you right into Inverness. It’s just inside the cut off for London Marathon Good For Age races, plus it’s a qualifying race for the Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships.
CHESTER MARATHON When: 5 Oct 2025Entry: Sign Up PB Potential: 8/10
One of UK’s larger marathons, where organisers claim that 70% of runners achieve a PB. It’s a mostly flat course which has a few sharp hills on a route which begins and ends in the historic city of Chester, with lots of time spent on traffic-free rural roads (with seven miles crossing the border into Wales). It’s well organised, well supported and well worth considering if you want a UK autumn marathon. It’s a qualifying race for the Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships.
YORKSHIRE MARATHONWhen: 19 Oct 2025Entry: Sign Up PB Potential: 7/10
This picturesque marathon runs past many of York’s best sites, though much of the race heads out into the pleasant countryside on traffic-free roads. It’s a pretty flat course which can be quiet in places (which we know some runners prefer away from big city chaos!), and a lot of runners like how the race is well organised, and has the potential for a good time.
DUBLIN MARATHON When: 26 Oct 2025Entry: Sign Up PB Potential: 6/10
Held on the last Sunday October, this is Ireland’s largest marathon. It’s not a flat course, but the hills are rolling (apart from a couple near the end which are a little steeper and harder on tired legs). The crowd support can definitely be relied upon – and it’s a fun place to celebrate post-race.
EUROPEAN MARATHONS
BERLIN MARATHONWhen: 21 Sept 2025Entry: BallotPB Potential: 9/10
One of the seven Abbott’s World Marathon Majors, the race is famous for being very flat and very fast (if speed is something you’re after). It’s a large race, with a lot of support on the course, but plan ahead to enter next year’s ballot as places fill up very quickly. Here’s a video of Sarah setting a new PB at Berlin in September 2022 (it’s a race finish you don’t want to miss!).
COLOGNE MARATHON When: 5 Oct 2025Entry: Sign Up PB Potential: 8/10
With some fast course records, this flat route is a great race for PB chasers – but also great for those looking to run a scenic city marathon. The route winds around the city, so is good for supporters to cheer the runners on, and it finishes in front of the famous cathedral. Celebrate your achievement with a glass of cold local Kölsch beer at the end!
AMSTERDAM MARATHONWhen: 19 Oct 2025Entry: BallotPB Potential: 7/10
Starting and finishing in the Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam is a flat course and the 45,000 bibs sell out quickly each year, showing the race’s popularity. Around 13K of the course is out-and-back along the Amstel river (from 13K-26K), then you come back into the city with a good amount of support. In 2025 it celebrates the 50th running of the Amsterdam Marathon.
LISBON MARATHON When: 25 Oct 2025Entry: Sign UpPB Potential: 7/10
Organisers say that this is ‘Probably the most beautiful marathon in the world,’ and running alongside the sea for the majority of the run, those views definitely a nice distraction. Around 7,500 runners take part and the course records (2:05 and 2:24) show that it’s possible to run fast here. It can still be warm in Lisbon in October (15-20ºC during the race), but the run starts early to avoid the warmer temperatures. The city’s famous pastel de nata tarts can help with a carb-load and refuelling post-race!
FRANKFURT MARATHON When: 26 Oct 2025Entry: Sign Up PB Potential: 9/10
With course records of 2:03 for males and 2:21 for females, this is a flat course where it’s possible to run fast times. Aside from some winding turns near the beginning and end, you’re on nice, open roads, and it has a rare inside finish line, where runners enter the Festhalle on a long red carpet to a party atmosphere. Good for a fast end of year race.
ISTANBUL MARATHON When: 2 Nov 2025Entry: Sign Up PB Potential: 6/10
This is the only marathon where you start in one continent and finish in another! The race begins on the Asian side of Istanbul, and immediately crosses the Bosphorus River into the European side, for an impressive start to the race. The course is mostly an out-and-back on a flat, straight road (which can be sparse of supporters), and it finishes by the Blue Mosque.
ATHENS MARATHONWhen: 9 Nov 2025Entry: Sign UpPB Potential: 6/10
We couldn’t make a list of marathons without including the original! Starting in the town that gave its name to the race distance, you run from Marathon all the way into Athens, finishing in the incredible Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896 – it’s essentially the same route as that first race. The course isn’t particularly interesting, and miles 11-20 are on a gentle incline (the course map profile makes it look worse than it really is!), but then you can enjoy (!) six miles of downhill into Athens and one of the best finish lines of any marathon. This one should be on your running bucket list for the history of the race.
VALENCIA MARATHONWhen: 7 Dec 2025Entry: Sign Up PB Potential: 9/10
Valencia has become a must-run marathons in recent years and it’s probably the fastest marathon in the world, certainly in terms of the number of sub-three hour finishers. It’s run in the cool December sunshine, on flat streets lined with orange trees and 200,000 cheering supporters, and it has one of the great finish lines in world marathons across the bright blue carpet of the City of Arts and Sciences. The 35,000 bibs sell out very quickly, so sign up early.
MALAGA MARATHONWhen: 14 Dec 2025Entry: Sign Up PB Potential: 8/10
We might be closer to winter now, but with a sunny 16ºC forecast for much of December, it’ll feel more like a spring race. It might also be your last chance to grab a new PB in Europe before the end of the year and it’s a great alternative to Valencia. It’s got a lively atmosphere and a nice route around the city, finishing in the historic old part of town (the final couple of kilometres through the city’s Christmassy streets are great). There’s also a half marathon on the same day.
NORTH AMERICAN & CANADA
TWIN CITIES MARATHONWhen: 12 Oct 2025Entry: Sign UpPB Potential: 7/10
Running from Minneapolis to Saint Paul, this race is celebrated for its brilliant crowd support, enjoyable scenery including numerous lakes and then running alongside and over the Mississippi, all during the fall as the leaves are changing colour. From mile 20 to 23 is a steady hill leading into Saint Paul, but the final three miles are thankfully all downhill and it’s a course where a lot of runners get their Boston Marathon qualifying time. There are 5km, 10km, 10 mile and half marathon races over the same weekend. It’s a great alternative to the Chicago Marathon if you prefer something a little quieter.
CHICAGO MARATHONWhen: 12 Oct 2025Entry: BallotPB Potential: 9/10
The penultimate Abbott’s World Marathon Major of the year, Chicago has been where both the men’s and women’s marathon world records have been won. Over 50,000 runners take part on a route that begins and ends in Grant Park, and takes you through 29 different neighbourhoods, each with their own different atmospheres created by over one million people who come out to cheer on runners. It’s a ballot entry but faster runners may be able to qualify with a previous fast time (see more on how to run the World Marathon Majors here).
TORONTO WATERFRONT MARATHONWhen: 19 Oct 2025Entry: Sign Up PB Potential: 7/10
One of Canada’s top marathons, the route has a few rolling hills, but it’s fairly flat with a lot of the race running parallel to the lake, leading to a big finish in the middle of the city. There’s a half marathon option which begins at the same time, so the first half of the race is a lot busier than the second. Like a lot of bigger North American races, there’s also a popular 5K run the day before.
MARINE CORPS MARATHONWhen: 26 Oct 2025Entry: Sign UpPB Potential: 8/10
Arranged by the Marines, this race is consistently celebrated as one of best organised and one of the best runs for first timers and experienced runners alike. The route is a grand tour of Washington DC and Arlington landmarks: The Lincoln Memorial, The Mall, Jefferson Memorial, and it finishes outside the Pentagon. If a marathon isn’t far enough, there’s a 50K route which starts before the marathon and follows the same course just with a 5-mile add-on. There’s also a 10K which starts on The Mall. One for history lovers who want to do some sightseeing while they run.
NEW YORK CITY MARATHONWhen: 3 Nov 2024Entry: BallotPB Potential: 5/10
The year’s final Major, New York City is perhaps the hardest, and definitely the hilliest, course of the lot. Starting on Staten Island, the run passes through each of NYC’s five boroughs, before a superb finish in Central Park. The crowd support is incredible throughout, and a lot of runners say NYC has the best crowds of all the Majors. Over 50,000 people run it each year but it’s not an easy one to enter (more on that here).
INDIANAPOLIS MONUMENTAL MARATHONWhen: 8 Nov 2025Entry: Sign UpPB Potential: 8/10
The Indy Marathon attracts many runners looking for an end of year race in the Midwest where there’s plenty of PR potential on the flat course – it’s a great alternative to Chicago. The route takes you from near Indiana State House, and then on a big lap of the city before returning downtown to a lively finish line. There’s also a half marathon and 5km over the race weekend.
PHILADELPHIA MARATHONWhen: 23 Nov 2025Entry: Sign Up PB Potential: 8/10
With an 8km, half marathon and marathon over the race weekend, 30,000 runners head to Philly for this popular autumn marathon which is really well organised and has very enthusiastic crowd support around the course. It’s got some rolling hilly miles in the middle, but it’s certainly possible to run a great time and it’s one of the top races where people achieve a Boston Marathon qualifying time.
CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL MARATHONWhen: 7 Dec 2025Entry: Sign Up PB Potential: 8/10
This is a popular race for people taking one last shot at getting a Boston Qualifier or a PB for the year. It’s a rolling net-downhill course starting in Folsom with a fast finish into Sacramento, and it’s responsible for a lot of people getting their personal best, though it’s still a tough course with enough uphills to make you work for that new fast time. The race sells out quickly.
HONOLULU MARATHON When: 14 Dec 2025Entry: Sign UpPB Potential: 7/10
This is one of the largest marathons in the US, and a destination race with a vibrant atmosphere, a lot of runners in fancy dress, fireworks at the start (even though it begins at 5am!), views of the mountains and the ocean, and no cut off time for slower runners (and also a decent course profile if you want to go fast).
REST OF THE WORLD
SYDNEY MARATHONWhen: 31 August 2025Entry: BallotPB Potential: 5/10
Sydney is the newest Abbott’s World Marathon Major, and 2025’s race will be its first as a Major! The race began in 2001 as a legacy of the 2000 Olympic Games, and the route is hilly and winding with some sharp turnarounds, so while it’s not a fast course it is a fun one which passes incredible and iconic landmarks, including running over Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishing right in front of the Sydney Opera House. Technically it’s run in spring in Australia and summer in the northern hemisphere, but it definitely belongs on this list.
MELBOURNE MARATHONWhen: 12 Oct 2025Entry: Sign UpPB Potential: 7/10
With a finish line inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with its capacity of 100,000 people (though probably don’t expect that many cheering you home!), the Melbourne Marathon is a flatter and faster course than Sydney, and you can enjoy an out-and-back alongside the sea, plus lots of green scenery – not something you get in many city marathons. Melbourne is a city of sport, and the marathon is a great addition to that.
CAPE TOWN MARATHON When: 19 Oct 2025Entry: Sign Up / BallotPB Potential: 7/10
Cape Town is a candidate race to become an Abbott World Marathon Major and in 2024, it passed its first assessment. The race has great views throughout, a vibrant atmosphere on the course, and a final few kilometres running alongside the Atlantic Ocean before finishing in front of the DHL Stadium. It’s Africa’s largest marathon.
AUCKLAND MARATHONWhen: 2 Nov 2025Entry: Sign UpPB Potential: 7/10
This is New Zealand’s largest marathon and one of the world’s most scenic big city marathons. There’s a few hills in the first half, including going up and over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, but the views make the climb worthwhile, then the second half is fairly flat, with more nice views as you run out-and-back along the waterfront before finishing in Victoria Park. There’s also a half marathon on the same day.
Lead photo by Lou Bopp for NYRR
