These Are the Most Popular Marathons in Europe—and What It's Like to Run One

Travel + Leisure

15-05-2025

"How would you feel about running the London Marathon this year?"
For any runner, this would usually be the dream text to receive. After all, the London Marathon is one of the six World Majors and is often celebrated as the most hype-inducing race in the world, thanks to a crowd that won't stop cheering until the last person crosses the finish line. But I received this text from my editor here at Travel + Leisure on Feb. 18, just shy of 10 weeks out from the marathon. As even novice distance runners know, the usual lead time for training is, at minimum, 16 weeks. But instead of saying no, I replied, "I think I can?" To which she replied, "You 100% can."
That faith in me was all I needed to kick off the most hardcore training of my life—just as my 40th birthday landed, too.
There's something else you should know about me before we go on. I am a researcher (i.e. proud nerd) to my core. I've been a journalist for 20 years and am actively finishing up a PhD. I love school and I love to science the crap out of anything I can. So, the day I received that text, I went into full academia mode, researching the best running apps to help me through (I landed on Runna, which uses AI to create a customized training plan based on previous race times and current running distances), nutrition expertise (I should probably now just get a PhD in carb-loading instead) and perfected the art of recovery, thanks in large part to Hot Cold Club, a new sauna and cold plunge spot here in my home city of Lisbon, Portugal. (If you didn't know, saunas have plenty of scientifically backed benefits, including improving recovery of neuromuscular performance and muscle soreness.) Stacey Leasca in her running gear.
And then, I ran. And ran. And ran some more. I said "no" to every social event, I went to bed early, and I got up early to fit in long runs. I ran through the worst rainstorms Lisbon has seen in decades and ran 10 miles while visiting a mile-long island in the Maldives on my 40th birthday, meaning it was a very repetitive experience that tested my willpower more than my legs. To further help me through, I decided to raise money in support of the British Heart Foundation, the largest independent funder of heart and circulatory research in the UK, to honor the researchers and doctors who saved my dad's life following his heart attack.
Though I put in the work over those 10 weeks, I felt nervous all the way—until I checked into my home base for the race, the Westin London City. And you should take my experience as all the research you need to know that this is the place to be if you decide to run the London marathon one day. Stacey Leasca during and after The London Marathon.
Welcomed by a sea of yellow Westin T-shirts, I was embraced from the moment I walked through the hotel doors, everyone asking how they could take care of me and any other runner who walked by.
"As a runner myself, I know firsthand the dedication it takes to train, travel, and race," Raffaele Ruocco, the hotel's general manager, told me. "The London Marathon is a true celebration of determination, resilience, and community, and at The Westin London City, we are passionate about supporting runners at every stage of their journey, from training through to recovery, helping them feel their best while pursuing their goals."
That dedication included hosting a pre-race shakeout run, mixers for the runners in the lobby, a recovery area with compression leggings, and, once you finished the race, a glass of Champagne waiting at Hithe + Seek, its riverside restaurant. Runners wearing costumes during The London Marathon.
"Supporting runners is a natural extension of our commitment to wellness at The Westin London City," Ruocco added. "Whether someone is chasing a personal best or simply running for joy, we understand the unique challenges of balancing training and travel."
I followed all the other Westin runners in the early morning when it was time to head to the start. The nerves turned into excited butterflies as my wave kicked off. And there I was, running through some of London's coolest neighborhoods, getting cheered on by strangers and my husband, who biked the length of the marathon through back streets to meet me every third or fourth mile (I am happy to send you his map if you ever need to cheer on a London marathoner). I cried going over Tower Bridge, again at the sight of Big Ben, then at mile 19 when I spotted my husband during a difficult stretch, and finally at the finish at the Mall. Marathons aren't for the faint of heart, but they are for those with plenty of heart to give. Once I finished and kissed my medal, I had the most surprising emotional reaction of all: I was ready to do it again.
But where? Well, let's once again look at the research.
According to an April report by Travel Republic, the demand for "fitness holidays" is up 84% year over year, with Google searches for 'European marathon' skyrocketing by 403% in the same timeframe. So it's clear I'm not alone in my quest to push my body to the limit.
The all-inclusive holiday company also compiled a list of the most in-demand marathons based on Google search data to see monthly search increases, combining it with TikTok search data for the top-performing marathon hashtags, giving me plenty of ideas of where to train next.
For 2025, the Vienna City Marathon in Austria and the Limassol Marathon in Cyprus tied for first place as the most in-demand, with Google searches up by 1,016% and 391%, respectively.
Next is the Prague Marathon, with Google searches up by 364%, followed by the Paris Marathon, the Copenhagen Marathon, the Rotterdam Marathon, the London Marathon, the Stockholm Marathon, the Hamburg Marathon, and the Madrid Marathon rounding out the top 10.
And while none of these will get me closer to that coveted Six Stars medal, given to those who run all six majors (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York), what I also learned completing this race is that it really is about the journey as much as the destination. Plus, getting to see your favorite cities 26.2 miles at a time sure does give you a lot of bragging rights.
Want in for London in 2026? Check out all the charities offering bibs in exchange for fundraising here. Or, do what I'm doing and whittle down a list of potential second marathon spots that have special meaning to you. So, does anyone want to start training for Boston, Los Angeles, or Madrid (all my one-time homes) for 2026? Because I'm more ready than ever to start this "research" project all over again.
The right shoes: The best thing you can do for your training is invest in getting a proper shoe fitting, which will tell you the sneakers that are the most well-suited for your feet. For me, it was the Saucony Endorphin.
The best apps: There are endless apps out there to assist in your training, but the crème de la crème include the ever-popular Strava app (which doubles as a social media app and apparently a dating app too), along with Nike Run Club, and my pick for this race, Runna.
The perfect gel: There's no other way around it, but this part of the training is total trial and error. Test out which gels, candy, or whatever other fuel works for your stomach (truly, please map out some bathroom stops the first few times you plan to run with fuel). The right fuel can really make or break a race.
Pack the creature comforts: Every running expert says not to change a single thing on race day from what you've done over training. That means wearing your race day outfit for at least a handful of training runs and ensuring your morning fuel remains the same. To keep to that promise on my race—and almost every trip I take anyway—I take along my little Aeropress Go Plus so I can make my own coffee vs. relying on teeny, tiny in-room coffee pods. Don't worry, I did the homework here too. Coffee has been shown to do everything from "muscular endurance, movement velocity, and muscular strength," so go ahead and enjoy that cup.