Back to grid

Top running destinations and marathon routes

Back to grid
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
9.5
The New York City Marathon starts on the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge in early November. Runners cover all five boroughs before finishing in Central Park. Crowds line First Avenue in Manhattan and cheer for hours. Central Park has a 6 mile loop road for daily runs.
Highlights:
  • 🌃 Visit Times Square at night for unforgettable neon views
  • 🎭 Watch a Broadway musical in the Theater District
  • 🏙️ Admire skyline views from the Top of a skyscraper
Berlin
Wall history, Museum Island and all-night clubs
9.1
A flat course through wide avenues has produced many marathon world records. The race is held each September and finishes near the Brandenburg Gate. Runners pass the Reichstag and the Victory Column on the route. Tempelhof Field, an old airport, has huge open runways for training.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Visit the Reichstag Dome for panoramic city views
  • 🌉 Admire the Brandenburg Gate illuminated at night
  • 🧱 Explore the Berlin Wall Memorial and East Side Gallery
Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
9.7
The Imperial Palace loop is about five kilometers around a moat and stone walls. Runners circle counterclockwise on the wide gravel path by the water. The Tokyo Marathon starts near the Metropolitan Government building each March. It is one of the six World Marathon Majors and ends at Tokyo Station.
Highlights:
  • 🖼️ Visit the teamLab digital art museum
  • 🌆 Enjoy panoramic city views from observation decks
  • 🍣 Savor sushi at a local eatery
Singapore
Tropical city-state of hawker food and gardens
9.5
The Southern Ridges trail links hill parks along a 10 kilometer route. Henderson Waves, a curved wooden bridge, rises 36 meters above the road. The Singapore Marathon is run in the early morning hours each December. Warm humid air makes early morning training the norm.
Highlights:
  • 🏮 Wander through Chinatown’s temples and traditional shophouses
  • 🌳 Visit Gardens by the Bay and its iconic Supertree Grove
  • 🌆 Admire the futuristic skyline from Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Kyoto
Temples, geisha districts and kaiseki dining
9.2
Fushimi Inari Shrine has thousands of red torii gates along a mountain trail. The path climbs about 230 meters to the summit. Many runners follow the Kamo River path in the early morning. The Philosopher's Path, a stone canal walk, has cherry trees that bloom in April.
Highlights:
  • ⛩️ Climb the vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine
  • 🍱 Experience Japan’s beautifully presented Kaiseki dining at a traditional restaurant
  • 🎋 Stroll through the magical Arashiyama bamboo forest early in the morning
Bhutan
Himalayan monasteries, dzongs and trekking trails
8.5
The trail to Tiger's Nest monastery climbs about 700 meters above the Paro valley floor. The monastery clings to a cliff at roughly 3,100 meters. Prayer flags flutter along the path through pine forest. Thin mountain air makes every kilometer feel longer than it looks.
Highlights:
  • 🌄 Admire Himalayan panoramas from Dochula Pass’ 108 chortens
  • 🎉 Join a colorful Buddhist festival at Punakha Dzong
  • 🏔️ Hike to the cliffside Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Paro
Feedback