🏃 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2026

Berlin Marathon Visitor Guide

Coming to Berlin to run? Everything a visiting runner needs in one place — how to get around, your free transport ticket, what to eat before the big day, race-day essentials and a finish-line map. Focus on the finish line; we'll help with the rest.

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Race day

Sunday, 27 September 2026

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Free transport

Zones ABC · 24–28 Sep

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Book pickup by

21 September

⚠️ Collect your race material in person at the EXPO

Your bib and race material must be collected in person during Marathon EXPO opening hours. Book your collection slot through your BMW BERLIN-MARATHON user account by 21 September, and bring your Start Card. Pre-ordered extras (adidas Event Collection, Maurten Race Packs, bib magnets) are handed out at pickup / the Maurten stand.

🚇 Getting around Berlin

  • Your 4-day ticket: as a participant you travel free across zones ABC (Berlin + surrounding area) from 24 Sep (00:00) to 28 Sep (03:00) on the VBB network (U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, bus). After you pick up your bib at the EXPO, your bib also works as your ticket.
  • Carry photo ID (passport / ID card) — you may be asked to show it with your ticket.
  • Always navigate with a map: use Google Maps or the free BVG / Jelbi apps for live routes, platforms and departure times. Berlin's public transport is fast and covers the whole city.

Finish line: the iconic Brandenburg Gate. The start is nearby on Straße des 17. Juni. Open in Google Maps →

🎟️ Berlin's fare zones (A · B · C), explained simply

Berlin's transport is split into three rings — you buy a ticket for the zones you'll cross:

Zone A — the inner city (inside the circular S-Bahn "Ring")

Where you'll spend almost all your time. It covers Mitte and the government quarter, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Museum Island, Alexanderplatz & the TV Tower, Friedrichstraße, Potsdamer Platz, and the main stations (Hauptbahnhof, Friedrichstraße, Zoologischer Garten). Most hotels, restaurants, sights and nightlife are here.

Zone B — from the Ring out to the city limits

The outer neighbourhoods reaching Berlin's boundary — mostly residential, plus a few landmarks like the Olympiastadion. You cross into B for some outer districts, but an AB ticket already covers A and B — i.e. the whole city, which is all most visitors ever need.

Zone C — beyond Berlin, into Brandenburg

Outside the city limits: BER Airport and Potsdam / Sanssouci. You only need an ABC ticket to reach these.

Tickets are sold as AB, BC or ABC. An AB ticket covers all of Berlin city — enough for most of your stay. You only need ABC for the airport or Potsdam.

✅ Your free marathon ticket is ABC — so airport trips and a Potsdam day-trip are covered too.

✈️ From the airport (BER) into the city

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is southeast of the city in zone C, about 30–45 minutes from the centre. Three easy ways in:

🚆 Train — cheapest & fastest (recommended)

From the station directly under Terminal 1, take the Airport Express (FEX), S-Bahn S9, or a regional train (RE / RB) to Hauptbahnhof, Alexanderplatz or Ostkreuz. You need an ABC ticket (~€4.70) — buy it at a red/yellow machine or the BVG / Jelbi app, and validate it before boarding. Free with your marathon ABC ticket.

🚕 Taxi

Taxi rank right outside Terminal 1. Roughly €50–60 to the centre, 40–50 min. Metered — you can ask for an estimate first.

📱 Uber / Bolt / FreeNow (ride-hailing)

All three apps work in Berlin. Book in the app and head to the airport's ride-share pickup area. Price is similar to a taxi (sometimes a little less) — handy if you'd rather not queue.

Prices are approximate and vary with traffic and demand.

🍛 Eat like a runner

Before the race — carb up, keep it light

Have your big carbohydrate meal the night before, and keep race-morning food light and familiar. A bowl of dal khichdi (rice + lentils) is a perfect pre-marathon meal — gentle on the stomach, with steady carbs and a little protein. Avoid anything too oily, spicy or new right before running.

Best Indian vegetarian in Berlin 🌱

For carb-loading the night before — or a well-earned feast after you cross the line — head to Kailash Parbat, a pure-vegetarian Indian restaurant in Berlin. Great for khichdi, dosas, chaat and thalis. See Kailash Parbat on AllesHere →

Hydration

Sip water steadily the day before; don't overdo it on race morning. Berlin tap water is safe to drink.

💡 Good to know before you go

💧 Water isn't free at restaurants

In Germany, restaurants don't automatically serve free tap water — you usually order (and pay for) bottled water. Carry your own refillable bottle: Berlin's tap water is clean and safe to drink, so you can fill up at your hotel and stay hydrated on the go — especially important around race day.

📶 Sort out mobile internet

International roaming can be pricey or patchy, and getting around without data is tricky. Two easy fixes: pick up a local SIM / eSIM when you arrive (available at the airport and phone shops), or use your hotel Wi-Fi to plan ahead — download an offline map in Google Maps (menu → Offline maps), and save your route, tickets and hotel address before you head out.

🏁 Race-day essentials

  • Starting groups: you're allocated a group based on the finish time in your user account. Entry and corral times are sent to you separately by email.
  • Extras at pickup: pre-ordered adidas Event Collection (event shirt, finisher shirt, legend jacket) and bib magnets are handed out with your bib. Maurten Race Packs are at the Maurten stand — have your Start Card ready.
  • Bag drop-off: 1× bag drop-off is included — use it for warm clothes at the start/finish.
  • Race Briefing (digital): read it carefully — there are changes vs. previous editions. Read the Race Briefing →
  • Race day for participants: the official page covering start times, corrals, the course and what to expect on the day. Official race-day info →
  • Official app: the free BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2026 app appears in the app stores during event week — uninstall any older version first.

📸 Places to visit — 4 days in Berlin

Staying a few extra days after the race? Here's a perfect first-timer's itinerary.

Day 1 — Iconic Berlin

Brandenburg Gate · Reichstag · Museum Island · Berlin Cathedral · TV Tower (Fernsehturm)

Day 2 — Culture & History

Checkpoint Charlie · Topography of Terror · East Side Gallery · Berlin Wall Memorial · Gendarmenmarkt

Day 3 — Local & Hidden

Prenzlauer Berg · Hackescher Markt · Mauerpark · Kreuzberg · Tempelhofer Feld

Day 4 — Extras & Day Trips

Charlottenburg Palace · Teufelsberg · Wannsee · Potsdam · Sanssouci Palace

Tip: most of Day 1–3 is in zone A (the centre); Potsdam / Sanssouci and the airport are in zone C — where your ABC ticket comes in handy.

In Berlin for the marathon?

Find a room, restaurants and local services — commission-free — on AllesHere.

Find a room Restaurants Running clubs
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Just visiting? Book a hotel or hostel

AllesHere is for community rooms and flat-shares. If you need a short stay — for the marathon, a trip, or while you house-hunt — browse hotels and budget hostels (dorms) in Berlin on Booking.com.

Popular budget options include Generator, a&o Hostels, Meininger and Wombat's.

Browse hotels & hostels in Berlin →

Bookings are handled on Booking.com (external). AllesHere may earn a commission.

💬 Questions? I'm happy to help!

Coming to Berlin for the marathon and have a question — getting around, where to stay, a good place to eat, or anything at all? Reach out and I'll be glad to help you settle in.

Log in to message me Or use the contact form

Prefer email? Write to admin.alleshere@gmail.com.

This is a friendly community guide, not the official race information. Always follow the official BMW BERLIN-MARATHON communications and your user account for exact times, corrals and any changes. All the best for your run! 🧡