Cracovia Marathon

Cracovia Marathon is Kraków’s flagship road race — a springtime 42.195 km journey that blends big-city energy with a “through history” story you can feel with every landmark. Since 2002, it has grown into one of Poland’s most international marathons, drawing runners from around the world to the streets beneath Wawel Castle and through the heart of the Old Town. With the start and finish on the Main Market Square (since 2014), the race delivers a rare kind of atmosphere: medieval façades, cheering crowds in narrow streets, and the sense that you’re running inside a living postcard.

The route is a curated tour of Kraków’s icons and contrasts — past the Cloth Hall, the Wawel Royal Castle, and Na Skałce, then on to the city’s modern signature spots like TAURON Arena, ICE Kraków Congress Centre, and the Father Bernatek footbridge. It’s not only about the marathon day, either: the weekend turns into a city-wide celebration, with the Night Run 10K, the Mini Cracovia Marathon, and the Inline Skating Marathon adding different ways to experience Kraków on the move.

Cracovia Marathon also stands out for its inclusive format — athletes with disabilities have been part of the event from the beginning, including handbike and wheelchair categories that take on the same legendary distance. And in recent years, the event has pushed a clear “run responsibly” direction, reducing plastic in race materials and expanding eco-friendly practices across the course. If you want a marathon that feels genuinely tied to its city — not just hosted by it — Kraków’s royal 42K delivers that, step by step.