Copenhagen has two big road races, and both are among the most popular in northern Europe. The Copenhagen Marathon runs every May; the Copenhagen Half Marathon, CPH Half, every September. Both are organised by Sparta, Denmark's largest athletics and running club. Here is how they compare, and how to choose.
The short version
- Copenhagen Marathon: 42.195 km in May. Start and finish on Øster Allé by Fælledparken, flat course through every central district. The 2027 edition is on Sunday 9 May at 09:30, and the organisers report more than 80,000 applications.
- CPH Half: 21.0975 km in September. A single flat loop through the city with a reputation for fast times and loud crowds. The 2027 edition is on Sunday 19 September at 09:30, with 45,000 places allocated by lottery.
Dates and details change, so always check the official sites, copenhagenmarathon.dk and cphhalf.dk, and our race calendar.
The courses
Both races are flat, which is the first thing to know about running in Copenhagen: there are no real hills anywhere in the city. What you do get is wind, cobbles in a few places and a lot of corners.
The marathon starts and finishes on Øster Allé beside Fælledparken on Østerbro and visits Østerbro, the inner city, Christianshavn, Islands Brygge, Vesterbro, Frederiksberg and Nørrebro. Runners pass the Lakes, Nyhavn, Kongens Nytorv, Amalienborg and the Marble Church, and the stretch along Islands Brygge, with the skyline ahead across the harbour, is a highlight. There is a six-hour net cut-off, with three hours at halfway.
The half marathon is a single loop through Østerbro, the historic centre, Vesterbro, Frederiksberg and Nørrebro, finishing on Øster Allé by Fælledparken. In recent editions the start has been on Jagtvej. The course has produced world-class times, and in 2026 the race hosted the World Athletics Road Running Championships, which brought elite fields and a lot of attention.
Getting a place
This is often the deciding factor. Both races are hugely oversubscribed.
For CPH Half 2027, the organisers say more than 100,000 runners entered the lottery for 45,000 places. You enter the draw, and if you are lucky you are offered a place to pay for. For the Copenhagen Marathon, demand is similar in scale: the organisers reported more than 80,000 applications for 2027. Check the official site for how places are allocated each year, including charity and travel-partner entries.
Never buy a bib from a stranger online. Both races use named start numbers and official transfer systems, and running on someone else's number is against the rules and causes problems for timing and medical teams.
Weather
May and September are two of the best months for running in Copenhagen, but they feel different.
Marathon morning in early May is usually cool, around 8–15 °C, which is close to ideal for 42 km. Spring weather is changeable, though: a sunny, windless day and a raw, gusty one with showers are equally possible. The exposed harbour sections are where the wind bites.
Mid-September is often a little warmer and more settled, around 12–18 °C, which suits the shorter distance. A warm, sunny race day is not unusual, so drink early.
Training through the seasons
The two races suit very different training years.
A May marathon means building your mileage through January, February and March: dark mornings, wet evenings and long runs in the cold. If you live in Copenhagen, it is a great way to get through the winter with purpose; our winter running guide will help. If you are travelling in, you may be training somewhere warmer, which makes the race feel easier.
A September half means a summer training block: long, light evenings, early-morning long runs to beat the heat and the occasional harbour swim afterwards. Summer holidays in July can disrupt things, but a half needs less volume, so it is easier to fit in.
Race weekend in Copenhagen
- Getting to the start: both races start and finish around Fælledparken on Østerbro. Use the Metro City Circle (M3) to Trianglen, Poul Henningsens Plads or Vibenhus Runddel, or walk or cycle; roads close early.
- Accommodation: book early. Østerbro, Nørrebro and the area around the Lakes are within walking distance of the start.
- Shakeout run: do an easy lap of the Lakes or Fælledparken the day before.
- After the race: recover with a slow walk along the harbour or a swim at Islands Brygge in September, if the water quality is good.
Which should you choose?
Choose the marathon if you want a flat, scenic, well-organised big-city marathon in near-perfect spring temperatures, and you are happy to train through the winter. It is a popular choice for first-timers and for runners chasing a qualifying time.
Choose the half if you want to run fast, love a big crowd and prefer to train in summer. Its course and its reputation for personal bests make it one of the most attractive half marathons in Europe, if you can get a place.
Or do both. Plenty of Copenhagen runners use the September half as a test for the following spring's marathon, and the city is a different place to run in each season.