Some of our links are affiliated, we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product. This will have no extra cost for you. For further info please refer to our Privacy Policy
The Paris Marathon 2025 will happen on April 13th, if you are planning to race this spectacular event keep reading. I will share my experience in this race and give you tips about the course, where to stay, and how I’ve trained for the Paris Marathon.
A lot of runners dream to run the Paris Marathon. Others doubt whether it’s worth being part of such a crowded competition. To be honest, this race in Paris wasn’t in my plans. But destiny plays with us, one day before starting our around-the-world trip I got an email telling me that I had won one slot in the race.
One year later, after crossing Europe, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, I was heading to Paris. Now it’s time to write our Paris Marathon Review and give you the best tips for the race and the trip.
So, what to expect?
It’s a beautiful course with thousands of runners, a great atmosphere, and a well-organized race.
I enjoyed every moment, there were some issues that the organization could improve but overall it’s an excellent race. Let’s split our Paris Marathon Review into some useful topics:
Paris Marathon Review: hotels and where to stay in Paris?
First things first, book your hotel as soon as possible. With over 50.000 runners plus family and friends, it’s obvious that the best-located hotels in Paris will be booked months in advance.
To find the best place to stay in Paris you need to set a budget and start the research. Bear in mind that location is the key. The best area to stay in Paris for the Paris Marathon is near the Arc du Triumph, you will be close to the start and finish points.
Have a look at this hotel map:
Booking.com
(function(d, sc, u) {
var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0];
s.type = ‘text/javascript’;
s.async = true;
s.src = u + ‘?v=’ + (+new Date());
p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p);
})(document, ‘script’, ‘//aff.bstatic.com/static/affiliate_base/js/flexiproduct.js’);
]]>
Another option is to book a hotel near the metro, which is not hard, there are more than 240 metro stations in the city.
Here are some suggestions for areas to stay in Paris:
Marais: It is a great area for bars and restaurants. Check the best offers at Booking.com.
La Villete: Quieter area with nice runs along the canal. Check the best offers here.
Trocadero: A beautiful neighborhood quite near the start area. Have a look at the rates here.
Or do your research on Booking.com, we like their search tool and all the filters.
Paris Marathon Review Tip: remember that metro lines 1,2 & 6 go directly to Charles de Gaulle Etoile station, where the race starts.
Paris Marathon Entry Review
Registration can be made on the Schneider Electric Paris Marathon website. If you don’t get a slot there are 2 other options. To run for a charity or to book the race via a tour operator. The list of charities and official tour operators can be found here.
The online process was straightforward. I paid using my Brazilian credit card without any issues.
Paris Marathon Expo Review
The BIB & race bag are available a few days before the race at the Paris Marathon Expo, aka Run Experience. It’s located at Parc de Expositions de la Porte de Versailles, to get there you can follow one of these routes:
- Bus: lines 39 – 42 – 49 – Stop: Station Porte de Versailles,
- Metro: line 12 – Stop: Station Porte de Versailles,
- Tramway: T2 – T3 – Stop: Porte de Versailles,
To get your race number and bag, you MUST present a medical certificate mentioning: “no contraindication to running in a competition”.
Also, bring your passport or proof of identity and the confirmation email. With all the docs in hand took me less than 5 minutes to get my race bib and bag. The staff was very polite and friendly, making jokes about my “French est tre bizarre”.
The Run Experience is huge! Over 150 expositors are showcasing the latest products for athletes, from bandanas and compression socks to runners and smartwatches. There were several running & triathlon associations and other race organizations too. One that caught my attention was the Marathon du Medoc, run & wine, cool!
Paris Marathon Review Tip: go on the first day, it’s not so busy so you can enjoy more.
Paris Marathon Course Review
Yes, it’s a stunning race. You have the streets of Paris to yourself, well, to you and another 50.000 runners.
Anyway, the race starts on Champs Elysee heading to Place de La Concorde. Then Rue de Rivoli, passing by Le Jardins de Tuileries, the Louvre Museum, and La Place de la Bastille. From there runners will cross about 10km in the Bois de Vincennes Park and head back to La Bastille via Rue de Charenton.
Then comes my favorite part, from km 23 till 31. The race follows the River Seine, with beautiful views from the Ile de la Cite, Pont Neuf, Museu d’orsi and Eiffel Tower.
The last 10km passes by the Bois de Boulogne Park until reaching the finish line at Rue de Foch.
I thought that the Paris marathon course was a flat one. Wrong! Not that you will face steep hills but expect some ups & downs. In the end, my Garmin registered an elevation gain of 220 meters.
Paris Marathon Race Day Review
The Arc du Triumph is the best landmark to plan your way to the marathon. Take the Paris metro and drop at Charles De Gaulle-Etoile station.
The metro is efficient and is the best way to move around on race day. We stayed at the 17th arrondissement and got to the race in about 40 minutes.
The race officially starts at 7:55 am. Depending on your expected finishing time your start can be from 8:01 am to 11:10 am. I expected to finish in 4 hours, so I had to find my corral and wait for my start at 9:30 am. (note that each year these timeslots changed according to the number of athletes)
As usual, the main complaint in every race is the small number of toilets. Once you entered your corral you couldn’t go out and the toilets in that area weren’t enough for the thousands of runners. As a result, athletes use the streets of Paris as a toilet.
I found it quite hard to keep my pace among thousands of runners. The first 10km was to warm up, I didn’t stop at any aid station till kilometer 15th.
Talking about aid stations, they were spread every 5km, with water, isotonic, and fruits. I found it well organized and had plenty of helpful staff.
Between km 15 and km 32, I was feeling great and ran my best, even in the crowded streets. Only after km 33, there was more space on the streets but my legs were getting heavier.
I kept running and stopped at km 40 to sip some wine from the Marathon du Medoc stall. The last and very needed boost!
My time? 4 hours and 3 minutes. My target was to finish in 4 hours, I’m very happy with the result. After the race, I was feeling very well. I ate fruit and a sandwich, drank Coke, and enjoyed a cold beer later.
It’s a scenic race, Paris is a stunning city. I love the idea of running and sightseeing, even better if you don’t need to worry about the traffic. I tried to keep my pace and enjoy the view at the same time. I did a few stops for pictures and don’t regret it, I was there to enjoy it.
The crowd was special, thousands of people cheering: Ale Ale Ale, Bravo! Also, there were many bands playing music along the course. It helps to keep you going!
Nat and I planned 4 meeting points, at Chateau de Vincennes on Km 12, at Place de La Bastille between Km 22-23, at Place de Varsovie on Km 29, and at the finish line.
Unfortunately, she got stuck on the Metro and we missed each other at Chateau de Vincennes.
I managed to do a quick stop to kiss her at Place de La Bastille. She didn’t see me at Place de Varsovie but spotted me at the finish line.
Paris Marathon Review Tip: If your partner or friend wants to take some pictures and cheer for you, plan ahead the meeting points and give some time for the transit between the places. The metro lines are packed during race time.
Paris Marathon Training Review
That’s a tough point. A lot of people ask about the training schedule for the Paris Marathon. We can not say that there is a single recipe that suits everybody. It all depends on how fit you are, your expectations, the time available for training, dedication… there are a lot of factors.
My case was an interesting one. I ran the Ironman Brazil back in 2012. In March 2013 was submitted to hip surgery and stopped running till October of that year.
I started my training 7 months before the Paris Marathon. But this time I had an extra challenge, no fixed address and without a “regular” routine.
Since we were traveling around the world I did my training in 7 different countries, a total of 19 different cities. Istanbul, Izmir, Pamukkale, Cappadocia, Chiang Mai, Siem Reap, Bangkok, Boracay, Bohol, Manila, Koh Phi Phi, Phuket, Ao Nang, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Langkawi, Bologna, Reggio Emilia and Paris.
One day I was running in Istanbul, and it was 6ºC and raining. The following day I was in Bangkok running under the sun with the thermometer hitting 35ºC.
Another challenge was finding a flat course for the long training, especially in some of the Thai islands like Koh Phi Phi or Koh Tao. The bright side was the amazing landscape I enjoyed during my training.
Cappadocia in late October is gorgeous, as the beaches of The Philippines and the Bosphorus in Istanbul…. I can’t complain at all.
In addition to the temperature changes, adapting to different foods, ingredients, and seasonings was for me the main challenge. I lost about 8 kgs during my training for the Paris Marathon, mostly because it took me a while to get used to the food in each new country.
On average, I was training 1 hour per day from Monday to Saturday and between 2-3 hours every Sunday.
Paris Marathon Review Tip: Start training about 6 months before the race if you already have done a one-half marathon, or earlier for those who haven’t. ALWAYS train with a coach, don’t follow a spreadsheet just because a friend of a friend told you to do it.
A certified coach can evaluate your performance and minimize the risk of injuries. Also, see your doctor before starting training! Roberto Lemos from Ironmind was my coach for this challenge, he is known as “The Master”.
Also, I can recommend Lucas Helal from Luquitri Assessoria Esportiva, he does a great job with his online coaching system. Lucas trained me for Ironman Malaysia.
Both are from Brazil.
Paris Marathon Weather Review
In theory, April is already spring. Or at least my concept of spring is sunny days with temperatures ranging between 20º to 25ºC.
We arrived in Paris at freezing 8ºC. I was freaking out! Usually, the temperature would rise during the day but before 9 am it was quite cold.
I went to the race wearing my trisuit, leggings, a hoodie, thermal jacket & gloves. I stripped off the jacket & leggings minutes before entering the corral.
The jumper and gloves I took off only after 3 hours of running. My Brazilian blood and the months of training in Southeast Asia made me a bit sensitive to the cold.
Paris Marathon Review Tip: Arrive a few days before the race to get used to the weather.
Paris Marathon Equipment Review
I ran the Paris Marathon with my New Balance M890v4 and a pair of anti-blister socks from Nike. The runners lasted me a solid 1 year of intense training for the marathon and the Ironman Langkawi.
To track my performance I use the Garmin Forerunner 310XT. I strongly suggest getting a visor or a cap to protect from the sun. The Nike Featherlite visor is a great product.
Remember that I mentioned the low temperatures, so consider buying a pair of leggings, Nike and Mizuno are good options. A GoPro Silver 4 was my choice to record some videos and take pictures during the race.
Paris Marathon Verdict
Will I race it again? Absolutely! While writing this Paris Marathon Review I even checked if the date of the next edition fits in my calendar.
The Paris Marathon is a well-organized and beautiful race. It’s a great opportunity for those who have already visited Paris to see the city from a different perspective.
If it’s your first time in Paris you will be amazed by the city’s beauty. And make sure to stay at least one week after the race to explore Paris.
I told Natalie that after racing the Paris Marathon, Chiang Mai Marathon, and the Ironman Langkawi in Malaysia, I would stop for a while. Well, it’s over a month without training, it’s time to choose a new race and start everything again!
And if more than running, you are into triathlon like me, check out these two races in Europe:
Travel Advice:
Don’t forget your Travel Insurance! You don’t want anything to ruin your trip, right? So don’t take the risk! Reliable travel insurance can help you in case of travel issues, from accidents to health problems, travel delays, and lost luggage.
There are many insurances in the market, our picks are HeyMondo and SafetyWing. We used both and always had a good experience. Click on the insurance names to get a quote.
How to get to Paris, France
That’s easy. Paris is served by 3 airports, 7 train stations & an international bus station.
Over 50 airlines fly to Charles de Gaulle Airport, the biggest one in Paris. If you are flying from a destination outside Europe, you will likely land here.
To get to the city center hop on the RER train, or follow the tips in this practical guide on getting from CDG Airport to Paris City Center.
Orly Airport is another airport with flights to Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. This airport is also connected to the city center via the RER train.
Beauvais Airport is used mainly by budget airlines such as Ryanair and to European destinations only. To reach the city the easiest way is the shuttle bus.
It does not matter where you are flying to, always research several airlines before booking your flights. We like Skyscanner, they compare several airlines and you can save time & money.
If you fancy traveling by train, you will find plenty of services connecting all Europe to Paris. We traveled from Milan (Italy) to Paris by train but we chose a route via Switzerland to enjoy the Alps landscape.
And if you need a sunny place to relax and recover after the marathon, check out this incredible 5-days itinerary on the French Riviera.
Do you run marathons? Planning to run the Paris edition? Did you find our Paris Marathon Review useful? Let’s connect!
Like it?! Pin the Paris Marathon Review for later!
Please visit:
Our Sponsor