The RomaOstia Half Marathon is the best half marathon to fly for in 2027: it runs from Rome’s EUR district to the sea at Ostia on Sunday, February 28, 2027. The EDP Lisbon Half Marathon is #2 and the Valencia Half Marathon is #3.
Photo: andrea pusateri / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Looketup VerdictRome to the Mediterranean in one point-to-point run.
2027 date: Sunday, February 28, 2027Elevation gain: 183 mStart: Via Cristoforo Colombo, in front of PalaEurFinish: Piazzale Cristoforo Colombo, in front of the sea at Ostia
The RomaOstia Half Marathon is set for Sunday, February 28, 2027. It starts on Via Cristoforo Colombo in front of PalaEur and finishes at Piazzale Cristoforo Colombo in front of the sea at Ostia, with 183 m of elevation gain.
Go ifRunners who want a winter race that ends at the sea
Skip ifYou want a loop course that starts and ends in the same place
Why #1 over #2: Its point-to-point run from Rome to the sea gives a trip story that the Lisbon race, with its bridge start, matches only in part.
2
EDP Lisbon Half Marathon
Photo: Pedro from Lisboa, Portugal / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Looketup VerdictA bridge start and a pastry finish.
2027 date: Sunday, March 7, 2027Start: 25 de Abril BridgeFinish: Praca do Imperio garden, near Pasteis de BelemField size: 15,000+ runners in the last edition
The EDP Lisbon Half Marathon is listed for Sunday, March 7, 2027. It starts on the 25 de Abril Bridge and finishes at the Praca do Imperio garden near Pasteis de Belem; the last edition had 15,000+ runners.
Go ifAnyone who wants to run across a famous bridge
Skip ifYou hate ballots and sell-outs
Why #2 over #3: Running across a famous bridge and finishing near the pastry shops gives it a postcard feel that Valencia’s fast-times race lacks.
3
Valencia Half Marathon
Photo: Carlesmari / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Looketup VerdictThe fast-times choice for a trip to Spain.
2027 date: 24 October 2027Field size: 25,000 bibs offered for 2027
The Valencia Half Marathon is listed for 24 October 2027, with 25,000 bibs offered for the 2027 edition.
Go ifRunners chasing a fast autumn half
Skip ifYou want a spring race
Why #3 over #4: Its large bib supply makes it easy to join, while the Napa Valley race, the organizers say, will sell out.
4
Napa Valley Half Marathon
Looketup VerdictVineyard scenery on a certified course.
2027 date: March 7, 2027Start: Silverado Trail at Conn Creek, 7:00 AMFinish: Vintage High School in NapaCourse: USATF certified
The Napa Valley Half Marathon is on March 7, 2027. It starts at 7:00 AM on Silverado Trail at Conn Creek and finishes at Vintage High School in Napa, on a USATF certified course.
Go ifA wine-country weekend with a certified course
Skip ifYou want a big-city race
Why #4 over #5: A certified wine-country course suits a spring trip better than the Reykjavik race, which is held in summer.
5
Reykjavik Marathon Half Marathon
Photo: Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Looketup VerdictAn Icelandic summer city race.
2027 date: Saturday, 21 August 2027Start time: 08:30Distance: 21.097 kmField size: Over 16,000 participants across all races
The Reykjavik Marathon half is on Saturday, 21 August 2027, starting at 08:30 over 21.097 km. The event draws over 16,000 participants across all its races.
Go ifA summer race trip to Iceland
Skip ifYou want a race in cool spring weather
Why #5 over #6: Its summer date in Iceland makes for a very different trip from Berlin’s spring race.
6
Berlin Half Marathon
Photo: Fridolin freudenfett / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Looketup VerdictFinish under the Brandenburg Gate.
2027 date: Sunday, April 4, 2027Start: Siegessaule, 10:05 AMFinish: Brandenburg GateField size: 13,000+ runners in the last edition
The Berlin Half Marathon is on Sunday, April 4, 2027. It starts at the Siegessaule at 10:05 AM and finishes at the Brandenburg Gate, with 13,000+ runners in the last edition.
Go ifA flat course that ends at a landmark
Skip ifYou need a slow time limit
Why #6 over #7: Its landmark finish gives it a stronger sense of place than the Vienna half.
7
Vienna City Half Marathon
Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Looketup VerdictFlat and run alongside the Vienna City Marathon.
2027 date: 18 April 2027Start: 09:00 at the ReichsbruckeField size: 10,000 runnersElevation range: 44 m between lowest and highest points
The Vienna City Half Marathon is on 18 April 2027. It starts at 09:00 at the Reichsbrucke with a field of 10,000 runners and 44 m between its lowest and highest points.
Go ifA flat road race inside a marathon weekend
Skip ifYou want hills
Why #7 over #8: Its flat road course and marathon-weekend setting suit a first half-marathon trip better than the Brooklyn crowd.
8
NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon
Looketup VerdictBig-crowd New York running.
2027 date: Sunday, April 25, 2027Field size: 30,000 runnersEntry fee: $160 for non-members through December 17Course: North Brooklyn to Prospect Park, USATF certified
The NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon is on Sunday, April 25, 2027, running from North Brooklyn to Prospect Park on a USATF certified course. Non-member entry is $160 through December 17, and the event advertises 30,000 runners.
Go ifSkyline views and the three bridges
Skip ifYou want a small race
Why #8 over #9: Its city skyline route has an atmosphere the Great North Run’s charity-entry route does not advertise.
9
Great North Run
Photo: Chris Morgan / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Looketup VerdictA famous run reached mostly by charity entry.
2027 date: Sunday 12 September 2027Start: Exhibition Park, NewcastleFinish: South ShieldsCharity entry: £40 entry with £400 minimum sponsorship
The Great North Run is on Sunday 12 September 2027, starting at Exhibition Park in Newcastle and finishing at South Shields. The Arthritis UK place costs £40 with a £400 minimum sponsorship.
Go ifA road-to-the-sea run through north-east England
Skip ifYou want a simple entry
Why #9 over #10: Its established north-east route beats the Paris race, whose course is still unannounced.
10
Semi de Paris
Photo: Pierre-Selim Huard / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Looketup VerdictA new Paris course with the route still to come.
2027 date: Sunday, March 7, 2027Distance: 21.1 kmCourse: New course to be unveiled in early 2027Bib resale: Opens December 1, 2026
The Semi de Paris is expected on Sunday, March 7, 2027 over 21.1 km. The organizers plan a new course and expect to unveil it in early 2027; bib resale opens December 1, 2026.
Go ifRunners who like a fresh route
Skip ifYou want the course known before booking
How we ranked these
We ranked each race on how good a trip it makes: its setting from start to finish, the confirmed or expected 2027 date and the field. Check each race’s own site before booking. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
Which half marathon is the best to travel for in 2027?
The RomaOstia Half Marathon on Sunday, February 28, 2027, which runs from Rome’s EUR district to the sea at Ostia.
When is the Valencia Half Marathon in 2027?
It is listed for 24 October 2027, with 25,000 bibs offered.
How much does the Brooklyn half marathon cost?
Entry through December 17 is $160 for non-members and $144 for members.
Where does the Berlin Half Marathon finish?
At the Brandenburg Gate, after a start at the Siegessaule on Sunday, April 4, 2027.
Field size (as published) at a glance
Vienna City Half Marathon10,000 runners
Berlin Half Marathon13,000 runners
EDP Lisbon Half Marathon15,000 runners
Valencia Half Marathon25,000 runners
NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon30,000 runners
Field size (as published), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
