swb Marathon Bremen

Running against the backdrop of Bremen's cityscape

If you love running, the swb Marathon is your autumn date in Bremen: Start and finish are on the market square with the Town Hall, Roland, and Cathedral — one of the most beautiful marathon backdrops in Germany. The ensemble of the Town Hall and Roland has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004 because it exceptionally embodies the development of civic autonomy and sovereignty in a European urban society. From this historically significant center, the course leads through the districts of the Hanseatic city, connecting the most famous sights into a run that makes the entire Free Hanseatic City of Bremen an experience.

A course full of Bremen landmarks

The route passes, among other places, the Werdersee, the Botanical Garden, the University, the Science Center Universum, through the Bürgerpark, the Überseestadt, along the Schlachte, and past the Osterdeich — and even through the Weserstadion, the home ground of Werder Bremen. Thus, every kilometer becomes a discovery tour through the city, where the course itself becomes an experience.

Four distances for everyone

The event offers the marathon, the AOK half marathon, the HIRSCH 10-kilometer run, and a children's run. From the ambitious marathon pro to the family runner, everyone will find their format here. The anniversary run in 2025 saw a participant record with over 11,000 registrations, the majority of which were for the half marathon distance. Thousands of spectators line the route, creating an exciting atmosphere throughout the city.

Volksfest (people's festival) of running

As early as 1983, there was a predecessor called the Bremen Marathon through city and country, which was discontinued in 1992; since 2006, the swb Marathon has brought the running event back to Bremen in its current form. It is more than a competition — a Volksfest (people's festival) of running that sets the Hanseatic city in motion once a year. The central location around the market square makes it easy to cheer on runners at many points in the city center and make the day a shared city experience.