At a glance
2nd Sunday of March
The race's fixed date in recent years. In 2026: 8 March.
08:00
Start on Vasilissis Amalias. The 21 km race lasts until about 10:00.
4 minutes
From Ioulianou 50 to Patission, where the runners pass.
07:00–14:00
Roads closed in the centre. Walk and take the metro instead of a taxi.
Where to watch the runners, starting from Ioulianou 50
Patission: the race passes through the neighbourhood
After Vasilissis Sofias, the runners go down Akadimias, turn into Chalkokondyli and go up Patission, the uphill carriageway towards Alexandras. A little further up they turn around, take Kefallinias and head down towards Omonia. Patission is closed in both directions, from Agiou Meletiou to Omonia.
The corner of Ioulianou and Patission is about 280 metres from the apartment. From there you see the crowd coming up, with the Archaeological Museum and the Polytechnic in the background. Grab a coffee in the neighbourhood and cheer; on this stretch the route climbs.
Careful on race morning: you may not cross the route while it is closed, except at controlled points such as the Patission–Agiou Meletiou junction. If you want to go east, to Pedion tou Areos or the Museum, do it before 08:00 or after 10:00. Victoria station is on our side of Patission, so the metro works as normal for you.
🏃 From Ioulianou 50 to the route
The corner with Patission is about 280 metres away. In blue the stretch of the route on Patission, in orange the start at Syntagma.
The route and the city-centre landmarks
The 2026 route, in order:
- Start on Vasilissis Amalias, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and a loop via Panepistimiou, Aiolou, Stadiou and Filellinon.
- Uphill on Vasilissis Amalias, Athanasiou Diakou and Ardittou, next to Kallimarmaro, and Vasileos Konstantinou.
- Vasilissis Sofias and Mesogeion, with a loop via Feidippidou and Michalakopoulou, and a turnaround at the Hilton junction.
- Akadimias, Chalkokondyli, Patission up to Kefallinias and back towards Omonia, Aiolou, Stadiou.
- Second pass via Amalias, Ardittou and Vasileos Konstantinou, and Vasilissis Sofias towards Syntagma.
- Finish via Akadimias, Ippokratous and Panepistimiou, back on Vasilissis Amalias.
The route has a little over 200 metres of climbing in total. The runners start in eight waves, from 08:00 to 08:23, with 1,500 to 2,000 runners each. The Family Run follows at 11:45 and the 5 km race at 12:15, from Syntagma.
At 08:00 the first wave leaves, with the fastest at the front. The others follow until 08:23.
A few seconds before the signal. The clocks above the arch still show 0:00.
The first woman breaks the tape on Amalias. The finish is at the same spot as the start.
The winners at the Syntagma arch. The clock counts the race time.
The runner under the pediment: the logo of the Athens Half Marathon.
The roads close early in the morning and belong to the runners until midday.
The stretch towards Mesogeion and the Hilton junction.
The last two photos are from the Authentic Marathon, on the same streets: Angels Apartments archive and Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
The 14th Athens Half Marathon on video
The full broadcast of the race of 8 March 2026, from start to finish
Video: Palantzas Kostas, YouTube.
Road closures and how to get around
In 2026 the roads of the route were closed from 07:00 to 14:00: Vasilissis Amalias, Panepistimiou, Stadiou, Akadimias, Solonos, Filellinon, Omonia and Syntagma squares, Patission from Agiou Meletiou to Omonia, Vasilissis Sofias, Mesogeion, Alexandras, Athinas, Syngrou at Amalias and Kallirrois. From Saturday afternoon one lane of Amalias closes gradually to set up the start.
If you have a flight or a ferry that morning: do not count on a taxi from the door. Take the metro from Victoria: Line 1 goes to Piraeus and, with a change, to the airport. If you absolutely need a taxi, arrange for it to wait on a street west of Patission.
Want to run?
Registration opens months ahead on the official race website and usually closes fast; in 2026 SEGAS released extra places by lottery. There is also a 5 km race, open to everyone. March in Athens has morning temperatures of around 10–15 degrees, ideal for running.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Half Marathon?
It has not been announced yet. The race takes place on the second Sunday of March (9 March 2025, 8 March 2026), so it is expected on Sunday 14 March 2027, starting at 08:00. SEGAS announces the date on athinahalfmarathon.gr, usually together with the opening of registration; in 2026 registration opened on 12 January.
Where is the start?
On Vasilissis Amalias, in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at Syntagma. The finish is there too.
Does it pass near Ioulianou 50?
Yes. The runners go up and down Patission, about 280 metres from the apartment.
Does the metro run?
Yes. In 2026 no changes to the metro were announced. It is the best way to get around that morning.
Can I cross Patission?
While runners are passing, only at controlled points such as the Patission–Agiou Meletiou junction. After 10:00 the 21 km race is over.
Is it the same race as the Poseidonian Half Marathon?
No. The Poseidonian Half Marathon is a different race, with a different organiser, held in April on the Faliro seafront. The SEGAS Athens Half Marathon is the March one, starting at Syntagma.
Is it the same as the Authentic Marathon?
No. The Half Marathon is 21 km inside the city, in March. The Authentic Marathon is 42 km, from Marathon to Kallimarmaro, in November.
— Kathy
