Reservations: 10:00 – 18:00 (Sun-Fri)
Reception Hotel & Hostel: 24 hours
Apartments Concierge: 07:00 – 21:00
Runners Guide to Berlin
There is a reason the best runners in the world keep coming back to our hometown. Not only is the Berlin Marathon one of the World Marathon Majors – the most important long distance races in athletics – but also the topography of our city means it is the perfect place for world record attempts and gentle sightseeing jogs alike. What we mean is: it is flat.
It is no surprise that many of you who are reading this, and are coming to The Circus for the Berlin Marathon, will have a personal best in mind. But there is more to running in our city than just the marathon… So here’s our very special guide to running in Berlin, from what you can expect over the marathon weekend to some of our favourite routes and other races for your diary.
BERLIN MARATHON 2025
One of our favourite weekends of the year at The Circus is when the Berlin Marathon is on, as we welcome runners, inline skaters, their family and friends, to take part in an event that captures the imagination of the city. In recent years we have watched world records fall at the sharp end of the race, but more importantly perhaps are the many tens of thousands who are engaged in their own personal race on the streets of Berlin.
This year, the Berlin Marathon is celebrating its 50th edition and there are more runners taking part than ever. If you are coming to stay with us at The Circus, your support crew will be pleased to know that the race runs right through the middle of Rosenthaler Platz between the Hotel and the Hostel. So while the runners in your party are getting up early to go to the start line, you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast with us and then cheer them on just after the 9 km mark.
If you want to see your loved ones out on the course, a possible schedule (so long as they’re not as fast as Kipchoge) is as follows:
KM9 – Rosenthaler Platz (outside The Circus)
KM15 – Kottbusser Tor (take the U8 from Rosenthaler Platz, journey time 10 minutes)
KM21 – Goebenstraße (take the U1/U3 to Kurfürstenstraße and walk, journey time 18 minutes)
KM37 – Kurfürstenstraße (walk back, 9 minutes. Good time to stop for a snack)
KM40 – Gendarmenmarkt (U2 from Bulowstraße to Hausvogteiplatz, journey time 13 mins)
You could also miss out the third stop and make your way towards Unter den Linden for the final kilometres and the emotional moment when the runners turn the corner, see the Brandenburg Gate, and know their race is nearly run!
BERLIN MARATHON & THE CIRCUS
As well as front row seats for watching the runners when they are still somewhat fresh and cheerful, we have a number of things planned over marathon weekend for our guests. If you fancy a spot of carb-loading the night before, we have a Build Your Own Pizza event at The Circus Hostel. On the day of the race itself, we are offering 15-minute leg massage sessions to soothe those tired muscles. The massages are free, but are for Circus guests only and need to be reserved in advance. More details here.
The day after the marathon, on the roof terrace of The Circus Hotel, we are offering two stretch and unwind sessions with our yoga instructor. We have two slots at 10.30am and 11am and, again, these are exclusive for Circus guests and you need to sign up in advance: Post-marathon stretch and unwind.
If you are joining us for the Berlin Marathon over the weekend of the 28 and 29 September, don’t forget to tell us how your race went and tag us in all your inspiring social media posts! You’ll find us on Instagram here.
BEST RUNNING ROUTES IN THE CITY
If you are looking for a warm-up run on marathon weekend, or you are visiting us at another time and fancy lacing up your running shoes and hitting the streets, we’ve got some ideas for you. In reception you’ll find our Circus Jog Map, with a selection of routes leading out from the front door. Two neighbourhood routes (2.5km and 4km) take in the sights of Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg, including the New Synagogue, Museum Island and the Berliner Dom.
For the more adventurous, our longer routes to the Tiergarten (12km) or along the River Spree (12km) are a great way to stretch your legs and see many of the landmark sights of the city along the way, including the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the Philharmonic and more. You’ll find the maps at the receptions of The Circus Hotel, Hostel and Apartments… or just ask!
Beyond our carefully curated tours, we can recommend running at Tempelhof, where the old airport has been turned into a park with a marked 6km running route along the old taxiways. Trail runners will enjoy a morning out in the Grunewald forest, where you’ll even find a few hills – albeit human-made from the rubble of the Second World War. Or why not try our Saturday parkrun. Famous around the world, these free, timed events offer an organised 5km run each week (register once and you can take part in all). The Berlin event is held at Hasenheide – take the U8 to Boddinstraße (about 30 minutes from the Circus to the start/finish line in the park).
MORE RACES FOR YOUR DIARY
If you are not going to make it to Berlin for the marathon this year, there are loads of great races that you might want to add to your running bucket list. Here are some of our favourites…
December/January – New Year’s Eve Run
A trail run through the Grunewald Forest is a great way to end the year. Taking in those hills we mentioned above, many participants complete the 6.3km or 10.3km event in costume. And instead of a medal, finishers receive a jam donut: the traditional New Year snack of choice. For those who are really keen, there is a free 4km run from the Brandenburg Gate on New Year’s Day at 12 noon. And unlike the run the day before, you don’t need to register. Both events have a lovely, celebratory atmosphere and are great ways of ringing in the new year.
April – Berlin Half Marathon
Psst… don’t tell the marathon runners, but although it is true that the famous race passes by all the main landmarks of the city, there’s a big bit in the middle where there’s a distinct lack of famous sights. The Berlin Half Marathon in April offers a similar amount of sightseeing for only half the distance… and with Berlin being as flat as it is, it is a great course to aim for a personal best.
May – S25 Berlin
Berlin’s oldest organised run offers a variety of distances (5km, 10km, Half Marathon and 25km) and a team relay, but the real highlight is the chance to finish your run in the iconic Olympic Stadium, the place where Jesse Owens defied Hitler, Zinedine Zidane bowed out of football in the World Cup Final, and Usain Bolt broke world records and astonished the world. Emerging through the tunnel onto the famous track is a brilliant feeling and not to be missed.
July – Adidas City Runners Night
When the summer is hot, there’s only one thing to do… go for a run when the sun goes down. The Adidas City Runners Night offers runners and inline skaters a 5km or 10km course through the west end of the city, with live music, DJs and a party atmosphere that befits and running event that takes place as the sun goes down.
Adidas City Runners Night website
August – Mauerweglauf
Not for the faint-hearted, the Mauerweglauf is Berlin’s ultra marathon, 160 kilometres along the route of the Berlin Wall. Because the organisers understand that not everyone can manage 100 miles, you can also enter as part of a 2, 4 or 10+ person relay team. A brilliantly organised event that remembers the division of the city, the lives lost at the border, and takes in some of the most historically interesting and naturally beautiful corners of Berlin.
September – Berlin Marathon
And we’re back where we started… the Berlin Marathon. No more words are needed to describe one of the world’s most famous and fastest marathons. And even if you’re not a runner, get out in front of The Circus and soak up the atmosphere… there a few members of our team who did just that and were so inspired that they have completed the race themselves. Maybe you could be next?