The Race
Guaranteed Entry
Your place in the Barcelona Marathon is locked in. BIB with chip, runner bag, and a kit bag with an official Barcelona Marathon technical t-shirt.
Final release now liveView dates
Race Overview
You're in for a proper city adventure, a full marathon of grit, iconic architecture, and the beat of a city pushing you on all the way to the finish line at the Arc de Triomf.
This is the Barcelona Marathon, Mediterranean sunshine, Gaudí's city, and 26.2 miles of memories to last a lifetime.
- Distance
- 42.2 kmFull marathon
- Duration
- 4 daysRace on day 3
- Available from
- £150*Through fundraising
- Race weekend
- 12–15 Mar 2027Race day Sunday 14 March
Final release now liveView dates
Itinerary
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Welcome to Barcelona. Whether it's your first marathon or your 100th, you are in brilliant company, on proper tarmac, in one of the best (and flattest) marathons in the world.
After you've touched down, you'll be greeted by your Hardest Adventures rep at our accommodation in the heart of Barcelona. We'll kick off by heading together to the race expo to pick up your Barcelona Marathon bib. Then we're diving straight into the Gothic Quarter, wandering through the historic alleyways, and Roman columns before catching a sunset view of the Sagrada Família. Barcelona is a beautiful city, and the tapas (ham for some…) will be brilliant to celebrate the first night with, together.
Hardest highlightStanding under the Sagrada Família at dusk, craning your neck at a building that's been under construction since 1882, knowing you'll run right past it with 30,000+ others in two days.
What's included- Guaranteed entry to the Barcelona Marathon
- Race expo visit
- Hostel accommodation
- Group tapas dinner
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The rule here is know your enemy, it's time to test the tarmac with a guided shake-out run along the Barceloneta waterfront. There's nothing like the Mediterranean breeze to clear the pre-race nerves. For the rest of the day, we're keeping the legs fresh at Park Güell. Dinner is a major carb-loading event: massive pans of paella and plenty of pa amb tomàquet (tomato bread) to fuel the fire for tomorrow, where new PBs will be hit in the dozens.
Hardest highlightRunning the seafront promenade in the morning sun with the whole city still waking up. If this doesn't get you excited for race day, nothing will.
What's included- Guided shake-out run
- Hostel accommodation
- Carb-load dinner
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Now this is the big one. The Barcelona Marathon (or Zurich Marató Barcelona) is fast, flat, and famously loud. No pressure… but this is your chance to get an insane PB. You'll fly down Passeig de Gràcia with the whole city screaming your name, and your fellow Hardest Adventures runners cheering you on as you crash past the stunning Sagrada Família. Plenty of aid spots, keeps you going all the way to the finish line beneath the Arc de Triomf. Legendary end to what has been a serious journey.
The After-party: After a quick recovery, we're leaning into the late-start culture. We've organised a private after party to celebrate everything we have achieved together, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available for those who don't drink!
Hardest highlightRounding the corner at the Sagrada Família mid-race, tens of thousands of runners flowing past Gaudí's masterpiece. One of the great sights in world marathon running.
What's included- Barcelona Marathon race day
- Private Hardest Adventures after-party
- Hostel accommodation
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A free day exploring the remaining hotspots of Barcelona, that is, for anyone who's got the legs left in them having just run a marathon. The groins, the knees, everything will be feeling the burn of what you've just accomplished. And today might be the toughest of all, as we toast to the PBs, the memories, and the new friends made, before saying goodbye and returning home.
Hardest highlightA slow loop of Ciutadella with sore quads, a coffee in hand, and the medal round your neck. Barcelona is built for victory laps.
What's included- Breakfast
Race day: the course
Pace 6:24 /km · 10:18 /mile
- Landmark
- Start, halfway, finish
- 134 m of climbing in all
Sagrada Família
- Km
- 14
- Height
- 42 m
- Your time
- To go
- 28.3 km
Times assume an even pace. Course = the official route for 14 March 2027 (start Passeig de Gràcia, finish Arc de Triomf); heights read off it. Km marked ≈ are read off the route.
This trip takes on the full 42.2km Barcelona Marathon, a one-lap tour of the whole city that starts on Passeig de Gràcia and finishes beneath the Arc de Triomf. Fast, flat-ish, and packed with Gaudí landmarks, it's one of Europe's great early-season marathons, with spring sunshine and the Mediterranean waiting at the finish.
- Elevation
- The Zurich Marató Barcelona features a negative net elevation change. The course starts at roughly 34 metres above sea level on Passeig de Gràcia and finishes at around 18 metres beneath the Arc de Triomf, with 134 m of climbing in all and the highest point at km 14 by the Sagrada Família.
- Temperature
- 8–16°C in March. Cool starts, mild sunny mornings, and low rain risk. Close to perfect racing weather.
- Aid Stations
- Water and isotonic drinks every 2.5km from km 5, with gels from km 12.5 and fruit from km 15.
- Landmarks
- Passeig de Gràcia start past Gaudí's Casa Batlló, the Sagrada Família, the Monument a Colom, the Mediterranean seafront, Torre Glòries, and the finish beneath the Arc de Triomf.
- Crowds
- 30,000+ runners from all over the world, with locals lining the boulevards. One of Spain's biggest and best-supported races.
- Atmosphere
- Catalan drum bands, DJs, and non-stop street support in the spring sunshine. The stretch past the Sagrada Família is one of the most photographed moments in European marathon running.
What's Included
Race Day
Fuel & The Finish
Water and gel stations throughout the marathon route, and a finisher medal waiting at the line, plus a diploma to download, to mark the achievement.
The Hostel
Accommodation
Central Barcelona hostel dorms, exclusive to the Hardest community, so you're bunked with your fellow runners, close to the race route and the landmarks.
The Backup
Never On Your Own
A Hardest Adventures rep is in-country with you throughout the challenge, backed by a 24/7 UK emergency line active the whole time.
And all of this
All breakfasts and the big carb-loading dinner pre-race day
Race expo visit to collect your Barcelona Marathon bib
A free public transport ticket in your race kit for marathon day
Structured training plans to get you race ready
End-to-end fundraising support from the Hardest team
Private Hardest Adventures after-party to celebrate everything you've achieved
Fundraising support, your HA rep and challenge leaders help you smash your target
You sort four things.We handle the rest.
That's the deal. Everything on race weekend is our problem. Before you fly, you've got exactly four jobs:
- 01
Flights
Get yourself to Barcelona and back. We take it from there.
- 02
Travel Insurance
A policy that covers you for the trip and the race. Non-negotiable.
- 03
Visas
Sort a visa if you need one for Spain. Most UK passport holders won't, but check if the EU's new ETIAS travel permit has started.
- 04
The Training
We build your structured training plan. You put in the miles.
Not included in your trip price: flights to and from Barcelona, travel insurance, visas (if required), transport around Barcelona (outside marathon day), activities in Barcelona, meals not specified in the itinerary, and personal spending.
Choose your payment plan
Pay In Full
Settle the £525 in one payment at booking. No further admin, no follow-up emails.
20% Deposit + Monthly Instalments
Secure your place with a 20% deposit of your chosen registration fee (from £24), then pay £50 plus equal monthly instalments until three months before your trip, or clear the remainder by 12th November 2026. And we're treating you right, this is valid for both paid and fundraising plans.
Hardest Safety Net - After booking you have a 2-week window to change your mind and receive a full refund, no questions asked.
Stuck on the wall at HQ
Don’t take our word for it
- ★★★★★James Deayn10 months ago
Ran the Lisbon Marathon this weekend. Was the hardest physical challenge I've ever put my body through, purely because I ran the first half 1 minute off my half-marathon PB so the second half was INSANE! However, I feel like because it was such a difficult test of physical and mental strength, doing it with this amazing group of people brought us so much closer together. If you're thinking of doing one of these challenges, JUST DO IT! You feel so much accomplishment afterwards and the friendships you make are unbelievable.
Lisbon Marathon - ★★★★★Jack Thomas10 months ago
Incredible company! They’re such a wonderful group of ambitious and adventurous workers that are gonna force you to have a good time whatever the circumstances! I’ve been on two trips with them now and couldn’t recommend them enough 🔥
- ★★★★★Sam Brockway10 months ago
Had an amazing time completing the Lisbon Marathon challenge with hardest Adventures, our Hardest Adventures rep “Kitty” was extremely helpful and informative leading up to the challenge and the planning she put in to it ment I enjoyed every moment of the weekend in Lisbon. I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to complete a well organised highly rewarding challenge with the bonus of meeting loads of new people as well!
Lisbon Marathon - ★★★★★Helder Fernandes10 months ago
I did the Lisbon half marathon and had such a great time out. It was made so much easier having Kitty helping us out. 11/10 want to do another trip.
Lisbon Marathon - ★★★★★Maahika Singh10 months ago
I did the Lisbon half and I loved it the group was amazing and the experience was awesome. Kitty was super lovely and made everyone who came alone feel welcomed. 10/10 recommend
Lisbon Marathon - ★★★★★Imogen Andrews10 months ago
Amazing experience with really supportive staff - Kitty especially made the whole thing really stress free. It's a great way to explore, push yourself and meet lovely people!
- ★★★★★Benjamin Fox10 months ago
had good fun in lisbon and kitty was amazing!!
Lisbon Marathon
