PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONGR / RACE GUIDE

Alexander The Great International Marathon

Name: ALEXANDER THE GREAT MARATHON 2018
Uploaded: 2018-11-23
Description: The race starts in Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, and finishes in Thessaloniki. Finish is in front of the Alexander the Great statue on the coastal road. The course is mostly flat, mak

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Thessaloniki
GR

Hermann Hammer · CC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons · Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons · Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons · Annatsach, CC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons · Annatsach, CC BY-SA 4.0

Race date Apr expected: April 2027
City · Distance: Thessaloniki · 42.195km
Entry fee: €25From the 2026 edition
Status: SoonSee how to enter ↗

2027Date April 2027 · expected · Soon

2026Date Apr 26, 2026 · Entry fee €25 · Start 07:30

Official website ↗

Instagram YouTube

D-day as of Oct 5, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

The race starts in Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, and finishes in Thessaloniki.

Finish is in front of the Alexander the Great statue on the coastal road.

The course is mostly flat, making it well suited to chasing a fast time.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

#AlexanderTheGreatInternationalMarathon#Thessaloniki#Overseas Marathon#April Marathon#World certified marathon

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

3 race reports

bjornra1Ran in 2025

“As I got closer to the finish and more people appeared along the road, I began to feel more energetic.”

The runner ran the 2025 Alexander the Great International Marathon. Contrary to expectations at the start, the uphill sections continued and the runner experienced leg pain, but the water stations and medical support along the road section extending for more than 37km were good, and the cheering near the finish gave the runner strength.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Loppua kohti alkaa aina piristymään kun ihmisiä on enemmän kadunvarsilla.

Read the original on Seikkailuja juosten

Anton ReiterRan in 2023 · Finish time 4:22

“Many young volunteers continued to applaud warmly, and completing a marathon after exceeding time limit seemed to be regarded as a physical achievement worthy of respect.”

The runner completed the 2023 Alexander the Great International Marathon in 4 hours 22 minutes. The uphill sections and broken asphalt were difficult, but the water-station arrangements and volunteer support were good, and the runner shared the experience of passing through the finish line even after the time limit.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Die vielen jugendlichen Helfer applaudieren trotzdem artig, offenbar bewertet so mancher das Finish eines Marathons auch mit Überzeit als zu respektierende körperliche Leistung.

Read the original on HDsports

Mike's European MarathonsRan in 2016 · Finish time 4:03

“I'm not disappointed as huge crowds spill out of coffee bars to cheer and shout alongside the samba band.”

A full marathon participant in the Alexander the Great Marathon recorded the early-morning bus ride and wait for the start in Pella, the open countryside scenery early on, and the quieter roads later.

Read the original on Mike's European Marathons

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Finisher vlog

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2026 edition

General entry

You can pay by credit card online on the official site, submit the application by fax/email,

or on-site at the Thessaloniki National Kaftanzoglio Stadium office.

2026 registration deadline 4/1 (4/15 for some stocks)

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The 42.195km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition

Runners start · local timeFrom 07:30

START

Central Square of the Municipality of Pella, in front of the statue of Alexander the Great

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Thessaloniki coastal road

Megalou Alexandrou Avenue (Alexander the Great statue)

Finish · Google Maps

Original course map · atgm.gr

The Alexander the Great International Marathon is a point-to-point race from Pella, capital of ancient Macedonia, to the modern city of Thessaloniki.

The first race was held on April 16, 2006, and the April 26, 2026 race was the 20th edition.

It's an AIMS member race, and alongside the marathon there are 10K and 5K runs and walks and a 1,000m race for elementary school students.

The marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. in front of the equestrian statue of Alexander the Great on the pedestrian street of Pella's central square.

After 2km it joins the Edessa–Thessaloniki highway and runs to Chalkidona, crossing the Axios River by bridge at 13km.

Around 20km it passes the junction toward the expressway, crosses the Gallikos River at 28km,

and goes through Ionia (Diavata) at 30km and central Kordelio at 35km before entering the city.

The 40km point is in front of the Thessaloniki courthouse, and 41–42km is on Nikis Avenue, the seafront boulevard.

The finish is in front of the Alexander the Great statue on Megalou Alexandrou Avenue.

The time limit is 6 hours, and while running you must keep to the right-hand lanes of the road.

The 10K starts at Ampelokipi Municipal Stadium and the 5K in front of Thessaloniki City Hall, and both come into the same finish.

World Athletics Label: Label Label

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

From the most recent edition

Finisher certificate 2021

Event T-shirt 2021

Finisher medal 2021

Start shuttle 2021

Timing chip 2021

This may change for the next edition.

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Stations & transport near the venue

Just tap your contactless bank card or phone directly on the reader when boarding — no need to buy a local card. The system auto-caps your fare at the day-pass price.

Getting to the start

Pella, in front of the statue of Alexander the Great — no practical public transit link timed for a pre-dawn start

Point-to-point course from Pella to Thessaloniki.

Organizer runs free official buses from Thessaloniki to the Pella start,

departing 05:15-05:45 from Kaftanzoglio Stadium or the Court Building (Δικαστικό Μέγαρο).

Getting to the finish

statue of Alexander the Great, Megalou Alexandrou Ave, Thessaloniki coastal road (near the White Tower)

Nearest Thessaloniki Metro (Line 1) stations: Venizelou (~6 min walk), Sintrivani (~11 min), Agia Sofia (~15 min);

several city bus routes also serve the White Tower/waterfront area.

More details

Free official bus Thessaloniki -> Pella start line (05:15-05:45 from Kaftanzoglio Stadium or the Court Building).

No dedicated return shuttle from the finish — use regular metro/bus network.

Details are from the 2026 edition (20th anniversary, 26 April, 07:30 start).

More details

Thessaloniki's Tap2Ride system lets you tap the same contactless card/phone all day and it will never charge more than the 24h pass price.

Cash is not accepted on board buses (card/phone only).

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026 Source · checked Aug 17, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

In 2026, bib and packet pickup was at the registration center in Hall 2 of the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center (HELEXPO),

from Thursday, April 23 to Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Race materials can only be collected at this registration center.

The organizers run buses to the start in Pella.

They leave from two places, Kaftanzoglio National Stadium (yellow ticket) and the Thessaloniki courthouse (blue ticket), between 5:15 and 5:45 a.m.;

when you collect your bib, you choose your departure point at a dedicated desk inside the registration center and get the matching ticket.

You need to show both the ticket and your bib to board, and all runners must be at the start by 6:30 a.m., an hour before the gun.

The course has 15 refreshment stations from 5km on, with portable toilets and medical support at the start, every refreshment station and the finish.

Personal drinks aren't accepted.

The 2026 entry fee for the marathon was €35.

Thessaloniki in April averages a high of 18.6°C and a low of 8.7°C, with about 13 wet days in the month.

Times are local to Thessaloniki. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels that make race morning easyHotels to rest in right after the finish

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Accommodation · 171m

9.2/10(90)

View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

Tesventures Beer Experience

€40

View on Klook

Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map Seeing Thessaloniki with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

Checklist Local eSIM · Yesim Flight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelp Pace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Thessaloniki runners' room

FAQ

When does Alexander The Great International Marathon 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in April 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sun, April 26, 2026.

How much is the Alexander The Great International Marathon 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about €25.

How do I register for Alexander The Great International Marathon 2027?

Entry routes: General entry.

Registration is handled on the official website.

(From the 2026 edition)

What distances does Alexander The Great International Marathon 2027 offer?

Marathon. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Alexander The Great International Marathon 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:30. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Alexander The Great International Marathon 2027 start?

Central Square of the Municipality of Pella, in front of the statue of Alexander the Great.

(From the 2026 edition)

Where does Alexander The Great International Marathon 2027 finish?

Thessaloniki coastal road – Megalou Alexandrou Avenue (Alexander the Great statue).

(From the 2026 edition)

What transit card do I need for Alexander The Great International Marathon 2027?

Just tap your contactless bank card or phone directly on the reader when boarding — no need to buy a local card.

The system auto-caps your fare at the day-pass price.

(From the 2026 edition)

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Alexander The Great International Marathon

About Alexander The Great International Marathon — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run