PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONRO / RACE GUIDE

Bucharest Half Marathon

Name: Bucharest Marathon - Half Marathon
Uploaded: 2022-10-10
Description: Romania's biggest half marathon weekend. It takes place in Bucharest. Events include the 21 km and 10 km races, a 3-person relay and a 2.5 km Fun Run.

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Bucharest
RO

Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons · Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons · Razvan Socol, CC BY-SA 3.0Wikimedia Commons · Razvan Socol, CC BY-SA 3.0Wikimedia Commons · Razvan Socol, CC BY-SA 3.0

Race date in 216 days: May 9, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: Bucharest · 21km · 10km · 2.5km
Entry fee: RON 110Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenTBD ~ Sun, May 2, 2027See how to enter ↗

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.

Romania's biggest half marathon weekend. It takes place in Bucharest.

Events include the 21 km and 10 km races, a 3-person relay and a 2.5 km Fun Run.

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.

#BucharestHalfMarathon#Bucharest#Overseas Marathon#May Marathon#10K running

Stories from those who ran it first.

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

4 race reports

ACS Cross si AventuraRan in 2025 · Finish time 1:46:30

“After passing finish, it was difficult even to put my foot down.”

They walked and limped with pain during the final 5 km of the half marathon, but the time cushion they built early on enabled them to finish in 1:46:30.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

După linia de finish abia puteam să calc pe picior.

Read the original on ACS Cross si Aventura

CavalaryRan in 2025

“I was quite pleased with 5:05 on the second kilometer, which includes that climb, on which I took it easy.”

Cavalary positioned himself in the start area at the 2025 Bucharest half marathon to reduce congestion and did not push too hard on the early climbs. After running the second kilometre in 5 minutes 5 seconds, he tried to increase his pace and wrote that he took water and a banana at aid station.

Read the original on Cav’s Place

Liviu NastasaRan in 2024 · Finish time 2:03:17

“The result, was not bad, but obviously not great .. the time being similar to my early days (when I started running 10 years ago) – but I wasn’t disappointed.”

After about 2 years away from official races, Liviu returned at the 2024 Bucharest Half Marathon. Liviu used only 8 of the 16 weeks in the training plan, and the finish time was 2 hours 3 minutes 17 seconds. Liviu looked back on the race without feeling discouraged, even though the time was similar to previous results.

Read the original on Liviu Nastasa

Blogul unui băieţel authorRan in 2016 · Finish time 2:12:03

“When I looked at my watch, I had completed finish in 2 hours 12 minutes, exactly at 02:12:03.”

The runner took part in their first half marathon in 2016 and finished in 2 hours 12 minutes 3 seconds. They struggled with the sunshine and declining energy in the second half, but said that the support and the charitable purpose motivated them to finish.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

m-am uitat la ceas și am văzut că am trecut de poartă la 2 ore și 12 minute, mai exact 02:12:03.

Read the original on Blogul unui băieţel

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

The Runderer · 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.

General entry

Apply online at the official OMV Petrom Bucharest Half Marathon site,

with prices rising by date (early 110 RON → 125 → 150 RON), no lottery/charity track.

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The 21km I'll run

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 09:00

Time limit3 hours

START

Constantin Prezan Street, near the Triumphal Arch, Bucharest

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Constantin Prezan Street, near the Arc de Triomphe, Bucharest

Finish · Google Maps

Cut-off
Time limit 3 hours from official start; course cut-off scheduled for 12:00, official event end 12:30; finishers after cut-off excluded from official standings and roads reopen to traffic

Original course map · b365.ro

The OMV Petrom Bucharest half marathon takes place in Bucharest on 8-9 May 2027.

The 10km and 2.5km events take place on 8 May, and the 21km and 3-person relay start at 9:00 am on 9 May.

In addition to the half marathon, where participants compete for personal times,

there are shorter distances and a team event, allowing you to choose an event that matches your reason for taking part.

The event has been held since 2012 and reaches its 16th edition in 2027.

Bucharest Running Club organises it with the Romanian Athletics Federation, Bucharest City Hall and CTMB,

combining the 21km, 10km, 2.5km and 3-person relay into one weekend programme.

A sports expo is set up in the car park at Constitution Square during the event, and participant kit collection also takes place there.

World Athletics Label: Label Label
Typical race-season temperature: around 18°C (64°F): Short sleeves — hydrate for the warmth

Participant benefits

Timing chip

To the start line,
step by step.

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

Pick up your bib at the expo

Expo/festivities area near Herăstrău Park, Charles de Gaulle Circle entrance, Bucharest

Google Maps Directions

Stations & transport near the venue

Tap your foreign contactless debit/credit card directly on the validators for both metro (Metrorex, via BCR) and STB buses/trams/trolleybuses — it's the easiest option and no local card purchase is needed for short visits.

Getting to the start

Bd.

Constantin Prezan, next to the Triumphal Arch (Arcul de Triumf), Bucharest.

Official URL redirects to bucuresti21km.

Getting to the finish

Same location as start, Bd. Constantin Prezan/Arcul de Triumf.

More details

No dedicated shuttle -- organizers recommend metro to Aviatorilor station (also near expo/kit pickup at King Mihai I Park/Herastrau, Charles de Gaulle statue entrance).

Withdrawing runners wait at hydration points for an organizer vehicle or use public transport.

Note: a differently-branded 'Bucharest International Half-Marathon by Constantina Dita' exists as a SEPARATE event/organizer with a different date (Apr 25) and expo location -- not to be confused with this one.

IC card

Activ Card (STB) / Metrorex travel card

STB kiosks and vending machines (Activ card, 3.7 RON) for buses/trams;

Metrorex ticket booths for metro-only cards

Works directly at the gates

Alternative: 24-hour metropolitan pass ~20 RON (surface transport day pass reportedly 12-20 RON depending on source) —

Worth it if you'll take more than 4-5 rides in a day;

otherwise contactless tap-per-ride (flat 3 RON/90 min on STB) is simpler.

More details

Bucharest has two separate networks: STB (bus/tram/trolleybus) and Metrorex (metro),

historically with separate ticketing, though contactless bank card tap-in now works on both.

Fare sources disagree slightly on exact day-pass pricing — confirm current rate on-site or via the STB/Metrorex apps.

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.

Participant kits are collected at the sports expo in Constitution Square.

Participants in the 21km and relay can collect their kits on 6 or 7 May from 16:00 to 20:00, or on 8 May from 12:00 to 17:00.

The 10km kit is also available on 6-7 May from 16:00 to 20:00, and participants arriving in Bucharest on race day can collect it on 8 May from 07:30 to 08:30 before preparing for the 09:00 start.

The 2.5km kit is collected on 8 May from 10:30 to 11:30, and the event starts at 12:00.

Participants in the 21km and relay can also collect their kits on 9 May from 07:30 to 08:30 by presenting proof of arrival on race day,

and both events start together at 09:00.

There is no race-day registration for the 21km, 10km or relay, so complete your registration in advance.

Choosing accommodation with easy access to the Constitution Square expo will reduce your travel.

Times are local to Bucharest. 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 easy

7 places

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

The start and finish are in the same place
We picked stays around that one spot.

Continental Forum Bucuresti Palatul Parlamentului

Hotel · 324m

8.6/10(3282)

View on Booking.com

Hotel Venezia By Zeus International

Hotel · 427m

8.3/10(2252)

View on Booking.com

Cosy studio

Accommodation · 265m

10.0/10(13)

View on Booking.com

City Garden Apartments

Accommodation · 290m

9.8/10(230)

View on Booking.com

Cozy Plevnei

Accommodation · 374m

9.2/10(88)

View on Booking.com

Downtown Moon 21 Apartment Cismigiu Park

Accommodation · 365m

9.2/10(48)

View on Booking.com

Maison Bucarest Apartments by Olala Homes

Accommodation · 345m

9.1/10(1767)

View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

40 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

RECOVERY & SPA7SIT-DOWN TOURS5CARB LOADING4LOCAL TRANSIT7FAMILY PASS7TRAIL & OUTDOOR2CITY TOURS7EASY WALKING1

Village Museum, Ceausescu Mansion and Therme

RON 320

Bucharest Half Marathon

About Bucharest Half 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