PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONCH / RACE GUIDE

SwissCityMarathon - Lucerne

Name: SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne 2024: fly over the marathon course
Uploaded: 2024-10-17
Description: Held every October in Lucerne, Switzerland, the SwissCityMarathon comprises the full marathon (42.195 km, also serving as the Swiss national championships), half marathon (21 km), a 10 km City Run, a

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Luzern
CH

Tobias Lackner · CC BY-SA 4.0Bigfrodo / Wikimedia Commons / Public DomainBigfrodo / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

Race date in 10 days: Oct 25, 2026 Sun
City · Distance: Luzern · 10km · 42.195km · 21.1km
Entry fee: CHF 109From the 2025 edition
Status: ClosedSee how to enter ↗

2027Date Oct 31, 2027 · Entry Oct 25, 2026 ~

2026Date Oct 25, 2026 · Closed

Official website ↗

Instagram YouTube

D-day as of Oct 15, 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.

Held every October in Lucerne, Switzerland, the SwissCityMarathon comprises the full marathon (42.195 km, also serving as the Swiss national championships),

half marathon (21 km), a 10 km City Run, a 10 km Charity Run, and the children's Maratholino.

The finish is in front of the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne,

and the course is known for views of Lake Lucerne (Lake Vierwaldstättersee), the Alps, and the Old Town.

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.

#October Marathon#Luzern#SwissCityMarathonLucerne#Half marathon#Overseas Marathon

Stories from runners who've been there.

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

Race reports: 4

Daniel SteinerRan in 2025

“I can definitely say that I have never taken part in any other marathon this often, at least.”

They ran the 2025 Lucerne Marathon with a 5-hour pacer, describing the rain, the revised course, and matching pace with other participants.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Mit Sicherheit kann ich immerhin sagen, dass ich bei keinem anderen Marathon so häufig teilgenommen habe.

Read the original on Marathon4You

Lisa WickihalterRan in 2025 · Finish time 03:56:43

“I felt a great sense of awe toward this distance. It was truly enormous!”

The runner finished the 2025 Lucerne SwissCity full course in 3:56:43. The runner was very nervous before the start but managed the pace well, drawing strength from an acquaintance met along the way and friends who made surprise appearances at the finish line.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Der Respekt vor dieser Distanz war gross – sehr gross sogar!

Read the original on LinkedIn

Matthias BachmannRan in 2025

“The New Route, the Same Passion!”

The runner ran the new route of the 2025 Lucerne Marathon and made a 5-minute video. It shows the journey to Alpnachstad and back to Lucerne, the sunrise over the lake, and the support in the old town.

Read the original on Bachmann Run

Pernilla BredoltRan in 2024 · Finish time 3:40:38

“But I was a very happy finisher anyway.”

They decided at the last minute to enter the full marathon and ran two laps. After navigating the old town’s cobblestones and late congestion, they endured discomfort after 34 km and cut more than 10 minutes off their previous personal best.

Read the original on Runwaytoadventures

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.

2024 Aerial view

Go&Race · Aerial view

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 2025 edition

Next edition entry

Sun, October 25, 2026

General entry

Tiered pricing: the fee rises the later you register.

The 2026 race is sold out in all categories and only a waiting list is in operation.

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 42.195km

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

From the 2025 edition

Runners start · local timeFrom 08:25

Time limit6 hours

Full marathon 6 hours and 15 minutes · half marathon 3 hours · City Run 1 hour and 30 minutes

Event	Start	Time limit
Marathon42.195km	—	6h 15m
Half21.0975km	—	3h
10K10km	08:58~09:15	1h 30m

Full marathon CHF 109~149 (tiered) · half marathon CHF 63~94 · 10km City Run CHF 41~66 · 10km Charity Run CHF 61~86 · Maratholino (4~6 years old) Free
All categories of the 2026 race are sold out, and applications are currently only available through the waiting list.

START

Haldenstrasse, 6006 Lucerne

near the Swiss Museum of Transport

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Swiss Transport Museum, Lidostrasse 5, 6006 Luzern

Finish · Google Maps

Cutoff
Marathon · half marathon 15:00, 10 km 10:45 finish cut-off

Original course map · goandrace.com

Runners start · local time — Full marathon 08:25~08:38 sequential departure (every 2~3 minutes) · half marathon 09:58~12:00 (every 10 minutes) · City Run 08:58~09:15 (every 5 minutes) · Maratholino (children) Lucerne 10:20~10:45·Horw 11:15~11:40

The full marathon (42.195 km) is described as a course passing Lucerne's landmarks and offering sweeping panoramic views of the mountains.

The half marathon (21 km) is described as a course passing Lucerne's attractions and showcasing the surrounding scenery.

The 10 km City Run starts in Horw, passes through the picturesque lanes of Lucerne's Old Town,

and continues to the finish of the Swiss Museum of Transport.

World Athletics Label: Label Label
AIMS Certified: Member race of the AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races)
Typical race-season temperature: around 9°C (48°F): Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Pacers

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Finisher certificate

Bag drop

Finisher T-shirt

To the start line,
step by step.

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

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Starterguide (sent via email approximately 10 days before the race) and ID required.
Runner Expo Friday, Saturday / Race day (Sunday) for international participants: full marathon and half marathon 07:30~11:30, 10km city run 07:30~09:00

Runner Expo (Friday, Saturday) / Sunday International participants pick up: Swiss Transport Museum for full marathon and half marathon, Horw for 10km city run

Google Maps Directions

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startLuzern Hauptbahnhof (Bahnhof Luzern) · 25 min walk
Transit cardIf you're an overnight hotel guest, use the free Lucerne Guest Card for travel within the city zone; otherwise tap your contactless bank card at a VBL ticket machine, or use the FAIRTIQ/SBB EasyRide app to check in and out automatically. Where to buy
Getting to the finishVerkehrshaus der Schweiz (Swiss Transport Museum) - same location as start (half marathon and full marathon both start · finish here)

Source · checked Aug 20, 2026 · Source · checked Aug 17, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

Luzern Hauptbahnhof (Bahnhof Luzern) · 25 min walk

Train S3 or Voralpenexpress (VAE) from Luzern station to Verkehrshaus, ~20 min. Or lakeside walk from Luzern station, ~25 min.

Race day closes numerous streets in Lucerne, Horw, Hergiswil, Stansstad, Alpnach -- exact streets/times on organizer external map (not in FAQ text). No closures Friday/Saturday before race.

Public transport strongly recommended; all participants get free SwissRunners-Ticket for Swiss public transit, valid 2 days before to 2 days after event.

Map

Getting to the finish

Verkehrshaus der Schweiz (Swiss Transport Museum) - same location as start (half marathon and full marathon both start/finish here)

Same access as start: S3/VAE train ~20 min, or 25 min lakeside walk, or free shuttle boat.

Map

Start shuttle

Free ferry shuttle race day between Luzern station (Bridge/Steg 5) and Verkehrshaus: every 12 min, ~30 min crossing, 07:00-16:45. 10km race starts separately in Horw, Ringstrasse 3, reached via S4/S5 train 15 min or bus line 20, 25 min from Luzern station.

Transit card

SwissPass (optional, for residents/frequent travelers — not needed for a short visit)

swisspass.ch (online registration) Works directly at the gates

Alternative: Lucerne Guest Card (Visitor Card) Free with any overnight paid stay (issued by your accommodation) — Automatically worth using if staying overnight in Lucerne — gives free 2nd-class bus/train travel within Zone 10 (covers the whole city). Ask your accommodation for it; it cannot be purchased separately.

Like the rest of Switzerland, Lucerne's VBL network is a gate-free, proof-of-payment system — no physical tap barriers, but ticket machines accept contactless bank card payment and the FAIRTIQ app calculates and charges the cheapest fare automatically, including capping at a day-pass price if you ride enough.

Where to buy

Source · checked Aug 20, 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.

According to the official website, the organizers do not provide private-car parking and strongly recommend using public transport.

Participants receive a free “Swiss Runners Ticket,” valid for travel within Switzerland.

A pacer program is offered.

The full marathon has around 60 experienced pacers targeting times from 3:00 to 5:00 (red flags),

while the half-marathon has pacers targeting 1:30 to 2:10 (blue flags).

Water is provided frequently and adequately throughout the course, along with sports drink, energy gels and energy bars.

At the finish, local beer is available upon presentation of the bib coupon.

Participants are encouraged to collect their bibs at the Runner Expo on Friday or Saturday.

International participants can also collect their bibs on race morning.

Times are local to Luzern. 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.

Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern

Hotel · 1.2km

9.6/10(302)

View on Booking.com

Lucerne Travel Pass, 2nd Class: Unlimited Travel by Train, Bus & Boat

CHF 258

SwissCityMarathon - Lucerne

About SwissCityMarathon - Lucerne — 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