Copenhagen Marathon 2027 : the course km by km, race week and travel

Copenhagen is as flat as a city marathon gets. On the 2026 course the whole race sits within 14.2 m of its lowest point, and its 69.3 m of climbing comes in small swells, never a hill. What it asks of a runner is patience at the end. The lowest ground of the race is at km 31, on the harbour front, and from there the road works upward almost all the way home: a third of the climbing comes in the last 12 km, on the legs least able to pay for it.

The course is one loop that starts and finishes on Øster Allé beside Fælledparken in Østerbro and passes through the inner city, Christianshavn, Nørrebro, Frederiksberg and Vesterbro on the way. The kilometres and heights below are measured along the organiser’s 2026 course map, matched to the streets and sampled on a bare-earth elevation model. The 2027 course is not published yet, so check the organiser’s course page before you plan your pacing.

Km 0 to 6.3: round Østerbro

From Øster Allé the course turns through Trianglen at about km 0.6 and heads up Østerbrogade. The road rises almost 6 m in the first two kilometres, from 7.9 m at the start to about 13.8 m, before a loop out along Jagtvej, Vennemindevej and Kildevældsgade brings it back to Østerbrogade at km 3.4. Strandboulevarden and Nordre Frihavnsgade take it down towards the harbour side of Østerbro, to under 6 m at about km 5, and Østerbrogade leads back south to the Lakes at km 6.3.

Km 6.3 to 9.6: the Lakes and into the old town

Øster Søgade runs along the eastern edge of the Lakes, then Sølvgade, Øster Voldgade and Gothersgade take the course into the old town. It runs down through the centre on Christian IX’s Gade, Kristen Bernikows Gade and Bremerholm to Havnegade, and crosses the harbour on Knippelsbro at about km 9.5.

Km 9.6 to 14.2: Christianshavn, Langebro and the city hall

On the far side the course runs through Christianshavn on Torvegade, then follows Ved Stadsgraven and Amager Boulevard, and the ground drops to under 3 m around km 10.7. Langebro takes it back over the harbour at km 11.4, the second harbour bridge inside 2 km of road. H.C. Andersens Boulevard leads past City Hall Square at about km 12.4, and Vester Voldgade and Nørre Voldgade climb gently round the western edge of the old town to Dronning Louises Bro, where the course crosses the Lakes at about km 14.

Km 14.2 to 20.3: Nørrebro

Nørrebrogade carries the course into Nørrebro, and for the next six kilometres it zigzags through the district on Fælledvej, Nørre Allé, Møllegade, Jagtvej, Mimersgade, Stefansgade and Borups Allé. The ground rises to almost 15 m near km 15.6 before easing back.

Km 20.3 to 24.6: Nordre Fasanvej and Frederiksberg

Nordre Fasanvej is the course’s longest single street, 2.1 km south from km 20.3, and the halfway mark falls on it. So does the high point of the race, 16.4 m at about km 22.2. The three-hour half-way cut-off is measured at 21.1 km. Smallegade and Allégade lead to Frederiksberg Allé, which the course follows for just over a kilometre from km 23.5. Frederiksberg is a separate municipality, and in 2026 the organiser’s map showed the avenue closed to traffic only from 7am to 3pm.

Km 24.6 to 30.3: Vesterbro and down to the harbour

From the end of Frederiksberg Allé the road mostly falls. Vesterbrogade, Gammel Kongevej and Vester Søgade take the course past the southern end of the Lakes, then back out along Vesterbrogade, Istedgade and Enghavevej through Vesterbro. Ingerslevsgade leads to Dybbølsbro at about km 30.2.

Km 30.3 to 33.0: the harbour front

Kalvebod Brygge runs along the harbour, and the lowest point of the race, 2.2 m, comes at about km 31. Christians Brygge passes the Black Diamond, the Royal Library’s harbour-front extension, at about km 32, and the course crosses Christian IV’s Bro at about km 32.4. Holmens Kanal leads into Kongens Nytorv, at the head of Nyhavn, at about km 32.9.

Km 33.0 to 42.2: Bredgade and the long road home

From Kongens Nytorv the course runs up Bredgade past the Marble Church and Amalienborg, between about km 33 and 34, and the climb back from the harbour starts here: the ground is back above 10 m by km 33.2. Store Kongensgade, Kronprinsessegade and Øster Voldgade take it north, and Sølvgade, Øster Farimagsgade and Dag Hammarskjölds Allé lead back into Østerbro.

The last long street is Strandboulevarden, 1.9 km from km 38.5. Then the course turns onto Østerbrogade at km 40.5 and climbs to the last high ground of the race, 13.1 m at about km 41. From the low point at km 31 the road has gained about 11 m, with 23 m of climbing in all since km 30. The final turn onto Øster Allé leaves about 600 m to the finish, which is where the race started.

The expo and your bib

The 2027 expo dates are not out yet. In 2026 the expo ran from Wednesday to Saturday before the race at Forum København, Julius Thomsens Plads 1 in Frederiksberg: Wednesday from 2pm to 7pm, Thursday from noon to 7pm, and Friday and Saturday from 10am to 7pm. Your start card is emailed to you no later than a week before the race; at the expo you show it on your phone with a valid ID, and your bib is printed there. The race bag and the T-shirt are handed out at the expo too. The organiser is plain about the rule: you cannot pick up your bib on race day.

The start

The race starts at 9.30am, and the start groups line up in colour-coded blocks, your colour printed on your bib. The 2027 group times are not published. In 2026 the start area opened at 7.30am and the organiser asked runners to arrive at least an hour before the start. Water and toilets are in the start area.

The Runners Area is in Fælledparken, behind the start and finish. That is where you check in your bag before the race, and where you collect it afterwards. In 2026 bags left unclaimed on race day could be collected the following Monday from noon. The finish is in the same place: you cross the line, get water and your medal, and the family exit is at the far end of the Runners Area.

Pacers and aid

The organiser runs pace teams for a range of target times; the 2027 list is not out. The 2026 course page lists refreshment zones at km 3.8, 8.1, 12.3, 16, 19.8, 21.1, 24.3, 27.8, 32.7, 35.3, 35.7 and 38.3, with water and High5 energy drink at every one, though its introduction counts ten zones.

Cut-offs

There is a cut-off of three hours net at the half-marathon mark and six hours net for the whole distance, both timed from when you cross the start line. Both work out at the same pace, about 8 minutes 32 seconds a kilometre. A runner on track for six hours is on track for the half-way cut too, but has no time to lose in the first half and make up later.