On race morning, extensive road closures affect central Berlin around the marathon route.

That makes planning your journey to the start an important part of race day. Public transport is a practical option for many runners, but it is still worth checking your exact connection and allowing enough time to reach the event site.

Your race entry includes a four-day public-transport ticket for fare zones A, B and C, while the start and finish are both on Straße des 17. Juni near the Brandenburg Gate.

Here is where the start and finish are, how to reach the event site, how to plan your race-morning journey, how to travel back after the finish and what to keep in mind about road closures.

Key Takeaways

• The start and finish are on Straße des 17. Juni near the Brandenburg Gate, with race day taking place on Sunday 27 September 2026.
• Your race entry includes a four-day public-transport ticket for fare zones A, B and C. It is valid from 00:00 on 24 September until 03:00 on 28 September and is for the participant only.
• For runners, the organiser lists Unter den Linden, Brandenburger Tor, Bundestag and Potsdamer Platz as nearby U-Bahn stations, with Brandenburger Tor, Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Potsdamer Platz also listed for S-Bahn services.
• Event-site entrance times for runners range from 07:00 to 09:00 depending on start block, while the first runner wave starts at 08:45.
• Extensive road closures will affect the marathon route. Bus and tram services may be diverted or disrupted, so check current transport information before travelling.

Where Are the Start and Finish Lines?

The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON starts and finishes on Straße des 17. Juni in the area around the Brandenburg Gate.

The start line is on Straße des 17. Juni between the Brandenburg Gate and Kleiner Stern. On the final kilometres, runners approach via Unter den Linden and Pariser Platz, pass through the Brandenburg Gate and continue for roughly 400 metres to the finish on Straße des 17. Juni.

The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2026 takes place on Sunday 27 September.

If you want to familiarise yourself with the course before planning your journey, our BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2026 Route Guide covers the main sections, landmarks and final approach in more detail.

Getting to the Berlin Marathon by Public Transport

Public transport is recommended for race-day travel because extensive road closures affect streets around the marathon route.

Your race entry includes a four-day public-transport ticket covering fare zones A, B and C. It is valid from 00:00 on 24 September until 03:00 on 28 September, is intended only for the participant and is not transferable.

The exact instructions for using the included transport ticket are sent with your Start Pass. Check those instructions before your first journey rather than assuming that you must first collect your physical bib at the Expo.

For runners travelling to the start/finish area, the organiser currently highlights:

• U-Bahn: Unter den Linden, Brandenburger Tor, Bundestag and Potsdamer Platz
• S-Bahn: Brandenburger Tor, Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Potsdamer Platz
• Regional services: Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Potsdamer Platz

Which station and route work best for you will depend on where you are staying and the live services available on race morning. You may need one or more changes, so check your actual journey in advance.

U-Bahn and S-Bahn are practical options for many journeys around the road closures, but services can still be affected by delays, engineering work or other operational changes. Check live transport information before setting off.

Bus and tram services may also be diverted or disrupted because of the marathon. Do not rely solely on your usual weekend route.

Planning Your Race-Morning Journey

Work back from the start time for your block and allow enough time for public transport, the walk from the station, event-site entry and the route to your starting area.

Runner start times and event-site entrance times are:

• Blocks A, B and C: start at 08:45, event-site entrance from 07:00
• Blocks D and E: start at 09:05, event-site entrance from 07:30
• Blocks F and G: start at 09:33, event-site entrance from 08:00
• Block H: start at 10:02, event-site entrance from 08:30
• Block J: start at 10:12, event-site entrance from 08:30
• Block K: start at 10:27, event-site entrance from 09:00

These times refer to entry to the event site rather than the opening time of an individual start-block entrance. Once inside the event site, follow the marked routes to your designated starting area.

There are two runner entrances. Platz der Republik, opposite the Reichstag, is open to all runners. Bremer Weg is available only to runners with a purple bib number and a poncho symbol on the bib who are not assigned to Block K.

Stations near the event site may be particularly busy on race morning, so allow more time than you would for a normal Sunday journey.

Sort out your clothing-bag or poncho option before race day too. If you booked the official clothing bag, you can use the designated clothing drop-off and collect the bag again after the finish.

If you did not book the clothing-bag option, you cannot drop off clothing or valuables on race day and will receive the event poncho after the finish. You can still wear an old hoodie, training jacket or other warm layer before the start and donate it at the designated Berliner Stadtmission collection points.

Maps, live transport information, frequent screen use and messaging can increase smartphone battery use across a long race day. A power bank can provide additional backup if you expect to spend several hours away from a socket.

Getting Back to Your Hotel After the Finish

After crossing the finish line on Straße des 17. Juni, you are guided through the finisher area and eventually out of the event site. Once you leave, you cannot re-enter.

Family and friends can meet you at the official Family Meeting Point in front of the Paul-Löbe-Haus. Meeting areas are organised by the first letter of the runner's surname, so agree on the relevant letter before race day.

Your included four-day public-transport ticket remains valid within its stated time window, so you can use it for your journey back through fare zones A, B and C.

Do not simply choose the geographically closest station after the finish. Barriers, crowds and one-way participant flows can affect the route out of the event site.

Follow the event signs first, then check your live journey. Nearby public-transport options listed by the organiser include Unter den Linden, Brandenburger Tor, Bundestag, Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Potsdamer Platz.

Road closures may continue to affect movement around the city while the race is taking place, and bus or tram routes can be diverted. Check the latest connection instead of relying on a fixed route planned several days earlier.

If family or friends are planning their own race-day movements, our BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2026 Spectator Guide covers viewing points, tracking, meeting locations and getting around the course.

Transport, Road Closures and Final Checks for the Berlin Marathon 2026

Extensive road closures will be in place around the marathon route on race day. Exact closure times vary by location, so avoid relying on road-closure timings from previous editions.

Bus and tram services may be diverted or restricted, while U-Bahn and S-Bahn can be practical alternatives for many journeys. Check the organiser's latest road-closure information and live public-transport services shortly before travelling.

If you are travelling outside the validity period of your included four-day ticket, you will need another valid public-transport ticket.

For many journeys within central Berlin, fare zones AB are sufficient. At the time of writing, an AB single ticket costs about €4.00 and a 24-hour AB ticket about €11.20. Journeys into fare zone C, including some destinations outside central Berlin, require the appropriate additional coverage. Check current fares before travelling.

If you already have a Deutschlandticket, it is valid on eligible local public transport and regional trains, but not on long-distance IC, EC or ICE services.

Save important race information on your phone the night before, including your start block, event-site entrance time and Family Meeting Point. Maps, transport apps and messaging can increase battery use over several hours, particularly if you are using your phone frequently.

The UGREEN MagFlow Air Magnetic Slim Power Bank (10000mAh, Qi2 15W) supports Qi2 magnetic wireless charging for compatible devices. Compatible devices can also be charged using its USB-C charging options.

You can compare other mobile charging options in the UGREEN power bank and wireless and magnetic power bank ranges.

If you are charging several devices at your hotel before race day, UGREEN travel chargers can help simplify your setup, while suitable USB cables can be useful for wired charging during the trip.

For more on phones, GPS watches, headphones and charging around race weekend, see our Marathon Tech Essentials guide.

Conclusion

Getting to the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2026 is easier when you know your start block, event-site entrance time and race-morning transport options in advance.

The start and finish are on Straße des 17. Juni near the Brandenburg Gate, with Unter den Linden, Brandenburger Tor, Bundestag, Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Potsdamer Platz among the nearby public-transport stations listed by the organiser for runners.

Your race entry includes a four-day ABC public-transport ticket around marathon weekend, but road closures and service changes mean it is still worth checking your exact journey shortly before you travel.

Leave enough time, follow the event-site signs and agree on your meeting point at the Paul-Löbe-Haus before the race.

For your phone and other devices, a power bank can provide additional battery backup while you are travelling or away from a socket. UGREEN power banks, wireless and magnetic power banks, travel chargers and USB cables offer options for different race-weekend charging needs.

UGREEN supports the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2026 as the Official Charging Partner.