6 amazing marathons to run worldwide

Has the idea of completing a marathon been running through your mind? There are many amazing ones across the world, allowing you to combine your love of travel with a personal fitness challenge.

For an extra dose of motivation, let your running earn you rewards. This month, we launch our first wellness journey collaboration with Quality HealthCare (QH). Complete six weeks of fitness challenges – from running goals to healthy eating to yoga – to earn Asia Miles and privilege codes for QH services such as check-ups. Find out more here .

 Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned athlete chasing a personal best on a fast course, or an adventurer looking for a challenge off the beaten path, completing a marathon is an empowering and exhilarating experience.

While registration for many 2023 marathons has already closed, registering for 2024 will give you time to build up your training  – a slow increase in mileage starting from five months before race day is considered optimal to improve endurance while avoiding injury. We’ve also found nearby hotels to rest and recover at, which you can book through Cathay Holidays using your Asia Miles.

Sprint through the heart of capital cities and past iconic landmarks with our pick of a few of the top places to run a marathon worldwide, rounded up below.  

Tokyo Marathon

The Tokyo Marathon offers the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself and experience the city in one. Held each spring, with both the full 42km distance and a shorter 10.7km to enter, the Tokyo Marathon takes marathon runners through a fascinating cross-section of the capital’s history – from the famed red lantern gate at Asakusa to the chrome skyscrapers of Ginza and, cherry blossom-filled Ueno to bustling Nihombashi.

Distance: 42km or 10.7km

Book a stay:  Aloft Tokyo Ginza,  Agora Place Tokyo Asakusa

London Marathon

Ever dreamt of running across Tower Bridge? The iconic landmark is just one of the many landmarks that participants see during the London Marathon. The race doubles as the ultimate tourist sightseeing route, making it one of the best marathons in Europe. The route begins in southeast London, leading through charming Greenwich and past the historic Cutty Sark before winding along the Thames into central London as sights like the Shard, London Eye and more zip past. The finish line is outside Buckingham Palace, so you might be lucky enough to spot King Charles III watching the festivities unfold.

Distance: 42km

Book a stay:  Residence Inn by Marriott London Tower Bridge,  Shangri-La The Shard

Boston Marathon

Boston hosts the longest-running marathon in the world: this year, 30,000 runners will celebrate the event’s 127th birthday. Runners set off in the sleepy town of Hopkinton, then pace through charming countryside, small towns and gorgeous natural scenery before they meet the finish line in central Boston. The qualifying standard is high here, but it’s one of the most exhilarating events at which the world’s greatest runners are sighted.

Distance: 42km

Book a stay:  The Langham Boston,  Boston Park Plaza

Angkor Wat Half Marathon

Race through history at Angkor Wat, a race widely regarded as the Cambodian Unesco World Heritage site is transformed into a run to remember once a year. For anybody dipping their toes into long-distance running, this is a fantastic choice at 21km. Participants wind through Angkor Archaeological Park and many of its stunning ruins, including Bayon temple, the overgrown Tomb Raider temple Ta Prohm and, of course, the namesake “city of temples”.

Distance: 21km

Book a stay:  FCC Angkor by Avani, Golden Temple Retreat

Great Wall Marathon

If the thought of 5,000 stairs doesn’t daunt you, sign up for the Great Wall Marathon in Beijing. This tough challenge comes as a half or full marathon, with both beginning at the Great Wall’s Yin and Yang Square and featuring steep climbs and descents, including the nail-biting 700m-high Goat Track. You’ll certainly feel the burn afterwards, thanks to all those steps, but the impressive views and guaranteed bragging rights will be motivation to keep climbing.

Distance: 42km or 21km

Book a stay:  The Peninsula Beijing,  The St. Regis Beijing

Rock ’n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon

Las Vegas has put its own glitzy spin on the marathon. This amped-up “party race” starts in the late afternoon and continues into the night as the city comes alive, and the entire route is packed with DJs, bands and other entertainment to keep your spirits high as you pound past. There’s a half marathon, 10km and 5km run to choose from, and each route takes runners along Vegas’ famed Strip past all its most famous sights, including the fountains of The Bellagio and Paris Las Vegas’ twinkling Eiffel Tower. Once you’ve crossed the finish line, you’ll celebrate in style: the event entry includes deep discounts to Vegas’ most popular entertainment shows – whether that’s magic tricks, musicals or megastars-in-residency.

Distance: 21km, 10km or 5km

Book a stay:  Paris Las Vegas,  Luxor Hotel and Casino

Hero image: Getty Images