The best marathons for first-timers.

The world's most magical marathon — through all four Walt Disney World theme parks at sunrise, past Cinderella Castle and EPCOT's World Showcase, with costumed character photo stops every mile.

Statistically the world's fastest marathon course — virtually no elevation, sea-level altitude, perfect spring climate. Come to Rotterdam to run your best.

America's most beloved community marathon — through Cincinnati's hilly neighbourhoods with the most enthusiastic spectators in American running, pigs at every mile marker, and a 7-hour finish window.

One of the flattest marathons in the world — a welcoming, beautifully organised race through the Danish capital's canals, parks, and harbour in ideal May conditions.

Australia's fastest marathon — a virtually flat beachside course along the Gold Coast Broadwater and Surfers Paradise in Australia's coolest winter conditions.

Canada's most scenic coastal marathon — a loop around Victoria's breathtaking Oceanside Drive, past the Butchart Gardens approach, and through the city's English heritage streets.

Europe's most celebrated beginner marathon — 25,000 runners looping through Georgian Dublin with a finish on one of the world's friendliest race days.

The world's largest marathon — five boroughs, two million spectators, and a finish in Central Park that changes everyone who crosses it.

Oman's capital marathon along the Arabian Sea coast — past the white-domed Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, through Muttrah's ancient gold souk waterfront, and along Muscat's pristine Corniche.

Asia's largest marathon by field size — a flat route through India's financial capital with extraordinary crowd energy and the city's boundless human spectacle.

One of America's flattest and fastest January marathons — a near-sea-level loop through downtown Houston and Memorial Park with world-class PB credentials.

The most joyful marathon in America — live bands at every mile through the French Quarter, Garden District, and lakefront of New Orleans during the Carnival season.

A flat beachside marathon along Tel Aviv's Mediterranean coast — through the UNESCO Bauhaus White City, along the Gordon Beach promenade, and through Jaffa's ancient port.

Japan's most emotionally significant marathon — past the Peace Memorial Park and A-Bomb Dome, along Hiroshima's seven river delta islands, in one of the world's most meaningful cities.

A stunning Mediterranean marathon past Gaudí's masterpieces, along Las Ramblas, and along the beach promenade — in spring sunshine on Europe's most architecturally rich city.

Sichuan's World Athletics Label marathon — past the Tianfu Greenway, through Chengdu's teahouse-lined alleys, along the Jinjiang River, and into the ancient Jinli Street of China's most liveable city.

Slovakia's compact capital marathon — along the Danube, past the medieval castle, through the Old Town, and across the UFO bridge in one of Central Europe's most underrated cities.

Start at the Arc de Triomphe, run past the Eiffel Tower, through the Bois de Boulogne — Paris delivers scenery that makes the kilometres disappear.

Poland's most historic city hosts a flat spring marathon past Wawel Castle, the medieval Cloth Hall, the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, and along the Vistula River.

The world's most celebrated mass participation marathon — past the Tower of London, along the Thames, and through the roar of one million spectators.

A flat, fast course through one of Europe's most beautiful cities — impeccable organisation, cool spring conditions, and a crowd that treats every runner like an elite.

Germany's third-largest marathon — a flat, fast loop past Hamburg's magnificent Alster lakes, through the Speicherstadt warehouse district, and along the Elbe harbour.

Switzerland's most prestigious marathon — along the shores of Lake Geneva past the Jet d'Eau, through the Old Town, and into the vineyards of Lavaux with the Alps reflected in the lake.

A fast, scenic loop through one of Europe's most beautiful medieval cities — cobblestones, baroque spires, and the Charles Bridge all on the race route.

Northern Ireland's beloved May Day Bank Holiday marathon — through Belfast's transformed waterfront, past the Titanic Belfast museum, through the Botanic Gardens, and along the Lagan towpath.

The Baltic's fastest and largest marathon — essentially flat along Riga's Art Nouveau boulevards, through Jūrmala's beach resort, and across the Daugava River bridges.

Canada's national capital hosts a flat, fast spring marathon through the Gatineau Park, along the Ottawa River, and past Parliament Hill in peak tulip season.

A midsummer marathon through one of Europe's most beautiful capital cities — islands, bridges, cobblestones, and the endless Nordic light of June.

Uruguay's capital hosts a flat, fast marathon along the Rambla coastal promenade — 22km of waterfront running along the Río de la Plata in Southern Hemisphere winter.

Scandinavia's most iconic city marathon — past the Senate Square, along the Helsinki Harbour, through the Seurasaari island forest, and along Baltic Sea shores in the long August daylight.

Iceland's flagship marathon in the land of fire, ice, and near-endless summer daylight — a unique, spectacular setting unlike any other race on the circuit.

Sweden's second city marathon — through Gothenburg's canal district, past the Liseberg amusement park, along the Göta Älv riverfront, and through the archipelago's coastal approach.

Lithuania's capital hosts a scenic autumn marathon through Europe's largest surviving Baroque Old Town — cobbled streets, Gothic churches, and the Neris River parkways.

Cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge, run past the Opera House, and finish in the Royal Botanic Gardens — one of the world's most scenic marathons in Southern Hemisphere spring.

Poland's most atmospheric city marathon — through the Venice of Poland across its network of 100 bridges, past the Gothic cathedral on Tumski Island, and along the Oder river promenades.

The world's fastest marathon course — dead flat, perfectly organised, and the site of more world records than any other race.

Poland's premier marathon — a flat, fast loop through Warsaw's rebuilt historic centre and modern riverbank parks with excellent PB conditions.

Consistently rated America's most beautiful urban marathon — a point-to-point through Minneapolis and St. Paul's famous chain of lakes and riverside parkways.

Portland's beloved urban marathon — a loop through the City of Roses' vibrant neighbourhoods, across the Willamette River bridges, and through Forest Park in peak October colour.

A flat, fast loop past one of Europe's most magnificent cathedrals — Cologne's marathon uses the Rhine bridges, the Rheinuferpromenade, and the historic Altstadt for exceptional PB conditions.

The flattest World Major — a loop through 29 of Chicago's neighbourhoods with the most inclusive crowd energy in American marathon running.

South America's flattest and fastest marathon — a stunning loop through Buenos Aires' European-style boulevards, Palermo parks, and the Puerto Madero waterfront.

Bavaria's premier marathon — through Munich's English Garden, around the Olympic Stadium, past the Nymphenburg Palace canal, and along the Isar river, finishing in the heart of the city.

One of Europe's fastest marathon courses — a dead-flat loop through Philips' hometown with aggressive pacers, elite competition, and near-zero elevation gain.

One of Europe's flattest and fastest marathons — looping through Amsterdam's iconic canals and Vondelpark for world-class PB conditions.

Australia's premier road marathon — a spectacular loop around Melbourne's iconic bayside parks, the MCG, and St Kilda foreshore in Southern Hemisphere spring.

New Zealand's largest marathon — crossing the iconic Auckland Harbour Bridge, along the Waitemata waterfront, past Mission Bay, and back through Parnell's heritage streets.

The People's Marathon — 30,000 runners past America's greatest monuments with military precision and unforgettable crowd support through DC's historic streets.

Virginia's capital marathon — a challenging but rewarding loop through Richmond's historic districts, over the James River, and through Church Hill's leafy streets.

The world's most spectacular night marathon — down the Las Vegas Strip under the neon lights with an 8 PM start time and 300,000 spectators lining the Boulevard.

Greece's second marathon — a coastal loop around Thessaloniki's Byzantine waterfront, past the White Tower, through the Ano Poli Byzantine quarter, with Mount Olympus visible on the horizon.

China's fastest marathon — a dead-flat World Athletics Label course through Suzhou's classical garden network, along the ancient Grand Canal, and through the UNESCO-listed water-town of Tongli.

America's birthplace hosts one of its most historic marathons — through Fairmount Park, past the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, and along the Schuylkill River.

Seattle's beloved Thanksgiving weekend marathon — across the I-90 floating bridge over Lake Washington, through the Arboretum, and into a Seattle Center finish beneath the Space Needle.

California's fastest marathon — a net-downhill point-to-point from Folsom to Sacramento, the most popular Boston qualifier on the US west coast.

Europe's warmest December marathon — a flat coastal loop through Málaga's old town, along the Paseo Marítimo, and around the harbour in Costa del Sol sunshine.

December's perfect PB race — flat, fast, and held in ideal cool Mediterranean conditions that produce faster times than almost any course on earth.

The UAE capital's IAAF Gold Label marathon — a virtually flat course along the Abu Dhabi Corniche, past Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, through Yas Island's F1 circuit, and along the Arabian Gulf waterfront.

The world's most extraordinary marathon setting — at dawn past the iconic Angkor Wat temple reflection, through Angkor Thom's jungle-clad towers, along stone causeways of the Khmer Empire's ancient capital.

The world's most unique marathon setting — starting pre-dawn with a fireworks display on Ala Moana Boulevard, past Diamond Head, and along Oahu's breathtaking coastline.