Florence Marathon: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Florence)

42 kilometres through a Renaissance postcard

This is the 42nd edition. The Estra Firenze Marathon puts runners from around the world on the streets of Florence on 29 November 2026. The route is the city’s highlight reel: Piazza del Duomo under Brunelleschi’s dome, Piazza della Signoria beside Palazzo Vecchio, and across the Arno on Ponte Vecchio.

The finish is Piazza Santa Croce. It is a long, open rectangle facing the white, green and pink marble facade of the Basilica di Santa Croce, where Michelangelo and Galileo are buried. Few marathons end in front of a church holding both of them.

Getting to the course

Most visitors arrive at Santa Maria Novella, Florence’s main rail station. From there the historic centre is walkable, and Santa Croce is roughly 20 to 25 minutes on foot east across town.

• Florence Airport (Peretola): tram line T2 runs into the centre near the station.
• Pisa Airport: a regular train connection reaches Santa Maria Novella.
• Driving: skip it. The centre is a ZTL (limited traffic zone) with camera-enforced entry, and race day adds road closures.

Book a room early. Late November is low season, but marathon weekend brings thousands of runners plus their supporters into a small centre.

Racing the stones

Plan for the surface. Large stretches of the old centre are paved in stone slabs rather than smooth asphalt. Slabs get slick when wet, and late-November mornings in Florence are often cool and damp.

• Train in shoes with decent grip, not a bare-minimum racing flat.
• Pack a throwaway layer for the wait before the start.
• Expect tight corners in the medieval streets around the Duomo, where packs bunch up.

Entry runs through the official site. That includes registration categories, any medical paperwork Italian race rules require, and bib collection. Confirm timing and tickets on the official site rather than relying on old forum posts. Requirements can differ from one edition to the next.

Cheering like a Florentine

Florentines don’t shout “go”. They yell “Dai!” or “Vai!”, and often add “forza” for runners who are visibly fading. Write a runner’s name on their bib, if the race allows it, and strangers will shout it at them.

For spectators:

• Pick one spot and stay put. Crossing the course is restricted, and the bridges over the Arno turn into bottlenecks.
• Lungarno embankments give long sightlines and more space than the narrow streets.
• Avoid the finish if you want to see your runner pass. Piazza Santa Croce is the most crowded place on the course. Watch earlier, then walk over to meet them.

Coffee works the local way. At a bar you drink espresso standing at the counter, and many places ask you to pay at the cassa (till) first and then hand over the receipt. Sitting at a table can cost more.

For the post-race dinner, reserve a table. Trattorie near Santa Croce and across the river in Oltrarno fill with runners that evening. Bistecca alla fiorentina, ribollita and pappa al pomodoro are the classic Tuscan refuels. Leave a day for the Uffizi, but book that ticket separately in advance.