Berlin Half Marathon race review

I took part in Berlin Half Marathon for the very first time in 2025, alongside 45,000 other runners. Here’s everything you need to know about this event and my honest Berlin Half race review.

Berlin Half Marathon

Please note that the following information is based on my experience in 2025. Some things may change in future editions, always check the race website for the latest news!

Where does Berlin Half Marathon start and finish?

Berlin Half starts and finishes in the same area, on Straße des 17. Juni. The start line is closer to the Victory Column whilst the finish line is just past the iconic Brandenburg Gate.

Berlin Half Marathon expo

In 2025 the expo took place at Messe Berlin, which is quite far outside the city centre and you’ll spend more time on public transport to get there and back than at the expo itself.

If you can, get there at the opening on Friday. I arrived 20 minutes after it opened and it was already really busy. That being said, the whole experience was quite smooth and it’s the most methodical, best organised expo I’ve been to.

Sadly there were no goodie bags, and you also needed to pay extra when registering if you wanted a race T-shirt.

What is the course like?

Berlin Half is very flat. There are just a few gentle inclines especially in the second half, but nothing too challenging.

You’ll mostly run on wide roads with pretty smooth tarmac. There are just a couple sections on cobblestones and tram tracks to be aware of, and the few turns are not hugely sharp.

There are a few sights and beautiful buildings to spot on the course, including the Reichstag and of course Brandenburg Gate at the finish.

You can see what the course is like on my Strava activity.

Can you run a PB at Berlin Half?

Definitely! The new course in 2025 was flatter than the previous editions and it definitely lands itself to a PB.

Plus, it’s such a huge event that you’re highly likely to be able to stay in a pack for most of the race, which is always helpful to keep the pace up and push yourself further.

I ran my fastest half marathon to date at Berlin Half!

What to expect on race morning?

Expect to be waiting around and walking a lot!

There is only one entrance point for runners, by Platz der Republik. From there, it’s 1.8km walk to get to the actual start if you’re in groups A,B or C.

The bag drop isn’t right next to the start line, so if it’s cold, make sure to bring several throwaway layers.

Unfortunately that’s the downside of these big races, you need to arrive early (I got there an hour before the start) to give yourself enough time and get through the several check points, but you should also expect to wait once you finally get to your starting pen.

What do you get at the finish?

Honestly not much! You get your medal, there is beer (welcome to Germany!) and that’s pretty much it. Because it was a cold morning, we were also given foil blankets.

There were no post-race snacks and maybe I wasn’t paying enough attention, but I really did not see any water available and couldn’t spot any runners who had managed to find water.

Berlin Half Marathon race review

This is purely based on my own experience at the 2025 edition. Check out my race vlog to get an idea of the course and atmosphere:

What I loved the most

I really enjoyed the course! For some reason I didn’t expect it to be this flat and to be running this fast. I found it quite scenic, with various sights and impressive buildings to look at along the way.

There were also countless entertainment spots, from live bands to speakers playing electronic music, dancers, bubbles, so many distractions!

But the best part was the atmosphere. The support was incredible and there were only a few sections without spectators. The crowds’ energy on the final stretch is my best memory of the day, it was electric. You can hear it in this short video.

There were several photographers on the course and whilst the photo pack wasn’t cheap (35 euros), I had nearly 50 photos so I felt it was worth it, and it makes great memories.

I’m really glad to have ticked off this bucket list race before it moves onto a ballot entry system, making it less easy to take part in.

Any downsides?

Considering the cost of the race entry, I would have expected a goodie bag at the expo and some water with a snack at the finish line. It felt like they did the “bare minimum” and you had to pay for any extra, such as a poncho, race T-shirt and even access to the bag drop.

The only thing that would stop me from taking part in this event again was the pre-race logistics, having to arrive early then ending up shivering on the start line.

Compared to other big races such as Valencia Half and Copenhagen Half, it was just an unnecessary long walk, especially in chilly conditions. I think they should open several entrance points for runners, with a faster track to the start for those who don’t need to drop their bag.

But overall, it was an incredible experience made even better with a PB, and who know I may run it again in the future!

Found it helpful? Buying me a coffee would be very much appreciated :)