Every year in April, around 50,000 runners set off from Avenue des Champs-Élysées for the Paris Marathon, a 42.195-kilometer course that passes many of the capital's most iconic monuments before finishing in the Bois de Vincennes to the east. The event draws a large international crowd, both runners and supporters coming out to cheer along the route. For runners' friends and family or visitors just passing through, several spots along the course offer a great view of the race without requiring any booking, with a festive atmosphere throughout the morning.
The start near the Arc de Triomphe
The race sets off from Avenue des Champs-Élysées, just a few hundred meters from the Arc de Triomphe, in a mass-start atmosphere that's impressive to watch even if you're not running.
Passing the Eiffel Tower
The route follows the Seine and passes the Eiffel Tower around the ten-kilometer mark, one of the most photogenic spots to cheer on the runners or simply watch the race go by.
Tips
If you're planning to cheer on a runner, it's best to pick a specific spot along the route ahead of time rather than trying to follow them: the roads involved are closed to traffic for several hours, which makes getting around by car or taxi difficult that day. Organizers publish the detailed route every year along with estimated passing times per kilometer, a useful aid for choosing the right spot to watch based on when you expect a particular runner to go by.
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