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. The 2027 edition, the 50th, takes place on Sunday 4 April 2027. Bibs are allocated by lottery: applications were open from 8 to 30 September 2026, so registration is closed and you need the organiser's official offers or a charity bib. 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.
See in this guide
See these 3 places on the map
What next?
More like this
