Course guide · November
Map, elevation profile and full guide to the Porto Marathon course: where it goes, where the start and finish are, and what makes its route between the Atlantic and the Douro so special.
Course · 42.195 km
The Porto Marathon route links the city with Matosinhos and Vila Nova de Gaia on a fast course that's almost always beside the water. It starts in central Porto, heads quickly for the Atlantic coast, and returns along the river Douro to its famous wine cellars.
Whether you're running it for the first time or want to relive the course you already conquered, this guide walks you through where it goes, what its profile is like and what you'll find in each section.
The race starts in central Porto and soon heads west, looking for the ocean. The opening kilometres loosen the legs before reaching the Foz do Douro, where the river meets the Atlantic and the course opens out to the sea.
Much of the route runs along the promenade linking Porto with Matosinhos, the ocean alongside you for kilometres. It's the most wind-exposed stretch but also the fastest: flat tarmac, long straights and constant Atlantic views.
On the way back, the course rejoins the Douro and enters the Ribeira, Porto's UNESCO-listed old town. Above it, the Dom Luís I Bridge and its distinctive iron structure preside over one of the most recognisable urban landscapes in Europe.
The final stretch runs alongside Vila Nova de Gaia, on the far bank of the Douro, where the historic Port wine cellars line up. Finishing here, with the rabelo boats on the river and the caves behind you, is the perfect end to one of Portugal's most beautiful marathons.
Free · downloadable PDF
The full course as a PDF plus the tips that actually matter: what to do the days before, how to plan race morning (breakfast, gels, timings) and how to recover afterwards. We'll email it to you.
It starts in central Porto and heads for the coast: the Foz do Douro, Castelo do Queijo and the long Matosinhos seafront. On the way back it rejoins the Douro, crosses the Ribeira beneath the Dom Luís I Bridge and finishes by the Port wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia.
The profile is nearly flat, with only a few gentle rises. Much of the course runs at sea and river level, making it a fast route. The main difficulty can be the Atlantic wind along the seafront section.
The start is in central Porto and the finish is beside the Douro, in the wine-cellar district of Vila Nova de Gaia, facing the Ribeira old town.
The Porto Marathon takes place in November and has run since 2004. It's one of Portugal's most popular flat, fast marathons.
Yes. At Ubyssal the Porto Marathon course is already preloaded. Just enter your name and time, choose a colour and format, and you get a personalised poster with the exact route you ran. Available as a downloadable PDF from €14.99.
Your route on the wall
The route is already preloaded. Add your name and your time and create your personalised Porto Marathon poster. From €14.99.
Create my Porto poster →Usamos cookies propias y de terceros para analítica y publicidad personalizada. Puedes aceptar todas o . Más info en nuestra política de privacidad.