Barcelona Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
Run since 1978 through Barcelona's grid streets and seaside promenades. The loop starts and finishes near Plaça d'Espanya at the foot of Montjuïc, threads the Eixample past the Sagrada Família and Camp Nou, then opens onto the Diagonal and the seafront. About 280 m of ascent spread evenly. Cool, dry weather and a deep elite field.
The Barcelona Marathon is fast, with only modest elevation change — rated 2/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 920 ft (280 m) and loses 1000 ft (300 m), with a net drop of 24 m (79 ft). Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 10 (near mile 6), demanding about 7% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 6.8%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Barcelona, Spain |
| Total ascent | 920 ft (280 m) |
| Total descent | 1000 ft (300 m) |
| Net elevation | -79 ft (-24 m) |
| Steepest grade | 6.8% |
| Difficulty | 2/5 |
| Field size | ≈28,000 runners |
| Race day | Mid-March |
Kilometre-by-kilometre splits (grade-adjusted)
Grade-adjusted (GAP) splits for a 4:00:00 finish, computed from the course's elevation profile with the Minetti gradient-cost model: uphill kilometres get more time, downhills less, at even effort. Splits scale proportionally for any other goal time — the interactive pace calculator on this page computes them exactly.
| Kilometre | GAP pace /km | GAP pace /mi | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5:25 | 8:44 | -29 ft (-9 m) | 5:25 |
| 2 | 5:42 | 9:11 | +1 ft (0 m) | 11:08 |
| 3 | 6:03 | 9:44 | +35 ft (+11 m) | 17:10 |
| 4 | 5:44 | 9:13 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 22:54 |
| 5 | 5:41 | 9:09 | 0 ft (0 m) | 28:35 |
| 6 | 5:49 | 9:22 | +14 ft (+4 m) | 34:24 |
| 7 | 5:37 | 9:02 | -7 ft (-2 m) | 40:01 |
| 8 | 5:31 | 8:52 | -19 ft (-6 m) | 45:31 |
| 9 | 5:37 | 9:02 | -7 ft (-2 m) | 51:08 |
| 10 | 5:09 | 8:17 | -61 ft (-19 m) | 56:17 |
| 11 | 6:05 | 9:48 | +33 ft (+10 m) | 1:02:22 |
| 12 | 5:58 | 9:36 | +28 ft (+9 m) | 1:08:20 |
| 13 | 5:46 | 9:17 | +7 ft (+2 m) | 1:14:06 |
| 14 | 5:45 | 9:16 | +7 ft (+2 m) | 1:19:52 |
| 15 | 5:57 | 9:35 | +29 ft (+9 m) | 1:25:49 |
| 16 | 5:40 | 9:07 | -2 ft (0 m) | 1:31:29 |
| 17 | 5:40 | 9:07 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 1:37:09 |
| 18 | 5:17 | 8:31 | -45 ft (-14 m) | 1:42:26 |
| 19 | 5:49 | 9:22 | +12 ft (+4 m) | 1:48:15 |
| 20 | 5:33 | 8:57 | -16 ft (-5 m) | 1:53:49 |
| 21 | 5:37 | 9:02 | -7 ft (-2 m) | 1:59:26 |
| 22 | 5:41 | 9:08 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 2:05:06 |
| 23 | 5:33 | 8:57 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 2:10:40 |
| 24 | 5:19 | 8:33 | -43 ft (-13 m) | 2:15:59 |
| 25 | 5:56 | 9:32 | +25 ft (+8 m) | 2:21:54 |
| 26 | 5:39 | 9:06 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 2:27:33 |
| 27 | 5:30 | 8:51 | -21 ft (-6 m) | 2:33:03 |
| 28 | 5:32 | 8:55 | -17 ft (-5 m) | 2:38:36 |
| 29 | 5:44 | 9:13 | +5 ft (+1 m) | 2:44:19 |
| 30 | 5:42 | 9:10 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 2:50:01 |
| 31 | 5:42 | 9:11 | +1 ft (0 m) | 2:55:43 |
| 32 | 5:40 | 9:07 | -5 ft (-2 m) | 3:01:23 |
| 33 | 5:54 | 9:30 | +22 ft (+7 m) | 3:07:17 |
| 34 | 5:32 | 8:54 | -17 ft (-5 m) | 3:12:49 |
| 35 | 5:51 | 9:25 | +15 ft (+5 m) | 3:18:40 |
| 36 | 5:35 | 8:59 | -13 ft (-4 m) | 3:24:15 |
| 37 | 5:40 | 9:07 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 3:29:55 |
| 38 | 5:46 | 9:17 | +9 ft (+3 m) | 3:35:41 |
| 39 | 5:37 | 9:03 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 3:41:19 |
| 40 | 5:55 | 9:32 | +25 ft (+8 m) | 3:47:14 |
| 41 | 5:51 | 9:26 | +18 ft (+5 m) | 3:53:06 |
| 42 | 5:58 | 9:37 | +29 ft (+9 m) | 3:59:04 |
| 42.2 | 4:48 | 7:44 | -20 ft (-6 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Barcelona Marathon flat or hilly?
The Barcelona Marathon is fast, with only modest elevation change (2/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 920 ft (280 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Barcelona Marathon have?
About 920 ft (280 m) of total ascent and 1000 ft (300 m) of descent, for a net change of -79 ft (-24 m). Figures come from a digital elevation model, so very flat courses can read 20–30 ft high.
What is the hardest part of the Barcelona Marathon course?
Kilometre 10 (near mile 6) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 7% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 6.8%.
When is the Barcelona Marathon?
The Barcelona Marathon is typically held in mid-March. The next edition is expected around March 15, 2027. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Barcelona Marathon?
The field is roughly 28,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Barcelona Marathon in my goal time?
At an even pace: 3:00:00 needs 6:52/mi (4:16/km); 3:30:00 needs 8:01/mi (4:59/km); 4:00:00 needs 9:09/mi (5:41/km); 4:30:00 needs 10:18/mi (6:24/km); 5:00:00 needs 11:27/mi (7:07/km); 5:30:00 needs 12:35/mi (7:49/km). On this course, grade-adjusted pacing shifts a few seconds per mile between uphill and downhill splits — the pace calculator on this page computes those splits for any goal time.
Plan your Barcelona race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Los Angeles Marathon — 940 ft (290 m) ascent
- Vancouver Marathon — 950 ft (290 m) ascent
- Detroit Free Press Marathon — 970 ft (300 m) ascent
- Charlotte Marathon — 1010 ft (310 m) ascent
Official race site: https://www.zurichmaratobarcelona.es/en/