A quick note before we begin:
This guide is based on the official route map provided by the Belfast City Marathon organisers via Plotaroute, which you can view here. All mile markers and descriptions are aligned with that version. Please be aware that other versions of the map, such as the JPEG route poster, may show mile markers in slightly different locations.

Welcome to the Belfast City Marathon! You’ve trained, prepared, and perhaps even contemplated faking your own death to get out of it. The good news? You’ve got 26.2 miles of sightseeing, cheering, and existential dread ahead.

Miles 0 - 4: A Majestic Start from Stormont 

The marathon kicks off just inside the Stormont Estate on the Upper Newtownards Road. Starting at Stormont means you’ve already achieved more elevation than most of Belfast on foot, but don’t worry,  you’ll soon be off and running downhill, briefly fooled into thinking this isn’t going to be a total suffer-fest. Picture it: as you exit the gates and head west, you’re running away from the seat of Northern Ireland’s political power.

As you swing right onto the Upper Newtownards Road and into Ballyhackamore, it’s all fresh legs and fresh optimism. You'll breeze past Bloomfield Collegiate School, hitting mile 1 before your brain even clocks what's happening. Enjoy the support here, locals love a bit of spectator sport, especially when it doesn’t involve them doing any actual exercise.

Mile 2 brings a left turn onto Beersbridge Road. You’ll pass not one, not two, but three churches in quick succession, each more likely to offer you divine pity than a miracle. Might be a good time to light a mental candle for your quads.

Left again to cut through Clare Sreet and onto Castlereagh Road, where you to get pass there’s a Tesco the size of Heathrow Terminal. You’ll hit mile 3 just before a cheeky little climb that’ll remind you’re not on holiday in a White Lotus resort. As you crest the hill, squint into the distance, that’s either the South Belfast hills or the first signs of dehydration hallucinations.

Landmarks: Stormont Estate, Bloomfield Collegiate, Three Churches, Tesco Superstore

Pro Tip: Early days, resist the temptation to sprint. Or shop.

Miles 4 - 8: Industrial Scenery and Ormeau Park

After turning left on onto Montgomery Road and you hit the mile 4 mark, and straight into the first of Belfast’s glamorous industrial estates you will pass today. Nearly a mile of loading bays, roller shutters, and the faint aroma of burnt toast and diesel. 

You'll also pass Belfast Met’s Castlereagh campus, a reminder of youthful dreams and maybe one or two regrettable experimental haircuts. You're now just about at the 5 mile mark after a right turn onto Cregagh Road, where you journey through the heart of unionist East Belfast, where support is loud, local, and likely to include a dog (but not a GAA jersey).

At around mile 6 you hit Woodstock, then left onto Albertbridge Road... but hold on! Instead of the city centre, it’s down the Ravenhill Road, where the everpresent industrial vibe clings to you like last night’s chipper.

Entering Ormeau Park via the north entrance sees you hit Mile 7 soon after green, spacious, and full of poor fools who still think this was a good idea. Exiting the park and turning right, you cross Ormeau Bridge for your first glimpse of the mighty Lagan. Calm down Monet, it’s not the Seine. 

Landmarks: Belfast Met, Cregagh Road, Ormeau Park, Ormeau Bridge

Pro Tip: Smile for the cameras on Ormeau Bridge. You’ll want one photo before the suffering truly begins.

Miles 8 - 12: The City Centre, Great Victoria Street & the “Balls on the Falls”

Heading up Ormeau Road and onto Cromac Street, you’ll pass mile 8 and then the the old Gasworks site, now fancy offices and the VOCO hotel, but once a great place to get black lung. Ormeau Avenue becomes Cromac Street then Victoria Street. You’ll be surrounded by impressive Victorian architecture, none of which you’ll care about because your left foot has become quite belligerent.

Then it’s left onto Chichester Street and Wellington Place, where Belfast City Hall lords over the square. Queen Victoria’s statue watches you pass with royal indifference, she never ran a marathon, and frankly, she wouldn’t approve of your leggings. After her judgement you hit the 9 mile mark. 

After turning left onto Great Victoria Street, you pass by the grounds of Royal Belfast Academical Institution on your right. Try not to feel intimidated by the name, they won't quiz you on Latin conjugations.  You then pass the Crown Liquor Saloon, the Grand Opera House, and the Europa Hotel, bombed over 30 times and still standing stronger than your IT band.

You swing right at Bradbury Place onto Donegall Road and make your way past Sandy Row, where murals stare you down and locals might too. As you continue along the Donegal Road, you'll soon spot the first hospital of the day on your left (don’t stop there though). The mile 10 mark and the Village awaits, working-class, staunchly loyalist, and definitely wondering why 15,000 people are charging through on a Sunday morning.

After making your way through the village, take a left onto Glenmacken Street, where you'll pass the large Knex-style sphere, affectionately known as the Balls on the Falls. The inapproriately nicknamed RISE sculpture cost nearly half millions pounds to commission. 

From there, it’s a straight run down the Boucher Road, flanked by car dealerships, industrial units, and yes, a Tim Hortons, because nothing says endurance quite like the smell of donuts and double-doubles wafting through the air. This scenery brings you to mile 11. 

Soon after, you’re making a left turn onto the Boucher Industrial Estate with firmly behind you, with some undulating climbs up ahead. This stretch is every runner’s dream if that dream involves looking at second-hand cars and tile shops. Emerging onto the Upper Lisburn Road you hit mile 12, turning right and head southwest through Balmoral.

Landmarks: City Hall, Crown Bar, Europa Hotel, Balls on the Falls, Tim Hortons

Pro Tip: Don’t stop for a donut. Or do. We’re not here to judge, just to laugh when you regret it.

Miles 13-17: Balmoral, Falls Road and Climbing Despair

The eagle eyed will catch a glimpse of King’s Hall, where legends like The Beatles and Nirvana once rocked the house. Now, it’s a healthcare village, a decent metaphor for the aches and pains you’re probably starting to feel. You then pass Balmoral Golf Club hitting mile 13 in Finaghy, where you’ll find spectators in full force, cheering like it’s Paddy’s Day. Then it’s a right turn onto Finaghy Road North, taking you northwest into residential territory, with a quick tunnel moment at the M1 underpass. Your first taste of dark, echoey despair. You continue on with the enthusiasm of a 90 year old at a bottomless brunch.

You pass the 14 mile mark and turn onto Andersonstown Road, entering West Belfast, a nationalist stronghold lined with murals that tell stories you are probably too exhausted to take in. Passing the construction site for the new Casement Park GAA ground brings you onto the Falls Road, where you hit mile 15 and pass Milltown Cemetery as you enter the Upper Falls. Enjoy the downhill stretch while you can; it is the universe’s way of softening you up for what comes next, 167 feet of climbing over the next nearly 3 miles.

By now your legs are writing letters to HR and the informal warnings start. As you pass mile 16 the incline continues as murals blur into one another. Past the Royal Victoria Hospital, comfortingly close, in case your hamstrings finally throw in the towel. Then it’s onto Cupar Way where you hit mile 17, follow the Peace Wall and your Everest of the day starts. 

Landmarks: King’s Hall, Casement Park, Milltown Cemetery, Peace Wall

Pro Tip: Appreciate the art. But more importantly, appreciate oxygen. You’ll miss it by mile 18.

Miles 18 - 20: The Cruellest Miles

With the “climb” well under way you shuffle through Lanark Way before emerging for a quick soujourn on the Unionist Shankill road before a quick left onto Tennent Street.

If you keep your eyes peeled you'll see the remnants of the 19th-century Edenderry Linen Mill on the left in the distance as you pass the mile 18 mark, now the Edenderry Industrial Estate. Romantic, isn’t it? If your legs are starting to resemble old fabric, just power through though.

After passing through Crumlin Road you head onto Hillview Road, passing another industrial estate with all the glamour of a wheelie bin. After turning left onto Oldpark Road and you’re deep into Sherpa territory. If a passing donkey offers to carry you, take it.

After passing the mile 19 make finally, finally, you’re over the worst of the climbing. Your reward? Mild numbness and a creeping sense of triumph, or maybe that's just hallucinations at this stage? Turning right onto Cliftonville Road, you get a quick breather before a left into Waterworks Par, a delightful green space with not one but two massive ponds. If you think the swans are a sign of losing your mind, don’t worry, they’re real.

Landmarks: Edenderry Mill, Crumlin Road, Oldpark Road 

Pro Tip: Do your best to keep moving up that hill!

Miles 20 - 22: Ponds, Swans and a Cathedral

As you northbound beside the upper pond you hit mile 20, then loop heading back down and passing the lower one, you may briefly consider a nice lie-down after seeing all the graceful swans. Enjoy the park's serenity because you’ll soon be back on the Antrim Road heading southbound. Fortunately, you’re not on the A6 for long; you turn left onto Duncairn Gardens, hitting mile 21.

Right onto North Queen Street (second Tesco of the day, for anyone keeping score), then left onto Frederick Street. St. Patrick’s Church and Ulster University fly by, all lovely, all ignored. You’re in survival mode now.

As you hit mile 22, Dunbar Link brings you skimming the Cathedral Quarter and into view of the Albert Memorial Clock. It’s tilted. So are you.

Landmarks: Waterworks Park, Ulster University, Albert Clock

Pro Tip: Enjoy the ponds. You won’t see anything this peaceful again until after the finish line... and possibly not even then.

Mile 22 - 24: Riverside Ramblings

After Dunbar Link, you’ll swing onto Albert Square, disappointingly nothing like the one from EastEnders. Then it’s left onto Donegall Quay, where you’ll spot the hideous Royal Mail building on your left.

Enjoy the riverside as you pass the Big Fish sculpture and catch sight of the iconic Harland & Wolff cranes. Samson and Goliath loom like awkward teenagers at a school dance, one slightly taller than the other.

Keep moving past the Queens Bridge as Donegall Quay becomes Oxford Street, passing the Waterfront Hall, a concert venue so versatile it hosts everything from rock gigs to political debates (equally loud and chaotic). Swing left onto Lanyon Place, where office blocks remind you that some people are sitting comfortably at their desks while you’re halfway through self-inflicted torture.

After a tunnel under East Bridge Street, you’ll pass Lanyon Place Station and turn right, heading past the HQ of Concentrix and Allstate. The Lagan emerges once again not long after you hit mile 23, and you might glimpse planes landing at Belfast City Airport. No, you can get a from a plane to the finish line.

Landmarks: Big Fish, H&W Cranes, Waterfront Hall, Lanyon Station

Pro Tip: You’re close enough now to taste it. Or at least to hallucinate the taste of it.

Mile 24 - 26.2: Ormeau Anticipation & The Final Push

Not long after hitting mile 24 you will cross the Ormeau Bridge for the second time, you’re now on the home stretch, just over two miles to go! The Ormeau Road is lined with supporters, and their cheers will drown out your internal monologue questioning why you didn’t stick to 5Ks.

At mile 25, you turn left onto the Ravenhill Road and head northbound once more. The Ormeau Golf Club will appear on your left, and just beyond, you’ll see Ormeau Park. Less than a mile to go, and you can already hear the finish line MC shouting garbled words of encouragement.

Hitting mile 26 at the bowling pavilion, you’re almost there. The noise is growing, and you can practically taste the finish line. After one final left turn along the boundary of Ormeau Park, the river Lagan reappears to your right. With less than 200 meters to go, you’ll turn left into the park and head home, crossing the line with whatever dignity you have left.

Landmarks: Ormeau Bridge, Ormeau Park 

Pro Tip: Cross the line with a flourish or a flop, either way, you’ve made it.

Congratulations! You’ve survived the Belfast Marathon, the hills, the peace walls, the industrials estates and the Tesco duopoly. Raise a pint. You’ve earned it!