Athlete Info
Dear Athletes,
We are delighted to provide you with information about the courses. As our preparations for the event unfold, we will continously update and add new information to our site, please check back regularly for the latest news.
If you are only thinking about participating you can check why it is worth travelling to and competing in Budapest.
If you have already decided to participate in the Budapest Grand Final, you can get new motivations for your preparations.
We have put together 7 reasons to participate to highlight how Budapest and the event connect.
If you miss some of the historical sights of the city during the race, don’t worry. After the race you will have a second chance for a relaxed sightseeing, while the shuttle boat on the Danube takes you back from the finish to the start.
7 Reasons to Participate
1. Liberty Bridge
Participants will be able to spot the characteristically green bridge early on from the course. It is the third southernmost public road bridge in Budapest and it is also the shortest. It was built in 1894 and was renovated in 2009. The top of the four masts are decorated with large bronze statues of the Turul, a falcon-like bird, prominent in ancient Hungarian mythology.
2. Gellért Hill
The 235 m high hill overlooking the Danube is one of the most popular touristic destinations because of the beautiful view of the city it offers. The 14- meter tall bronze Statue of Liberty on top of Gellért Hill was erected in 1947 and is a famous feature of the city’s landscape.
3. Elizabeth Bridge
Named after Queen Elizabeth, between 1903 and 1926 the original bridge had the largest span in the world. Unfortunately the old bridge was bombed in World War II and a completely new suspension bridge was built in 1964. The snow-white bridge is the most elegant bridge in Budapest and participants of the race can enjoy its shadows during the first leg of the running course.
4. Buda Castle
Buda Castle is the historical castle complex of the Hungarian kings, first completed in 1265. The Castle was built on the southern tip of Castle Hill, next to the old Castle District, which is famous for its medieval, Baroque and 19th century buildings. Buda Castle is part of the Budapest World Heritage Site, declared in 1987. The finish area of the race will provide a spectacular view at the Buda Castle.
5. Chain Bridge
It was the first permanent bridge between Pest and Buda, and the second permanent bridge on the full length of Danube. The bridge was completed in 1849 by the supervising of architect Adam Clark. It has since rightly become a symbol of Budapest and with its guarding lions it is certainly the most photographed of all the bridges of Budapest.
Chain Bridge will also be a focal point of the Budapest Grand Final as the finish is just off the bridge on the Pest side.
6. Roosevelt square
Named after U..S president Theodore D. Roosevelt, the square will probably be the favorite location of the athletes as it is the finish area of the race. There are two architectural masterpieces on the site, the Four Seasons Grasham Palace and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The small park in the middle is said to have the oldest living tree in Budapest.
7. St. Stephen’s Basilica
One of the nicest historical buildings athletes will be able to see during running is the St. Stephens Basilica. Named after Saint Stephen, Hungary’s firs king, it is the largest Roman Catholic church in Budapest and also one of the two tallest buildings. It was completed in 1905 after 54 years of construction and was recently renovated. The Chapel of the Holy Right contains the right hand of St. Stephen in a delicatly ornated reliquary.
