_{^{This article contains affiliate links, if you click on one I may get a small commission.}}

Last year I watched a friend run a half marathon and said “I want to do this, but bigger” and when I told that friend my plan to run 12 half marathons in 12 countries over 12 months, they said “that’s dumb”. So here is my Budapest Spring Half Marathon review, my fourth half marathon in my fourth country so far this year.

The 38th Telekom Vivicitta Half Marathon in Budapest is a perfectly fine race. Compared to some of the other races I have done this year, this race falls exactly in the middle. The views weren’t jaw dropping, but the race itself was well organized and had a nice enough course.

If you’re looking for someone to plan a vacation around the Budapest Spring Half Marathon for you, look no further. I offer trip consultations, tailored travel itineraries, and end-to-end trip planning. I even support running clubs traveling in large groups.

Half Marathon Overview

Located in the heart of Budapest, this race passes a majority of the historic sites in the city, and is a fun way to kick off a vacation in the city. The organization of the race is well done, and there is plenty of water and porta potties as you run. 

As for the non-controllable aspects of the race, the weather in early April in Budapest is lovely. Lots of sunshine, but not overwhelmingly hot. As for the crowds, I found them to be sparse but enthusiastic.

Budapest Spring Half Marathon Course

While the course was rather average, there were several lovely parts that deserve a mention. The race starts and ends on Margaret Island, a place I would not have explored if not for the race. It’s an exceptional island filled with parks, hot baths, and ruins. Even if you don’t do this race, you should visit the island.

There is also something to be said for the feeling of looking up mid-race and realizing this wall I was next to was actually the Hungarian Parliament. Other notable course moments include running under Castle Hill and running over the gorgeous bridges along the Danube.

Of course it was not all sunshine and rainbows. Correction: it was ALL sunshine and no rainbows. There wasn’t nearly enough shade along the course. Crossing through the tunnel and under some of the bridges was a huge relief as they were the only times on the course that you had sun protection.

Weather in Budapest

As mentioned above the lack of shade was a problem. But the week I spent in Hungary after my race was chilly and a little rainy. Which is to say that this day being overly sunny was pure luck. April in Budapest can vary between both rain and sun so that is a gamble I will leave to you.

Half Marathon Refreshments and Bathrooms

The Budapest Spring Half marathon should give lessons on how to plan for porta potties. They honestly may have had too many toilets, but it was the first race I have seen that didn’t have lines for the bathroom. It was beautiful. 

As for the water stands, they were plentiful and had a variety of water, energy drinks, bananas, and salt tablets. Towards the end one of the stands even had a hose they were using on the runners and I have never been so thankful. 

Crowds at the Budapest Spring Half Marathon

I found the crowd support at this race to be minimal. There were people gathered together at each of the bridges. My assumption being that it is easier to see the runners twice by simply crossing the bridge, that is what I had my mom do. The majority of supporters for this event were from one local charity that was the main sponsor of the race. Beyond that there were not a lot of people on the course. 

What to Do in Budapest

Budapest is such an amazing city to visit, with a rich history that dates back to before Vlad the Impaler (aka the inspiration for Dracula), the city is a perfect visit for fans of history. As a plus, Budapest is known for thermal baths which makes it a perfect place to go to relax before or after your race.

Overall this race is an excellent reason to visit Budapest. I loved the city so much, it is one of my top European cities that I have been to so far. But if you aren’t trying to visit Budapest, and are rather just looking for a fun race, I would recommend the Romeo and Juliet Half Marathon in Verona.