# Where to stay for the Košice Peace Marathon

> Where to stay for the Košice Peace Marathon, Europe’s oldest marathon (first run 1924). 2026 race date, start/finish on Hlavná, booking tips and a runner-friendly apartment beside City Park.

Source page: https://kosicecitypark.com/kosice/marathon-accommodation.html · Last updated: 2026-10-03
Cassovia City Park Residence, Svätoplukova Street, Košice, Slovakia · Contact: phone/SMS +421 908 222 608 (Peter), also Viber · kosice.booking.airbnb@gmail.com

Europe’s oldest marathon, held every October since 1924 — when it is, where it starts, and how to stay close.

**For the Košice Peace Marathon, stay within walking distance of Hlavná Street, where the start and finish zone is built — the Old Town or its quieter edge are ideal.** The race is held every year in early October; the 2026 edition is on Sunday 4 October 2026. Book as early as you can, because central accommodation fills up for race weekend.

## The race in brief

The Medzinárodný maratón mieru (International Peace Marathon) is the oldest marathon in Europe. Its first edition was held on 28 October 1924, when eight runners lined up after local organiser Vojtech Braun Bukovský came home inspired by the Paris Olympic marathon. In 2020 the race received a World Athletics Heritage Plaque, and the 2026 race is the 103rd edition.

- **When:** early October each year. 2026: Sunday 4 October. The 2027 date had not been published when we checked — see [kosicemarathon.com](https://www.kosicemarathon.com/).
- **Disciplines:** marathon, Volvo Half Marathon, a four-person marathon relay, handbike and inline (both 20 km).
- **2026 start times:** handbike and inline 8:45, marathon and relay 9:00, half marathon from 10:30 in waves.
- **Time limit:** six hours for the marathon.
- **Course:** a flat, fully asphalted city loop — two laps for the marathon, one for the half — with WA and AIMS certification.

## Where are the start and finish?

All disciplines start in the start/finish zone on Hlavná Street, between the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel and the Dargov department store at the southern end of the Old Town. The marathon, half marathon and relay finish in the same place (handbikes finish on Námestie Maratónu mieru). Bib collection and the race expo are at Kasárne Kulturpark on Kukučínova Street on the Friday and Saturday before the race.

## Booking advice

- **Book early.** Race weekend brings thousands of runners and supporters into a compact centre, so the closest places go first.
- **Arrive by Saturday.** You need to collect your bib in person at the expo (Friday or Saturday in 2026), with your start acceptance and ID.
- **Think about race-day traffic.** Roads around the course close, and DPMK suspends or diverts many tram and bus lines — in 2026 from 7:00 to 15:30. Staying within walking distance takes transport out of the equation.
- **Drivers:** arrive the day before and leave the car where you are staying. Central A1/A2 parking is charged Monday to Saturday; see our [parking guide](https://kosicecitypark.com/kosice/accommodation-with-parking.html).
- **Plan recovery.** A quiet bedroom the night before and somewhere to soak your legs afterwards are worth more than a view of the start line.

### Host tips for race weekend

From our own experience of hosting runners (tips, not official advice):

- Walk to the start — it is a pleasant warm-up and avoids the closures.
- After the race, short Bolt rides around the centre typically cost about €3, if the roads you need are open again. Shared e-scooters (Bolt, Antik SmartWay) also operate in the city — but perhaps not on marathon legs.
- The bus stop Pošta 2 is about 50 m from our door (lines 17 and 19), but check DPMK’s race-day changes before relying on it.

## A runner’s base beside City Park

Cassovia City Park Residence is about 10 minutes’ walk (roughly 700 m) from Hlavná Street — the quickest walk is along Vodná and Františkánska streets. Hlavná is long, though: the start/finish zone at its southern end, between the DoubleTree by Hilton and the Dargov department store, is roughly 1 km away as the crow flies — about 1.4 km and 15–20 minutes on foot — an easy warm-up walk. City Park, right beside the building, is perfect for a shakeout run.

- City Park paths at the door for the pre-race shakeout
- Private rooftop jacuzzi for post-race recovery
- Blackout curtains and air conditioning in both bedrooms, and a Tempur mattress in the master bedroom
- Full kitchen for your own pre-race pasta and breakfast
- Washing machine for kit (dryer on request)
- Free dedicated parking — no need to move the car on race day
- Self check-in via lockbox; up to 6 guests, best for a group of 5 adult runners

More on running routes, pools and tennis on our [Wellness & Active](https://kosicecitypark.com/wellness.html) page. Photo: Košice Región Turizmus.

## Quick answers

### When is the next Košice Peace Marathon?

The 2026 edition takes place on Sunday 4 October 2026. The race is held every year in early October; the 2027 date had not been published when we checked, so see kosicemarathon.com.

### Where is the start of the Košice marathon?

In the start/finish zone on Hlavná Street, between the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel and the Dargov department store. The marathon, half marathon and relay finish there too.

### How far is the apartment from the marathon start?

About 1 km in a straight line, or roughly 1.4 km and 15–20 minutes on foot. Hlavná Street itself is closer — about 700 m (10 minutes), via Vodná and Františkánska streets — but the race zone is at its southern end, between the DoubleTree by Hilton and the Dargov department store.

### Is public transport running on marathon day?

Partly. On race day DPMK suspends or diverts many tram and bus lines (in 2026 between 7:00 and 15:30). Check dpmk.sk before you travel.

## Sources

- [Košice Peace Marathon — 2026 race regulations (date, start/finish, start times, expo)](https://www.kosicemarathon.com/propozicie-mmm/)
- [Košice Peace Marathon — Marathon milestones](https://www.kosicemarathon.com/milestones/?lang=en)
- [World Athletics — Heritage Plaque: Košice Peace Marathon](https://worldathletics.org/heritage/plaque/list/kosice-peace-marathon)
- [DPMK — public transport changes on marathon weekend 2026](https://www.dpmk.sk/aktuality/2026/maratonsky-vikend-prinesie-zmeny-v-kosickej-mhd)
- [Košice Peace Marathon — road closures and diversions](https://www.kosicemarathon.com/uzavery-a-obchadzky-pocas-mmm/)
- [DPMK — stop Pošta 2 (lines 17, 19)](https://www.dpmk.sk/cp/zastavka/155)
- [Walking distance: OpenStreetMap foot routing (FOSSGIS OSRM), apartment to Hlavná start/finish zone](https://routing.openstreetmap.de/)

*Last checked: October 2026.* Timetables, prices and event dates change — please confirm with the official source before you travel.

## Book early for race weekend

Pick your race-weekend dates in the live calendar and book directly — free parking and a rooftop jacuzzi for recovery.