Barcelona
This beautiful Spanish city boasts both vibrant city life, as well as 4K of beautiful beaches south of the centre. Meaning, if you ever get fed up with Gaudi’s architecture, you can go for a nice sunny, sandy stroll instead. Much of the city can get quite steep too, so there’s even an option to vary up your runs and add in some hill training. The city can get quite busy at times, so it’s best to get your runs in early, which will also help avoid the blistering heat.
Berlin
Anyone who has visited Berlin will also know the scale of the city. It’s big. Unlike London or Rome, where the main historical attractions are all packed tightly together, Berlin’s are fairly spread out. With their wide streets and pavements, there’s ample room to run to and from your favourite attractions. Berlin also has the advantage of a huge park, the Großer Tiergarten, which sprawls 520 acres and has lakes, trees for cover and a 67m-high gilded column in the middle. Sehr gut.
Paris
The city of love – if you love running! Home to the great Paris Marathon, this city has a lot to offer. If you like your architecture then there’s plenty of hot spots to run around, past the Eiffel Tower or up the Champs de Elyssee; Paris has it all. It’s even got a river, so if you fancy a bit more space, then run along winding water which will again take you past some great sights. The best part is that you won’t feel guilty about that post-run Camembert!
Copenhagen
Edgy and cosmopolitan, the Danish capital’s compact size means you can see an awful lot of the city in a single run. If you don’t fancy setting out on your own, why not try a spot of sightrunning? Voted the number one outdoor activity in Copenhagen by TripAdvisor, Running Copenhagen offers a multitude of distances and sightseeing options with the comforting knowledge that you won’t get lost.
Vienna
Not only does the Austrian capital have an artistic and intellectual legacy to be admired; it’s also got an extensive network of runner-friendly paths. Head to The Prater, a huge public park and former imperial hunting grounds where you can switch between road and trail in an instant. Alternatively, if you want to stay more central, take a trip down the wide paths of the Danube Canal.
The annual Vienna City Marathon
