About the event
Women's World Half Marathon Record set at 1:04:02 in 2021 by Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya. Perfect
for those looking for a new PB, the race was first organised in 1987 and was brought back to life in
2015 when the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Spor İstanbul organised the race again. Since then,
it is a popular destination on the map of the most popular half marathons in Europe. This year, in
2023, it hosted the most crowded run in its history with record participation and broke the
participation record.
The race course runs along the coast of the Sea of Marmara on the European side of Istanbul and is a
fast, flat World Athletics Gold Label race that takes place annually in April. This guarantees perfect
weather and a chance for a personal best or an easy start to the season after a long winter. The start
and finish lines of Türkiye İş Bankası 19. İstanbul Half Marathon are located on the coast of Golden
Horn in Balat, offering the opportunity to see some of the city's most remarkable landmarks, such as
the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace. Istanbul has lots more to offer apart from great weather and a
chance for a personal best, with its exciting culture, rich history and plenty of activities to enjoy. Be
sure to plan sightseeing and exploration days before or after the race, with some of the city's must-
sees including the 8th wonder of the world - Hagia Sophia (Church of the Holy Wisdom), the iconic
Swirling Dervishes Show, and the Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) in Beyazıt. This city has something to
offer for everyone!
Races offered by this event
You have 22 weeks to prepare
10K
Half Marathon
Reviews
Was my first half outside my country! A great one, fast, cheerful crowds! Definitely i will come back next year!!
Great event. Could anyone tell me where to find the race pictures please? Thanks!
It was my first experience to run Marathon and I enjoyed it a lot. Nice track, good organisation, friendly atmosphere.
This route is really fast and comfortable for runners. Everyone can make PR here.
The views were incredible and the trail was smooth and straightforward. It was a fast course, and 21K went by fast. I highly recommend this course for those wishing to work on their time as this course is fairly flat.
Fantastic run. Well organised.
Running around the capital of the eastern Roman Empire for a 1000 years... What's not to like? The Blue Mosque... Aya Sophia... The Galata bridge... Thousands of runners... Great support... Well organised... Good communication... Oh, and dolphins swimming alongside the route in the Bosphorus. Brilliant!
Everything is fine, they didn't give me a pack in class A, I had to start from E and my age category was wrong.
There is no English information at all, even to collect the kit and to find out the start time for the 21K. During the race all the information given over the speakers were in Turkish so cannot know what to do or where to go. After the race I did get access to my pictures becuase I do not have a Turkish SIM.
No transportation back after the race to the hotel so I walked about 12 km.
gara organizzata benissimo. la consiglio a tutti. percorso bello, tanta partecipazione e poi Istanbul e’un na città unica
ottimo. gara bene organizzata ad eccezione del luogo per il ritiro pettorale, un po’ troppo lontano, per il resto mi è piaciuto tutto
The atmosphere is very good 👍
Excellent
mostly flat surface, decent organization of all stages (pre-race, race and after the race), cool merch
Excellent
my first half marathon in my life, but I was expecting a little better atmosphere
Official links
Find hotels near Türkiye İş Bankası 20th Istanbul Half Marathon
Closest events
News: Running
Read moreOur partners
The price shown is converted as an approximate cost in your selected currency. Exchange rates may change while completing your purchase. Always check with your issuing bank for an exact exchange rate.
© Ahotu is a World's Sports Group owned service and brand. All rights reserved.
Version: 9.26.2