Mdina, MT · Sunday 28 February 2027
The Malta Marathon takes place in and around Mdina, the historic fortified city that sits at the heart of Malta's landscape. This medieval settlement, perched on elevated terrain, provides a dramatic backdrop for the race and gives runners a genuine sense of place rather than just another generic event venue. The surrounding countryside offers classic Mediterranean scenery with stone walls, quiet roads, and views across the island. The course itself is a trail marathon that stays refreshingly gentle throughout. Runners will encounter rolling terrain rather than any serious climbing, with the path gradually rising and falling across a modest elevation range that keeps things interesting without becoming punishing. The 174 meters of total gain spread across 42.2 kilometers means you're dealing with a fundamentally runnable route where the terrain itself won't break you, though the trail surface and any wind exposure common to Malta will still demand respect. Most of the elevation sits in the lower half, so you won't face major climbs late in the race when fatigue sets in.
Adjusted Time
4:38:53
Time difference: +38.9 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Malta Marathon is a full marathon held in Mdina, MT, scheduled for Sunday 28 February 2027. The course is run on trail surface with 174m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 209m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Malta Marathon website.
With 174m of elevation gain, this is a moderately undulating course. The route ranges from 2m to 209m above sea level (207m total range). While not completely flat, the elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't significantly impact pacing strategy.
Malta Marathon is a trail race, meaning the course includes unpaved surfaces such as dirt, gravel, or forest paths. Trail surfaces are inherently slower than road courses due to uneven footing, technical sections, and often steeper gradients. Trail-specific shoes with good grip are recommended, and runners should expect a finish time 10-20% slower than their equivalent road marathon time.
Our difficulty rating for Malta Marathon is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Malta Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.