Top 10 Half Marathons in Italy 2027 (Dates, Courses & How to Enter)

Italy is one of the best countries in Europe for half marathons. The calendar runs almost year-round, the races are packed with history — the Roma-Ostia dates back to 1974, the Stramilano to the 1970s — and the settings are hard to beat: lakes, seafronts, Renaissance cities and Roman roads. Many of the courses are fast, too.

This list covers ten of the best half marathons in Italy for 2027, in calendar order rather than ranked. All dates are taken from the Italian athletics federation’s (FIDAL) official 2027 marathon and half marathon calendar.

A note on dates: all dates below come from FIDAL’s 2027 calendar (updated September 2026). Organisers can still make changes, so confirm on each race’s official site before booking travel.

1. Romeo & Giulietta Half Marathon — Verona

Date: Sunday 14 February 2027 (20th edition)

Where else would you run on Valentine’s Day? Verona’s half marathon takes runners through the city of Romeo and Juliet, past the Roman Arena and along the Adige river. It’s one of Italy’s most popular early-season halves, with a big field and a festive Valentine’s atmosphere.

Mid-February in Verona is cool, which suits fast running, and the course is largely flat.

Best for: A fun early-season half with a romantic twist — and a weekend in one of Italy’s prettiest cities.

2. Napoli City Half Marathon — Naples

Date: Sunday 21 February 2027 (13th edition)

Naples has become one of Italy’s fastest half marathons. The course is flat and fast, running through the historic centre and along the Bay of Naples with views of Mount Vesuvius. The race is now part of the RunCzech family of events — the organisers behind the Prague Half Marathon — which brings strong organisation and a growing international field.

Late February in Naples is usually mild, around 13°C, which makes it a good early-season PB opportunity.

Best for: A fast February half with a Vesuvius backdrop.

3. RomaOstia Half Marathon — Rome

Date: Sunday 28 February 2027 (52nd edition)

One of the oldest and most famous half marathons in Europe. First run in 1974, the RomaOstia starts in Rome’s EUR district and runs point-to-point down Via Cristoforo Colombo to the sea at Ostia. The course was changed in 2011 to make it faster, and elite winners now run around 58 minutes.

It’s a big, competitive race and one of the fastest in Italy — a genuine PB course for amateurs too.

Best for: A historic, fast point-to-point half that finishes by the sea.

Clash watch: Naples and Roma-Ostia are a week apart. Pick one if you’re racing hard.

4. Lago Maggiore Half Marathon — Stresa to Verbania

Date: Sunday 7 March 2027 (19th edition)
Start: 10:00, Stresa lakefront; finish in Verbania-Pallanza
Field: Capped at 2,400 half marathon runners
Entry: €45-55 depending on when you enter

A point-to-point race along the shore of Lake Maggiore, from the elegant resort of Stresa to Verbania. With the Alps in the background and the Borromean Islands on the lake, it’s one of the most beautiful half marathons in Europe. The field is small and capped, so it fills up — and early entries are cheaper.

Best for: Scenery. A smaller, beautiful lakeside half.

5. Stramilano Half Marathon — Milan

Date: Sunday 21 March 2027 (54th edition)
Start/Finish: Piazza Castello, 08:30

Milan’s half marathon starts and finishes in front of the Sforza Castle and runs a loop along the city’s old bastions and grand boulevards, past Porta Venezia, Porta Nuova and Piazza della Repubblica. It holds a World Athletics Road Race Label and FIDAL’s “Gold” half marathon status.

Late March in Milan is usually cool, and the course is flat — a strong spring PB option.

Best for: A fast, flat spring half in one of Europe’s great cities.

6. Padova Half Marathon — Abano Terme / Padua

Date: Sunday 18 April 2027 (18th edition)

Run alongside the Padova Marathon, the half is listed by FIDAL as starting in the spa town of Abano Terme and heads into Padua, one of Italy’s oldest university cities. The course is flat, and the region — the Euganean Hills, Padua’s historic centre, and Venice just 30 minutes away — makes it an excellent racing weekend.

Best for: A flat spring half with Venice on the doorstep.

Clash watch: 18 April is a busy day in Italy — the Rimini Half and La Mezza di Cremona are on the same Sunday.

7. Trieste 21K — Trieste

Date: Sunday 2 May 2027 (31st edition)

Trieste’s half marathon has been running for more than 30 years. The city sits on the Adriatic, at the meeting point of Italian, Slovenian and Austrian cultures, and the race takes in the Gulf of Trieste and the elegant seafront of one of Italy’s most underrated cities.

Early May brings warmer weather than the winter races on this list, so an early start and good hydration matter.

Best for: A late-spring seaside half in a city most runners haven’t discovered yet.

8. Maratonina Città di Udine — Udine

Date: Sunday 19 September 2027 (27th edition)

Udine has serious running pedigree: it hosted the 2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships. Its half marathon is one of Italy’s best-established autumn races, with a fast course and a strong local following.

Best for: An early-autumn PB attempt, or a tune-up for an October marathon.

9. Venice Half Marathon — Venice

Date: Sunday 24 October 2027 (6th edition)

A half marathon in Venice is a bucket-list experience in its own right. The race is still young — 2027 is only its sixth edition — so check the official site for the course and the latest details. Late October is a quieter, cooler time to visit the city.

Best for: Runners who want a half marathon in one of the most famous cities on Earth.

10. Torino City Half Marathon — Turin

Date: Sunday 7 November 2027 (8th edition)

Turin’s autumn half marathon runs through the elegant baroque city at the foot of the Alps. Early November is cool and usually dry, making it a good late-season target — and one of the last big Italian halves of the year.

Best for: A late-season half and a weekend of Piedmontese food and wine.

Honourable Mentions

• Bergamo Half Marathon — Sunday 31 January 2027. One of the first Italian halves of the year.
• Run Tune Up, Bologna — Sunday 7 March 2027. Bologna’s popular half marathon, on the same day as Lago Maggiore.
• Rimini Half Marathon — Sunday 18 April 2027. A seaside spring half on the Adriatic coast.
• La Mezza di Cremona — Sunday 18 April 2027. A new race, in only its second edition.
• Trento Half Marathon — Sunday 26 September 2027. An autumn half in the heart of the Dolomites region.
• La Mezza di Treviso — Sunday 10 October 2027. A flat autumn half near Venice.
• Palermo International Half Marathon — Sunday 17 October 2027. Sicily’s international half marathon.
• Milano Half Marathon — Sunday 28 November 2027. A late-season option in Milan.

How to Build an Italian Season

Italy’s calendar gives you two clear racing seasons:

• February-March: Verona, Naples, Roma-Ostia, Lago Maggiore and the Stramilano offer five strong options in six weeks. Pick one or two as A-races — Naples and Roma-Ostia for speed, Lago Maggiore for scenery.
• September-November: Udine, Venice and Turin make a good autumn sequence, with plenty of smaller races in between.
• Leave six to eight weeks between hard efforts. You can race more often, but you won’t race as well.
• Use the half as a marathon tune-up. A February or March half fits perfectly before an April marathon such as Rome; Udine works well before an October or November marathon.

Practical Notes for Visiting Runners

• Medical certificate and RunCard: Italian races are run under FIDAL rules. Runners who aren’t members of an Italian club usually need a RunCard and a medical certificate for competitive sport. Rules vary by race and nationality, so check each race’s requirements well before you travel.
• Book early: Small, capped races such as Lago Maggiore fill up, and popular cities get busy on race weekends.
• Getting around: Italy’s high-speed trains connect Milan, Turin, Venice, Padua, Rome and Naples quickly and easily.
• Weather: Winter races in the north (Verona, Milan, Lago Maggiore) can be cold; spring and autumn races in the south can be warm. Pack for both.
• Eat well: You’re in Italy. Carb-loading has never been easier.

The Bottom Line

For speed, look at Naples, Roma-Ostia and the Stramilano. For scenery, Lago Maggiore and Trieste are hard to beat. For a bucket-list experience, Verona on Valentine’s Day or a half marathon in Venice will stay with you for years.

Whichever you choose, Italy offers some of the best half marathon racing in Europe — with the food, culture and scenery to match. Pick your race, sort out your medical certificate early, and enjoy the trip.

Which Italian half marathon is on your 2027 calendar? Share your plans on Instagram or Threads!