Where to go for the best photos at the Berlin Marathon 2026

Words by Georgina Groom-Rietschy

The Berlin Marathon takes place on Sunday 27 September, with more than 55,000 runners set to participate in the 26.2-mile challenge through the German capital. Renowned for its flat, fast route, the course has long drawn elite athletes, keen amateurs and celebrities. Harry Styles even grabbed headlines last year with a sub-three hour finish.

Whether you’re racing or cheering on a loved one, it’s worth planning ahead to get the best photos. We asked our data science team to pinpoint the locations that dominated Popsa users’ camera rolls at the 2025 Berlin Marathon. Tiergarten park and Pariser Platz top the rankings, which is no surprise, given their proximity to the start and finish. Fehrbelliner Platz in Wilmersdorf draws crowds at the tough 20-mile mark, where cheering stations keep spirits high. Read on for the best photo spots, from unmissable landmarks to quiet corners where you can catch the action. 

Curious how we calculated the photo index scores? Read the methodology at the end of this article.

1. Tiergarten park, Tiergarten

Photo index score: 100

Berlin’s signature park sets the leafy scene for the marathon’s start, with the 67m-high Siegessäule (Victory Column) – famously topped by a golden statue of Victoria, goddess of victory – rising from its centre. Runners set off on Straße des 17 Juni between the Brandenburg Gate and Kleiner Stern, passing the column less than a mile into the race. Spectators should arrive early to catch the start, then head to the finish line, where free grandstands on both sides of the course offer a front-row view of the action. For runners, the park makes a scenic opener before the route gives way to Berlin’s urban streets and skyline.

2. Pariser Platz, Mitte

Photo index score: 85

This historic square ranks among Berlin’s most recognisable landmarks, with the 18th-century Brandenburg Gate standing at its eastern edge. Originally built as a city gateway, it later became a poignant symbol of Cold War division, then of reunification after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. This is arguably the money shot, with the finish line just beyond the gate. Runners should aim for the middle of the pack for a selfie to capture the green-copper Quadriga statue behind them. Keep an eye out for celebrities and athletes crossing the line too – former footballers Felix Kroos and André Schürrle both completed the race in 2025.

3. Platz der Republik, Tiergarten

Photo index score: 82

Platz der Republik sprawls in front of the Reichstag – home to the national parliament – its striking glass dome rising above the government quarter. The square’s manicured lawns are a popular spot with locals on balmy summer evenings. On race day, runners pass the Reichstag around the 4-mile mark, and Platz der Republik doubles as a key access point for registered runners heading to the start area. That helps explain its high photo count, as pre-race excitement inspires selfies and crowd shots. For supporters, the lawns offer room to watch the action, with the Reichstag serving as an unmistakable backdrop for memorable photos.

4. Breitscheidplatz, Charlottenburg

Photo index score: 13

On the home stretch at around 21 miles, runners sweep through Breitscheidplatz in Charlottenburg’s City West. Here, the damaged spire of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church stands alongside the contemporary Weltkugelbrunnen fountain, creating a contrast with modern skyscrapers, including the curved glass facade of the Upper West and the Zoofenster tower. It’s an ideal spot for supporters, offering plenty of food and drink options scattered around the square, and excellent transport links via U-Bahn and S-Bahn. At this late stage, runners need all the encouragement they can get and Breitscheidplatz delivers thanks to its dedicated cheering point blasting electronic beats to lift the mood.

5. Gendarmenmarkt, Mitte

Photo index score: 12

One of Berlin’s most attractive squares, Gendarmenmarkt is framed by the Konzerthaus Berlin, German Cathedral and French Cathedral, creating an elegant neoclassical setting. On marathon day, you can move around freely without being cramped behind a barrier – perfect for capturing photos of runners digging deep during the final stages, set against the backdrop of historic architecture. Join locals cheering on competitors and holding up heartwarming, handwritten signs. It’s an ideal location to spot your loved one before you head to the Brandenburg Gate for the finish, where it can be trickier to get a photo of them crossing the line.

6. Leipziger Platz, Tiergarten

Photo index score: 9

A quieter alternative to the busiest cheering spots, octagonal Leipziger Platz marks another stop on the final leg of the course. First laid out in the 1730s, the square was once one of the capital’s commercial hubs, before becoming part of no man’s land along the Berlin Wall during the Cold War. Here, runners pass beneath the glass and steel skyline of neighbouring Potsdamer Platz, a contemporary scene for stellar photos. For supporters with little ones or older relatives, the spacious square offers room to spread out without losing the atmosphere. The official BMW cheering zone brings a high-energy buzz, and hydration stations dish out water and energy gels, while fast-charging hubs help keep participants and supporters connected.

7. Paul-Löbe-Haus, Tiergarten

Photo index score: 9

Not the most obvious photo spot, but a crucial post-race rendezvous point, Paul-Löbe-Haus is where runners and supporters reunite after the finish. It sits directly in front of the glass-fronted parliamentary building on the Spree, where bright alphabetical signs make it easy to find your runner by surname. It’s the first place you’ll catch them proudly showing off their finisher medal. The 2026 design is yet to be revealed, but last year’s featured a silver-toned metal body with a gold relief of the Brandenburg Gate, hanging from a ribbon in Germany’s national colours.

8. Spreebogenpark, Tiergarten

Photo index score: 7

Runners cross the River Spree over Moltke Bridge before skirting the southern edge of Spreebogenpark around the 4-mile mark. For the best snaps, head to the bridge and the park’s northern edge, where Otto-von-Bismarck-Allee offers a clear view of the race. The park’s sloping lawns provide another great vantage point, giving supporters extra height and an unobstructed sightline without having to crane over the heads in front. For runners, there’s lots of history to take in as you fly through – the park sits on the former government district, Alsenviertel, still traceable today in the boxwood borders and colourful flower beds that once framed its grand houses.

9. Hermannplatz, Neukölln

Photo index score: 6

If you’re looking for a supporting spot with a top-notch atmosphere, make a beeline for Hermannplatz. The bustling square sits in the heart of Neukölln, a neighbourhood known for its dynamic food scene and independent arts community. No surprise, then, that this stretch comes with an energetic local crowd, feel-good music and plenty of noise to lift runners at the 10-mile mark, just before they hit the tougher mid-section. For a better chance of seeing your runner, move away from the crush outside the Hermannplatz U-Bahn station exit and position yourself along the Kottbusser Damm approach.

10. Fehrbelliner Platz, Wilmersdorf

Photo index score: 6

Wilmersdorf’s bustling square is a hotspot for locals most weekends, who browse antiques and vintage clothing at the Trödelmarkt. On marathon day, Fehrbelliner Platz sits at the 20-mile point – known as “the wall”, where runners often need to push through the peak of their fatigue. It’s a lively cheering zone as a result, with live music from JuniorJazzBand, a student group from the local Goethe-Gymnasium, soothing runners with swing, blues and soul. Arrive early enough to snap a photo at Fehrbelliner Platz U-Bahn station, its symmetrical, bright design making for a popular selfie spot – then head to the main square to enjoy the action.

Where are the less crowded spots at the Berlin Marathon?

• Mile 5: Rosenthaler Platz

• Mile 8: U-Bahnhof Heinrich-Heine-Straße

• Mile 14: Rudolph-Wilde-Park

Methodology

To determine the most photographed spots at the Berlin Marathon, Popsa’s data science team analysed millions of photos uploaded by customers in 2025. Using location metadata, they identified images taken along the race route and ranked them by total photo volume.

Each location received a photo index score reflecting its relative share of images in the dataset. Scores were then normalised to a scale of 0-100, with the most photographed spot serving as the benchmark. The result is a ranking that reflects real spectator and runner behaviour – not just where crowds gathered to cheer, but where runners felt most inspired to capture the moment.