"In the Spring, a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love", wrote Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892), former Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom and Member of the House of Lords.

That may be true but the Paris Marathon and Half Marathon weren't around in the 19th Century! All the attractions of the French capital are available to both men and women, young and not so young, in an affordable package from Marathon Tours & Travel next spring.

Paris in Spring. It's an emotive image for so many and was immortalised in the 1935 song featured in the 'Paris in Spring' film that year, sung by Mary Ellis, who lived for 105 years!

The 34th Paris Half Marathon, now known as the HOKA Semi de Paris, is on Sunday 8 March 2026. This year's race saw more than 48,000 finishers. The HOKA Semi de Paris focuses on the most attractive parts of Paris, including the Place de la Bastille with its youthful charm. Located in the Paris city centre it’s a great way to see all the main sights. You may get a personal best, but if not, you'll still have the time of your life!

Five weeks later, on Sunday 12 April 2026, the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris (Paris Marathon) takes to the stage. Paris Marathon is now one of the largest in the world, with 57,000 competitors this year, around a third of whom are first-time marathon runners.

Starting on the famous Champs Elysées Avenue, in front of the iconic Arc de Triomphe, you can join Marathon Tours & Travel's trip with guaranteed race entry included. The course passes nearly every major sightseeing highlight, including the Chateau de Vincennes, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum and the famous Eiffel Tower.

On either trip, the Marathon Tours & Travel team will be on hand to guide and support you, helping to make your trip fun, enjoyable and a success. The expertly-created packages include deluxe hotel accommodation a short distance from the start line and finish, plus invitations to a shake-out run, a welcome drink/get together, an escorted visit to the Expo to collect your race bib, pre-race pasta dinner and post-race drink/celebrations.

With flexible durations starting at just one night, Paris could be your passion for 2026...

For full details and to book, click here for the Paris Half Marathon, and here for the Paris Marathon.

Image courtesy Marathon Tours & Travel