Marathon is about 42 km northeast of Athens, a distance that gave the modern marathon race its name (though the actual route of the legendary messenger Pheidippides is debated). The site is surprisingly undeveloped -- a flat, open plain backed by mountains and facing the sea, with a burial mound, a small museum, and not much else. That emptiness is part of what makes it powerful. You're standing where it happened, and the landscape still reads.

The Battle

The basics, briefly: in 490 BC, the Persian King Darius I sent a fleet to punish Athens for supporting an Ionian Greek revolt. The Persians landed at Marathon, choosing the wide bay for its flat ground suited to cavalry. Athens sent about 10,000 hoplites to meet them, reinforced by 1,000 Plataeans. They were outnumbered roughly two to one.

The Athenian general Miltiades chose the moment carefully. The Greeks charged at a run, strengthened their wings, and enveloped the Persian centre. The Persians broke and fled to their ships. According to Herodotus, 6,400 Persians died against 192 Athenians.

The victory proved that Persian armies could be beaten. Without it, the subsequent Greek resistance at Thermopylae and Salamis might never have happened, and the development of Athenian democracy, philosophy, and culture could have taken a very different course.

What to See

The Tumulus (Burial Mound)

The most important monument. A 9-metre-high earth mound marking the communal grave of the 192 Athenians who fell in the battle. It was excavated in the 19th century, and cremated remains and artefacts were found inside, confirming the ancient accounts.

The mound stands alone in the plain, surrounded by grass and farmland. There's a simple modern monument nearby. The setting is stark and moving -- no gift shops, no audio guides, just the mound and the landscape.

Free to visit. Open at all times.

Marathon Archaeological Museum

A small museum on the main road in the town of Marathon, about 2 km from the tumulus. Houses finds from the battle site and the surrounding area, including pottery, weapons, and a model of the battlefield.

Entrance fee: 6 EUR (full), 3 EUR (reduced). Combined ticket with the tumulus and other local sites available.

Opening hours: 08:30-15:30 (may extend in summer). Closed Tuesdays.

Trophy of Marathon

A marble column (reconstructed) marking the spot where the Persians were routed. Located at the northeast edge of the battlefield near the coast. The original trophy was a simple pile of Persian arms and armour -- the column is a later commemoration.

Marathon Run Museum

A separate museum dedicated to the history of the marathon race, from Pheidippides to the modern Olympics. Small but interesting if you're a runner. Located near the town centre.

Schinias Beach

Just 3 km from the battlefield, Schinias is one of the best beaches near Athens -- a long, pine-backed stretch of sand facing the sea where the Persian fleet anchored. It's a natural extension of a Marathon day trip. The Olympic rowing and canoeing centre from the 2004 Athens Games is here too.

The beach is organised in some sections (sunbeds, tavernas) and wild in others. The pine forest behind the beach is pleasant for walking.

How to Get There

By Car (45 minutes - 1 hour)

Take Mesogeion Avenue northeast from Athens towards Rafina, then follow signs to Marathon. The road is straightforward. Free parking at the tumulus and museum.

The beach at Schinias adds 5 minutes by car.

By Bus

KTEL buses run from the Mavromateon terminal (near Victoria metro station) to Marathon. Several services per day, journey time about 1.5 hours. Ask the driver for the museum stop.

Getting between the tumulus, museum, and Schinias by bus is inconvenient -- sites are spread out. A car is much more practical.

By Guided Tour

Some operators include Marathon in Athens day tours, often combined with Cape Sounion or the Athens Riviera. Marathon is less commonly offered as a standalone tour, but private tours are available.

Practical Tips

  • Manage expectations on the site. Marathon is not a visually dramatic archaeological site. There are no standing temples or impressive ruins. The power is in what happened here and the landscape that witnessed it. If you're interested in ancient history, it's compelling. If you need Instagram-worthy columns, skip it.
  • Read up before you go. Even a quick summary of the battle (Herodotus' account is the primary source) makes the visit significantly more meaningful. Standing on the plain knowing the story is very different from just looking at a grassy mound.
  • The tumulus has no shade. Brief visit, but bring a hat in summer.
  • Combine with Schinias Beach. The battlefield takes 1-2 hours. Add the beach for a full day.
  • The museum is small but well-curated. 30-45 minutes is enough.
  • The Athens Marathon finishes at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens but starts near Marathon. If you're a runner, the annual race (November) is a bucket-list event.

Suggested Day Trip Itinerary

History Focus

  • 09:00 -- Leave Athens by car
  • 10:00 -- Marathon Archaeological Museum
  • 11:00 -- Walk to the Tumulus, explore the battlefield
  • 12:00 -- Trophy of Marathon
  • 12:30 -- Lunch in Marathon town
  • 14:00 -- Return to Athens

History + Beach

  • 09:00 -- Leave Athens
  • 10:00 -- Museum and Tumulus
  • 11:30 -- Drive to Schinias Beach
  • 12:00-15:00 -- Beach, swim, lunch at a beach taverna
  • 15:30 -- Return to Athens

Runner's Pilgrimage

  • Morning -- Museum, Tumulus, Marathon Run Museum
  • Afternoon -- Run or walk part of the original Athens marathon route (sections are signposted)

Combining With Other Stops

  • Schinias Beach -- 3 km away. The natural combo.
  • Ramnous -- Ancient fortress and Temple of Nemesis, 15 km north of Marathon. Remote, atmospheric, rarely visited. For serious history enthusiasts.
  • Brauron (Vravrona) -- Temple of Artemis, 20 km south. Can be combined for an eastern Attica archaeology day.

Best Time to Visit

Spring and autumn for comfortable walking and green landscape.

Summer for combining with Schinias Beach. Visit the battlefield early morning, then beach.

November for the Athens Marathon -- the race starts near the tomb of Miltiades.

Marathon is 42 km from Athens. The drive takes about 45 minutes. The battlefield, tumulus, and museum are spread across the plain.