Brückenlauf Cologne 2027: a half marathon over six Rhine bridges
On 12 September 2027 ASV Köln takes its half marathon over Cologne's Rhine bridges again. Date, price tiers, the course with its bridge ramps and how to pace it.
Daniel Gruber · 4 October 2026 · 7 min read
On Sunday, 12 September 2027, ASV Köln takes runners over Cologne's Rhine bridges once more: the Brückenlauf (bridge run) half marathon starts at Harry-Blum-Platz in the Rheinauhafen harbour district and finishes on the forecourt of the Chocolate Museum (source: asv-koeln.de, Halbmarathon). Registration is already open, and the price depends on how many people sign up before you. If you want to go with your running group, that is a good reason not to wait until summer.
The essentials for 2027
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, 12 September 2027 |
| Start times | not yet published ("tba") |
| Half marathon start | Harry-Blum-Platz, Rheinauhafen |
| Finish and race village | Chocolate Museum forecourt |
| Distances | Half marathon 21.0975 km · Kölsche Runde 11.11 km · Bambini run 500 m (ages 3 to 6) |
| Half marathon fee | €55 (up to 750 entries) · €59 (up to 1,500) · €64 (up to 3,000) · €69 (from 3,001) |
| Kölsche Runde / Bambini fee | €33 / €11 |
| Cut-off | Half marathon 2:45 h, Kölsche Runde 1:30 h, Bambini run 15 min |
| Elevation | around 75 m (half marathon) |
| Course records | Men 1:06:43 (Max Nores and Jonathan Dahlke) · Women 1:21:50 (Therese Schuhenn) |
| Last edition | 2026, almost 6,000 participants according to ASV |
Sources: asv-koeln.de (Brückenlauf 2027, Halbmarathon, Kölsche Runde, Bambinilauf, FAQs). As of 3 October 2026.
A traditional race with a new long distance
The Brückenlauf is not a new event. The edition on 14 September 2025 was already the 43rd, returning after a one-year break (source: stadt-koeln.de, course map 2025; laufen-in-koeln.de). What was new in 2025 was the half marathon distance (source: laufen-in-koeln.de). ASV itself speaks of a "successful half marathon debut in 2025" and says registrations doubled in 2026 to almost 6,000 participants (source: asv-koeln.de, Brückenlauf 2027).
Two shorter formats sit alongside the half. The Kölsche Runde ("Cologne lap") over 11.11 km, a nod to Cologne's carnival number, is aimed at beginners and anyone who wants to experience the city on foot without watching the clock (source: asv-koeln.de, Kölsche Runde). The 500 m Bambini run is for children aged three to six (source: asv-koeln.de, Bambinilauf). The half marathon also hosts the championships of the LVN South-East region, open to club runners from that region with a valid licence (source: asv-koeln.de, Halbmarathon).
The course: six bridges and plenty of river crossings
ASV describes the half marathon as the only race that takes you over six Cologne Rhine bridges at race pace, constantly switching between the left bank and the "Schäl Sick" (the local nickname for the right bank), with a detour through the old town (source: asv-koeln.de, Brückenlauf 2027). The course is DLV-certified (German athletics federation), eligible for ranking lists and completely free of stairs. According to the DLV course measurer it has around 75 m of elevation gain (source: asv-koeln.de, FAQs).
The organiser has not yet published the exact 2027 route; the interactive map currently shows the "provisional course" from 2026 (source: brueckenlaufhalbmarathon.asvkoeln.de). The City of Cologne's course map for 2025 shows the basic layout: from the Rheinauhafen the route heads south along the left bank to the Rodenkirchen bridge, which the field crosses at around km 5. On the right bank there is a loop through Poll and the Westhovener Aue meadows, then the course runs north past the Deutz harbour towards Deutz and switches back into the city centre after about 13 km. Along the left bank it continues to the Zoo bridge, crosses to the right bank (around km 16 to 17), runs back along the Rheinpark and crosses the Rhine once more into the old town before reaching the finish at the Rheinauhafen (source: stadt-koeln.de, half marathon course map 2025).
What does that mean for your race? Almost all of the climbing comes on the bridge ramps. On the 2025 map the two long crossings are far apart: the Rodenkirchen bridge early, when legs are fresh and the field is still dense, the Zoo bridge late, when every incline feels longer. Three pacing ideas:
- Run the climbs by feel, not by watch. Give away a few seconds per kilometre on each ramp and win them back on the descent and the flat riverside path. Holding goal pace on every bridge costs you in the final quarter.
- Plan for the Zoo bridge. Expect the second half to be slightly slower because of the late crossings, and run the first ten kilometres deliberately controlled.
- Wind by the water. A large part of the course follows the Rhine. Headwind is easier to handle in the pack or in your own group than alone.
According to the FAQ there is water, isotonic drinks, cola, fruit and gels on course; the exact aid stations are marked on the course map. Pets, prams, support vehicles, inline skates, skateboards and headphones are not allowed on the course (source: asv-koeln.de, FAQs). Up to four samba bands play along the route depending on the distance (source: asv-koeln.de, FAQs).
Registration: the price rises with every entry
You register online via the Frielingsdorf Datenservice portal linked from the ASV Köln page (registration). For the half marathon there are no fixed deadlines, only tiers by entry count: €55 up to the 750th entry, €59 up to the 1,500th, €64 up to the 3,000th and €69 from the 3,001st (source: asv-koeln.de, Halbmarathon). The Kölsche Runde costs €33, the Bambini run €11 (source: asv-koeln.de, Kölsche Runde and Bambinilauf).
A few points from the terms worth knowing before you click (source: asv-koeln.de, FAQs):
- No cancellations, not even for illness. Entry fees are not refunded.
- Transfers to another person cost €5 via the link in your confirmation email.
- Upgrading from the Kölsche Runde to the half marathon also works via that link; downgrading is not offered.
- You can register until race day, on site only while places remain and only in cash. ASV lists a late-entry fee of €5.
The fee includes chip timing (net time), a race bag, on-course and finish refreshments, a cloakroom and, for half marathon finishers, a metal medal (source: asv-koeln.de, FAQs). Place and date of bib pick-up for 2027 have not been announced yet. Someone else can collect your bib with a written authorisation and a copy of your ID (source: asv-koeln.de, FAQs).
Brückenlauf, Cologne Half Marathon or the marathon?
Cologne has two big late-summer half marathons, and they are very different. The Cologne Half Marathon in August runs through the Stadtwald city forest; the Brückenlauf in September follows the Rhine and its bridges. Run both and you have two very different races in your calendar.
If you are running an autumn marathon, the Brückenlauf is an honest tempo test: the elevation is modest, but the bridge ramps show you how well you can still push after 15 km. If you are also planning the Cologne Marathon in October, use the Brückenlauf as your last real test before tapering. All other races in the city are listed on running events in Cologne; for the wider region see running events in the Rhineland 2027.
Going with your running group
The Brückenlauf has no relay and no team ranking, but it works well for a group with mixed goals: the faster runners do the half, the others the Kölsche Runde, and everyone meets at the Chocolate Museum. Because the race village sits right in the Rheinauhafen, the finish is easy to find. By train, use the "Ubierring" or "Köln Hbf" stops and walk a short way; bus lines 106, 132 and 133 stop at "Schokoladenmuseum" (source: asv-koeln.de, FAQs). Spectators will find food trucks and drinks stands (source: asv-koeln.de, FAQs).
If you want to train together towards September over the summer, running in Cologne lists Lauftreffs (group runs) and run clubs with weekly sessions, many with long runs along the Rhine. One tip for your build-up: work the real bridges into your long runs. One or two crossings per session get your legs used to exactly the ramps waiting for you on 12 September 2027.
Sources
- asv-koeln.de/events/bruckenlauf-2027
- asv-koeln.de/events/bruckenlauf-2027/bruckenlauf-2027-halbm…
- asv-koeln.de/events/bruckenlauf-2027/bruckenlauf-2027-koels…
- asv-koeln.de/events/bruckenlauf-2027/bruckenlauf-2027-bambi…
- asv-koeln.de/events/bruckenlauf-2027/bruckenlauf-2027-faqs
- brueckenlaufhalbmarathon.asvkoeln.de
- stadt-koeln.de/mediaasset/content/verkehrskalender/brückenl…
- laufen-in-koeln.de/lik4.php
- frielingsdorf-datenservice.de/anmeldung/2027/brueckenlauf
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Brückenlauf Cologne 2027?
- On Sunday, 12 September 2027. ASV Köln has not published start times yet (as of 3 October 2026).
- How much does the Brückenlauf half marathon cost?
- The fee rises with entry numbers: €55 up to the 750th entry, €59 up to the 1,500th, €64 up to the 3,000th and €69 from the 3,001st. The Kölsche Runde costs €33, the Bambini run €11.
- Which bridges does the Brückenlauf cross?
- According to ASV, six of Cologne's Rhine bridges. The 2027 route has not been published yet. The 2025 course map included the Rodenkirchen bridge and the Zoo bridge.
- Is the course fast?
- It is DLV-certified, eligible for ranking lists, free of stairs and has around 75 m of elevation gain, almost all of it on the bridge ramps. The course records are 1:06:43 (men) and 1:21:50 (women).
- Can I cancel my entry?
- No. According to ASV, cancellation is not possible, even for illness. You can transfer your place to another person for €5.
- What is the cut-off time?
- 2 hours 45 minutes after the start for the half marathon, 1 hour 30 minutes for the Kölsche Runde.