The Burrow
Jan 21, 2026
Running has firmly cemented its place as one of the world’s most popular and accessible ways to stay active, offering physical, mental and social benefits for people of all ages. From morning joggers to committed marathon trainers, more people are lacing up their trainers and taking to the streets than ever before. This global surge has put a spotlight on the best cities for running, as urban environments increasingly shape how and where people run.
In response, cities across the globe are evolving into standout running destinations for 2026, investing in safer routes, greener spaces and purpose-built paths that support both everyday runners and elite athletes. From waterfront trails and park loops to iconic marathon cities that host world-class running events, urban planning is playing a vital role in promoting active lifestyles.
As interest continues to grow, identifying the top running cities offers valuable insight into where runners can enjoy the most rewarding, motivating and sustainable experiences, whether it’s training for a race or simply running for pleasure. With this in mind, the health insurance comparison experts at Compare the Market have ranked a number of cities for runners, based on 10 metrics.
Here are the results.
From climate and safety to community spirit and event calendars, these cities stand out as the top running cities. They balance everyday jogger-friendly design with serious credentials as global marathon cities, making them ideal for runners of all abilities.
Regularly topping global liveability lists, Melbourne leads the way as the best running city worldwide. With an impressive 597 running trails, low air pollution (PM2.5 of 4.8) and a strong safety score (55.9), it’s built for consistent, year-round running. The city also hosts 21 running events and 17 marathons and half-marathons, backed by a highly engaged running community (over 400 running club searches per 100,000 residents).
Sydney combines iconic scenery with serious running infrastructure, making it a standout among running destinations in 2026. The city boasts 605 running trails, excellent levels of sunshine (8.5 hours a day) and 20 running events annually. While rainfall is higher than that of Melbourne, the coastal climate supports outdoor activity year-round, appealing to both casual runners and endurance athletes.
Stockholm proves that cooler climates can still produce world-class running environments. With 634 running trails, a low physical inactivity rate (23.5%) and 38 organised running events, it has one of the strongest running cultures in Europe. Clean air and well-maintained urban green spaces make Stockholm ideal for longer-distance training.
Yet another Australian city in the top five, Brisbane shines for runners seeking warmth without extreme heat. With very low air pollution (2.9 PM2.5), solid safety scores (62.1), and growing interest in organised running events, it’s an increasingly popular choice. A healthy 8.4 hours a day of sunshine and a variety of riverside routes make Brisbane especially appealing for recreational runners.
Madrid rounds out the list thanks to its dry climate, affordability and expanding running scene. While it has fewer formal trails (74), it compensates with low rainfall, strong sunshine levels (9.1 hours daily) and improving access to organised races. Its momentum places it firmly among the top running destinations in 2026.
Cities like Copenhagen are emerging as runner-friendly hubs thanks to continued investment in active transport and green corridors. Interestingly, cities with long-established running reputations such as New York, Tokyo and Paris don’t feature in the top five. This is largely due to higher congestion, air quality challenges and safety trade-offs, despite their iconic marathon cities status.
Australia’s best cities for running combine scenic routes, accessible green spaces and strong community support, creating environments where both casual joggers and committed athletes can thrive.
The top running city worldwide, Melbourne’s reputation as one of the top running cities is built on variety and volume. Runners can enjoy the Tan Track, Capital City Trail and riverside paths along the Yarra.
As one of Australia’s most recognisable running destinations in 2026, Sydney offers iconic harbourside routes, coastal paths like Bondi to Coogee, and expansive parklands that include the wonderful Centennial Park.
While Brisbane performs better on a global ranking (using national-level statistics in some places), Adelaide goes the distance at a city-level thanks to well-connected parklands encircling the CBD and access to linear trails along the River Torrens. Its 295 trails and strong safety score make it appealing for regular training, while a growing programme of events continues to strengthen the local running community.
Brisbane’s riverside paths and subtropical climate create ideal conditions for outdoor exercise. With low air pollution and 403 running trails, the city supports consistent year-round running. At a city-level, Brisbane performs slightly poorer than on a global level when some national-level statistics are considered.
Perth stands out for its open spaces, coastal routes and high levels of daily sunshine (8.8 hours). While it has fewer trails (59), paths around Kings Park and along the Swan River offer quality over quantity. Perth’s growing events scene and outdoor lifestyle reinforce its appeal among emerging running destinations in 2026.
While Australia is home to several of the best cities for running, our data highlights a handful of locations where running culture is more limited. This is largely due to climate, scale and infrastructure rather than lack of interest.
Cairns faces similar barriers, with a hot, humid climate and heavy rainfall impacting year-round consistency. Despite its scenic surroundings, the city has just 35 trails and 2 organised races, limiting its credentials as a marathon cities contender. Future improvements are likely to focus on shared paths and waterfront development, which may encourage more recreational running rather than large-scale competitive events.
Darwin consistently struggles with extreme heat and humidity, which restrict safe running windows to early mornings or cooler months. The city has only 33 trails and no real running events to speak of, reducing accessibility and community momentum. That said, growing emphasis on active travel infrastructure and urban greening could help to support incremental growth.
Townsville’s tropical conditions present a major challenge for runners. High humidity, heat and seasonal rainfall can make outdoor running uncomfortable for much of the year. With just 34 running trails and only 2 organised running events, opportunities to build a strong, visible running community are limited. However, continued investment in coastal walkways and shaded routes could gradually improve its appeal.
Across the United States, the best cities for running are shaped by climate, infrastructure and community support, with clear contrasts emerging between high-performing hubs and cities facing barriers to everyday running.
Las Vegas leads the US rankings, thanks to a strong mix of sunshine (10.7 daily hours), low rainfall and a high number of organised running events (68), including 54 marathons and half-marathons. While air quality is mixed, extensive trail access and year-round race opportunities elevate its status to the top of the list.
San Diego stands out for its balance. With 193 running trails, mild coastal weather and 100 annual running events, it offers consistency for both casual runners and competitive athletes. Its climate makes it one of America’s most attractive running destinations in 2026.
Colorado Springs benefits from altitude training appeal, clean air relative to many large cities, and strong participation rates. With 184 trails and a high exercise rate (35.4%), it’s well suited to runners focused on performance.
Phoenix combines extensive event coverage (55 events, 36 major races) with abundant sunshine. However, extreme summer heat limits safe running windows, which means that early mornings and cooler months are key to sustaining its place as one of the top marathon cities.
Tucson’s lower air pollution (PM2.5 of 5.4), strong trail access and endurance-focused culture help it rank highly. Its appeal lies in serious training environments rather than casual urban running, supported by 39 running events and 10 marathons and half-marathons.
Memphis ranks last overall, which is largely due to high air pollution (PM2.5 of 8.7), limited infrastructure (34 trails) and fewer large-scale running events. While local initiatives exist, significant investment would be needed to elevate it into a recognised destination for runners.
Despite its historic running community, Philadelphia ranks #49 due to limited trails (29), moderate air quality and lower safety scores. While it hosts notable races, everyday running conditions lag behind other top running cities.
Detroit is #48 in the USA. This city struggles with fewer trails (11), higher rainfall and lower exercise participation. These factors restrict accessibility and limit growth of its running community, despite gradual urban regeneration.
As running continues to grow worldwide, our rankings highlight how access to safe routes, supportive infrastructure and active communities can make a real difference to long-term health and wellbeing. They also reflect the importance of health insurance to support an active lifestyle.
Steven Spicer, Executive General Manager of Health at Compare the Market, notes that some health insurance policies can cover treatment for sport-related injuries.
“If you want to go running to stay fit or compete in events, it can suck to have an injury that forces you to rest up. Thankfully, health insurance can help pay for physiotherapy, podiatry, remedial massage, even exercise physiology under Extras cover. Hospital cover may also support surgery and rehabilitation for more serious injuries.”
This dataset contains 3 rankings. One ranks 60 cities worldwide, another ranks 15 Australian cities, and one ranks 50 US cities, based on how good they are for runners using 10 key factors. Each factor’s data was collected and normalised to a score between 0 and 1. If data was missing, a score of 0 was given. These scores were then combined to give each city a total score out of 100, and cities were ranked from highest to lowest.
The factors used are as follows:
The factors were indexed as follows:
All data is correct as of 10/12/25. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regards to the sources provided.
To view our 2025 results, click here.