A beach on Marathon Lake and a view across the lake to the hills in the distance

Marathon Dam, which produced Marathon Lake

Marathon (Greek: Μαραθώνας, Marathónas) is a village near the sea in Athens metropolitan area, about 40 km from the center of Athens. The town's name derives from a local fennel herb that grows in the area.

Understand

The Marathon race is named after the town and the length of the course is the distance from Marathon to Athens, allegedly run by Pheidippides to bring news of the Athenian victory over invading Persians in the Battle of Marathon, 490 BCE.

See

• Soros. A burial mound erected to the 192 Athenian fallen at the Battle of Marathon, is a feature of the coastal plain, now marked by a marble memorial stele and surrounded by a small park (updated Jul 2018)
• 1 Marathon Run Museum, 25 Martiou St, ☏ +30 2294 067617. (updated Jul 2018)

Eat

• 1 To Archontiko tou Lekka, ☏ +30 2294 067374. (updated Jul 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Marathon Palace Hotel, 100 25is Martiou. A cheap no-frills hotel. (updated Jul 2018)