The Berlin Marathon was all around a very positive experience for me.

Here are some of the parts I would like to highlight:

The Expo was quite packed. We attended on Friday afternoon, which may have been one of the busier times. However, despite the large crowds, picking up our bibs took a matter of minutes.

Gaining access to corral was about the most easily accessible I had ever seen. We arrived within an hour before the start of the race and were able to gather on the sidewalk, comfortably, while we waited to gain entry to our corral.

The course is very flat. You can run fast in Berlin.

Being a major marathon, as one would expect, the race was extremely competitive. There was no shortage of competitors at any pace.

The music was a big highlight. It was mostly, good, old-fashioned Rock and Roll, baby!

At the end, there was ample room for the runners to move along through to the exit while collecting a goody bag and fluids.

Caveats:

Aid stations appeared every 5K, beginning with the first 5K of the race. If you are more accustomed to aid stations every 1 - 2 miles, be prepared.

The crowds were not as big as I had expected, but there were pockets here and there, and all of them were roaring. If you travel with someone looking to spectate, this is a great race for being seen several times with ease.

Be sure to remember to take off your shoelace chip. It is possible to walk out without being asked for it by anyone. If so, you may have to scramble back later to drop it off and save yourself some Euros.

If you are looking for a competitive, lively European marathon, Berlin is an excellent choice.