{
  "id": 16034870,
  "title": "Forget the festive rush: Take on Europe’s ‘slowest marathon’ in Vilnius this Christmas",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/forget-the-festive-rush-take-on-europes-slowest-marathon-in-vilnius",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-22T11:17:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/22/forget-the-festive-rush-take-on-europes-slowest-marathon-in-vilnius-this-christmas"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Forget the hectic festive rush – Vilnius is offering a unique way to experience the holiday season this Christmas. The Go Vilnius tourism development agency is promoting a new \"Europe's slowest marathon\" that encourages participants to take their time exploring the city this December. With routes ranging from 3km to a full marathon (42.195km), the event aims to provide a leisurely alternative to the usual race-cation trend. Visitors can enjoy 10km and 21km options alongside Vilnius' Christmas attractions, such as Christmas Tree Lighting, the Christmas Market, and the Christmas Train. The marathon routes will showcase the city's lesser-known corners, including Senatorių Pasažas (Senators’ Passage) and the Užupis Cat sculpture, while passing through streets named after winter elements like Žiemos (Winter), Šerkšno (Frost), Sniego (Snow), and Elnių (Deer). Eglė Girdzijauskaitė, head of communication at Go Vilnius, hopes this slow-paced approach will change the perception of Christmas, highlighting the city's festive lights, warm cafés, and the magical glow of the tree in Cathedral Square. With digital route maps available until January 3, 2027, the Go Vilnius slowest marathon offers a unique way to celebrate the holiday season in one of Europe's most compact and picturesque cities.",
  "summary": "Lithuania’s capital city Vilnius will host a slower kind of 'race-cation' this festive season where participants can forget about watching their pace and instead enjoy a leisurely walk among festive settings.",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Go Vilnius promotes Europe's slowest marathon in December\"",
    "Marathon routes include 3km to 42.195km options",
    "City's Christmas attractions paired with leisurely marathon"
  ],
  "editors_take": "By prioritizing leisurely exploration over competitive speed, the city positions itself as a destination for travelers seeking a more relaxed and immersive way to experience festive holiday attractions.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}