diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index f2e2244..6137045 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -28,4 +28,8 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
 testpaths = ["tests"]
-addopts = "-q"
+# Deselect live API tests by default; run them with `pytest -m e2e`.
+addopts = "-q -m 'not e2e'"
+markers = [
+    "e2e: live tests that call the real Google Routes API (opt-in, costs quota)",
+]
diff --git a/tests/test_e2e_api.py b/tests/test_e2e_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f0c9e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_e2e_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+"""Live end-to-end test against the real Google Routes API.
+
+This is intentionally excluded from the default test run (it is marked ``e2e``
+and ``addopts`` in pyproject.toml deselects that marker). It also costs billable
+API elements, so it is kept minimal: two addresses -> a 2x2 (4-element) matrix.
+
+Run it explicitly when you actually want to exercise the live API:
+
+    uv run pytest -m e2e
+
+It requires a real GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY (read from the environment or the local
+.env file); the test skips itself if only a placeholder/dummy key is available.
+"""
+
+import os
+
+import pandas as pd
+import pytest
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+import tatami.traveltimes as tt
+from tatami.classes import Participant
+
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.e2e
+
+# Values that are not a usable real key (conftest's dummy and the template value).
+_PLACEHOLDER_KEYS = {"", "test-key", "your-api-key-here"}
+
+
+def _real_api_key() -> str | None:
+    # Prefer a real value from the environment / .env over the dummy that conftest
+    # sets for the rest of the suite.
+    load_dotenv(override=True)
+    key = os.environ.get("GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY", "")
+    return key if key not in _PLACEHOLDER_KEYS else None
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def live_api(monkeypatch):
+    key = _real_api_key()
+    if key is None:
+        pytest.skip("No real GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY available; skipping live API test.")
+    # traveltimes captured the key at import time, so point the module global at
+    # the real key for this test.
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tt, "GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY", key)
+    return key
+
+
+def test_live_route_matrix_minimal(live_api):
+    # Two real addresses -> a 2x2 matrix (4 billable elements), the smallest
+    # meaningful request.
+    participants = [
+        Participant("A", "Römerstr. 12, 76189 Karlsruhe", "", 10, ""),
+        Participant("B", "Gottesauerstr. 30, 76131 Karlsruhe", "", 10, ""),
+    ]
+
+    matrix = tt.get_participant_distance_matrix(participants, mode="BICYCLE")
+
+    uuids = [p.uuid for p in participants]
+    assert matrix.shape == (2, 2)
+    assert list(matrix.index) == uuids
+    assert list(matrix.columns) == uuids
+
+    # A real bike trip between two distinct addresses takes a positive duration.
+    travel = matrix.loc[uuids[0], uuids[1]]
+    assert isinstance(travel, pd.Timedelta)
+    assert travel > pd.Timedelta(0)