Paulo, Todd, Phillipa and Hvoje share their (primarily optimistic!) experiences attending this yr’s Spanish Grand Prix at a very popular Circuit de Catalunya close to Barcelona.
2026 Barcelona F1 Tickets / F1 Experiences / Barcelona Motels / Barcelona F1 Fb group
The 2026 Barcelona Grand Prix takes place from June 12-14
Fundamental Picture: Paulo Ferreira
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Paulo from Portugal
I stayed at a resort to the east of the circuit, and it was an ideal selection, as I used to be capable of keep away from the entire visitors between the circuit and Barcelona. It by no means took greater than half-hour between leaving the resort and parking on the circuit, and vice-versa.
I had grandstand G tickets, proper subsequent to Max Verstappen’s “Orange Military.” What a present they placed on! As at all times once I attend F1 races, I took particular enjoyment wandering round across the common admission areas, which at Circuit de Catalunya supply loads of unbelievable observe views. I usually roam common admission on Friday and Saturday, then sit in my allotted seat just for the race on Sunday.
Regardless of dwelling in Portugal, it was my first time at this race, and I have to say that I used to be pleasantly stunned with the group and services, having learn loads of complaints from the previous few years. There have been loads of shaded areas to eat and relaxation, and even to look at the observe. The traces to water refill stations, meals and beverage stands, and bathrooms, have been acceptable. No traces in any respect to enter the observe, and pretty cheap automotive parking group. After all, nothing is ideal, however for this type of occasion, I feel all of it went very effectively.
My favorite photograph spots have been on the skin of Flip 3; at tarmac degree, and fairly near the observe. The pace of the automobiles was insane! Additionally via the fence (and timber) on the exterior of the quick Flip 9 proper hander, with the spectators within the background and utilizing the vegetation within the foreground made for some aesthetically lovely images, in my humble opinion. You may as well take good panorama footage from grandstand G. [Paulo’s photos were taken with a Canon R6, with Canon EF 70-200 f4, EF 300 f4 and EF 24-105 f4 lenses.]
Todd from the USA
In the previous few years, I’ve been to 5 F1 races in individual, and I’ve discovered the onerous approach that if I’m going to splurge on something at a race, it’s going to be on my ticket. I’m going to be in that seat for no less than 10-12 hours over the course of the weekend. So, I would like my very own seat. I would like an ideal observe view, and I would like the power to see the race on a big TV monitor as effectively. So, usually I simply get the perfect grandstand seat that I can, which this yr would have been both within the lined principal grandstand or a lined grandstand at both the primary or ultimate corners.
For this race I made a decision to splurge. Fortunately, Barcelona affords among the most reasonably priced hospitality suites on the F1 calendar. I opted for the Backyard Village, overlooking the ultimate flip. The Backyard Village Hospitality Suite tickets have been €1,450 per individual, however included a parking cross (which we didn’t use), a seat in Grandstand H, in addition to entry to a trackside non-public lined village space that was totally catered. The Backyard Village tents had three bars serving beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks as effectively. On Friday, because it’s simply free follow and the least attended race day, simply the bars have been serving, and some packaged snacks have been out there.
However on Saturday and Sunday, the suite opened at 9am and there have been buffets with three totally different meals setups all through the day for breakfast, lunch and dessert service. The meals was nice and the service was pleasant and tremendous attentive. A number of Spanish tapas fashion small bites, however additionally they served paella and different dishes throughout lunch service. Actually, I assumed the general worth of the ticket was effectively well worth the upcharge from what a grandstand seat would have value. There’s a little bit of a sticker shock once you first pay for the ticket, however for my three days on the circuit, I didn’t have to purchase any meals or drink or wait in a single line for something.
When buying tickets to any F1 race, the circuit web site must be your first selection. For Barcelona, that is circuitcat.com. Usually the circuit web site would be the most reasonably priced and dependable choice for purchasing your tickets. On this case, it turned out that the hospitality suites have been out there by way of licensed ticket distributors a number of weeks earlier than occurring sale by way of the circuit. I ended up buying the passes from Grand Prix Tickets, and I had no destructive points with them by any means.
I wished to remain someplace that was accessible for transportation to the circuit, in addition to near the motion within the metropolis, and ended up staying within the Eixample neighborhood of Barcelona. It was a straightforward 10 minute stroll to the Passeig de Gracia prepare station, the place you are taking the inexperienced R2 prepare within the path of Granollers or Saint Celoni and get off at Montmelo. The roundtrip tickets value €6.20 and it took about half-hour to get there.
A free circuit shuttle bus was out there from the Montmelo prepare station to the circuit, however there was sometimes a giant queue for this. So long as you’re bodily ready, you’ll probably save time by strolling to the circuit, which takes about half-hour and passes via the city. A number of distributors have been promoting meals, drinks, F1 merchandise and souvenirs alongside the way in which.
I didn’t get into Barcelona till Friday morning, however I used to be capable of get to the circuit in time for Free Follow 2. Being the least busy day of the race weekend, Friday introduced a great alternative to discover and to take a look at the fan zone.
On Sunday, we arrived on the circuit at 10:30am, and the bag and ticket verify was quick. We frolicked within the Backyard Village after which went as much as our seats in Grandstand H, which have been within the shade and had a view of a big TV display screen. The race itself was nice. Between the beautiful climate situations, massive variety of overtakes, various pit methods, the late security automotive, and nice seats, I actually loved it.
When the race was about ten laps from being completed, I went all the way down to the closest gate so I might be part of the post-race observe invasion. I acquired there early sufficient so I used to be towards the entrance when the gate opened and I sprinted with the gang to get near the rostrum. I completely advocate doing the post-race observe invasion. Nonetheless, if you wish to really be wherever close to the rostrum, you must get to a gate shut by earlier than the race ends.
This yr, over 300,000 spectators attended the Spanish Grand Prix over three days. That’s lots of people to cram right into a small city. Since many attendees take the prepare to the circuit, there are big traces across the station following qualifying and the race. My recommendation is to take your time leaving the circuit on the finish of the day. Do the observe invasion and loosen up a bit in Montmeló earlier than heading to the station. There’s reside music and DJs enjoying to a dancing crowd within the city sq.. Loads of meals and beverage choices have been additionally out there to maintain the occasion going. In case you wait 2-3 hours after the race, there will likely be hardly any traces for the prepare in any respect.
Wrapping up, attending this race was an exquisite expertise. The circuit, crowd, facilities, and Catalan and Spanish hosts have been wonderful. I beloved it.
Philippa from the UK
We attended the fan discussion board and fan zone in Plaça de Catalunya, Thursday pit stroll and sat in grandstand E from Friday to Sunday. We stayed in a resort a brief stroll from Estacio del Nord and the Arc de Triomf.
The fan zone in Plaça de Catalunya was good with a automotive show and different interactive reveals. I had tickets to the fan discussion board but it surely was difficult for an English speaker as a result of all of the interviews have been carried out in Spanish. Had I identified prematurely, I most likely wouldn’t have gotten tickets for the fan discussion board.
For getting across the metropolis, we purchased a T acquainted card which supplied us with eight journeys for €11.90. We purchased two of those as we wanted sixteen journeys. We maybe might’ve used a T informal every which for slightly extra money permits ten journeys for a single individual, however that may’ve meant one every, and as we didn’t know simply how a lot we’d use public transport, it simply labored out simpler for us with the T acquainted.
On Thursday there have been no buses operating to the observe, so we caught the prepare from Passeig de Gràcia to Montmeló after which walked 1.8km to the observe. There have been no indicators so we relied closely on Apple Maps directing us at this level. I’ve by no means seen so many distributors promoting merchandise exterior of a circuit! It took round half-hour on the prepare and an extra half-hour to stroll from the station to the observe. It was difficult within the warmth!
From Friday to Sunday, we took the Sagales shuttle bus, which we had purchased prematurely. It was straightforward to make use of, the buses have been frequent and also you have been assured a seat for the entire journey. The journey to the circuit took round 90 minutes on Friday, however we did go away in a while today (round 10:30am). We left earlier on Saturday and Sunday and the journey took simply over half-hour. On Sunday, there have been a whole lot of buses ready for followers after the race. The one draw back was the dearth of structured queues, so there have been numerous queue jumpers.
The expertise on the circuit was effectively managed. There was minimal queuing to really get in. Thursday was worse as everybody attending the pit lane stroll needed to undergo one gate and the bag checks have been very thorough. It took round forty-five minutes to get in on Thursday. The opposite days felt a lot faster, taking round ten minutes to get via bag checks and safety.
We had tickets for grandstand E, which had nice views of the principle straight from the beginning line via Turns 1-3 and the opposite half of the circuit too. The grandstands had open areas beneath which housed two small bathroom blocks, a water fountain and loads of house to cover from the Spanish solar in between on-track occasions.
Navigating across the observe was pretty tiresome and we didn’t make it spherical the entire approach. A number of the steps have been difficult resulting from wobbly railway sleepers (see image right here), and unmarked troublesome to identify kerbs in odd locations. I’m undecided if the circuit could be very wheelchair pleasant.
Food and drinks costs on the observe have been extortionate, and meals was mediocre at finest. It value €9/11 for a burger/ ham roll. €5.50 for a small bag of chips. €5 for a 500ml bottle of soppy drink and €4 for a Calippo iceblock! It’s troublesome once you’re restricted within the quantity of meals/ drink you may soak up although, mixed with the excessive temperatures. I used to be attempting to reasonable how a lot I drank, which left me feeling unwell. There have been big queues for water fountains. They’d some water followers round, together with within the pedestrian tunnels, however there might have been extra given the excessive temperatures!
It was good to have F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup on observe, though we didn’t see the entire help classes and races because it was simply too scorching within the grandstand. Some extra demos of historic automobiles may’ve been good, given the very fact it was F1’s seventy fifth yr.
The fan stage behind the principle grandstand had numerous appearances however they positioned a big gazebo in entrance of it. As a result of it was so busy, many followers have been pressured to face on the incorrect aspect of the gazebo, that means you possibly can hear the principle stage however not see something! Colapinto followers have been very loudly chanting away throughout the entire foremost stage occasions too, which made listening to issues much more troublesome, even when different drivers have been on stage.
The opposite fan zone space with an F1 outlet retailer was actually distant from the principle stage. We walked over there on Friday, however that they had barely any inventory so I used to be fairly disenchanted. It appears individuals who went on Saturday had higher choices.
I beloved the very fact they have been gifting away Amex radios. It’s troublesome to listen to the trackside audio system in any other case when the automobiles are close by. The commentary was in Spanish, French and English which made it straightforward to maintain up with observe motion.
Hrvoje from Croatia
I’ve already been to Barcelona thrice, every time for motorsport. I attended the F1 race (2008), the WRC (2017) and F1 winter testing (2020). Since I at all times had a good time, I made a decision to guide one other journey. My pal Dino determined to hitch as effectively, and we booked Vueling flights from Dubrovnik to Barcelona in September of final yr. We booked a two-room condo via AirBNB, which was situated between Plaça d’Espanya and the principle Sants prepare station.
Tickets for the race went on sale by way of the official web site in October. I waited a bit, hoping for a Black Friday low cost. This didn’t occur, so I purchased a three-day common admission ticket. Sadly, there have been no one-day tickets out there on the time, and I didn’t need to spend an excessive amount of cash contemplating that I’m going to 3 races this yr. To analysis the journey, I used the Barcelona Grand Prix Journey Information and Fb Group from f1destinations.com, in addition to the Grand Prix Journey subreddit.
We flew in on Saturday afternoon, packed in like sardines on the Vueling airplane, our baggage underneath the seat in entrance of us. Dino carried two baggage, one in every of which carried his digital camera with two lenses. We landed on time and took the Aerobus to our condo. After checking in, visiting the grocery store and having a beer on the balcony, we visited Placa de Catalunya, the place the F1 Competition was being held that week. Sadly, we arrived half an hour after it closed!
Our choices for attending to the observe on Sunday have been to take the prepare (least expensive), Sagales bus (dearer) or taxi (most costly). After all, we selected the prepare, which takes half an hour to Montmeló. The crowds have been bearable. We met an American couple on the prepare who joined us for the stroll to the observe. There’s additionally a free bus from the station to the observe, however strolling was a more sensible choice for us. We arrived in Montmeló at round 10:30am and loved a leisurely stroll via the city. There are many stands with merch, meals and drinks alongside the way in which. We tried to stroll within the shade as a lot as attainable as a result of the solar was brutal.
We entered at Gate 6 (close to Flip 3), as a result of our new American mates had tickets for grandstand N. In entrance of the doorway is a big, costly restaurant that we bypassed in a large circle. We didn’t smuggle something in like in Imola, and alcohol is prohibited contained in the observe. It wasn’t like that in 2008… rattling! We arrived for the beginning of the Porsche Supercup race and the whole lot was good, aside from the warmth.
Round 2pm, we began on the lookout for a spot within the shade to look at the race. We discovered it between Turns 8-9 (earlier than grandstand S). There was already an enormous crowd, most of whom had been there all day already, however we discovered some house, and we might additionally observe the motion on a giant display screen. The race began and the ambiance was good! Alonso was preventing and attempting to overhaul in unattainable locations.
I advised Dino that I used to be going off for a wander, and that he shouldn’t observe me as a result of I didn’t know the place I used to be going. We agreed to be in contact by way of textual content, and off I went, exploring, taking footage and having fun with the thrill. Barcelona is at all times good for common admission views. I discovered a spot close to the fence at Flip 5. A number of seconds later, I reached for my telephone in my pocket and it’s not there! Possibly I’ve fallen sufferer to pickpockets, which everybody warns you about in Barcelona. I retraced my steps and located my telephone on the bottom about 20 meters away. It had fallen out of my pocket. After that stress, the whole lot else was straightforward.
A message got here via from Dino that he was in grandstand J on the start-finish straight. Possibly I might sneak right into a grandstand as effectively? It was simpler than I assumed, possibly as a result of the safety guards had already gone to assist with the post-race observe invasion. I checked out the views from the lined grandstands L and M. The previous had distinctive views of two sections of the observe and I used to be pleased to be within the shade.
I sat on the steps of grandstand L and watched the race unfold. There was a security automotive interval resulting from Kimi’s retirement. After the restart, Alonso labored wonders once more, Max was having a blast, and Hulk overtook Hamilton to the overall delight of the viewers. The race was over.
The observe invasion was effectively organized. A map confirmed the doorway factors to the observe. Recollections of the craziness of the observe invasions at Imola and Monza flashed earlier than me, however I needn’t have apprehensive. It was all fairly orderly. I didn’t make it in time for the rostrum ceremony, however that’s OK. The warmth and solar have been overwhelming and it was at this level I needed I had worn my sun shades in addition to my hat.
I discovered Dino within the fan zone behind the principle grandstand, then we walked again collectively to Montmeló. There was a band and DJ taking turns to play in the principle sq., and the ambiance was actually full of life. We had a number of drinks and loved seafood paella for dinner whereas ready for the prepare queues to die down. We lastly boarded a prepare certain for Barcelona at round 10pm.
We discovered that grocery store, cafe and restaurant costs have been cheaper than in Croatia. On the observe, it value round € 9/11 for a burger, €5 for fries, €5 for half a liter of soda. It was costly and the meals wasn’t nice high quality. Merch was costly, the most affordable you possibly can discover was an outdated cap for €20 or a T-shirt for €30. In any other case, all the present yr merch was promoting for over €50. Subsequent to the observe (Gate 6), there was a giant restaurant with an enormous out of doors grill, which was additionally horrible. A half liter of (actual) beer value €10.
However in Montmeló, the whole lot was extra moderately priced, even when the costs had been elevated slightly for race weekend; €4-5 for half a liter of beer, €3-4 for juice and €6-8 for a sandwich. At an area restaurant, we paid €18.50 for a big paella and €11 for a bottle of wine. Our meals in Barcelona value round €25-30 per head for a multi-course meal with a bottle of wine.
Price Abstract
Return flights: Dubrovnik-Barcelona with Vueling (keep it up baggage solely) = €85
3-Day Common Admission race ticket with charges = €189.50
Three nights in a great two-room condo for 2 individuals by way of airBNB = €250 per individual (€500 complete)
Aerobus return ticket = €12.85
Metro card with 10 rides = €12
Return ticket to Sitges = €10
Prepare to the observe = €6 (return free)
Whole = fastened prices of approx. €565 per individual.
We have been very glad with the journey (9/10)! When you’ve got the chance to attend, I extremely advocate doing so. Positives have been the superb common admission areas (grandstands even higher), reasonably priced costs in Montmeló and the stable group. On the draw back, it was too scorching on the observe, no alcohol was out there, and there was some overcrowding within the common admission areas.
That is an edited & shortened translation of Hrvoje’s unique article in Croatian, which you’ll learn right here.
In Temporary (The Good & Dangerous)
The Good
Bella: Every little thing was simply excellent. And let me let you know, the Sagales buses, simply excellent. I’ve by no means skilled higher group of any occasion I’ve attended. Improbable!
Gregory: What an ideal weekend! A lot improved organisation from the circuit and transport in comparison with final yr, made it even higher. Final yr we queued three hours for a prepare – this yr it was 45 minutes to at least one hour, with the shuttle buses dependable too and way more workers to assist the whole lot run easily. Acquired to see numerous nice battles on observe and thanks to Kimi for his service for that late security automotive.
John: Race Nice seats in Grandstand J… extremely scorching weekend, particularly race day. A tremendous weekend for our first ever F1 Grand Prix after following Components 1 for 40 years.
The Dangerous
Saffron: I don’t advocate driving, we employed a automotive for this yr and it took us 1.5 hours to get out on the Saturday and a couple of.5 hours to get out on the Sunday. Genuinely probably the most unorganised occasion parking I’ve ever been to. Not one single workers member there to assist with visitors management.
Stevie: 1 hour 50 minutes to get out of the automotive park. No marshalls wherever till about 1 hour 45 minutes of going nowhere!
Claire: Suffered from pickpockets. Guarantee your valuables are effectively buried in your baggage and nothing simply accessible or straightforward to take away from you.
Karen: Watch out for the BBQ stall close to Gate 6. It value €95 for sausage and chips, ribs and chips and two beers (just one liter beers have been out there, apparently). My husband didn’t ask in regards to the costs earlier than ordering!
The above quotes have been taken from readers in our Barcelona F1 Fb group, which has over 4,000 members and is stuffed with ideas and recommendation for these contemplating attending the race in Barcelona.
