Mitchell, Max, Ger, Raj & Lyndsey share their experiences attending this yr’s Belgian Grand Prix on the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
Belgium F1 Tickets / F1 Experiences / Spa F1 Lodging / Belgium F1 Fb group
The 2026 Belgian Grand Prix takes place from July 17-19
Fundamental Picture: Mitchell Woolnough
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Mitchell from Australia
I’m again from an epic F1 double header throughout Europe, the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps and the Hungarian Grand Prix the next weekend. I flew into Brussels on the Monday earlier than first follow and gave myself three full days within the capital earlier than heading trackside.
I booked an Airbnb house within the Saint-Géry quarter, an 8-minute stroll to the gilded Grand Place, 12 minutes to Manneken Pis, and simply 25 minutes on foot to the procuring of Rue Neuve. Brussels is tremendous walkable, however I additionally zipped round on Lime e-bikes once I wished to cowl extra floor.
My three-day highlights began with absorbing golden-hour on the Grand Place. I geeked out at Autoworld in Cinquantenaire Park, the place classic racers and automotive historical past made the right F1 warm-up. I additionally took a guided day journey to Bruges through a comfortable coach, canal boat cruise, Belfry climb, fairy-tale streets, chocolate overload, and waffles by the water. Belgium’s “Venice of the North” in a single afternoon.
After Brussels, I caught a direct prepare from Brussels-Midi to Namur, a one-hour experience. I checked into my second Airbnb close to the station, and instantly hiked as much as the Namur Citadel. The steep climb was value each step for the panoramic views over the river.
Reserving very late scuttled my plan of staying in Liege, all the things was bought out or above my price range. I selected Namur because it was one of many areas with the Metropolis Shuttle bus to the circuit. The 6 a.m. pickup at Namur station had a double-decker full of followers who’d had the identical thought. The 90-minute experience dropped us on the Ster entrance, good for my Fanzone grandstand ticket. Return shuttles departed 5:30–6 p.m., getting us again to Namur by 7:30 p.m.
Entry was easy: fast bag examine, telephone e-ticket scan, executed. My Fanzone Grandstand seats gave front-row drama at Eau Rouge, the place automobiles blasting uphill by no means bought outdated. Huge screens saved the total lap in view, and by pure luck I used to be surrounded by fellow Aussies. We shaped an immediate unofficial Oscar Piastri fan membership.
The scenic loop at Spa Francorchamps is made for strolling. I climbed the steep path from Eau Rouge to Kemmel Straight and noticed GA hills full of die-hards who’d camped from daybreak with foldable chairs.
Spa’s climate is notoriously fickle. Race day delivered a full Ardennes monsoon—torrential rain, zero visibility, standing water. 2021 flashbacks hit onerous; I used to be frightened the race could be known as off. After a tense hour-long delay below ponchos, the clouds thinned simply sufficient. The beginning was electrical—spray, daring strikes, and Oscar Piastri storming to P1 within the moist.
Put on good strolling sneakers. Pack for rain: poncho, waterproof jacket, spare socks are necessities. Put together for delays (or cancellation)—convey snacks, an influence financial institution, and endurance. Heavy rain could cause lengthy delays.
The Belgian GP, paired with Brussels’ tradition, Bruges’ medieval allure, Autoworld’s automotive vibes, a sundown Citadel climb in Namur, was the right mix of velocity, soul, and Spa’s wild climate roulette. F1 followers, put Spa-Francorchamps in your listing. You received’t remorse it.
Learn Mitchell’s 2025 Chinese language Grand Prix report right here.
Max from Norway
I went to my first in individual Spa race along with my household. We traveled from Norway for the race and had 3-day tickets for the Gold 7 Ter grandstand. Total, it was a tremendous expertise, regardless of some negatives, together with the moist climate on Sunday.
Friday is the least attended day of the race weekend, and it was alternative to stroll round and expertise all the things, particularly the motive force interviews on the stage within the fanzone. The climate was sizzling on each Friday and Saturday, however no complaints right here.
By way of racing, the motion was good throughout the day and the weekend exterior of some rain delays. Experiencing the sound of the F3 automobiles in individual was deafening and unbelievable. It was a lot busier trackside on Saturday, with the F1 Dash race and qualifying happening. The strains had been longer all over the place, particularly when leaving the monitor.
We arrived early on race day to look at the F3 automobiles do some laps earlier than a purple flag halted the race. I used to be standing within the space the place Tasanapool crashed. It continued to rain for many of the day however the F2, Porsche Supercup and F1 races went forward with some respectable motion. Regardless of the rain, the circuit was full to the brim with spectators on race day with strains all over the place.
There was loads of pushing and shoving earlier than they opened the gates for the monitor invasion (hope everybody was okay), nevertheless it was value it to step on to the monitor and to look at the rostrum ceremony. I additionally collected some rubber marbles from the tires on the monitor. The road to get out on Sunday wasn’t too unhealthy. It was a good suggestion to stay round, do the monitor invitation and never be in a rush to depart.
Total, attending the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix was an epic expertise, in addition to an costly one! The downsides primarily associated to the climate, which was blisteringly sizzling on Friday and Saturday (and I had the sunburn to show it) after which actually moist on Sunday. Spa is such an enormous circuit and with so many nice vantage factors, I’d argue that the Gold grandstand tickets weren’t fully mandatory. I believe GA (Bronze) right here would offer an identical expertise at a less expensive worth.
Ger, Declan & Derek from Eire
What a visit, an actual buzz. Spent a yr planning, and all the things went nicely. We had seats within the Gold 8 (Supply – Begin) grandstand. If anybody is considering getting seats on this grandstand, I like to recommend part B. That is the center part and also you get one of the best view of the beginning/ end straight, pit lane and pit exit. The very best seats are in rows 5-10. You don’t need to sit decrease. It rained so unhealthy on Sunday that folks in these seats had been getting soaked. The rain was falling on to them from the cover of the grandstand.
I like to recommend taking binoculars to have the ability to learn the instances on the massive display screen and see the automobiles up shut within the pit lane. Take alongside a small FM radio for listening to the trackside commentary. Those they promote on the monitor with ear muffs for €100 are a waste of cash.
There was no token system this yr (like I used to be anticipating). You could possibly pay with card in the entire trackside meals and merchandise retailers. Don’t overlook to take a poncho and umbrella! The rain can fall at any second in Spa. After which it’s sunny once more! We used cooler luggage to herald some sandwiches for lunch and keep away from consuming an excessive amount of of the unhealthy quick meals on the monitor. Taking pair of strolling sneakers and a water-proof jacket can also be beneficial. You’ll be doing a lot of strolling, and never a lot of the terrain at Spa is flat.
Head on to the monitor after the race for footage at Eau Rouge, it’s an incredible expertise with superb views. And it’s such an iconic motorsport nook. The crowds had been constructing for the monitor invasion with fifteen laps to run, however fortunately we didn’t have far to stroll. There was an entrance level proper close to the Gold 8 grandstand.
We stayed at Camping35. It was an incredible location round 20 minutes’ stroll from the Supply entrance. That is actually near the Gold 8 grandstand, which reduce down on extreme strolling for us. We extremely advocate this campsite and will certainly keep there once more if we return to the Belgian Grand Prix. Pleasant workers, nice services and clear. Meals and drinks had been out there, however you wanted to pay in money. At all times value having some with you.
Raj from the USA
I hope this submit will help some future vacationers! This was the second race I’ve attended and my first one solo. It was additionally my first time in Europe and listed below are the important thing takeaways from my expertise!
Bronze on this monitor arguably beats some grandstands! Almost each part of this monitor is iconic and very scenic with loads of room when you get there in a well timed method. On Friday, I sat on the hill at Double-Gauche (Pouhon) and on Saturday and Sunday I used to be close to the ultimate chicane, near Blanchimont. Most bronze sections are discovered on fairly steep slopes, so it’s crucial to decorate for the outside, not for Instagram. On race day, a spectator fell down the hill at Blanchimont and broke his leg. Put on pants and mountaineering sneakers and convey a small discipline chair of some kind. The earlier you get to your required vacation spot the higher off you might be of discovering a tree stump to assist you.
Ebook the F1 shuttles!!! Attending my first GP at COTA, I didn’t e-book shuttles and was compelled to endure a 3 hour shit present of crowds and struggles as a consequence of poor planning. The Metropolis Shuttles for Spa 2025 stopped gross sales on April 1st, so it’s worthwhile to plan a couple of months prematurely. I stayed in an Airbnb within the metropolis of Liège which could be very strolling pleasant. I walked about 30 minutes there and again from the bus cease each day with out a difficulty.
The shuttles depart early within the morning and go away the monitor quickly after the race. It was efficient for me to indicate up early and all the time be on the primary or second bus there and again day by day. The peace of thoughts is nicely well worth the worth. Public transport in Belgium is absolutely environment friendly. Use apps like Omni to e-book prepare tickets from the airport to the place you might be staying. It’s additionally cheaper than taking Uber or taxis.
Spa Francorchamps is the longest circuit on the calendar and the grounds are huge, so it helped me lots to have an thought of what I wished to do on a regular basis and to separate the monitor expertise up. On Friday, I frolicked on the fanzone to see the motive force interviews, however this compromised my means to get optimum seating alternatives in GA (Bronze). I explored sectors 1 & 2 on Friday and sector 3 on Saturday.
I discovered that the Blanchimont space within the forest was probably the most comfy by way of private area whereas nonetheless offering a wonderful view of the automobiles on monitor. Splitting up the issues I wished to do gave me the total expertise of attaining the issues I wished to do with out spending all my time in strains for actions within the fan zone.
As a solo traveler, I discovered issues a lot a lot simpler than my earlier expertise of touring in a gaggle since I’m extra of a purist fan and I’m there for the racing. I may transfer rapidly by the crowds. I additionally introduced my very own meals and water to the circuit, which eradicated queuing up for meals (and allowed me to maintain my spot) and likewise saved me cash.
Right here’s what I like to recommend you convey alongside every day. As talked about earlier, a discipline or tenting chair is crucial. It is going to maintain you off the bottom and when you get there early, you could find a spot that offers you a degree seating place on the aspect of the hill. You’ll additionally want headphones or an FM radio to hearken to reside commentary. Binoculars had been a pleasant addition as nicely to get nearer views of no matter’s in your line of sight.
One of many odd realities of watching a race reside, particularly with out a big TV display screen in sight, is that you just really feel barely extra disconnected to the total image of the race because you’re restricted to what your eyes can see.
Pack for rain on a regular basis, regardless of the forecast. I bought a poncho and an umbrella which fitted properly in my backpack. These two gadgets saved me absolutely dry throughout Sunday’s downpours.Final however not least, as anticipated, count on to stroll lots. Put on comfy footwear. A number of off form or underprepared people struggled with the elevation.
Each single vendor on monitor accepted playing cards solely and used faucet to pay, so that you don’t want to fret an excessive amount of about having lots of money readily available. The trackside meals appeared respectable, however having my very own meals was higher and extra filling. Simply purchase a loaf of bread and a few deli meat, and you’ll create a number of sandwiches with out having to cope with the queues for meals.
Lyndsey from the UK
Our journey began in Ghent on Thursday, the place we attended the annual Ghent Pageant of music and theatre, which we liked. Such a good looking (and fairly priced) a part of the world. We traveled to Brussels on Friday and stayed close to Brussels-North prepare station. It wasn’t the nicest a part of the town, however was handy for the Belgian Grand Prix Shuttle service that we had booked for race day by the promoter’s web site.
We had been picked up at Brussels-North station round 6am on Sunday, with a lot of followers and plenty of coaches! The outward journey was very well organised. We paid round £60pp for a return coach, which dropped off and picked up close to the Ster entrance on the circuit.
We made our approach to Kemmel and had been in place with our camp chairs by 10am. The hillside was already packed! I want we had booked grandstand tickets, because it was overcrowded and onerous to maneuver, even for a bathroom break. It was our first expertise of Common Admission and I’m undecided I might do it once more, particularly not at Spa! We didn’t get the prospect to expertise any of the trackside actions, and solely had entry to restricted foods and drinks choices.
On the finish of the race, the coach was the place we had bought off within the morning. It was a busy and steep stroll again from Kemmel! Nobody checked our ticket as we bought on the bus. Then the problems began. With none type of ticket management, folks had been on our bus that shouldn’t have been, and different folks had been being turned away regardless of having legitimate tickets, together with a mom with two youngsters. It’s disappointing that the organizers didn’t have a correct system in place to regulate the tickets. The return departure of the bus was delayed (as a result of monitor delays), however at the least they despatched out an electronic mail to verify the delay. We left the circuit rapidly and moved slowly for the primary forty minutes as native police despatched us on a unique path to the one we had arrived on. We left the circuit round an hour after the race completed and arrived again at our lodge in Brussels round 11:30pm.
Regardless of the bus points and the overcrowded GA areas, we had an incredible day trip. Numerous strolling and steep climbs, nevertheless it was value it. I’m simply getting a grandstand subsequent time 🙂
In Transient
The next feedback are from members of our Going to the Belgian Grand Prix group on Fb who attended the occasion.
Sinéad: Fanzone grandstand right here. We had a good time! The town shuttle from Maastricht was nicely organised (though no scanning of tickets on the best way house didn’t have an effect on us fortunately, we bought a spot). Queue to get in went rapidly. The fanzone was nicely organised, bathrooms may have been a bit cleaner however to be anticipated with 1000’s of individuals. We will certainly be again sooner or later
Stephen W: The nice bits…simple to get to from UK. Less expensive than Silverstone. Nice monitor. We sat in Silver 1, sensible views as much as Eau Rouge and all the way down to pits. Tenting in yellow 68 was spot on, nice website and services. Straightforward 10 minute stroll to trace. Racing was good too! The unhealthy bits… meals providing in monitor was poor, chips, burgers and pizza; rather more assorted at Silverstone. I solely discovered Heineken beer, we had been in Belgium…the place was the native beer ? Crowd administration across the monitor was horrible, it was too slim between grandstands after which they put a meals truck in, huge congestion. FIA want to know automobiles can race in rain.
Rebecca: Simply need to share our expertise after a tremendous weekend! We stayed in Awans in an airbnb and had tickets for parking in Malmedy – it did take an hour to drive to Malmedy and again however as soon as there the parking and shuttle as much as the monitor had been so nicely organised, fast and simple! Additionally no visitors on path to or from Malmedy. Sure there’s a little bit of a stroll as much as the monitor and it’ll rely the place you might be sat – we had been in Eau Rouge (it drops you on the Les Combes entrance) however would 100% do it this fashion once more!
Parking Points
Stephen D: Desperately want marshals directing/controlling visitors out of the carparks on the finish of every day. We had been in Inexperienced parking and it was a nightmare! Ultimately bought transferring after a really type younger couple determined to do it themselves. We received’t be driving to Spa once more
Dave: Actually poor organisation across the circuit parking. It was horrible and no person was bothered. They stated there was nothing they may do and it was all the way down to followers to get their automobiles out of the tons and to marshall the visitors. At instances it was very heated. This was our fourth go to and we’re not planning to return. We arrived two hours early however nonetheless missed the dash. Until you possibly can organise the occasion correctly there is no such thing as a level going
Leandro: I don’t know when you suffered too, however this yr the parking group was pathetic. On Sunday, it took me three hours to get out of the car parking zone. They determined to pay attention all of the automobile movement from the Inexperienced Zone, which consisted of 4 streets, into one intersection. Till final yr they had been divided into a number of small parking tons and in half-hour I used to be already on the E42. The extra folks criticize the group, the extra seemingly that they’ll return to organizing parking in the identical system because it was final yr.
