Our Trip to the F1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza

Everything We Learned Planning for Monza 2024

Keep Reading

• 100 Greatest F1 Races of All Time, Ranked and Explained
• Top 100 F1 Races: Spoiler-Free Rankings for New Fans
• Belgian Grand Prix at Spa and a Germany Road Trip

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza takes more planning than you expect — but getting it right means seeing F1 cars at 350 km/h through a park. See where to stay for European F1 races.

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza is one of the most iconic races on the F1 calendar, and planning for it takes more thought than you might expect. After spending months researching tickets, transport, grandstands, and logistics, here is everything we figured out — and what we would do differently next time.

Getting to Monza from Milan: What Actually Worked

We had a rental car for this leg of the Italy trip (picked up in Venice, dropping off in Rome), so we drove to Monza from our hotel in Milan. Driving to the circuit on race weekend works fine if you have a GPS with current maps. You cannot drive on roads immediately around the circuit due to traffic restrictions, but there are parking areas around Monza park that cost about 25 euros per day and are serviced by shuttle buses to the entrances. Do not leave anything valuable visible in the car: thieves target GP parking areas specifically. See what an F1 race weekend actually costs.

If you do not have a car, the train from Milan Centrale to Monza runs every 15-20 minutes. But the better move is the S9 regional train to Biassono-Lesmo station instead: it is only 200 meters from the Lesmo circuit entrance, and post-race exit takes 10-15 minutes versus the chaos at Monza main station.

Taxis run 50-60 euros one way from central Milan. The return is the problem: after the race, 370,000 people trying to leave at once means taxis are impossible without a pre-booking. We stayed near the circuit for a drink after the race to let the crowds thin before heading back to the car. FreeNow works for ordering taxis in the area — the pickup point is at Via Cesana near the gas station in Biassono.

One more thing: mobile networks collapse on race day Sunday. Arrange a meeting place and time before you go in. Do not rely on being able to text or call anyone inside the circuit.

Picking Your Grandstand: What We Learned

Every grandstand at Monza has big-screen viewing, which matters because the track is so long that no single seat sees more than two or three corners. Seven grandstands are permanent, covered structures. The rest are temporary and exposed to weather. All of them are concrete or plastic bleacher-style with no backrests, so bring an inflatable cushion or your back will hate you by lap 30.

The Start/Finish Straight

The Centrale Grandstand (1) is the most expensive and, honestly, overpriced compared to similar seats at other races. You see the start, the finish, and pit stops, but almost no wheel-to-wheel racing. The Right Lateral stands (Laterale Destra, 26A-26C) flanking it are better value: 26A sits directly opposite the pit lane and podium, so you get the grid, pit stops, and post-race celebrations. If you want the best podium view specifically, 26C is closest to where the cars cross the line.

The budget pick on the straight: Gradinate bleacher seats give you nearly the same sightline for a fraction of the price.

Turn 1 / Prima Variante (Our Pick for Action)

The best value seats we found were in the Alta Velocita stands at the Prima Variante chicane, specifically Alta Velocita C (6C). This is the first braking zone, where cars arrive at over 350 km/h and have to slow for a tight chicane. Most overtaking happens here. As a bonus, this stand sits right behind a section of the old banked Monza oval from the 1960s. On the outside of the chicane, Esterna Prima Variante A (8A) is even closer to the action — you see cars arriving full-speed before slamming the brakes.

Variante Ascari

Eight grandstands cluster around this high-speed chicane. Ascari Uno (15) in the middle of the corner has the best views. Ascari Tre (12) on entry is close to the track. Ascari Due (13) is set further back behind the gravel trap but gives a wider panorama. The approach into Ascari, with cars emerging from the woodland section, is one of the most photogenic moments of any lap.

Curva Parabolica (Best Sound)

The permanent covered Parabolica stand (22) puts you at one of the most famous turns in motorsport. Drivers are at full throttle through this sweeping right-hander, and the sound bounces off the grandstand roof. Laterale Parabolica A (21A) is closest to the corner and uncovered — brutal in September sun, but the proximity to the track is worth it if you bring sunscreen. The main fanzone is a five-minute walk from here.

General Admission (Prato)

GA at Monza is genuinely divisive. The 2024 race had a record 370,000 attendance, and the GA areas showed it — overcrowding was severe, food token queues stretched to two hours, and decent views required arriving before gates opened and not moving from your spot all day. The best GA locations: Lesmo 2 (TV screen visible, some shade, bleacher seating) and the Ascari area (slightly elevated, wider view, usually less packed than Turn 1). But GA is worth it for one thing no grandstand can match: the track invasion. When the podium finishes, the gates open and tens of thousands of fans flood the main straight in a wave of red smoke and flares. That moment alone might justify the ticket.

GA from around 50 euros. Entry-level grandstands 140-200 euros for race day. Main straight and Parabolica 200-350 euros. Premium pit-facing seats 350-500 euros and up.

Race Day: What to Bring and What to Skip

We brought a cooler bag with water, sandwiches, and fruit, and it saved us from the 8-euro water bottles inside the circuit. Binoculars made a huge difference, especially at the chicanes where the cars are further from the grandstands than TV coverage suggests. Ear protection is non-negotiable.

Do not leave anything valuable in your car if you park near Biassono. Thieves specifically target Grand Prix parking areas. Either take the train or bring everything with you.

The Weekend Schedule

The Italian GP typically runs the last weekend of August or first weekend of September. The standard F1 weekend format applies:

• Two practice sessions. Smaller crowds, relaxed atmosphere, good for exploring the circuit and finding your bearings
• Final practice and qualifying. This is when the atmosphere starts building. Qualifying determines the grid, and the one-lap shootout format makes it exciting viewing
• Race day. Gates open early (around 8 AM). The race starts mid-afternoon, but arriving early is non-negotiable if you want a good GA spot or want to soak in the pre-race atmosphere

Book on GetYourGuide:

• Milan Duomo and Terraces Fast-Track Tour
• Leonardo’s Last Supper Skip-the-Line
• Monza Autodromo Circuit Tour Experience

Where to Stay

Stay in Milan, not Monza. Milan has far more hotel options, better restaurants, and the train connection is easy. We used Marriott points for several nights, which made a meaningful dent in the trip budget. The AC Hotel Milano and Moxy Milan are both solid Marriott options in reasonable locations.

Book early. Hotel prices in Milan surge during GP weekend, and availability drops fast once the race is confirmed on the calendar (usually around October/November the year before).

Budget Breakdown

• JFK to Milan round trip — 50,000-70,000 American Airlines miles, or roughly 600-900 USD in cash
• Milan averages 150-250 euros per night during GP weekend. Points help significantly
• GA from 80-100 euros, grandstands from 200-600 euros depending on location
• Train + shuttle about 10 euros round trip; taxi/Uber 40-60 euros each way
• Budget 30-40 euros per person per day, or bring your own and save
• Total per person: Roughly 1,500-2,500 USD for a long weekend including flights, hotel, and tickets

What We Would Do Differently

• Book grandstand seats earlier. The best options sell out months in advance
• Attend Friday practice to scout the circuit layout and find the best viewing spots
• Bring more food and water. We underestimated how long the lines would be
• Stay an extra day in Milan after the race. Race day is exhausting and having a buffer day to recover (and eat more Italian food) would have been welcome

Is Monza Worth It?

Without question. The history, the atmosphere, the tifosi, the park setting — Monza is unlike any other race on the calendar. The podium ceremony alone, with fans flooding the main straight, is one of the greatest spectacles in motorsport. If you are an F1 fan and have not been to Monza, put it on the list.

Related Reading

• Barcelona, Costa Brava, and the F1 Spanish Grand Prix
• Best F1 Circuits to Visit: A Track-by-Track Guide
• Venice to Rome via Monza: Italy for the F1 Grand Prix
• Austria and Bavaria: Vienna, Salzburg, and the F1 GP
• Italy by Train
• Ranking F1’s Greatest Races

Gear and Guides We Recommend

Planning a similar trip? Here are some items we found useful:

• Italy travel guide
• race-day ear protection
• portable seat cushion
• F1 books

These are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support this site.

Book Tours and Activities

• Milan to Monza Day Trip
• Milan Walking Tour

Find Flights to Milan

Cheapest Flights to Milan

Departure at	Return at	Stops	Airline	Find tickets
5 December 2026	7 December 2026	Direct		Tickets from 409

Compare flights on Skyscanner — and grab an Airalo eSIM before you land so you have data the moment you arrive.

Tours: Barcelona tours on Viator

Travel Insurance: We use SafetyWing for travel insurance on every international trip. It covers medical emergencies, trip interruptions, and lost luggage starting at $45/month with no fixed end date — perfect for multi-country itineraries.

↑

Related Reading

• Where to Stay for European F1 Races
• Where to Stay for European F1 Races — Monza, Barcelona, Spa, and Austria

Written by Jenna Fattah

I have visited 25+ countries across 6 continents, attended 7 Formula 1 races, and spent 4 years writing about what actually works and what I would do differently. Every recommendation on this site comes from trips I planned and paid for myself. Read more about me