Interlagos is in a rough neighborhood, Mexico City has the best food scene of any F1 host city, and Miami is the most overpriced race weekend on the calendar.
Updated April 2026 | 4 min read
TL;DR — Quick picks
- Best F1 city experience: Mexico City — world-class food, cheap, walkable, incredible atmosphere
- Where to stay (Interlagos): Jardins or Vila Madalena, NOT near the circuit
- Where to stay (Miami): Wynwood or South Beach, shuttle to Hard Rock Stadium
- Best value: Mexico City at $60-120/night for quality hotels
In This Post
Here is the circuit-by-circuit breakdown for F1 in the Americas.
Brazilian Grand Prix — Interlagos, Sao Paulo
The circuit: Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Interlagos, a neighborhood in southern Sao Paulo.
Best area to stay: Vila Olimpia or Jardins. Both are upscale neighborhoods with good hotels, restaurants, and metro access. Jardins is Sao Paulo’s best dining and shopping district. Vila Olimpia has newer hotels and is slightly closer to the circuit.
Do not stay in Interlagos. The neighborhood around the circuit is not a tourist area — limited restaurants, limited safety infrastructure, and no metro station nearby.
Getting to the circuit: This is the tricky part. Interlagos has no direct metro connection. Options:
- Official race shuttles from designated pickup points (check the GP’s website). About BRL 100-150 ($20-30) round trip.
- Uber/99 (ride-hailing) — works well going to the circuit (BRL 40-60 from Jardins, 20-30 minutes without traffic). Coming back is harder — surge pricing and a 30-minute wait in the post-race crowd. Budget BRL 80-120 for the return.
- Rental car — do not. Sao Paulo traffic on race day is apocalyptic. The circuit’s parking situation is limited. Use ride-hailing or shuttles.
Budget: A good hotel in Vila Olimpia or Jardins during race weekend costs BRL 600-1,000/night ($120-200). Sao Paulo has enormous hotel supply so prices do not spike as dramatically as European races. An Airbnb apartment for two: BRL 400-700/night ($80-140).
Book how far out: 2-3 months is fine. Sao Paulo has thousands of hotels. The premium during race weekend is 20-40%, not the 2-3x you see at Spa or Austria.
What I would do differently: Stay in Jardins instead of a business hotel near the convention center. We picked a practical location last time but Jardins has the food and nightlife that make the non-race days memorable. The Sao Paulo food scene is extraordinary and concentrated in Jardins/Vila Madalena.
Safety note: Sao Paulo requires the same street awareness as any major city. Use ride-hailing apps instead of hailing taxis on the street. Keep your phone in a pocket, not in hand, on crowded race-day transport. The tourist neighborhoods (Jardins, Vila Olimpia, Pinheiros) are well-patrolled.
Mexican Grand Prix — Mexico City
The circuit: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in the Magdalena Mixhuca sports complex, eastern Mexico City.
Best area to stay: Roma Norte or Condesa. These neighboring colonias (neighborhoods) are the epicenter of Mexico City’s dining, nightlife, and cultural scene. Tree-lined streets, excellent restaurants, walkable. Roma Norte is slightly more affordable; Condesa is slightly trendier.
Juarez and Cuauhtemoc are also good alternatives — closer to the historic center, slightly cheaper, still walkable to Roma/Condesa.
Getting to the circuit: The metro is your best option. The Ciudad Deportiva station is right at the circuit entrance. From Roma Norte, take Line 1 to Pantitlan and transfer to Line 9. Total journey: 30-40 minutes. Metro fare: 5 MXN ($0.25). It gets extremely crowded after the race but it moves.
Uber works well too — MXN 80-150 ($5-9) from Roma Norte, but post-race Uber availability drops as surge pricing kicks in.
Budget: Mexico City is the most affordable F1 city by far. A stylish boutique hotel in Roma Norte costs MXN 2,000-4,000/night ($115-230) during race weekend. Airbnb apartments: MXN 1,200-2,500/night ($70-145). Budget travelers can find hostels for MXN 400-800/night ($23-46).
Book how far out: 2-3 months. Mexico City has massive accommodation supply. Race weekend premium is modest — 15-30% over normal prices.
The real value: Mexico City is the only F1 city where I would recommend extending the trip by 3-4 days. The food is extraordinary and incredibly cheap. A meal at a serious restaurant costs what a fast-food combo costs in Miami. The Mexico City food guide covers the best of what we found.
Miami Grand Prix — Miami Gardens
The circuit: Miami International Autodrome, built around Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, 25km north of downtown Miami.
Best area to stay: Miami Beach (Mid-Beach or South Beach) or Brickell/Downtown. This depends on what you want from the trip beyond the race.
Miami Beach gives you the classic Miami experience — ocean, Art Deco, nightlife. Mid-Beach (around 30th-50th Streets) is quieter and cheaper than South Beach. Downtown/Brickell is the modern financial district with new hotels and good restaurants.
Do not stay in Miami Gardens. The area around Hard Rock Stadium is suburban — fast food, strip malls, nothing to do when the race is not on.
Getting to the circuit: There is no public transit to the stadium area worth using. Options:
- Uber/Lyft: From South Beach, 30-45 minutes without race traffic, 60-90 minutes with it. Budget $30-50 each way. Post-race surge can push return trips to $60-80.
- Official shuttles: The Miami GP runs shuttles from various locations. Check the GP website for current routes and prices (typically $50-75 round trip).
- Rental car: If you have a group of 3-4, this is actually the best option. Parking at the stadium costs $60-80 per day but split four ways it beats Uber surge. Arrive early (gates open at 9am), leave 30 minutes before the race ends to beat the exodus.
Budget: Miami during race weekend is the most expensive F1 accommodation on this list. South Beach hotels: $250-500/night. Mid-Beach: $180-350/night. Brickell: $200-400/night. These prices are only 10-20% above normal Miami prices because Miami is already expensive.
Book how far out: 1-2 months is usually fine. Miami has enormous hotel inventory. The race weekend premium is small relative to the baseline price.
Americas F1 Accommodation Comparison
- Best value: Mexico City — world-class city, incredible food, accommodation under $150/night
- Most expensive: Miami — but you are paying for Miami, not the race
- Best city for extending the trip: Mexico City (3-4 extra days) or Sao Paulo (2-3 extra days)
- Hardest circuit transport: Miami — suburban location with no transit and heavy traffic
- Easiest circuit transport: Mexico City — metro goes directly to the venue
Essential gear for any F1 weekend:
- Anker portable charger — your phone will die by 2pm shooting photos and checking lap times
- Loop Experience earplugs — F1 cars are quieter than the V8 era but still 130+ dB at close range. These reduce volume while keeping clarity so you can hear the engines without damaging your ears
- Lightweight rain poncho — weather at every circuit I have attended has been unpredictable. A poncho packs flat and saves a miserable day in the grandstands
For the complete F1 planning guide covering tickets, packing, and logistics, read the F1 logistics hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to stay near Interlagos circuit?
No. The Interlagos area is not safe for tourists. Stay in Jardins, Vila Madalena, or Pinheiros — these are safe, walkable neighborhoods 30-45 min from the circuit by Uber ($10-15).
How much does F1 weekend accommodation cost in the Americas?
Mexico City: $60-120/night. Sao Paulo: $80-180/night. Miami: $200-500/night during race weekend (highest on the calendar).
Should I rent a car for the Miami GP?
Yes, or plan to Uber. The Hard Rock Stadium area has limited transit. Budget $50-80/day for parking near the venue. Alternatively, book a hotel with a race shuttle.
Book Your F1 Trip
Hotels (Sao Paulo): Sao Paulo Jardins on Booking.com
Hotels (Mexico City): Mexico City on Booking.com
Hotels (Miami): Miami on Booking.com
Car rental: RentCars
Flights: Skyscanner
eSIM: Airalo
Travel insurance: SafetyWing
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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