Visiting an F1 city on a non-race weekend and want to check out the circuit? The good news is that most current Formula 1 circuits offer reasonably-priced tours of their facilities. Here’s the lowdown!
Not all current circuits offer guided tours (the street circuits, primarily), but that shouldn’t stop you visiting and taking a walk around to check out the most popular sections of the track. In fact, some of the best circuits to visit for this purpose are the City Park Circuits. The good news is that in comparison to expensive race tickets, the ‘behind the scenes’ circuit tours are normally very reasonably priced.
Albert Park
- Home of the Australian GP
- Guided tours? No, Albert Park is a temporary circuit. The good news is that it is also a popular local park that’s worth visiting year-round. If you know the track well, you will be able to make out the most important sections. Hire a bike and check it out!
- More info: Google Maps
Bahrain
- Home of the Bahrain GP
- Guided tours? Yes. Cost 6 Bahraini Dinar ($16 USD) per person. Tours run on Sundays, Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10am and 2pm. Tours visit the Sakhir Tower (great views!), Race Control Tower, Media Centre and include a sedate lap of the circuit.
- More info and tickets
Shanghai
- Home of the Chinese GP
- Guided tours? Yes, year round. On the hour from 09:00-17:00. Go to the circuit shop at the back of the main grandstand, next to Costa Coffee. Cost 50 RMB (about $8 USD) for 60-90 mins, including visits to the media room and podium.
- More info: Read our report
Barcelona
- Home of the Spanish GP
- Guided tours? Yes, year round and almost daily. Cost €10 for adults and €5 for children. Tours runs for 60-75 minutes and includes visits to the Briefing Room, Race Control, Paddock, Podium, Media Centre and the Pit Garages.
- More info
Monaco
- Home of the Monaco GP
- Guided tours? No, this is a street circuit. But it’s easy to visit Monaco and just walk the streets; you’ll easily find the most important most important sections of this iconic circuit. You can also visit the Musée de l’Automobile Monaco
- More info: Google Maps
Baku
- Home of the Azerbaijan GP
- Guided tours? No, this is a temporary circuit. But you will easily find some of the circuits corners just by walking around. Baku is a fascinating blend of old and new. It’s definitely worth visiting the narrow section in the UNESCO-listed old town next to the Maiden Tower.
- More info: Google Maps
Montreal
- Home of the Canadian GP
- Guided tours? No, this is a temporary circuit. However, the circuit is located on a man-made island that also serves as a city park with several points of interest, including the biosphere from Expo ’67 and the Casino de Montreal.
- More info: Parc Jean-Drapeau
Paul Ricard
- Home of the French GP
- Guided tours? Yes, various guided tours are available. The Classic Shuttle tour costs €15 per person and includes visits to the Paddock, the Pit Building, Media Center and Panoramic Restaurant. The X-Trem Park at Paul Ricard also features a zipline, bungee and other activities for daredevils.
- More info
Red Bull Ring
- Home of the Austrian GP
- Guided tours? Yes, year round from 08:00 to 18:00. The 90-minute tour (available in English, Italian or German) costs €15 for adults and €5 for children, and includes a look at the VIP lounges, Race Control, Medical Center and the Media Center.
- More info
Silverstone
- Home of the British GP
- Guided tours? Yes. Two-hour tours of Silverstone cost £30. You’ll get an introduction to the circuit, tour of race control, photo op on the winner’s podium and a sedate lap around the circuit (provided there’s no on-track action on that day).
- More info
Hungaroring
- Home of the Hungarian GP
- Guided tours? Yes, but you’ll need to contact the circuit in advance (tours are not offered most of the winter). Priced at €9 for adults and €6 for children, the tour includes the paddock including areas normally off-limits, a podium photo op and a visit to the statue park of F1 champions.
- More info
Spa-Francorchamps
- Home of the Belgian GP
- Guided tours? Yes. Regular tours for individuals are available from March 15 to November 15, costing €9.50 for adults and €6.50 for children, check the link for dates. The 75-minute tour includes the 24 Hours and F1 paddocks, press room, commentators’ booths, podium and Race Control room.
- More info
Zandvoort
- Home of the Dutch GP
- Guided tours? Not currently available, though Circuit Zandvoort has offered guided tours in the past. Contact the circuit for more information. You can also visit the new Bernie’s Bar & Kitchen above the pits and is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner – though opening times can be restricted in winter.
- More info: Google Maps
Monza
- Home of the Italian GP
- Guided tours? Yes, tours are offered year-round that take in the media center, race control, paddock, pit building and podium. Priced at €10 for adults (€8 concession), or €15 (€12) including a lap of the circuit. You can also just visit Monza Park and explore; be sure to check out the old banked circuit.
- More info
Marina Bay
- Home of the Singapore GP
- Guided tours? No, this is a temporary street circuit. However, the building housing the pits is a permanent structure and is worth a visit. It’s also right next door to the Singapore Flyer, the huge ferris wheel with amazing views of the skyline, day or night.
- More info: Google Maps
Sochi Autodrom
- Home of the Russian GP
- Guided tours? Yes, daily at 13:30, 16:00 & 18:00. Cost is 500 rubles ($8.50 USD) for adults and 300 rubles for children. You’ll visit the main grandstand, paddock, race control, pitlane and podium. For a slightly higher price, you can also take a tour of the Sochi Auto Sport Museum as well.
- More info
Suzuka
- Home of the Japanese GP
- Guided tours? Yes, the “backyard tour” is available on selected dates (check the link below for the schedule). Costing just 500 yen ($4.50 USD), the one-hour tour takes places twice or three times daily and includes the control room, media center and podium.
- More info
COTA
- Home of the USGP
- Guided tours? Yes, every weekend from 10:00-16:00. The one-hour “Insiders Guided Shuttle Tour” includes a lap of the circuit with stops at the main corners and the Austin360 Amphitheater concert venue, plus the pits and paddock, race control and podium.
- More info
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
- Home of the Mexico GP
- Guided tours? We can’t find specific information about tours of the circuit. However, you can walk or cycle the circuit when there are no events happening, and there’s some venues from the 1968 Olympics nearby, which are worth checking out.
- Circuit website (Spanish only) / Google Maps
Interlagos
- Home of the Brazilian GP
- Guided tours? Yes, but you will need to contact the circuit for more information. Alternatively, you can walk or cycle on the public park that goes around the circuit’s perimeter (any day from 07:00-17:00). You can also visit the famous Ayrton Senna kart track next to the circuit.
- More info
Yas Marina
- Home of the Abu Dhabi GP
- Guided tours? Yes. Priced at 65 AED (approx $18 USD), the tour includes a lap around the circuit in a minivan with stops at the grandstands and drag-racing strip, plus a look behind the scenes at race control, the media centre and the paddock. Separately, you can visit the Marina itself for free.
- More info
did the Montreal Track tour and drove on the circuit fantastic