Your guide to the best off-track activities in Milan & Lombardy while attending the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix 2024
- The 2024 Italian Grand Prix is scheduled for August 30-September 1
- Tickets are now on sale. Prices for 3-day tickets start from €160
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Being situated on the outskirts of Milan makes Monza a great Grand Prix to tie in with a city break, and Milan has more than its fair share of culture, history and shopping to offer its visitors. Being the ‘new’ city to Rome’s antiquity doesn’t mean that Milan’s short on sightseeing options. If you can spare some extra time before or after the race, then there is plenty to do in Northern Italy. Below we have handpicked some of the best places to visit (including a couple with an F1 theme). Whilst you can visit these sites by train, your best bet is to hire a car and get exploring!
Visit the Duomo
Milan’s massive gothic cathedral is a must-see, whether you’re here for a day or a week. Marvel at its 135 spires and over 3000 statues. You can’t miss it, either – Milan’s streets all circle and radiate from it’s central location. Admission is free unless you intend to take pictures. Shoulders and knees should be covered before you enter the cathedral. Views from the Duomo roof are staggering; entrance costs around €12. Click here for more information.
Explore Parc Sempione
A rare green space in this vast metropolis, Parco Sempione is a 116 acre oasis of calm and beauty – the perfect antidote to a morning’s shopping or a hard weekend at Monza. There are cafes, lakes and amphitheaters here as well as several museums and galleries if that takes your fancy. And for those keen to pose, boogie and model-spot, there’s the very glitzy Cavalli Club situated at one end of the park. Very clean and very quiet.
Milan’s Nightlife
Milan’s nightlife has everything from cosy little trattorias for a quiet pizza and glass of wine to full-on super clubs that only close when the sun comes up. Milan’s two main nightlife districts are the area around the Brera Gallery, and the Navigli canal area of the city. Nights really get going at around 11.00 pm and most clubs close at around about 4 am. Atlantique is one of Milan’s glitziest clubs and Volo is a popular nightspot with a walled garden. Look out for bars and clubs with a happy hour; it’ll make your night out a little easier on the pocket.
Shopping in Milan
If you’re after a designer fix in Milan, head for Quadrilatero d’Oro, which translates as the ‘rectangle of gold’. Unlike London and Paris, Milan’s designer shops are all conveniently located in this one location. Designer outlet stores can be found on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. For the Milanese answer to high-street shopping, try Corso Buenos Aires or Via Torino. Opening hours are normally from Tuesday to Saturday (9.30am-12.30pm & 3.30-7.30pm), with a half day on Monday (3.30-7.30pm). Read more about shopping in Milan here.
Near Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, you’ll find Milan’s flagship Ferrari Store. Spread over three floors, the store has a wide range of Ferrari merchandise and memorabilia on offer, from team apparel to accessories, designer objects and toys. The building is much more than just a shop – it also features interactive video walls and F1 simulators!
Visit the Alfa Romeo Museum
Located in the Arese commune of Milan, around 12km north-west of the centre, you’ll find the Alfa Romeo museum. Easily accessible by public transport, the museum showcases cars and engines from the manufacturer’s illustrious history. Of particular interest to F1 fans will be the 159, which won races for Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio in 1951. The museum, housed over six floors, is open every day apart from Tuesdays, from 10am to 6pm. Admission is €12.
Lake Como
You may rub shoulders with the odd F1 driver on holiday if you spend a few days in Lake Como after Monza – this beautiful destination has something for everybody but is notoriously star-studded in the summer months. It’s only an hour and a half from Monza by road, so you may even find yourself staying here for the Grand Prix if you hire a car for the weekend. This Y-shaped lake is dotted with little towns like Varenna, Tremezzo and Bellagio. Weekdays are less busy in Lake Como as it’s a popular weekend destination for the Milanese, making it a great option for a few days pre- or post-F1. A dedicated train line runs between Como and Milan.
Reserve a hotel near Lake Como for the 2024 Italian Grand Prix (Aug 30-Sep 1).
Bergamo
An hour out of Milan and forty minutes from Monza by road is the beautiful Roman city of Bergamo. Split over two sites (one high, one low) and linked by a funicular system as well as walking trails for the more energetic visitor, Alta Bergamo is the older part of the city with all the piazzas, museums, cathedrals and basilicas. Views on the way up to Alta are breathtaking, so keep your camera handy. Bergamo Bassa is the more contemporary district where you’ll find great shopping and lots of modern hotels. Check out the Piazza Vecchia for a truly stunning example of medieval-meets-Renaissance architecture in the heart of the old city.
View accommodation in Bergamo for the 2024 Italian Grand Prix (Aug 30-Sep 1).
Autodromo Imola
A three hour drive from Monza and Milan is the F1 mecca that is Imola, and the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. Home to the San Marino Grand Prix from 1981 to 2006 and the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from 2020, Imola is remembered as the track where Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna lost their lives in 1994. There’s a bronze Senna monument within the grounds, and nearby Hotel Castello is where many iconic drivers would stay when racing here. The 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was cancelled at the last moment due to local flooding, but the race is scheduled to return to the Formula 1 calendar next year on May 17-19. Read More: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Travel Guide.
Visit the Home of Ferrari in Maranello
About an hour by road from Imola is the town of Maranello, best known for being the home of Scuderia Ferrari. Maranello is about 200km from Milan and Monza, on a nice fast road. Check out our trip guide for a day out at the Ferrari factory, the Fiorano test track and the Ferrari Museum. Entrance to the museum is a modest €13 which includes the option to take a guided bus tour of the Ferrari factory and Fiorano test track.
Is it possible to enter the track for the post-race podium ceremony with a “General Admission” ticket?
Yes, absolutely you can do it. I’d head to the main straight around 10 laps before the race ends to be in a good position to get on to the track and close to the podium. They open the track near the start-finish line and closer to the podium.
Do you know what the post race entertainment will be? Is there a concert?
There’s no post-race concerts at the track that I’m aware of at Monza.
Yes
Will there be any events in monza over gp weekend. I know about the f1 festival in milan. Just wondering about monza thanks
Hi, i have a 3 day pass for the main stand, it says finish line when i translate, any idea which entrance is best please?
Best entrance is the main gate, Vedano. Ingresso A on this map. More info in Getting There & Around.
HI, Am looking to buy general admission tickets for the Italian Grand Prix in September. The F1 site says sold out but I. have read elsewhere it is possible to buy on the day. Do you know if this is so or should I buy on one of the ticket resale sites?
Many thanks
We have General Admission tickets available in our Italian GP ticket shop at the moment. These are a little more expensive than the regular ones, but still cheap at 165 EUR for 3 days. I think the event will sell out soon, and it definitely won’t be possible to buy at the track on the day.
Hi! I just read that in previous years there has been some sort of F1 Festival in Milano, with a drivers parade in the days before de race. Do you know if something like this will take place in 2022? I can’t seem to find any information. We were planning to go to the track on thursday for the pit lane walk and to try and find a good place to sit with the GA tickets, but this would be even better. It’s our first time at a GP and it’s a little overwhelming to plan, not knowing what to expect and trying to make the most of it. Thank you! :)
It’s possible that this festival in Milan will return this year, but I don’t think so. F1 was running these festivals more frequently before the pandemic, but not so much now. Either way, it’s probably not likely to be announced anyway till much closer to the race.
Thank you for your answear and for all the info you provide here, it’s really helpful.
Hi I have general admission tickets for the 3 days. I am just wondering if you can purchase a pit lane walk as an extra? If so where can I purchase. It is also are first time going to the f1 and are finding it hard to plan.
No information has been published yet about the pit lane walk, though it’s normally held on Thursday afternoon. In the past it has been free, but this year – if it happens – you may need to buy a ticket. We will update the guide when information is available, and also share on our social media accounts
Hi from Finland, third time to Milan and Monza Gp (of course Kimi and Valtteri) Also a question asked here before: Formula festival gp week. Can you tell me the address of the event because it is surely already known.
Off course We have weekends F1 tickets
The F1 festival in Milan was a special event, last held in 2019 I think. It’s not happening this year, sorry
Hello!! What area You recommend for the race day in General Admission. Thanks for the tips!
Hi David, unfortunately it is hard to recommend any area in General Admission now at Monza. The experience in GA last year at Monza was very bad; lots of complaints. Two issues – first, they sold too many tickets. Second – many of the best GA areas were removed so that new grandstands could be added to the ticket offer. I think the best remaining area for GA, but it will be very busy, is on the inside of the two Lesmo corners at the top of the circuit.
Is it possible to walk the track outside race weekend?
We are planning summer vacation and would love to see the track.
Thank you of course for your great site!
Best regards
Lars
Hi Lars, you cannot walk the actual track as it is private and most days there are some kind of cars in action. However, you can visit the circuit and the Monza Park. In fact, I was there yesterday! It really is a beautiful park. You can go inside the circuit, in the middle there is a cool circuit shop. And you can walk on the northern part of the old banked circuit. Here you can see some of my photos from yesterday: https://imgur.com/a/txZ7e2z
I’m also going to write up my experience in a new blog post after I get back from Monaco, look out for it!
Hi Andrew
What a coincidence :-)
Pictures look really good and I think we may go for this. Looking forward to your blog post.
Enjoy Monaco!
Hi, I heard last years experience was a let down. Hopefully they have learnt from last year, do you recommend heading to the track a lot earlier to beat crowds etc ? We are travelling from Australia and we have grandstand seating. Hoping to have the best experience without any dramas. Cheers
It was a frustrating experience for many fans last year. I sincerely hope the organizers learnt some things from last year’s debacle, but maybe nothing will change. Many circuits are having to respond to much larger crowds now, and Monza was not well prepared. Yes, arriving early is definitely a good idea. Taking the train to Monza or the metro to Sesto 1° Maggio FS followed by the Z221 bus are best options – in fact, I tried both out last week when I visited Monza! More info in this post.
Hi!
Do you recommend any cool places for the after party? Some nightclub or so…