Ultimate Guide: Attending the F1 Belgian Grand Prix in Spa

The Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps might just be one of the most iconic races on the Formula 1 calendar – and often tops many fans’ bucket lists. But dreaming of attending the iconic Belgian Grand Prix and actually attending it are two different things. The F1 Belgian Grand Prix requires a lot of advanced preparation and knowledge to attend – from parking to rain delays to the pricey food and beyond. Here’s everything I wish I had known before attending the F1 Belgian Grand Prix in Spa. 

How Does a Formula 1 Race Weekend Work?

Most spectators attend a Formula 1 weekend for the Grand Prix race, but the reality is that there’s so much more during race weekend than simply the Grand Prix. 

Your Formula 1 ticket will include access to other events such as the Formula 2, F1 Academy, Formula 3, the Porsche Supercup and the Driver’s Parade ahead of the race. That’s on top of all the free practices and qualifying for Formula 1, too. And if you’re lucky, you’ll snag a ticket to one of the few Formula 1 Sprint Weekends, too. 

Never been to Formula 1? I’ve got my beginner’s guide here, with all my best tips and tricks (including a packing list!). 

How to Buy Your Ticket for the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa 

There are two primary options to purchase tickets for the Belgian Grand Prix: Formula 1’s ticketing site and the Spa Grand Prix website. 

One key difference? Formula 1 is technically a ticket reseller, so their tickets for the Spa Grand Prix will have a surcharge. You can expect to pay up to 200 Euros extra for tickets purchased through the official F1 tickets site. After attending, we learned we had paid around 195 Euros extra. 

If you can, I’d highly recommend purchasing your ticket through the official track circuit website – not just for Spa, but for every Formula 1 race. You’ll save a lot of money this way. 

Belgian Grand Prix: General Admission vs. Grandstands

One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when attending the Spa Grand Prix will be picking your seat. At Spa, you have the option to pick between a number of different grandstands situated along iconic turns like La Source and Eau Rouge. Additionally, you can opt for General Admission tickets and bring your own setup. 

The most expensive seating lies at Gold 1, the covered grandstand across the pit lane. It’s perhaps the best seating if you want a view of the starting grid as well as the awards ceremony. Plus, if it rains (a total likelihood), covered seating will come in handy. Additionally, the Gold seating lies right next to the main entrance to the track – which means far less walking time. 

However, there’s also plenty of great seating close to the fanzone (which sits by Eau Rouge) and of course, there are the Max Verstappen stands. These seats might be a bit more of a hike, depending on where you park. 

The truth about Spa? Most seats have an incredible view, and the most important decision you’ll need to make will be regarding your budget and whether you want covered grandstands. Your tolerance for walking and rain should be the biggest determining factors alongside any specific corners or stretches of track you like most. 

One thing to note: Spa is truly a massive circuit. Walking from one end to the other will take over an hour. A full lap around the circuit will be a multiple-hour endeavor. Understanding drop-off points for shuttles, or, similarly, your parking place, will make a huge difference to your day. We’ll talk more about this later. 

Where to Stay: Belgian Grand Prix

The Formula 1 Grand Prix in Spa doesn’t offer much accommodation close to the track, unfortunately. However, if you’re planning to attend the Spa Grand Prix, you’ll find yourself staying in a number of major cities nearby, including: 

• Spa (a more expensive option, and generally booked out in advance by teams)
• Maastricht (around 40-50 min by car, or shuttle)
• Brussels (train + shuttle to reach the track)
• Aachen (50 minutes by car, or shuttle)
• Verviers (20 minutes by car, or shuttle accessible)

Your choice will depend on your budget and your preference of country (for example: we stayed in Maastricht because our friends had visited before and loved it; we did too). 

Before picking, consider searching for a hotel near the shuttle stop (if that’s your plan) or parking garage. 

The reality? To attend the Grand Prix, you’ll have to leave around 6 am and you’ll get back around 9 or 10 pm. 

It’s a long day; I’d recommend staying in a city with late night food options as well, as you will more than likely arrive home after the 9:30 pm restaurant closures. Nearby grocery stores will be a big help, too. 

How to Get to the Spa Grand Prix 

The simplest and easiest way to reach the Spa Grand Prix is the shuttle bus. Shuttle buses receive expedited police escorts to cut through traffic on the way to the track (on the way back, they are faster– but still subject to some traffic). 

Formula 1 makes it easy by operating shuttles from nearly a dozen different spots nearby, including: Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Eindhoven, Liège, Lille, Luxembourg, Mons, and Namur. Look for the official F1 shuttle on the Belgian Grand Prix website and book directly. 

Keep in mind, shuttles can be pricey (for example, it was 65 Euros per day round trip from Maastricht). 

Alternatively, driving is an option, too. If you opt to drive, ensure your parking lot is closest to your seating. Generally speaking, you can figure this out by the name of your parking and the name of your seating (we sat in the Gold 1 Grandstands and parked in Gold parking). This will save you up to an hour of additional walking time in muddy conditions. However, the walk from the parking lot to the Spa Grand Prix is still a solid 20 to 25 minutes through crowds. 

One thing to keep in mind if you do opt to drive: Spa is famously muddy, and you will be parking in mud. If you don’t feel comfortable driving through muddy conditions on slopes, this might not be the option for you. 

Don’t expect to take a cab, Bolt or Uber. Unlike other tracks, you won’t find a taxi line here – and the phone signal isn’t strong enough to call a rideshare. 

The Food at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit 

Unlike other Formula 1 tracks I’ve attended, the food at Spa-Francorchamps Circuit is expensive and not very high quality. You’ll find your normal array of food stands offering pizza, kebabs, frites (fries), pasta, burgers, nachos and sandwiches – but prices start around 10 euros, with a box of bolognese pasta running 16 Euros as of 2025. 

Some good news: you can bring as much food as you want into the circuit, though drinks are limited (we personally didn’t have anyone check our drinks on the final day). We brought enough groceries to feed four people throughout the day and spent around 20 Euros each day – a far cry from the expensive first day, before we knew better. You’ll see people all around Spa packing their own food and eating it – so don’t worry, you won’t be alone. 

The circuit does have excellent organization, though. Most grandstand sections offer a selection of food trucks, toilets and plenty of water refill stations nearby. We’ll talk more about this below. 

Toilets at the Spa Grand Prix 

A topic of much conversation at every Formula 1 race: the toilets. I’m happy to report the toilets at the Spa Grand Prix are plentiful and clean. Though you may wait before major events (like prior to the Grand Prix itself), most of the time, there’s very little wait. Behind our grandstands alone (Gold 1), we had 3 separate toilets. This was a major change from other races we’ve attended. 

Water Refill Stations at the F1 Belgian Grand Prix

The Spa-Francorchamps Circuit has plenty of water refill stations. On our walk from the entrance to our grandstands, we noticed at least 10 different refill stations. Around our grandstand, we had four different options for water refill.  

The FanZone at the Belgian Grand Prix

The FanZone at the Belgian Grand Prix is a full-blown experience. It includes a mainstage, where drivers will appear, tons of merchandise stands (with specific booths for Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull fans), a ferris wheel, stands for seating and more food booths.

This area tends to get crowded throughout the day, but there’s plenty of room to roam around. The Fan Zone at the Belgian Grand Prix also offers a great view of Eau Rouge. 

What to Pack: Spa Grand Prix

Of all the tracks on the calendar, Spa perhaps more so than others requires a specific packing list. Thanks to the area’s frequent rainfall, isolated location and variable temperatures, you’ll need to come prepared. Here’s what we packed: 

• Electrolytes, especially if it’s hot out! 
• As much water as you’re allowed to bring – don’t worry, they will have refill stations.
• Ear plugs (we bought these, but regular earplugs work just fine)
• Rain coat (always bring a raincoat in case!)
• If you’re doing general admission, bring chairs, tarps, umbrellas and any other picnic equipment you may need
• Spare power pack for your phone
• Snacks & meals, if this is your preference
• Tickets, printed out
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Small towel to aid with sun protection, sweating – or simply sit on it!
• Seat cushion, if applicable
• Binoculars, if you’re sitting far off.

Belgian Grand Prix: Final Thoughts

Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix is truly one of the most iconic and exciting races to attend, especially if it rains. If this track is on your bucket list, the most important thing to remember is to come prepared. There’s no Formula 1 Grand Prix in the world like Spa! 

Samantha Tatro

Samantha Tatro is a Czech-American third culture kid who grew up living and traveling abroad. Many years later, after living in California and working as a journalist, she decided to take the leap and move abroad again…this time to Prague, Czech Republic. Samantha started Undiscovered Path Home to help couples and solo female travelers find the courage to visit countries – and locations – off the beaten path. Her work has appeared in Bon Appetit, NBC News, The Adecco Group, and more.