How to get to the circuit?

Take the train from Milano Centrale to Monza station (25 minutes, €3.50, runs every 15 minutes) then walk 20 minutes through Parco di Monza directly to the circuit gates — no shuttle needed. From Milan's Malpensa Airport, take the Malpensa Express to Cadorna station, transfer to Monza-bound trains, total journey 70 minutes. Driving is strongly discouraged: parking is limited, race-day closures begin at 08:00, and the park roads gridlock 3+ hours before session start.

When to arrive at the track?

Arrive 90 minutes before each session. For Saturday Qualifying (16:00 start), gates open at 09:00 — arriving by 14:00 secures good standing spots at the Variante chicanes. Sunday Race Day (15:00 start) is the crush point: the circuit reaches capacity by 12:00, so plan to be inside by 11:30. Friday practice sessions are significantly less crowded — Friday is the ideal day to explore the full circuit walkways and banking without queues.

What to do between sessions?

Walk the legendary Sopraelevata banking (open to ticketed fans during inter-session windows) — it is the single best photo spot in world motorsport. The Parco di Monza grounds between the outer circuit and the inner lake are perfect for a picnic; bring your own food to avoid queue times at circuit concessions. The F1 Paddock Club Fan Zone runs entertainment between all sessions. For Friday's 2.5-hour gap between FP1 and FP2 (14:30–17:00), the town centre's caffè bars are a 20-minute walk from Gate 1.

Where to eat near the circuit?

Inside the circuit, the Villaggio Ferrari hospitality area serves proper Italian food — arancini, pizza, and cold Peroni for €10–15 per item. For better value, head to Bar Caffè Reale on Viale Cavriga (5-minute walk from Gate 8) for €5 panini and €1.20 espresso served standing — a genuine local bar, not a tourist trap. Sunday pre-race, Piazza Roma in Monza town runs a street food market with risotto alla Milanese (the local staple) from €8. Avoid the circuit's central food village on race day — 30-minute queue times are standard.

What is the expected weather?

Early September in Monza delivers warm, stable conditions: daytime highs of 24–27°C, overnight lows of 16–18°C. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible (September averages 70mm rain across the month) — pack a compact rain layer and check the MeteoMonza forecast each morning. The 2021 and 2023 races ran in mixed conditions; the 2024 race was fully dry. UV index is high during FP1 (13:30) and Qualifying (16:00) — sunscreen is essential in exposed grandstands like Curva Sud.

Book grandstand tickets 6+ months in advance — the Parabolica and Variante del Rettifilio stands sell out first and rarely reappear. The General Admission ticket (€89 for the weekend) gives full circuit walkway access and is the best value option if you want to move between corners. For Milan accommodation, book in Monza town itself (Hotel de la Ville, 10-minute walk to gates) rather than Milan to avoid the morning crush on race day. Train tickets from Milan sell out Sunday morning — buy your return ticket the night before on Trenitalia.com to guarantee a seat.

🏎️ Formula 1Monza

Monza Race Weekend Tips

Italian Grand Prix 2026 · 2026-09-06

Essential Tips

Early September in Monza delivers warm, humid days with temperatures between 22–30°C and a real chance of afternoon thunderstorms — the kind that roll in fast off the Alps. Bring a compact rain poncho (not an umbrella — they're banned in grandstands), sunscreen SPF50+, and a light layer for the shaded Parabolica and Lesmo sections where temperatures drop several degrees. Race Sunday historically runs hot and sunny, but always check the 72-hour forecast before packing. The humidity can make the 30-minute walk from the Monza train station feel brutal, so a cooling towel and a reusable water bottle are worth their weight in paddock passes.

Download the app

Download the F1 app before you leave home and subscribe to F1 TV Access (€9.99/month) for live timing and radio. On the ground, the Trenitalia app is non-negotiable — trains from Milan Centrale to Monza run every 15–20 minutes and cost just €2.90, but they sell out on race day. Buy your Sunday train ticket Thursday evening at the latest. Also download Google Maps offline for the Monza area and save the pin for Autodromo Nazionale di Monza — mobile data in the park is unreliable during session peaks with 100,000+ fans competing for bandwidth.

Cash vs Card

Italy uses the Euro (€). Inside the Autodromo, most food and merchandise vendors accept contactless card payments, but the dozens of tifosi street stalls, risotto vans, and espresso carts lining Viale Vedano outside the circuit are strictly cash-only. Withdraw €80–120 in cash on Thursday before race weekend crowds hit the ATMs hard — the UniCredit ATM at Monza Centrale station runs dry by Saturday morning. Budget roughly €12–18 for a grandstand lunch (panino + Peroni), €5 for a trackside espresso, and €40–80 for official F1 merchandise. Service charge is not customary in Italy; rounding up to the nearest euro is generous enough.

Ear protection

At Monza, the cars hit 340 km/h on the main straight and the sound levels peak at 130+ decibels in grandstands like Curva Grande and Tribune Centrale. Bring foam earplugs rated at minimum 25dB NRR — your ears will thank you after 90 minutes of qualifying. For families with children under 12, over-ear defenders are strongly recommended (Alpine Muffy Kids are the fan favourite at €39). The loudest spots are Tribune Principale (main straight) and the Rettifilo chicane, where the cars brake hard from 340 to 80 km/h. Ear protection doesn't muffle the atmosphere — it transforms it from painful to visceral.

Local Etiquette

Monza is a Ferrari stronghold — the tifosi are passionate, loud, and deeply welcoming to any fan who respects the sport. Wear Ferrari red and you'll make instant friends. Avoid sitting in someone else's seat even for a few laps — Italian fans are meticulous about assigned seating and will firmly (if politely) ask you to move. Queuing etiquette is loose by Northern European standards, so position yourself confidently at gate entrances. Greet vendors with 'Buongiorno' before ordering — it's considered rude to skip the greeting. Never ask for a cappuccino after 11am; order an espresso and you'll earn visible respect.

Circuit Facts

Circuit Length

5.793 km

DRS Zones

2 (main straight and Curva Grande exit)

Lap Record

1:21.046 — Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari (2004)

Turns

Monza Race Weekend Tips

Essential Tips

Circuit Facts

FAQ