Belgian Grand Prix™ Travel Guide
Your guide on how to get to Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, where to explore & other important information to know before you go.
Practical Information
- Visas: Belgium is part of the Schengen Zone, a group of 26 European countries (the UK and Ireland excepted) with a common visa policy and no internal borders. If you are travelling from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, or the UK, you should be granted visa-free entry upon arrival for up to 90 days. See more information here.
- Currency: Euro. ATMs are widely available and credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, though it's always a good idea to have cash on hand at the circuit.
- Language: The circuit is located in the French-speaking part of Belgium, close to the borders with Germany and the Netherlands. English is widely spoken at the circuit and in hotels and restaurants.
- Time Zone: UTC +2 hours
- In an Emergency: Dial 112 to be connected with the proper emergency personnel.
- Power Sockets: Like the rest of continental Europe, Belgium uses Type F power sockets. Bring an adapter if you are travelling from the UK, USA or Australia.
- Weather: For the Belgian Grand Prix™, temperatures should range from around 23°C (74°F) during the day to 12°C (54°F) at night. The circuit experiences very changeable weather with a reasonable chance of hot, sunny weather and a very high chance of rainfall. Check the weather forecast and be prepared for any eventuality!
Arrival & Getting Around
Flights to Belgium
Although Spa-Francorchamps is a rural circuit and is some distance from the nearest large cities, you are never far from an airport in this populated corner of Western Europe. Here are the closest airports to Spa-Francorchamps:
- The largest international airport nearby is Brussels Airport (140.0 km/87.0 mi west). Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), which serves mainly discount carriers, is also worth considering for short European hops with carriers such as Ryanair.
- Other regional airports near Spa-Francorchamps include Luxembourg Airport (110.0 km/68.4 mi south), Cologne Bonn Airport (140.0 km/87.0 mi east) and Dusseldorf Airport (155.0 km/96.3 mi east).
- Finally, don’t discount the following long-haul hubs: Amsterdam Schipol Airport (285.0 km/177.1 mi north), Frankfurt Airport (300.0 km/186.4 mi east) and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (400.0 km/248.5 mi west).
Where to stay
Located some distance from the nearest large city, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is one of the few true rural circuits remaining on the Formula 1® calendar. Due to the scarcity of nearby accommodation, camping near the track is hugely popular. Cities within commuting distance of the circuit that have a reasonable selection of available accommodation include Verviers, Liège, Aachen (Germany), Maastricht (Netherlands), Luxembourg and even Brussels.
F1® Experiences offers a selection of the best hotels in Belgium. If you are still looking for accommodation, contact your Sales Representative for more information about available hotel options.
How to get to Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Public Transportation
You can also take the train from nearby cities such as Liège, Aachen, Maastricht or Brussels. Buy a ticket for Verviers, the closest train station to the circuit. From there, bus 395 runs to the circuit multiple times throughout the day. The journey time is normally around 45 minutes.
Circuit Shuttle
The organizers of the Belgian Grand Prix™ have introduced a new City Shuttle service, with buses traveling to and from the circuit from major cities in the region from Friday to Sunday of Grand Prix™ weekend. Cities covered by the new service include Amsterdam, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Eindhoven, Liège, Luxembourg and Maastricht.
Hire a Car
If you've decided to organize your own accommodation, then a hire car is the best way to get to the circuit, provided you are patient with the inevitable traffic, which increases as the weekend progresses. Spa-Francorchamps is close to the E42 motorway and police control traffic flow on the narrow county lanes near the circuit on race weekend. You will need to pay for daily parking near the circuit.
F1® Experiences
Booked accommodation along with your Official Ticket Package from F1® Experiences? Daily transfers to and from the circuit can be added to your Official Ticket Package for an additional cost.
What to see & do in Belgium
Visit the Musée du Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Located in the town of Stavelot (around 5.0 km/3.1 mi from the circuit) is a motorsport museum housed in a stunning old building that’s dedicated to the various cars and motorbikes which have raced at the circuit over the past 100 years.
Relax at the spas in Downtown
A different kind of spa weekend can be had nearby. The health resort in the historic town of Spa, 12.0 km (7.5 mi) from the circuit, has been a popular rest and relaxation destination for centuries. It’s where the word spa originated and the many thermal baths in the town still attract visitors from all over the world.
See the legendary Nürburgring Circuit
No self-respecting motorsport fan should visit this part of the world without paying a visit to the Nürburgring circuit. “The Green Hell” is less than 100.0 km (62.1 mi) from Spa and you can experience this legendary circuit in different ways, including passenger laps and track driving days.
Explore the famous cities nearby
Depending on where you have decided to stay for the Belgian Grand Prix™ and how much time you have, we also recommend checking out some of the pretty medium-sized cities near the circuit like Liège, Luxembourg, Aachen and Maastricht. Brussels and Amsterdam are also within a few hours drive of the circuit.
