Why the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is special - and how to plan the perfect trip
I was lucky enough to join our GP Traveller guests for a full F1 weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Now I’m back to tell you about all the best bits, so you can plan your own Abu Dhabi Grand Prix trip with confidence.
First held in 2009, Abu Dhabi is one of the newest races on the F1 calendar and the only day-to-night race. The Yas Marina Circuit, which runs directly through the Yas Hotel before heading through the marina itself, is believed to be the most expensive F1 circuit ever built.
The Yas Marina’s thrilling mix of long straights and sharp corners (there are 21 corners in total) are another thing that makes Abu Dhabi an unforgettable F1 experience. And of course, everything is as sleek and impressive as you’d expect from Abu Dhabi.
So, if you’re thinking of travelling to a Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi should definitely be on your wish list!
Here are some of the highlights from my own trip, including a guide to which grandstand to choose.
Getting there
I flew out from the UK on the Wednesday night and arrived Thursday morning. Etihad offers direct flights from the UK, and Yas Marina is only a 20 minute transfer from the airport.
You can also fly to Dubai with various other airlines, then take a transfer of around 60-90 minutes to Abu Dhabi. This offers the opportunity to extend your trip in Dubai, and the flights cost a little less too
First held in 2009, Abu Dhabi is one of the newest races on the F1 calendar and the only day-to-night race. The Yas Marina Circuit, which runs directly through the Yas Hotel before heading through the marina itself, is believed to be the most expensive F1 circuit ever built.
The Yas Marina’s thrilling mix of long straights and sharp corners (there are 21 corners in total) are another thing that makes Abu Dhabi an unforgettable F1 experience. And of course, everything is as sleek and impressive as you’d expect from Abu Dhabi.
So, if you’re thinking of travelling to a Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi should definitely be on your wish list!
Here are some of the highlights from my own trip, including a guide to which grandstand to choose.
Getting there
I flew out from the UK on the Wednesday night and arrived Thursday morning. Etihad offers direct flights from the UK, and Yas Marina is only a 20 minute transfer from the airport.
You can also fly to Dubai with various other airlines, then take a transfer of around 60-90 minutes to Abu Dhabi. This offers the opportunity to extend your trip in Dubai, and the flights cost a little less too
Where to stay
There’s no shortage of hotels within a short distance of the circuit, and they range from the über opulent to stylish, tourist-class properties. I stayed at the Aloft, a hotel with a loft-inspired design that was about 20 minutes away.
If you want 5-star luxury accommodation, consider the Shangri-La or the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. I visited both during my trip and was impressed with both. The Shangri-La is a stunning, Arabic-styled resort with a white-sand beach and beautiful gardens. The Fairmont is also on the beach and offers views of the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Of course, the ultimate for F1 fans is the futuristic Yas Hotel. Here you’re literally staying on the circuit, and the track itself runs underneath the bridge that links the hotels’ two towers. Also known for its iconic curved glass and steel “Grid Shell”, which is beautifully lit at night, The Yas is not just a hotel - it’s a Formula One landmark.
Getting around
Getting around is nice and easy. I was surprised by how light the traffic was for an F1 weekend, even on the Sunday.
Taxis won’t waste too much of your spending money - I paid no more than £10 for any of my taxi journeys, and there were plenty available. If you want to get around with no stress, we can include private car transfers as part of our Abu Dhabi Grand Prix packages. Our drivers are specialists in navigating F1 events, with in-depth knowledge of the procedures, routes and access points that will get you to your seat or back to your hotel faster.
There’s no shortage of hotels within a short distance of the circuit, and they range from the über opulent to stylish, tourist-class properties. I stayed at the Aloft, a hotel with a loft-inspired design that was about 20 minutes away.
If you want 5-star luxury accommodation, consider the Shangri-La or the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. I visited both during my trip and was impressed with both. The Shangri-La is a stunning, Arabic-styled resort with a white-sand beach and beautiful gardens. The Fairmont is also on the beach and offers views of the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Of course, the ultimate for F1 fans is the futuristic Yas Hotel. Here you’re literally staying on the circuit, and the track itself runs underneath the bridge that links the hotels’ two towers. Also known for its iconic curved glass and steel “Grid Shell”, which is beautifully lit at night, The Yas is not just a hotel - it’s a Formula One landmark.
Getting around
Getting around is nice and easy. I was surprised by how light the traffic was for an F1 weekend, even on the Sunday.
Taxis won’t waste too much of your spending money - I paid no more than £10 for any of my taxi journeys, and there were plenty available. If you want to get around with no stress, we can include private car transfers as part of our Abu Dhabi Grand Prix packages. Our drivers are specialists in navigating F1 events, with in-depth knowledge of the procedures, routes and access points that will get you to your seat or back to your hotel faster.
The pit lane walk
I headed straight to the circuit on Thursday morning for the pit lane walk, which was open from 11am until 4pm. I was a bit early - no drivers showed up until the afternoon. I found the best time was around 2pm, when plenty of drivers were around for photos and autographs in the Fan Zone.
Turning up early is good if you want a quiet walk around the pits though. I saw the engineers testing and cleaning the cars, and there was no fighting for position. Generally, I found the Abu Dhabi pit lane walk was quieter than other F1 races I’ve been to.
At the pit wall in the afternoon, things were more exciting. I saw Red Bull boss Christian Horner right in the thick of it, I walked onto the grid, and got lots of great photos.
I headed straight to the circuit on Thursday morning for the pit lane walk, which was open from 11am until 4pm. I was a bit early - no drivers showed up until the afternoon. I found the best time was around 2pm, when plenty of drivers were around for photos and autographs in the Fan Zone.
Turning up early is good if you want a quiet walk around the pits though. I saw the engineers testing and cleaning the cars, and there was no fighting for position. Generally, I found the Abu Dhabi pit lane walk was quieter than other F1 races I’ve been to.
At the pit wall in the afternoon, things were more exciting. I saw Red Bull boss Christian Horner right in the thick of it, I walked onto the grid, and got lots of great photos.
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The concerts
Abu Dhabi is one of three Grand Prix weekends to feature concerts with high-profile acts. This makes it a great event for non-F1-aficionados too.
On the bill during my trip were Post Malone on the Thursday, The Weeknd on the Friday, Sam Smith on the Saturday and Guns n’ Roses on the Sunday.
The concerts start at 7.30pm and they get busy, so head over as soon as the racing finishes if you want a good spot. The stage is near the North Grandstand, and the circuit bus will take you there - but it’s also walkable
Abu Dhabi is one of three Grand Prix weekends to feature concerts with high-profile acts. This makes it a great event for non-F1-aficionados too.
On the bill during my trip were Post Malone on the Thursday, The Weeknd on the Friday, Sam Smith on the Saturday and Guns n’ Roses on the Sunday.
The concerts start at 7.30pm and they get busy, so head over as soon as the racing finishes if you want a good spot. The stage is near the North Grandstand, and the circuit bus will take you there - but it’s also walkable
Grandstand guide
There are five grandstands at the Yas Marina Circuit and you can’t really go wrong with any of them.
I watched from a few of the stands on the Friday, starting with the West Stand, which is probably the most popular place to sit at the Yas Marina Circuit. From these prized seats you can see partly down the longest straight, the preceding hairpin, and the sharp left that follows, with the beautiful Yas Hotel in the background. It’s an incredible view during sunset, and there’s always something to watch. Two big screens also help you follow the action from all over the track.
My next stop was the South Stand, which is next to the marina. Your backdrop here is a fleet of superyachts and the amazing-looking parties happening on them. You’ll see the cars power down the straight before heading into a complex of tight corners, then under the Yas Hotel. It’s a big view, and it felt like I was really close to the breaking zone.
The Main Stand overlooks the pits and the F1 team garages. So it’s a great place to watch the race buildup and see the cars tearing along at full speed, although you aren’t close to any braking zones - so don’t expect to see much wheel-to-wheel action.
You can also upgrade to a Club Suite if you’d like a little more comfort. These include air-conditioned lounges with food and drink, and are located just above each of the Main, West and North Grandstands.
There are five grandstands at the Yas Marina Circuit and you can’t really go wrong with any of them.
I watched from a few of the stands on the Friday, starting with the West Stand, which is probably the most popular place to sit at the Yas Marina Circuit. From these prized seats you can see partly down the longest straight, the preceding hairpin, and the sharp left that follows, with the beautiful Yas Hotel in the background. It’s an incredible view during sunset, and there’s always something to watch. Two big screens also help you follow the action from all over the track.
My next stop was the South Stand, which is next to the marina. Your backdrop here is a fleet of superyachts and the amazing-looking parties happening on them. You’ll see the cars power down the straight before heading into a complex of tight corners, then under the Yas Hotel. It’s a big view, and it felt like I was really close to the breaking zone.
The Main Stand overlooks the pits and the F1 team garages. So it’s a great place to watch the race buildup and see the cars tearing along at full speed, although you aren’t close to any braking zones - so don’t expect to see much wheel-to-wheel action.
You can also upgrade to a Club Suite if you’d like a little more comfort. These include air-conditioned lounges with food and drink, and are located just above each of the Main, West and North Grandstands.
The Paddock Club
If you want the ultimate Abu Dhabi Grand Prix experience then go for Formula One’s VIP ticket, the Paddock Club. I was lucky enough to spend Friday there, and it was unbelievable!
In Abu Dhabi, the Paddock Club is next to the main straight opposite the Main Grandstand. More importantly, it’s directly above the the F1 team garages, and you can see the drivers and cars directly below your balcony. The suite I was in was above the Ferrari garage, and at one point I was inches away from Kimi Räikkönen!
Hospitality at the Paddock Club is superb. I enjoyed excellent food, the champagne was flowing, and the rooftop terrace offers lots of entertainment including bars, F1 simulators and pit-stop challenges.
There are also pit lane walks exclusively for Paddock Club guests. Since I was there on the Friday, practice day, there was lots going on in the garages during this pit walk. But even better was the flat-bed truck tour around the circuit itself, with insights on the circuit’s technical characteristics from an ex-driver. I could see the tyre marks on the track, and the people in the grandstands even cheered us round!
I was also lucky enough to be invited into the Formula One paddock. This is where the drivers’ hospitality suites are, where TV stations conduct their interviews, and your heroes are all around you. I got to chat with Jackie Stewart and Mark Webber, and Lewis Hamilton even rode past me on a scooter.
I loved my weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and can’t wait to go back. If you’d like more help to plan your visit, feel free to contact me, I’m here to help with all your F1 travel related questions.
If you want the ultimate Abu Dhabi Grand Prix experience then go for Formula One’s VIP ticket, the Paddock Club. I was lucky enough to spend Friday there, and it was unbelievable!
In Abu Dhabi, the Paddock Club is next to the main straight opposite the Main Grandstand. More importantly, it’s directly above the the F1 team garages, and you can see the drivers and cars directly below your balcony. The suite I was in was above the Ferrari garage, and at one point I was inches away from Kimi Räikkönen!
Hospitality at the Paddock Club is superb. I enjoyed excellent food, the champagne was flowing, and the rooftop terrace offers lots of entertainment including bars, F1 simulators and pit-stop challenges.
There are also pit lane walks exclusively for Paddock Club guests. Since I was there on the Friday, practice day, there was lots going on in the garages during this pit walk. But even better was the flat-bed truck tour around the circuit itself, with insights on the circuit’s technical characteristics from an ex-driver. I could see the tyre marks on the track, and the people in the grandstands even cheered us round!
I was also lucky enough to be invited into the Formula One paddock. This is where the drivers’ hospitality suites are, where TV stations conduct their interviews, and your heroes are all around you. I got to chat with Jackie Stewart and Mark Webber, and Lewis Hamilton even rode past me on a scooter.
I loved my weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and can’t wait to go back. If you’d like more help to plan your visit, feel free to contact me, I’m here to help with all your F1 travel related questions.
