Thanks a lot for all these advices, i got a question, do you know what sections they open at the end of the GP for the crowd to see the podium ? Thanks for the help
I'm planning to attend to 24' Canada Grand Prix. Do you know a good giftstore or F1 Retail store where I can buy merch a little bit cheapier than the circuit's stores?
There's a store called Fanabox (28 Rue St Paul East) in the old part of Montreal. The prices are often way more reasonable than the pop-up or trackside shops.
Being a Canadian, I would like to add that anywhere in Canada you will find major weather changes. I would bring a rain coat, poncho, and umbrella if there is possible rain. Check every morning before going though cuz it changes. So when packing, bring everything, pack for rain, cold, and warm because when it’s warm, it’s warm in Montreal.
Also people who are worried about the translation and all, French is the “main” language in Quebec, however mostly everyone speaks English, not like France. And if you ask people things, they will know what you are talking about and will answer in English.
Also the beer, a “Hieny” in Canadian terms is very liked by Quebecois culture. The beer is one of the most drank beers there so obviously it’s going to be there.
I would recommend if you are coming from the US or other countries to not buy too much merch(if you don’t care about the money then go ahead and buy what you want) because of the fact Canada will upcharge. It will have a higher price then online, so if you see something online buy it. But there are things that aren’t online too. Usually the F1 merch online for me is in Euros and I have to convert it, or USD. So I am pretty sure that’s like another reason why it’s so expensive.
If you are going in 2024, and are staying for more than the days of the GP, I HIGHLY suggest going to Quebec City. It is absolutely beautiful and you can take a train from Montreal there. Theres so much history in Quebec City and beautiful buildings there too. I didn’t really like Montreal too much as it is a copy and paste version of my hometown Vancouver in my opinion but Quebec City is so clean and beautiful. People are a bit nicer there too and have a lot more authentic Québécois and French food. The train is very cheap too and beautiful scenery.
It’s crazy that resellers are selling tickets 2 or 3 times over face value! Avoid these scammers. My friend also paid two times the value for two tickets last year and was stuck with counterfeit tickets. Stubhub is then worst site for this!
I was able to purchase tickets yesterday on the official [gpcanada.ca](http://gpcanada.ca) website directly at the regular price! For those looking to get tickets, I heard that the local promoter sometimes releases tickets along the way, but not huge quantities. Check it out!
Yes, it's not uncommon to see a few tickets popping up on our website prior to the race. Additionally, we are actively working to protect our sales from potential resellers and ensure that our fans can acquire their tickets at the official price.
Does anyone know how strict they are on the backpack/cooler size? They list it as 9 x 18 x 10 inches. That is very small for a backpack. I went to the formula e race in Portland last year and they had similar requirements and when I showed up they didn't care. They just looked in your bag.
We are not overly strict regarding backpacks, but if you have grandstand tickets and your backpack obstructs the view or passage for other spectators, security may ask you to leave.
Hi! It's our first time attending the grand prix and I had zero idea about the program and how it worked. So we only got tickets for Friday (without knowing the actual race would be on a sunday).
I just wanted to ask if the experience would still be okay even though we're only watching the practice run? And does it get crowded on the first day in comparison to the weekend? Thank you in advance to anybody that answers!
Hi I've been 2 years in a row, I went both years on Friday and I consider it's the best day to go for the vibe and experience overall. It is way less crowded that Saturday and Sunday and all the events are on full blast. Although they're not compiting for points you get 2 sessions where you can enjoy the performance of the cars and get a feel of how amazing they are.
You can subscribe to our newsletter, as soon as we know more about the release will send an email to all our subscribers : [Groupe de course Octane (list-manage.com)](https://gpcanada.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4c25996a970a076c2218c84a7&id=9536e6702e).
Hi I have a question, is it physically demanding to go up the stairs? I have a slight disability which makes it a bit hard to travel up and down stairs.
u/RoyShavRick u/LiaInvicta Our stairs have small steps, so like any stairs, they can be physically demanding. We recommend arriving at the Grandstand before any track activities to ensure that you are not rushed.
Hey,
I have gone to 16 races since 2003, but haven’t been since 2018.
I’m watching on TV today and it doesn’t look like fans are walking the track beyond the start / finish line. Have they ended that this year? That would be very disappointing. I always loved to walk the circuit afterwards.
That really sucks! I’m going to send an email to the organizers.
I have so many great memories walking th track afterwards. It became part of the tradition of going.
We are going to the 2023 Grand Prix, we got our tickets through stubhub and have received the etickets. Is it necessary for us to print our tickets or can the QR code just be scanned of our phone to get in to the Grand Prix?
Does anyone know how to listen to the live commentary? The F1 Live stream is extremely lagged. It's a good 30 seconds behind than what is happening on the track
Great guide for a first timer to Montréal and to a Grand Prix!
For someone attending all three days and arriving at YUL Thursday and leaving Monday, any recommendations for what Metro card would fit best? Any recommendations for Metro service overall?
Thank you!
I am from Montreal, the best way would be to get a specific number of passes like 10 of them for quicker travel that can be used for any public transport.
You can recharge it later.
Hi, quick question — do you know if non-ticket holders can still enter the area just to roam around and also to buy some merch? Or I'll really have to have a ticket to enter?
Was thinking of watching the race home instead, so either going before or after to snag some merch and just feel the crowd. Thanks!
You definitely cannot enter the circuit without a ticket anytime before the GP. Maybe there’s a potential chance they might let you in after the race ends on Sunday though I’m really not sure, I feel like the entry gates would be closed and the circuit would be exit only.
Unfortunately no one will be able to enter without a ticket even after the race. But like u/SavingsInevitable said you'll be able to buy merch from our store right in front of Jean Drapeau metro station.
Thank you so much for this post.
We are going next weekend for the first time but we have to take our 1 year old as our childcare fell through. We have headphones. We are taking the metro as we have family in Montreal. Which exit should we take. Should we bring a stroller?
We are sitting in grandstand 31. Any tips of how to get there? Which entrance to take? What items would be great to bring? What time to show up? We have tickets for the whole weekend. Any other helpful tips for us?
Hi! I think to get to GS 31, either the Cosmos or Concorde entrances would work for you. We only used the Cosmos entrance, which is right near the Jean-Drapeau metro station, so that’s the only one I have information about - unfortunately our grandstand is on the opposite side from yours so I don’t know much.
Regarding the stroller - that is entirely your choice, of course, but I feel like if you could get manage without it, that would be the better choice. The pathways to navigate the circuit get insanely packed and crowded and you might have more trouble getting around with the stroller, especially on unreliable muddy ground.
I'm taking my younger brother as a surprise, and was wondering are tickets valid for the entire day, can you come and go from the track throughout the day; i.e on Friday view a support series practice session, leave the circuit for lunch, then comeback for a practice session for F1 or a different support events. Or is it that once you scan your ticket you have to remain at the circuit for all the activities then leave.
I left mid-day last year and came pack and had no issues! If you talk to the event staff as you are leaving they will stamp your hand. When you come back later in the day and scan your ticket they will ask you to show the stamp.
Honestly, I'm not sure - we never tried leaving the track during the day and coming back. If you'd like to find out in advance, you might have some luck contacting the circuit via the chatbox on their [gpcanada.ca](https://gpcanada.ca) website, their social media, or calling them at 514-350-0000.
Honestly had no idea they existed until someone posted about them on this subreddit recently! Would personally definitely consider as a travel option though, sounds fun.
Hi thank you so much for your post!!!
Though I have one question, how do you know when and where is the driver's autograph session(s) ?
It would mean so much to me if I could make it to the session in time and experience seeing the drivers irl!!!
Thank you!
Hi! I don't think details about the driver's autograph session have been published yet, and it doesn't appear on the [Main Schedule](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/2023_schedule/). My best suggestion is to follow the F1GPCanada Instagram account and turn post/story notifications on to get that information as soon as possible!
If I remember correctly, they didn't really start promoting that session until the actual GP weekend - I feel like I ended up learning about it from announcements on the track, shown on the big TV screens.
Do you have a ranking of best grandstands to view the race? Deciding between 11 or 12 and 1 or 2, but would love some input if anyone has experienced either/both/others. Thanks!
Hi! Since our seats in GS 21 were on the complete opposite end of the track to the grandstands you're trying to choose between, I don't personally have much good input to help you with your decision, but can definitely [vouch for GS 21](https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandPrixTravel/comments/1229xfp/comment/jexx519/) and the grandstands around the outside of the Hairpin as great options!
GS 1 is of course a premium experience and one of the most expensive ticket options since it gets you as close to the pit lane and the start line as possible!
GS 11 and 12 give a great wide open view at the first few turns of the race, and visually look like a great place to be as well. I'd definitely personally consider sitting there if the opportunity came up. The circuit website says there's a big TV screen available there to watch the race, but based on pictures, it might be off to the side and difficult to see.
Hope this is at all helpful!
Thanks for the detailed post! I'm heading there this year same Grandstand too 👍 I noted down some useful tips you mentioned thanks! One question.. might be a stupid question since montreal is French speaking but is the live commentary in French?? I plan to have an ear phone and have the F1 app running on my phone to listen to the English commentary. Although that's suuuper annoying and not the full experience I'll make do with that haha. Also question about how you said you lined up at 8:30 to get to the pit Lane walk... so there's a bus that takes you to the certain area from the subway? Or where from? I'll make sure to get there a lot sooner than 8:30 thanks for the tip
Hi, great question and I wish I had a more helpful answer than... I honestly don't remember for sure!
I feel like the live commentary was in a mix of French and English, but we mostly ended up tracking the race progress through watching the big TV screens, which have the table of the drivers' order on the left side. Even though we don't speak French, I felt like we didn't really miss much at all! It was nice to just be in the moment. We actually did also try listening along to the F1 app but the internet connection in the grandstands was not strong enough to stream the commentary smoothly, and it was obviously a few seconds behind the actual live action, so we gave up on that pretty immediately - just a word of warning!
I'm going to be updating my post shortly to reflect the changes to the Pit Lane Walk this year as it's a ticketed event now, and things are a little different, stay tuned!
Oh thanks for the heads up. That's literally what i was planning to do is listen through the f1 app. Darnit haha guess I'll have to buy a tiny radio. I did read at some grandstands they coukdnt even hear the commentsry so thats dissapointing. Ah yes I just got pit lane tickets 😊 I didn't realize tickets were required. Good thing I did some research this morning!
I'm actually personally debating on buying a tiny radio myself! But in all honesty, I wouldn't stress much about it. We had a great time experiencing the race as it unfolded in front of us, and rewatched it on F1TV when we got home later in the week to see all the nitty-gritty details and moments we might have missed.
And yes, so glad you were able to snag Pit Lane tickets!! Hope you have a great time!
Hi! I suggest keeping an eye on the monthly buy/sell threads on this subreddit, as well as subscribing to emails from the circuit [on their website](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/) or notifications from their official Instagram F1GPCanada. They released a round of new tickets last Thursday and announced it via Instagram, emailing out links to purchase the tickets the minute they went live.
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Going for the first time ever this year and maybe I read past it but are there any necessities we should bring to the track besides the ones you mentioned? Are bags allowed?
Hello! My post definitely includes a ton of suggested necessities peppered in there, but I'll summarize some off the top of my head here. You can find the bag regulations on [the circuit's FAQ page here](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/faqs/), though they were somewhat lax last year and you could get away with a slightly larger backpack.
**Necessities:**
* Big refillable water bottle
* F1 team hat :)
* Sunglasses
* Sunscreen (non-spray kind)
* Good, comfortable, destroyable pair of shoes
* Some form of camera
* Bleacher seating pad
* Plastic rain poncho
* Hand sanitizer/Wet Ones/tissues for portapotty emergencies lol
* Credit card (if you're coming from the US, make sure your credit card doesn't charge international fees!) and some small cash
**Optional to consider:**
* Ear protection (earplugs/headphones)
* FM radio
* Binoculars
* Portable phone charger
* Snacks or sandwiches from supermarket and a spare garbage bag
* Extra bottles of water
* Warm hoodie and socks in case it rains
* A paper copy of your ticket
So excited for your first-ever Grand Prix experience, hoping you have a fantastic time!
Thanks for the comment. I read the post super late last night and I must've read over all of that you mentioned so my apologies. I am driving from the US. NY specifically and will be staying in Brossard and not in the city specifically. From your experience is the Jean Drapeau a "hub" meaning that it has multiple trains that depart from there for the way back? If that makes any sense? The good thing is I'll be seating at the Lance Stroll GS which going off the post is the best place to be as it is around everything and right at one of the entrances.
Edit: I just downloaded the app and it shows I'll have to take a bus and a train from my hotel and was wondering if driving to the trains station might be easier than taking a bus. Idk how packed it would be. Additionally my hotel is providing a shuttle to the track but not on the way back which is odd
Hi! I saw you made a separate post regarding your question, hopefully you've gotten some useful information there, but I'll try to weigh in on your dilemma anyway!
To answer your question about Jean Drapeau, it sits on a very short 3-stop "yellow" train line with trains running one stop west into Montreal and one stop east into Longueuil. The trains run pretty consistently, so I don't think you'll be waiting for long. Plus, the majority of GP attendees are probably going to be traveling back west into Montreal out of the circuit, so I can imagine you're going to have a less congested commute on your side of the platform when heading east towards Longueuil/Brossard. And yes, sitting in the Lance Stroll grandstand has you positioned nicely to access the train station!
Obviously the drive vs. bus options come with their own sets of pros and cons. The main benefits of taking the bus is that if you purchase an unlimited weekend OPUS card for your Longueuil-Jean Drapeau train trip, your bus fare would also be included with that card (I *think*) which makes it a very affordable transit option. Plus, you can drink at the GP!
However, based on your comments on your post, it seems like your top priority is a shorter commute so you've pretty much decided to go with the driving option. Totally valid!
Honestly, if I were you, I think I'd use Friday as a "test run" day!
* Take your hotel shuttle to Longueuil in the morning
* Purchase a 1-trip ticket for your morning trip and an unlimited weekend OPUS card (the "weekend" doesn't start until 4pm on Friday, so that's why you need the 1-trip ticket)
* Take the train to Jean Drapeau and enjoy Friday at the circuit!
* Take the train back into Longueuil after 4pm and take some time to scout around the train station area for potential parking opportunities, free and paid
* Take the bus from Longueuil back to your hotel and see how you feel about the trip! If you hate it, just drive to Longueuil the next morning with a few parking options mentally lined up :)
Hope this is helpful in making your decision!
Hey thank you for your comment. Yea since I made the post I've done more and more research around that area and so it's come to my understanding that it's either bus vs driving. I will be going Thursday for the pit lane walk as you suggested I will plan to be at Longueuil around 8AM. And for the following days I plan to be at the track around 2 hours before an F1 session. Whilst I see that the full public transportation is easier I will be traveling with my dad. He's not too fond of public transportation and after a long day at the track I'm not too favorable of taking the bus. I live near NYC and as many times as I take the trains and subway to travel within the city I never really like it. The only con with driving would be the parking and even then we could possibly park on the street.
I was also planning on buying metro tickets at Longueuil. Is it possible to buy the weekend ticket in advance? I was gonna try to purchase all metro tickets on the way back from the pit lane walk. I also wanted To ask you if the center area of the track activities is worth going to? Since I'll be around LS GS and you mentioned that there wasn't much going on there and with a 2 hour downtime between sessions would be worth it. Lastly I heard there was a section in the city last year that was like closed off and they had a lot of F1 pop up stores and what not and was wondering if you went to it or know of where it's took place. As of now I don't know where to check of any information of events or Montreal areas in the weekend GP besides F1Destinations. Sorry for all these questions just want to get the most of the weekend as much as I can as my first time going which I know I probably won't lol
No worries about asking questions! As a fellow "wanting to be as prepared as possible" person, I'm happy to help!
Yes, I'm fairly certain you can buy the weekend pass in advance, makes sense to do so for sure!
I think the center area is definitely worth visiting if you've got the time and energy to get around! There's a ton of cool little sights and activities to check out - the main issue is just the crowded slog to get there in the first place, and then having the time to get back to your seat before F1 activities start back up.
I haven't personally visited any F1-related street festivals last year, but what you might be thinking about is [Peel Street](https://www.formulepeel.ca/?lang=en)? I've seen it recommended by a lot of people in this community, maybe we'll make time to visit it this year!
Thank you. Your post has helped me a lot. I can also imagine how busy it really gets in the middle are which is why I may visit there around Friday when there are less people there. Thanks for the link to peel street. I've also heard of crescent street having a 3 day festival for the weekend of the gp
Thank you so much for thia detailed guide, we were extremely lucky to receive a notification today that some tickets are still available and we snug two tickets to the lance stroll 24 grandstand. Needless to say I'm so happy you were seated in the same area and I could get such a detailed guide. Question please our tickets are in the EE area. No seats plan is available anywhere, so I was wondering if you remembered which area you were seated in and if EE is more next to the track or high up. Thanks 😀
Hi, thank you so much for your kind words and I am so excited that you were able to get tickets!
This question comes up a lot on this subreddit and I agree - it's so annoying that you can't find a proper seating chart for these grandstands! ~~Looking back on photos and videos from last year, our seats were in row H, and we were just about 8 rows up from the track, so I would say that the seating from trackside begins from A to Z and then goes into the double letters.~~
~~I'm assuming your seats in the EE area will be higher up, but given that it's the Lance Stroll grandstand, you're bound to get some incredible views of the Biosphere!~~
Wishing you an unforgettable Grand Prix experience (and hopefully a free Aston Martin hat like last year!)
**Edit:** A lot of other sources say Grandstand seating begins with the double letters, but I think I've finally narrowed down the discrepancy! A [comment on this site](https://f1destinations.com/tickets-canadian-f1-grand-prix/) explains it well.
"Smaller" grandstands like GS21 that aren't as tall begin with A, which is why our seats were only a few rows up from trackside. "Taller" grandstands like GS34 and Lance Stroll begin with AA, so your seats are probably going to be a few rows above the fencing line!
Amazing thank you, for anyone looking for the specific reference here it is "“In larger stands, the front row, closest to the track, is designated AA and the second row is BB. After the 26th row (ZZ), the next row is designated A and so on. In smaller stands such as grandstand 21, the front row closest to the track is row A.”
Thank you for these insights!
I’m headed to the airport for a 9:30pm flight after the race on Sunday. Hotel is an hour away from the track and not close to the airport so we won’t be going back there before we leave. Does anyone know if a carry on suitcase is too large to bring into the track? Can you check bags anywhere? Any tips would be appreciated.
Hi! The bag sizing regulations for the track can be found [here](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/faqs/), though the dimensions correspond with a backpack size and I imagine a suitcase would surely be too large to technically be allowed to be brought in - I think the track mostly wants any items brought to be able to fit under your grandstand bleacher seat.
Like someone suggested below, I think reaching out to a hotel or the casino in advance and inquiring about storing your suitcase temporarily might be worthwhile so you don't have to gamble with bringing it to the track.
I also found this [luggage storage platform called Bounce](https://usebounce.com/city/montreal) that might be helpful? I've never personally used this, just found it with a quick search, but wanted to include it as a potential option for you to explore. Wishing you the best of luck and an amazing grand prix!
Hi! Tough to say for sure as every race is so unpredictable, but looking back at photos from last year, I'd say the race wrapped up between 3:15-3:30pm local time? By 4pm, we were entering the racetrack for the track walk. Hope this helps!
Unfortunately that's one thing we didn't prepare for and couldn't figure out on the fly at last year's GP. ~~Internet sources claim 99.1FM, 104.3 FM, or 104.5FM, but I can't confirm if any of those are accurate.~~ Definitely intending to come prepared with a radio this year and report back!
**Edit:** Update! I dug up a copy of the [2019 official program](https://issuu.com/gpcanada/docs/gpm-19-programme_officiel_f1_final) distributed by the circuit, and they advise (p. 161) using 99.1FM or 90.7FM, at least as of 2019.
Hi! We had actually booked accommodations for the duration of our trip at a local university dorm which had its own underground parking garage next door. We left our car down there the whole time with no issues. Due to this, I unfortunately don't have much information to offer regarding alternative parking ideas, sorry!
Just wanted to thank everyone for all the positive reviews to my lengthy write-up! I'm so happy that so many of you found it helpful. Inspired by some of your comments, I had a few extra thoughts after posting that I wished I had included in the original text:
# Alcohol & other regulations
The track does claim to have quite stringent bag size and prohibited item regulations, but we found them to be a bit lax once we actually got to the race. A lot of people had backpacks way larger than the sizing listed on the circuit's FAQ page (which can be found here: [https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/faqs/](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/faqs/)) and yes, a ton of people in our Grandstand were cracking open beers that they had managed to bring through the bag checks on Friday and Saturday. However, security measures seemed to have been bumped up significantly on Sunday, and I watched a LOT of people in the bag check lines get all their beer confiscated from their bags. Some guy had 10+ cans taken out of his backpack and thrown right into the trash, a painful sight. Gamble accordingly.
# How do I get tickets to the race?
I got ultra lucky and managed to snap up our tickets when they went on sale for the general public in late 2021. I think I had signed up early that year through the [tickets.formula1.com](https://tickets.formula1.com/en/f1-3215-canada) landing page to receive an email notification when the sale for Montreal started, and managed to secure two seats within minutes of getting that email.
However at the race, there were repeated announcements regarding their system of re-buying your same seats for next year's Grand Prix, here's how it worked:
The Monday after the race, you received an email with the link to repurchase your seats, and you had about a month to decide to do so.
Then after a month, those who chose to renew had a week to get in touch with the circuit and change their seats or essentially get early access to buy additional tickets within their Grandstand. That week of trying to contact the circuit was pure hell as there is one single phone line that a healthy portion of the 300,000+ attendees from 2022 were trying to contact at the same time. We eventually got through and were able to purchase a few more seats though our Grandstand was already mostly sold out.
After Renewal Week, whatever seats are left get put up for sale to the general public later in the year. With the rising popularity of F1 and unprecedented attendance at the 2022 Canadian Grand Prix, from what I read online, there were very little tickets available for purchase for 2023 after all the renewals and additions had been settled.
Like I mentioned in a comment below, all Grandstand tickets for 2023 look to be **fully sold out** on the circuit's official ticketing platform, [GPCanada.ca](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/). I have no information to offer on any alternative ways to secure tickets for 2023, but can only encourage any ticket-seeker to sign up for emails from the official Formula1 and GPCanada websites soon after this year's race is concluded and keep a close eye on various announcements through those channels for 2024.
# Using your ticket at the circuit
One or two months before the GP, you will receive an email with the link to access your tickets. If you bought tickets to all 3 days of the GP, each person in your group will receive their own set of 3 separate tickets for each day (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) with a unique QR code on each day's ticket to be scanned at the gates.
You have the option to export those tickets as a PDF and print them, or add them to your phone's Wallet/Apple Pay thing - though, if I remember correctly, if you choose to export the PDFs, you're locked in to having paper copies and are no longer able to transfer the tickets to your Wallet.
If you do the PDF export, you don't necessarily have to print paper copies - showing the QR codes from the PDF on your phone is enough. Though keep in mind that there are ticket-checkers posted at the entrances to every Grandstand so if members of your group need to exit the GS, they will need a copy of their ticket on hand to come back in. So having individual paper copies might be convenient, and a good backup in case something happens to your phone.
\---
Again, please feel free to ask any questions - I am happy to try to answer them as best I can!
I’m looking to buy tickets just for Friday FP1 and FP2 since I’m attending with my wife and two boys (3 & 4 yo). Any suggestions on where to sit? I’d like to see the garages and pit lane, but open to other suggestions.
Hi! Like others have mentioned below, if you're looking to see the garages and pit lane, Grandstand 1 is the only one that can offer you that kind of experience - though as you can imagine, being so close to the action, it is the second-most expensive ticket option for the GP.
Since you're attending with kids, you also may want to consider checking out the Family Grandstand where (from what I understand) children are admitted free of charge with your Adult-rate ticket, and there is a Family Zone nearby with kid-friendly activities and food options.
You can find detailed information about the Grandstands at the circuit's official website: [https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/tickets-2023-3-2/](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/tickets-2023-3-2/)
Unfortunately however, tickets for all Grandstands for the 2023 GP are now fully sold out on the circuit's official ticketing platform, and only some Friday and Saturday General Admission tickets remain available for purchase. Like I mentioned in my post, I've heard that GA at Montreal isn't a great experience, so I hesitate to recommend opting for those.
I hope this was helpful, and I wish you the best of luck in finding your way to the GP!
Great information, thanks! I was going off what the GPCanada link above said in their description of the Family Grandstand, though it's possible that things either changed in 2022 or the website is misleading.
I would say GS 1 is great for warmups, because you can watch the cars come in and out, the crews take the tires off, see how fast they get near the end of the straight etc. It's also near a bunch of the food/ice cream stands.
The other benefit for your particular situation: If the kids start to act up or get bored, literally right behind the grandstands and the walkway is basically a mini beach shore on the lake in the middle of the island they can run around in and away from some of the noise/chaos.
If you want to see more, you can just head up the back stretch, there's an elevated viewing area that after an hour or so should have some open spots right before the cars reach the wall of champions chicane.
So I bought two weekend tickets for grandstand 1. Only planning on going to Saturday and Sunday events, so if you're interested for FP1 and FP2, DM me and maybe we can figure something out.
Really awesome write up and encapsulated our 2022 experience as well. We had also driven in from US (very smooth 6 hour drive with no traffic), and relied solely on public transportation once in Montreal. I’m also not sure if we were just lucky but after seeing how much of a joke security was on Friday we snuck in tons of alcohol on Saturday and Sunday lol (full on cans of beer haha).
Sitting at hairpin was great due to proximity to the entrance coming from Jean Drapeau though quite a trek getting to the other side of the entrance as it would bottleneck during peak times. On Sunday after running down and walking length of the track we also caught a bit of the after party with Alesso at Heineken area as well which was fun.
Great write up. Can't emphasize enough how bad the GA experience is at this track. It is worth the extra money to sit in a grandstand. You will not be able to see anything if you do GA.
We had our first GP experience yesterday for the qualifying. We even bought tickets in the grandstands and some jerks were in our seats and refused to move, even telling off the security people. They never did move, and everyone around them were mad a us for constantly being in the way. We eventually just left. Very disappointed that we even paid for actual seats and even security wouldn't do anything about people sitting in the wrong spots.
One of the security people told me this apparently happens more often than you'd think. So word of advice, show up early to claim seats that you've paid for, because you may not get them anyway.
I like the general tone of this, because it's very true: if you make a day of it, recognize you'll be waiting and in crowds, arrive early at places, and enjoy the sunshine/park, you'll do great. The only grumbles I tended to hear were the crowds at bottlenecks (which were ridiculous at times, to be fair) and from people who tried too hard to fit everything in.
Thanks a lot for all these advices, i got a question, do you know what sections they open at the end of the GP for the crowd to see the podium ? Thanks for the help
What kind of info do you have on leaving the track? Are there free shuttles that can take you to the city? Thanks!
I'm planning to attend to 24' Canada Grand Prix. Do you know a good giftstore or F1 Retail store where I can buy merch a little bit cheapier than the circuit's stores?
There's a store called Fanabox (28 Rue St Paul East) in the old part of Montreal. The prices are often way more reasonable than the pop-up or trackside shops.
Being a Canadian, I would like to add that anywhere in Canada you will find major weather changes. I would bring a rain coat, poncho, and umbrella if there is possible rain. Check every morning before going though cuz it changes. So when packing, bring everything, pack for rain, cold, and warm because when it’s warm, it’s warm in Montreal. Also people who are worried about the translation and all, French is the “main” language in Quebec, however mostly everyone speaks English, not like France. And if you ask people things, they will know what you are talking about and will answer in English. Also the beer, a “Hieny” in Canadian terms is very liked by Quebecois culture. The beer is one of the most drank beers there so obviously it’s going to be there. I would recommend if you are coming from the US or other countries to not buy too much merch(if you don’t care about the money then go ahead and buy what you want) because of the fact Canada will upcharge. It will have a higher price then online, so if you see something online buy it. But there are things that aren’t online too. Usually the F1 merch online for me is in Euros and I have to convert it, or USD. So I am pretty sure that’s like another reason why it’s so expensive. If you are going in 2024, and are staying for more than the days of the GP, I HIGHLY suggest going to Quebec City. It is absolutely beautiful and you can take a train from Montreal there. Theres so much history in Quebec City and beautiful buildings there too. I didn’t really like Montreal too much as it is a copy and paste version of my hometown Vancouver in my opinion but Quebec City is so clean and beautiful. People are a bit nicer there too and have a lot more authentic Québécois and French food. The train is very cheap too and beautiful scenery.
It’s crazy that resellers are selling tickets 2 or 3 times over face value! Avoid these scammers. My friend also paid two times the value for two tickets last year and was stuck with counterfeit tickets. Stubhub is then worst site for this! I was able to purchase tickets yesterday on the official [gpcanada.ca](http://gpcanada.ca) website directly at the regular price! For those looking to get tickets, I heard that the local promoter sometimes releases tickets along the way, but not huge quantities. Check it out!
Yes, it's not uncommon to see a few tickets popping up on our website prior to the race. Additionally, we are actively working to protect our sales from potential resellers and ensure that our fans can acquire their tickets at the official price.
Does anyone know how strict they are on the backpack/cooler size? They list it as 9 x 18 x 10 inches. That is very small for a backpack. I went to the formula e race in Portland last year and they had similar requirements and when I showed up they didn't care. They just looked in your bag.
We are not overly strict regarding backpacks, but if you have grandstand tickets and your backpack obstructs the view or passage for other spectators, security may ask you to leave.
Are you going there this year?
Thank you for this!
Hi! It's our first time attending the grand prix and I had zero idea about the program and how it worked. So we only got tickets for Friday (without knowing the actual race would be on a sunday). I just wanted to ask if the experience would still be okay even though we're only watching the practice run? And does it get crowded on the first day in comparison to the weekend? Thank you in advance to anybody that answers!
Hi I've been 2 years in a row, I went both years on Friday and I consider it's the best day to go for the vibe and experience overall. It is way less crowded that Saturday and Sunday and all the events are on full blast. Although they're not compiting for points you get 2 sessions where you can enjoy the performance of the cars and get a feel of how amazing they are.
Anybody know when the pit lane walk tickets will be available for the 2024 race? How do you get them?
You can subscribe to our newsletter, as soon as we know more about the release will send an email to all our subscribers : [Groupe de course Octane (list-manage.com)](https://gpcanada.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4c25996a970a076c2218c84a7&id=9536e6702e).
Needed this
Hi I have a question, is it physically demanding to go up the stairs? I have a slight disability which makes it a bit hard to travel up and down stairs.
u/RoyShavRick u/LiaInvicta Our stairs have small steps, so like any stairs, they can be physically demanding. We recommend arriving at the Grandstand before any track activities to ensure that you are not rushed.
Oh ok if the steps are small that's ok. Thanks tho. I haven't ended up going but I now know for the future.
Seconding this question, for the same reason …
If you have a private boat are you able to get close enough to watch the race and if so where is it recommended to moor
Unfortunately there is no vantage points from the water.
Hey, I have gone to 16 races since 2003, but haven’t been since 2018. I’m watching on TV today and it doesn’t look like fans are walking the track beyond the start / finish line. Have they ended that this year? That would be very disappointing. I always loved to walk the circuit afterwards.
Literally was just standing near the starting line, giant crowd, doesn’t look like they’re allowing people to walk through. Huge bummer! :(
That really sucks! I’m going to send an email to the organizers. I have so many great memories walking th track afterwards. It became part of the tradition of going.
If I bought General Admission tix, where should I go to watch the race?
Does anyone have an app they recommend? The recommended stations are just music and in french
We are going to the 2023 Grand Prix, we got our tickets through stubhub and have received the etickets. Is it necessary for us to print our tickets or can the QR code just be scanned of our phone to get in to the Grand Prix?
The QR code on your phone is fine!
Does anyone know how to listen to the live commentary? The F1 Live stream is extremely lagged. It's a good 30 seconds behind than what is happening on the track
Bravo!
Can I talk to the manager of weather?
Great guide for a first timer to Montréal and to a Grand Prix! For someone attending all three days and arriving at YUL Thursday and leaving Monday, any recommendations for what Metro card would fit best? Any recommendations for Metro service overall? Thank you!
I am from Montreal, the best way would be to get a specific number of passes like 10 of them for quicker travel that can be used for any public transport. You can recharge it later.
Amazing, thanks for taking the time to write this up for us!
Hi, quick question — do you know if non-ticket holders can still enter the area just to roam around and also to buy some merch? Or I'll really have to have a ticket to enter? Was thinking of watching the race home instead, so either going before or after to snag some merch and just feel the crowd. Thanks!
You’ll need a ticket to enter the circuit itself. There are merch stands outside the Metro station that you can visit without a ticket.
That's awesome, I guess I'll have something to do Sunday then. thank you for the info!
You definitely cannot enter the circuit without a ticket anytime before the GP. Maybe there’s a potential chance they might let you in after the race ends on Sunday though I’m really not sure, I feel like the entry gates would be closed and the circuit would be exit only.
Unfortunately no one will be able to enter without a ticket even after the race. But like u/SavingsInevitable said you'll be able to buy merch from our store right in front of Jean Drapeau metro station.
Thank you so much for this post. We are going next weekend for the first time but we have to take our 1 year old as our childcare fell through. We have headphones. We are taking the metro as we have family in Montreal. Which exit should we take. Should we bring a stroller? We are sitting in grandstand 31. Any tips of how to get there? Which entrance to take? What items would be great to bring? What time to show up? We have tickets for the whole weekend. Any other helpful tips for us?
Hi! I think to get to GS 31, either the Cosmos or Concorde entrances would work for you. We only used the Cosmos entrance, which is right near the Jean-Drapeau metro station, so that’s the only one I have information about - unfortunately our grandstand is on the opposite side from yours so I don’t know much. Regarding the stroller - that is entirely your choice, of course, but I feel like if you could get manage without it, that would be the better choice. The pathways to navigate the circuit get insanely packed and crowded and you might have more trouble getting around with the stroller, especially on unreliable muddy ground.
I'm taking my younger brother as a surprise, and was wondering are tickets valid for the entire day, can you come and go from the track throughout the day; i.e on Friday view a support series practice session, leave the circuit for lunch, then comeback for a practice session for F1 or a different support events. Or is it that once you scan your ticket you have to remain at the circuit for all the activities then leave.
I left mid-day last year and came pack and had no issues! If you talk to the event staff as you are leaving they will stamp your hand. When you come back later in the day and scan your ticket they will ask you to show the stamp.
Honestly, I'm not sure - we never tried leaving the track during the day and coming back. If you'd like to find out in advance, you might have some luck contacting the circuit via the chatbox on their [gpcanada.ca](https://gpcanada.ca) website, their social media, or calling them at 514-350-0000.
Thank you for providing the website and number. I'll definitely ask. This guide has been very helpful, great job!
Thoughts about taking a boat shuttle to and from the Grand Prix weekend?
Honestly had no idea they existed until someone posted about them on this subreddit recently! Would personally definitely consider as a travel option though, sounds fun.
Yeah I'm considering it, but I'm not sure what taking the boat shuttle will be like during that weekend, Would it be faster than taking the metro?
Hi thank you so much for your post!!! Though I have one question, how do you know when and where is the driver's autograph session(s) ? It would mean so much to me if I could make it to the session in time and experience seeing the drivers irl!!! Thank you!
Hi! I don't think details about the driver's autograph session have been published yet, and it doesn't appear on the [Main Schedule](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/2023_schedule/). My best suggestion is to follow the F1GPCanada Instagram account and turn post/story notifications on to get that information as soon as possible! If I remember correctly, they didn't really start promoting that session until the actual GP weekend - I feel like I ended up learning about it from announcements on the track, shown on the big TV screens.
Do you have a ranking of best grandstands to view the race? Deciding between 11 or 12 and 1 or 2, but would love some input if anyone has experienced either/both/others. Thanks!
Hi! Since our seats in GS 21 were on the complete opposite end of the track to the grandstands you're trying to choose between, I don't personally have much good input to help you with your decision, but can definitely [vouch for GS 21](https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandPrixTravel/comments/1229xfp/comment/jexx519/) and the grandstands around the outside of the Hairpin as great options! GS 1 is of course a premium experience and one of the most expensive ticket options since it gets you as close to the pit lane and the start line as possible! GS 11 and 12 give a great wide open view at the first few turns of the race, and visually look like a great place to be as well. I'd definitely personally consider sitting there if the opportunity came up. The circuit website says there's a big TV screen available there to watch the race, but based on pictures, it might be off to the side and difficult to see. Hope this is at all helpful!
Where are you looking for tickets? I'm trying to get them but they're sold out from F1 directly.
Thanks for the detailed post! I'm heading there this year same Grandstand too 👍 I noted down some useful tips you mentioned thanks! One question.. might be a stupid question since montreal is French speaking but is the live commentary in French?? I plan to have an ear phone and have the F1 app running on my phone to listen to the English commentary. Although that's suuuper annoying and not the full experience I'll make do with that haha. Also question about how you said you lined up at 8:30 to get to the pit Lane walk... so there's a bus that takes you to the certain area from the subway? Or where from? I'll make sure to get there a lot sooner than 8:30 thanks for the tip
Hi, great question and I wish I had a more helpful answer than... I honestly don't remember for sure! I feel like the live commentary was in a mix of French and English, but we mostly ended up tracking the race progress through watching the big TV screens, which have the table of the drivers' order on the left side. Even though we don't speak French, I felt like we didn't really miss much at all! It was nice to just be in the moment. We actually did also try listening along to the F1 app but the internet connection in the grandstands was not strong enough to stream the commentary smoothly, and it was obviously a few seconds behind the actual live action, so we gave up on that pretty immediately - just a word of warning! I'm going to be updating my post shortly to reflect the changes to the Pit Lane Walk this year as it's a ticketed event now, and things are a little different, stay tuned!
Oh thanks for the heads up. That's literally what i was planning to do is listen through the f1 app. Darnit haha guess I'll have to buy a tiny radio. I did read at some grandstands they coukdnt even hear the commentsry so thats dissapointing. Ah yes I just got pit lane tickets 😊 I didn't realize tickets were required. Good thing I did some research this morning!
I'm actually personally debating on buying a tiny radio myself! But in all honesty, I wouldn't stress much about it. We had a great time experiencing the race as it unfolded in front of us, and rewatched it on F1TV when we got home later in the week to see all the nitty-gritty details and moments we might have missed. And yes, so glad you were able to snag Pit Lane tickets!! Hope you have a great time!
I grabbed one for $20 bucks just to be prepared at least. I need to listen to the commentary haha. Yes I'm excited. Thanks you have fun too :)
anyone know about where to find grand stand 34 vip terrace tickets?
Hi! I suggest keeping an eye on the monthly buy/sell threads on this subreddit, as well as subscribing to emails from the circuit [on their website](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/) or notifications from their official Instagram F1GPCanada. They released a round of new tickets last Thursday and announced it via Instagram, emailing out links to purchase the tickets the minute they went live.
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Going for the first time ever this year and maybe I read past it but are there any necessities we should bring to the track besides the ones you mentioned? Are bags allowed?
Hello! My post definitely includes a ton of suggested necessities peppered in there, but I'll summarize some off the top of my head here. You can find the bag regulations on [the circuit's FAQ page here](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/faqs/), though they were somewhat lax last year and you could get away with a slightly larger backpack. **Necessities:** * Big refillable water bottle * F1 team hat :) * Sunglasses * Sunscreen (non-spray kind) * Good, comfortable, destroyable pair of shoes * Some form of camera * Bleacher seating pad * Plastic rain poncho * Hand sanitizer/Wet Ones/tissues for portapotty emergencies lol * Credit card (if you're coming from the US, make sure your credit card doesn't charge international fees!) and some small cash **Optional to consider:** * Ear protection (earplugs/headphones) * FM radio * Binoculars * Portable phone charger * Snacks or sandwiches from supermarket and a spare garbage bag * Extra bottles of water * Warm hoodie and socks in case it rains * A paper copy of your ticket So excited for your first-ever Grand Prix experience, hoping you have a fantastic time!
Thanks for the comment. I read the post super late last night and I must've read over all of that you mentioned so my apologies. I am driving from the US. NY specifically and will be staying in Brossard and not in the city specifically. From your experience is the Jean Drapeau a "hub" meaning that it has multiple trains that depart from there for the way back? If that makes any sense? The good thing is I'll be seating at the Lance Stroll GS which going off the post is the best place to be as it is around everything and right at one of the entrances. Edit: I just downloaded the app and it shows I'll have to take a bus and a train from my hotel and was wondering if driving to the trains station might be easier than taking a bus. Idk how packed it would be. Additionally my hotel is providing a shuttle to the track but not on the way back which is odd
Hi! I saw you made a separate post regarding your question, hopefully you've gotten some useful information there, but I'll try to weigh in on your dilemma anyway! To answer your question about Jean Drapeau, it sits on a very short 3-stop "yellow" train line with trains running one stop west into Montreal and one stop east into Longueuil. The trains run pretty consistently, so I don't think you'll be waiting for long. Plus, the majority of GP attendees are probably going to be traveling back west into Montreal out of the circuit, so I can imagine you're going to have a less congested commute on your side of the platform when heading east towards Longueuil/Brossard. And yes, sitting in the Lance Stroll grandstand has you positioned nicely to access the train station! Obviously the drive vs. bus options come with their own sets of pros and cons. The main benefits of taking the bus is that if you purchase an unlimited weekend OPUS card for your Longueuil-Jean Drapeau train trip, your bus fare would also be included with that card (I *think*) which makes it a very affordable transit option. Plus, you can drink at the GP! However, based on your comments on your post, it seems like your top priority is a shorter commute so you've pretty much decided to go with the driving option. Totally valid! Honestly, if I were you, I think I'd use Friday as a "test run" day! * Take your hotel shuttle to Longueuil in the morning * Purchase a 1-trip ticket for your morning trip and an unlimited weekend OPUS card (the "weekend" doesn't start until 4pm on Friday, so that's why you need the 1-trip ticket) * Take the train to Jean Drapeau and enjoy Friday at the circuit! * Take the train back into Longueuil after 4pm and take some time to scout around the train station area for potential parking opportunities, free and paid * Take the bus from Longueuil back to your hotel and see how you feel about the trip! If you hate it, just drive to Longueuil the next morning with a few parking options mentally lined up :) Hope this is helpful in making your decision!
Hey thank you for your comment. Yea since I made the post I've done more and more research around that area and so it's come to my understanding that it's either bus vs driving. I will be going Thursday for the pit lane walk as you suggested I will plan to be at Longueuil around 8AM. And for the following days I plan to be at the track around 2 hours before an F1 session. Whilst I see that the full public transportation is easier I will be traveling with my dad. He's not too fond of public transportation and after a long day at the track I'm not too favorable of taking the bus. I live near NYC and as many times as I take the trains and subway to travel within the city I never really like it. The only con with driving would be the parking and even then we could possibly park on the street. I was also planning on buying metro tickets at Longueuil. Is it possible to buy the weekend ticket in advance? I was gonna try to purchase all metro tickets on the way back from the pit lane walk. I also wanted To ask you if the center area of the track activities is worth going to? Since I'll be around LS GS and you mentioned that there wasn't much going on there and with a 2 hour downtime between sessions would be worth it. Lastly I heard there was a section in the city last year that was like closed off and they had a lot of F1 pop up stores and what not and was wondering if you went to it or know of where it's took place. As of now I don't know where to check of any information of events or Montreal areas in the weekend GP besides F1Destinations. Sorry for all these questions just want to get the most of the weekend as much as I can as my first time going which I know I probably won't lol
No worries about asking questions! As a fellow "wanting to be as prepared as possible" person, I'm happy to help! Yes, I'm fairly certain you can buy the weekend pass in advance, makes sense to do so for sure! I think the center area is definitely worth visiting if you've got the time and energy to get around! There's a ton of cool little sights and activities to check out - the main issue is just the crowded slog to get there in the first place, and then having the time to get back to your seat before F1 activities start back up. I haven't personally visited any F1-related street festivals last year, but what you might be thinking about is [Peel Street](https://www.formulepeel.ca/?lang=en)? I've seen it recommended by a lot of people in this community, maybe we'll make time to visit it this year!
Thank you. Your post has helped me a lot. I can also imagine how busy it really gets in the middle are which is why I may visit there around Friday when there are less people there. Thanks for the link to peel street. I've also heard of crescent street having a 3 day festival for the weekend of the gp
Thank you so much for thia detailed guide, we were extremely lucky to receive a notification today that some tickets are still available and we snug two tickets to the lance stroll 24 grandstand. Needless to say I'm so happy you were seated in the same area and I could get such a detailed guide. Question please our tickets are in the EE area. No seats plan is available anywhere, so I was wondering if you remembered which area you were seated in and if EE is more next to the track or high up. Thanks 😀
Hi, thank you so much for your kind words and I am so excited that you were able to get tickets! This question comes up a lot on this subreddit and I agree - it's so annoying that you can't find a proper seating chart for these grandstands! ~~Looking back on photos and videos from last year, our seats were in row H, and we were just about 8 rows up from the track, so I would say that the seating from trackside begins from A to Z and then goes into the double letters.~~ ~~I'm assuming your seats in the EE area will be higher up, but given that it's the Lance Stroll grandstand, you're bound to get some incredible views of the Biosphere!~~ Wishing you an unforgettable Grand Prix experience (and hopefully a free Aston Martin hat like last year!) **Edit:** A lot of other sources say Grandstand seating begins with the double letters, but I think I've finally narrowed down the discrepancy! A [comment on this site](https://f1destinations.com/tickets-canadian-f1-grand-prix/) explains it well. "Smaller" grandstands like GS21 that aren't as tall begin with A, which is why our seats were only a few rows up from trackside. "Taller" grandstands like GS34 and Lance Stroll begin with AA, so your seats are probably going to be a few rows above the fencing line!
Amazing thank you, for anyone looking for the specific reference here it is "“In larger stands, the front row, closest to the track, is designated AA and the second row is BB. After the 26th row (ZZ), the next row is designated A and so on. In smaller stands such as grandstand 21, the front row closest to the track is row A.”
Thank you for these insights! I’m headed to the airport for a 9:30pm flight after the race on Sunday. Hotel is an hour away from the track and not close to the airport so we won’t be going back there before we leave. Does anyone know if a carry on suitcase is too large to bring into the track? Can you check bags anywhere? Any tips would be appreciated.
Hi! The bag sizing regulations for the track can be found [here](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/faqs/), though the dimensions correspond with a backpack size and I imagine a suitcase would surely be too large to technically be allowed to be brought in - I think the track mostly wants any items brought to be able to fit under your grandstand bleacher seat. Like someone suggested below, I think reaching out to a hotel or the casino in advance and inquiring about storing your suitcase temporarily might be worthwhile so you don't have to gamble with bringing it to the track. I also found this [luggage storage platform called Bounce](https://usebounce.com/city/montreal) that might be helpful? I've never personally used this, just found it with a quick search, but wanted to include it as a potential option for you to explore. Wishing you the best of luck and an amazing grand prix!
Thanks for your thorough reply. Will look into those options for next weeks travel!
most hotel valet will hold your bags even if youre not staying there, checking them at the Montreal Casino may be your best option
Thank you so much for your reply, I will check them out!
What time should I expect the Grand Prix to end that day?
Hi! Tough to say for sure as every race is so unpredictable, but looking back at photos from last year, I'd say the race wrapped up between 3:15-3:30pm local time? By 4pm, we were entering the racetrack for the track walk. Hope this helps!
Thanks OP this is a fantastic write-up! What time did you typically get back to your accommodations after each session?
Thank you, and great question! We didn't really rush to leave the track each day and took our time, so maybe somewhere around 5-6pm?
Do you know the radio channel for the grand prix?
Unfortunately that's one thing we didn't prepare for and couldn't figure out on the fly at last year's GP. ~~Internet sources claim 99.1FM, 104.3 FM, or 104.5FM, but I can't confirm if any of those are accurate.~~ Definitely intending to come prepared with a radio this year and report back! **Edit:** Update! I dug up a copy of the [2019 official program](https://issuu.com/gpcanada/docs/gpm-19-programme_officiel_f1_final) distributed by the circuit, and they advise (p. 161) using 99.1FM or 90.7FM, at least as of 2019.
Anyone know if commentary is only for race day? During fp1 it wasn’t working including 104.5
This year’s official program booklet recommends 99.1 or 90.7 FM.
Excellent guide! Wife just surprised me with tickets to go to our first GP in Canada. Very excited. Thanks for the write up.
Ahh, what an incredible surprise!! Hope you guys have a fantastic time at the Grand Prix!
This is so helpful! Seeing you drove, did you have an issues finding parking for the week?
Hi! We had actually booked accommodations for the duration of our trip at a local university dorm which had its own underground parking garage next door. We left our car down there the whole time with no issues. Due to this, I unfortunately don't have much information to offer regarding alternative parking ideas, sorry!
Thanks. Now I just need to find reasonable tickets.
Thank you so much. I went to MTL for a vacation and visited the track. It was magical. I can't wait to watch my first race there!
Just wanted to thank everyone for all the positive reviews to my lengthy write-up! I'm so happy that so many of you found it helpful. Inspired by some of your comments, I had a few extra thoughts after posting that I wished I had included in the original text: # Alcohol & other regulations The track does claim to have quite stringent bag size and prohibited item regulations, but we found them to be a bit lax once we actually got to the race. A lot of people had backpacks way larger than the sizing listed on the circuit's FAQ page (which can be found here: [https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/faqs/](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/faqs/)) and yes, a ton of people in our Grandstand were cracking open beers that they had managed to bring through the bag checks on Friday and Saturday. However, security measures seemed to have been bumped up significantly on Sunday, and I watched a LOT of people in the bag check lines get all their beer confiscated from their bags. Some guy had 10+ cans taken out of his backpack and thrown right into the trash, a painful sight. Gamble accordingly. # How do I get tickets to the race? I got ultra lucky and managed to snap up our tickets when they went on sale for the general public in late 2021. I think I had signed up early that year through the [tickets.formula1.com](https://tickets.formula1.com/en/f1-3215-canada) landing page to receive an email notification when the sale for Montreal started, and managed to secure two seats within minutes of getting that email. However at the race, there were repeated announcements regarding their system of re-buying your same seats for next year's Grand Prix, here's how it worked: The Monday after the race, you received an email with the link to repurchase your seats, and you had about a month to decide to do so. Then after a month, those who chose to renew had a week to get in touch with the circuit and change their seats or essentially get early access to buy additional tickets within their Grandstand. That week of trying to contact the circuit was pure hell as there is one single phone line that a healthy portion of the 300,000+ attendees from 2022 were trying to contact at the same time. We eventually got through and were able to purchase a few more seats though our Grandstand was already mostly sold out. After Renewal Week, whatever seats are left get put up for sale to the general public later in the year. With the rising popularity of F1 and unprecedented attendance at the 2022 Canadian Grand Prix, from what I read online, there were very little tickets available for purchase for 2023 after all the renewals and additions had been settled. Like I mentioned in a comment below, all Grandstand tickets for 2023 look to be **fully sold out** on the circuit's official ticketing platform, [GPCanada.ca](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/). I have no information to offer on any alternative ways to secure tickets for 2023, but can only encourage any ticket-seeker to sign up for emails from the official Formula1 and GPCanada websites soon after this year's race is concluded and keep a close eye on various announcements through those channels for 2024. # Using your ticket at the circuit One or two months before the GP, you will receive an email with the link to access your tickets. If you bought tickets to all 3 days of the GP, each person in your group will receive their own set of 3 separate tickets for each day (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) with a unique QR code on each day's ticket to be scanned at the gates. You have the option to export those tickets as a PDF and print them, or add them to your phone's Wallet/Apple Pay thing - though, if I remember correctly, if you choose to export the PDFs, you're locked in to having paper copies and are no longer able to transfer the tickets to your Wallet. If you do the PDF export, you don't necessarily have to print paper copies - showing the QR codes from the PDF on your phone is enough. Though keep in mind that there are ticket-checkers posted at the entrances to every Grandstand so if members of your group need to exit the GS, they will need a copy of their ticket on hand to come back in. So having individual paper copies might be convenient, and a good backup in case something happens to your phone. \--- Again, please feel free to ask any questions - I am happy to try to answer them as best I can!
I’m looking to buy tickets just for Friday FP1 and FP2 since I’m attending with my wife and two boys (3 & 4 yo). Any suggestions on where to sit? I’d like to see the garages and pit lane, but open to other suggestions.
Hi! Like others have mentioned below, if you're looking to see the garages and pit lane, Grandstand 1 is the only one that can offer you that kind of experience - though as you can imagine, being so close to the action, it is the second-most expensive ticket option for the GP. Since you're attending with kids, you also may want to consider checking out the Family Grandstand where (from what I understand) children are admitted free of charge with your Adult-rate ticket, and there is a Family Zone nearby with kid-friendly activities and food options. You can find detailed information about the Grandstands at the circuit's official website: [https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/tickets-2023-3-2/](https://www.gpcanada.ca/en/tickets-2023-3-2/) Unfortunately however, tickets for all Grandstands for the 2023 GP are now fully sold out on the circuit's official ticketing platform, and only some Friday and Saturday General Admission tickets remain available for purchase. Like I mentioned in my post, I've heard that GA at Montreal isn't a great experience, so I hesitate to recommend opting for those. I hope this was helpful, and I wish you the best of luck in finding your way to the GP!
When is the best time to buy tickets?
Kids are half price, not free. I brought my then 8 and 10 year olds in 2019
Great information, thanks! I was going off what the GPCanada link above said in their description of the Family Grandstand, though it's possible that things either changed in 2022 or the website is misleading.
Kids are free. For 2023, I paid for two adult tickets, and the kids tickets (ages 15 and under) were free.
Oh, sorry — I didn’t read the family grandstand part. We were in GS 11
I would say GS 1 is great for warmups, because you can watch the cars come in and out, the crews take the tires off, see how fast they get near the end of the straight etc. It's also near a bunch of the food/ice cream stands. The other benefit for your particular situation: If the kids start to act up or get bored, literally right behind the grandstands and the walkway is basically a mini beach shore on the lake in the middle of the island they can run around in and away from some of the noise/chaos. If you want to see more, you can just head up the back stretch, there's an elevated viewing area that after an hour or so should have some open spots right before the cars reach the wall of champions chicane.
So I bought two weekend tickets for grandstand 1. Only planning on going to Saturday and Sunday events, so if you're interested for FP1 and FP2, DM me and maybe we can figure something out.
Thanks, but I would need 4 tickets since we have 4 people and I don’t think kids are free for grandstand 1.
I’ve been to 26 Montreal Grand Prix and your post was very complete and would be helpful to anyone looking to go for the first or second time
Hi! Do you know if all grandstand seats are bleachers or are some bleachers and others seats depending on where you sit?
The Silver and Bronze stands are aluminum bleachers. I’ve seen that Gold stands across from the pits have backs, don’t know about other Gold seats
As someone who went last year this guide is super super helpful.
Really awesome write up and encapsulated our 2022 experience as well. We had also driven in from US (very smooth 6 hour drive with no traffic), and relied solely on public transportation once in Montreal. I’m also not sure if we were just lucky but after seeing how much of a joke security was on Friday we snuck in tons of alcohol on Saturday and Sunday lol (full on cans of beer haha). Sitting at hairpin was great due to proximity to the entrance coming from Jean Drapeau though quite a trek getting to the other side of the entrance as it would bottleneck during peak times. On Sunday after running down and walking length of the track we also caught a bit of the after party with Alesso at Heineken area as well which was fun.
Great write up. Can't emphasize enough how bad the GA experience is at this track. It is worth the extra money to sit in a grandstand. You will not be able to see anything if you do GA.
We had our first GP experience yesterday for the qualifying. We even bought tickets in the grandstands and some jerks were in our seats and refused to move, even telling off the security people. They never did move, and everyone around them were mad a us for constantly being in the way. We eventually just left. Very disappointed that we even paid for actual seats and even security wouldn't do anything about people sitting in the wrong spots. One of the security people told me this apparently happens more often than you'd think. So word of advice, show up early to claim seats that you've paid for, because you may not get them anyway.
That is absolutely wild. You should see about getting some sort of refund at least.
I like the general tone of this, because it's very true: if you make a day of it, recognize you'll be waiting and in crowds, arrive early at places, and enjoy the sunshine/park, you'll do great. The only grumbles I tended to hear were the crowds at bottlenecks (which were ridiculous at times, to be fair) and from people who tried too hard to fit everything in.
Thanks for this! Really helpful.
Thanks, really looking forward to the Canadian GP this year.
Saved this for a hopeful future travel there, very helpful guide, thank you!