The best viewpoints at Monza

Known as the Temple of Speed, any race at the Monza racetrack in Italy will be one to remember. Some of the fastest laps in racing take place at this circuit , so if you’re lucky enough to visit, you’re in for a real treat. To enjoy your time at Monza to the fullest, you’ll want to get front-row seats of all the action.

Read on and find out how to snag the best viewpoints at Monza with Hertz.
 

Where is Monza?

The Monza circuit is in the small town of Monza, around 16km northeast of Milan. Set in Monza Park, the track is part of the Royal Villa of Monza, which was commissioned by Eugène de Beauharnais, Napoleon's stepson during the French occupation of northern Italy.

What races is Monza used in?

Monza has been used as an endurance circuit since the middle of last century. It regularly hosted the Monza 1000km in the competition initially called the International Championship of Makes , which later became the World Championship of Makes. These were precursors to the World Endurance Championship. The Italian Grand Prix has been hosted at Monza every year bar one since 1950. It originally opened on September 3, 1922, one week before hosting that year’s Italian Grand Prix. It was also part of the Formula 1 calendar in 1950.

Where are the best places to watch the action at Monza?

The big question on many attendees’ minds is where to sit to get the best view. There’s plenty of grandstands and viewing spots to choose from, we’ll take you through the best to view the race below

Main start/finish straight

There’s eight grandstands located on the main start/finish straight at Monza. The Centrale stand is the most popular (and expensive), offering a prime view of the beginning and end of the race, as well as the pit-exit and the run into turn 1 . Alternative stands in the main straight include the Gradinate bleacher seats, along with the Left Lateral/Lat Sinistra (4) and Right Laterals/Lat Destra (26A, 26B, 26C), which are located on either side of the Central covered stand.

The Piscina (5) is another option on the main straight. It’s a cheap, standalone grandstand located closely to the first corner, just near the pitlane exit. There’s also Vedano (24), positioned closely to the Parabolica exit at the other end, which is a better but more expensive option.

If you decide to get main straight tickets, you’ll be right at the heart of the action, with plenty of food and merchandise stalls close by.

Prima Variante

There are five grandstands located on Monza’s Prima Variante chicane. Here you’ll get some of the best views of the race. Choose from one of three on the inside of the circuit: Alta Velocita A, B & C. Or one the two grandstands on the outside of the circuit: Esterna Prima Variante A & B.

With these seats, you’ll get a front-on view of the straight and turn 1. Get ready to see some awesome manoeuvres and overtaking, with the chicane at Turns 1 and 2 located at the end of a heavy braking zone.

Seconda Variante

Also called ‘Variante della Roggia’, Seconda Variante is the third corner of Monza. There are two grandstands to choose from, but bear in mind that it takes around 30-minutes to walk from the entrance to these stands and they’re quite remote from the from the rest of the circuit.

If you don’t mind the walk, you can pick these seats and enjoy seeing the cars emerge from Curva Grande before they brake for the chicane – a great opportunity to witness some exciting overtaking . There’s a big screen just opposite this grandstand, so you’ll never miss out on the action. Plus, if you fancy stretching your legs and exploring the circuit, Lesmo corners are just a 10-minute walk away.

Variante Ascari

Variante Ascari is the eighth of Monza’s corners, where you’ll often see some daring driver moves. There are a range of grandstands here, with the best views on offer in the middle of the corner at Ascari Uno . You’ll see the cars go full speed out of the forest section and into the speedy Monza Ascari chicane, then onto the back straight.

The corner was named after Alberto Ascari, a double-world-champion who passed away at this section in 1955.

Curva Parabolica Monza Grandstands

Select a seat here to witness the action at one of the most famous turns in motorsport. With seats located on the outside of the track, you’ll get a one-of-a-kind experience seeing the endurance cars in all their glory – hitting top speeds and turning tricky corners. You’ll see cars fly by, brake and land right onto the final corner.

There is one permanent grandstand located here, which offers cover, along with a number of temporary stands depending on the event. As you’ll be positioned on the outside of the track, you’ll be able to avoid the hustle and bustle that takes place through the bridges. You can easily get to the F1 fan zone and head to the nearby food and drink stalls.

Monza General Admission (Prato Monza View)

General admission seats may not offer the same breath-taking views as the spectator stands, but you could still get a decent view of the action. Plus, the park-based setting is a treat. Our advice is that you get there early, as the best seats will filled up quickly.

How do I get to Monza?

Those travelling internationally can fly to any of the following Milan airports:

• Linate (LIN)
• Malpensa (MXP)
• Bergamo Orio Al Serio (BGY)

From there, the most popular way to visit Monza circuit is via train. You can catch a train from one of the stations in central Milan (Central, Porta Garibaldi or Cadorna) to Monza railway station. You’ll then need to take a shuttle bus to the racetrack. Bear in mind that you’ll need to do quite a bit of walking, it takes around 20-30 minutes to get from the shuttle drop-off points to the circuit entrances. If you’d prefer not to walk or have accessibility challenges, hiring a rental car is another option. Looking for parking? There are eight car parks located near the circuit. However, they sell out fast, so book in advance.

If you’re heading to the 6 hours of Monza for the World Endurance Championship you’ve got a host of seating options to choose from. Whether you’re a motorsport fanatic, part of the Tifosi, or entirely new to the sport, you’ll want to snag a good seat and make your trip to Monza one to remember. Our guide to Monza grandstand views should help you do this and ensure you get a great the best glimpse of all the action.