Italian Grand Prix 2026

Fly into Florence (FLR or Pisa PSA) and pick up your hire car — a car is essential for Mugello. The circuit is 40 km north of Florence via the SS302 through beautiful Apennine scenery.

💡 Book your hire car early — demand spikes during race weekend and prices treble.

Friday is free practice day. The gates open at 08:00. Grab your paddock wristband from the ticket office and walk the circuit perimeter to find your favourite corner. The fan village has merchandise stalls, team hospitality, and sponsor activations.

FP1 starts around 10:45 and FP2 at 15:00. Watch from the main grandstand for the full start-finish straight action, or hike up to the Casanova-Savelli section for the best overtaking spot on the circuit.

💡 The uphill run from Casanova to Savelli at 270 km/h is Mugello's signature moment — position yourself there for FP2.

Head down to Borgo San Lorenzo, the main town 10 km from the circuit, for a classic Tuscan aperitivo. Bar Centrale on the main piazza does excellent Negronis and local olives.

Traditional Mugello farmhouse cooking — bistecca Fiorentina from Chianina cattle, pappardelle with wild boar ragù, and local Chianti Rufina. Reservation essential during race weekend.

💡 Ask for the bistecca — it's carved tableside and costs extra but worth every cent.

Scarperia is a perfectly preserved medieval borgo 3 km from the circuit. The Palazzo dei Vicari has stunning frescoed rooms and the town is famous for its knife-making tradition — the cutlery shops open at 09:00.

Gates open at 08:30. Saturday includes MotoGP Sprint Race (early afternoon) and qualifying later. Get to your grandstand position 30 minutes before the Sprint to experience the atmosphere build.

The Sprint Race runs Saturday afternoon over half the race distance — same speeds, same drama, fewer laps. A good warm-up for the full race atmosphere. Position yourself at the first chicane (Curva 1) to watch the race starts.

💡 The Sprint start is spectacular — riders go from 0 to 300 km/h in under 6 seconds off the grid.

Q1 and Q2 determine Sunday's grid. This is when the fastest single laps of the weekend happen — every second counts. Stay in the main grandstand to see the full qualifying battle on the big screens.

After qualifying, the fan village stays open for rider appearances, autograph sessions, and the evening concert on the main stage. Check the official MotoGP app for the appearance schedule.

Barberino del Mugello is slightly larger than Scarperia and has excellent restaurants. Try Osteria da Gino for handmade pasta and local Chianti Rufina wine.

Arrive by 09:30 to get good standing positions for the support races (Moto2 and Moto3). Race day is the only day the circuit truly fills — over 100,000 fans pack Mugello. Get there early.

💡 Park in P2 (motorcycle parking side) to exit fastest after the race — traffic out of P1 can take 2+ hours.

The support classes race in the morning. Moto3 is especially spectacular at Mugello — 30+ riders in a tight pack through the technical Arrabbiata section.

Race start is at 14:00 local time. 23 laps, 119 km through the Mugello valley. The main grandstand gives you the start, the final chicane, and the finish line — it's the complete race experience. The crowd noise when Ducati (an Italian brand) leads is deafening.

💡 The pre-race Italian national anthem is sung by the entire crowd — one of the most moving moments in motorsport.

The podium ceremony takes place 30–40 minutes after the race. Stay for it — the team celebrations, champagne, and crowd reaction to the winner are worth the wait.

Drive 40 minutes south to Florence for a celebratory dinner. The city is spectacularly lit at night. Dine near the Arno river — Buca Mario (Florence's oldest restaurant, est. 1886) does excellent Florentine classics.

If staying in Florence on Sunday night, spend Monday morning at one of the world's great art museums. The Uffizi holds Botticelli's Birth of Venus; the Accademia has Michelangelo's David. Book tickets online in advance.

💡 Book tickets at least 3 days ahead — same-day queues can be 2+ hours.

Florence's central market has the best food hall in Tuscany — stalls selling fresh pasta, truffles, cheese, and the most outstanding lardo bruschetta you'll ever eat. A great final morning in Italy.

Florence Peretola Airport (FLR) is 15 minutes from the city centre. Allow 2 hours before departure. Alternatively, Pisa Airport (PSA) is 80 minutes via the A11 — often has more flight options.

💡 Return your hire car with a full tank — fuel near airports is more expensive.