Directions

A quick set of comments on travelling to Circuit de Catalunya. Updated in 2013

Arriving at Airport

  • The train from the airport goes directly to Montmelo. It takes an hour. They are every 30 minutes.
  • You catch the train from terminal 2. If you land at Terminal 1, there’s a free shuttle bus that takes you between terminals. The signs are not brilliant, but keep following the train signs to the ground level bus station and you’ll find the transfer bus. Leave time for this on return- it takes about 15mins. The trains are at .05 and .35 past the hour from the Montmelo station
  • If you are going to Barcelona instead of direct to circuit, I’d still recommend train, it’s pretty cheap. Otherwise there are buses and taxis

Barcelona to Circuit

  • The train stops at Sants, Passeig de Gracia or Clot in central Barcelona. The main destination is St Celine and it’s line R2. Some of them do not go that far and you’ll see other destinations such as Granollers or Cerberes. It takes 23-30 mins.
  • From Barcelona to Montmelo cost me 4.70 in 2013
  • There are both Metro and trains (RENFE) that go to the right stations in Barcelona, so multiple options. The system is pretty good. However I found signposting very difficult, as there was no easy signage about where the trains stopped. you have to find the route maps/timetables. My advice is look up the destinations and have them to hand
  • In 2013 they are working on the stations in Passeig de Gracia. The Metro and R trains are now at different entrances. The train entrance can be found at the corner of Carrer Arago and Carrer Pau Claris.

Montmelo to Circuit

  • it is definitely a 30-40 minute walk. During the race, there are shuttles, but they aren’t there for testing.
  • There are taxis on the road directly opposite the train station – they’ll have green lights on the top. There are not that many, i saw only 2 or 3 max. The cost to the circuit is about 10E. They take you to gate 3, which is the one on the main pit straight.
  • If you are walking, it’s pretty straightforward. Come out of the station, turn left and walk to the road junction. Turn left and then keep walking along the main street, past shops. Keep straight, over roundabout, under highway/motorway and keep going.
  • If the cars are running, you’ll hear them from Montmelo! As you walk, you’ll start to see the grandstands on the left. You’ll go past a bricked up house and not too far from there is a little track on the left. It’s not signposted, but is obvious (it has concrete blocks at the entrance). Walk up there past a box office (gate 4) that may not be open; if not keep walking straight across car park, over road and across next car park to gate 3

At the circuit

  • You can buy online at the circuit website. However, I bought at the circuit, which was easy. it was 15E for a weekday, 20E for the weekend days.
  • There are not that many food places (in fact, there was only 1 in 2013). I’d recommend taking food and drink in to the circuit.
  • You can walk around the place and sit anywhere. Not all grandstands were open, but the pitstraights grandstand, Grandstand F, and N were definitely open. You can sit anywhere else as well and there are some good vantage points.