The Hungarian Grand Prix takes place from August 1st to 3rd. Budapest is well situated in the center of Europe for those traveling from nearby countries. Some fans take long-haul flights and arrive at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) outside the city. The Hungaroring circuit is 12.4 miles northwest of the center, and you can reach it quite easily by train, bus, or taxi.
F1 experiences
You can book a hotel and circuit transfers for the Hungarian Grand Prix with F1 Experiences. This can secure you a room at a sought-after hotel in Budapest, and you can add return bus transfers from your hotel to the circuit to your booking.
It will take you anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes to get from central Budapest to the circuit. Going by taxi usually only takes 30 minutes, but it can be costly. A train/shuttle bus option is cheaper, but it takes longer and will involve some walking.
Even if you can’t attend in person, betting on the Hungarian Grand Prix and other F1 competitions is possible on regulated online betting apps in the US.
Trains
It is expensive, but you can buy a Budapest Card for your stay that covers trips to and from the circuit and all public transport around the city. It also gives you discounted access to various city attractions. An alternative is to buy an F1 Travel Pass via the MÁV app.
You will take the metro to the last station on the eastern end of the red metro line (M2). If you are staying near a station on one of the other metro lines, you will need to change to an M2 train at the central interchange station. When you reach the end of the M2 line, you exit the station and cross via an underpass to the opposite corner of the intersection. You will see a ticket office for a small suburban train. You will get off at the Kerepes HEV station, where you can take a free shuttle bus to Gate 3 of the circuit.
City Shuttle
You can take one of the 19-seat minibuses that leave from and return to Heroes Square in the center of Budapest. On race weekend, these city shuttles go to and from on a regular basis. The pickup location at the circuit is close to Gate 8 (close to the first corner and up the hill from the main entrance).
Taxis
Főtaxi is the official taxi service for the Hungarian Grand Prix, and you can order a taxi via its app or line. There’s a VIP access road to the circuit that these official taxis can use, so they will get there quicker than other taxis. It will only take about 30 to 40 minutes from the center of the city. The pickup and drop-off zones for taxis are near Gate 8. Fares to and from the city aren’t fixed.
The recent movie F1 starring Brad Pitt gives viewers a glimpse into the spectacle of F1 and why so many fans want to see the action up close and in person. The queues for taxis can be very long at peak times, so taking the train or city shuttle may be a better option.
Driving
If you want to drive to the circuit, you will take the M3 motorway heading northeast out of the city. You need to buy a vignette to use the motorway, and a ten-day pass will cost you about €16.
The drive only takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and access to the circuit is well signposted. However, with other modes of transport, you don’t have to worry about your car’s maintenance and traffic congestion, especially when leaving the circuit. Then there is finding parking and paying for it. Premium parking is behind the grandstand, and you pay €35 on Friday and Saturday and €45 on Sunday.
