Top Grand Prix destinations to visit with Singapore Airlines in 2026

The Formula 1 calendar takes the action to some of the world’s most compelling destinations, with several races within easy reach of cities served by Singapore Airlines. From Spa via Brussels to Monza via Milan, race weekend is as much an opportunity to explore as it is to follow the action on the track.

Beyond the circuit, there’s plenty worth travelling for. Whether you’re planning a Grand Prix weekend or building a longer holiday around the race, we’ve mapped out where to stay, eat and drink, what to see and side trips worth making at each stop.

For many race fans, a trip to Spa-Francorchamps is a pilgrimage.

Set among the forests of Belgium’s Ardennes, the championship’s longest circuit at about 7km is famed for legendary corners such as Eau Rouge and Raidillon. It’s also known for weather so unpredictable that sunshine and rain can blanket different parts of the track simultaneously. But the Belgian Grand Prix isn’t just about motorsport.

Extend your stay and you’ll discover thermal spas, medieval abbeys and scenic drives through one of Europe’s most beautiful countryside regions.

Stay: Hotel de la Source for unrivalled circuit access, Manoir de Lébioles for château-style luxury or Le Roannay for its acclaimed restaurant and peaceful setting just minutes from the track.

Don’t miss: Relax in the mineral waters of Thermes de Spa, explore the Spa-Francorchamps Museum inside the Abbey of Stavelot, visit the Coo Waterfall and wander the cafés and artisan shops around Malmedy’s historic centre.

Worth the detour: Hire a car and drive the Ardennes through Spa, Stavelot, Coo and the High Fens – Eifel Nature Park, one of Belgium’s most scenic regions.

Eat & drink: Book a table at La Manufacture or Le Roannay Restaurant, then round off the afternoon with Belgian pastries, Trappist beer and artisan chocolates in Spa town.

Get there: Singapore Airlines (SIA) flies direct from Singapore to Brussels Airport. Hire a car for the journey to Spa-Francorchamps and to explore the surrounding Ardennes, or take a train to Verviers-Central, where dedicated shuttle buses to the circuit operate during the Grand Prix.

One of six Sprint weekends on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, the Dutch Grand Prix delivers even more on-track action before Sunday’s main race.

Better still, Circuit Zandvoort sits beside the North Sea, making it one of the few venues where you can spend the morning at the circuit before heading to the beach – or catch a 30-minute train into Amsterdam for canal-side dining, world-class museums and boutique shopping.

Stay: Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam for canal-side elegance, Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium (formerly the Conservatorium Hotel) for contemporary luxury beside Museumplein or Pulitzer Amsterdam for classic Dutch charm in the Nine Streets, on the edge of the Jordaan district.

Don’t miss: Explore the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum, browse independent boutiques and cafés in Jordaan and De Negen Straatjes, then experience Amsterdam from the water on an evening canal cruise.

Worth the detour: Spend an afternoon at Zandvoort Beach enjoying seafood and sunset cocktails, or visit Zaanse Schans to see working windmills, traditional cheese makers and centuries-old Dutch houses. If you have more time, Haarlem offers a quieter alternative to Amsterdam with handsome squares, boutique shopping and canal-side cafés.

Eat & drink: Reserve a table at Flore or Restaurant 212, enjoy an Indonesian rijsttafel at Restaurant Blauw, then finish the evening with cocktails at Door 74 or Pulitzer’s Bar.

Get there: SIA flies direct from Singapore to Amsterdam. From the city, Zandvoort is around 30 minutes by train, with additional services running between Amsterdam Centraal and Zandvoort aan Zee during the Grand Prix weekend.

Few races wear their identity as proudly as Monza. The historic Autodromo Nazionale Monza sits within the sprawling Parco di Monza, around 20km north of Milan, and transforms into a sea of Ferrari red when the tifosi (fans) arrive for the Italian Grand Prix.

Known as the “Temple of Speed” for its long straights and flat-out racing, Monza also puts some of Lombardy’s greatest pleasures within reach: Milanese fashion and aperitivo culture in one direction, Lake Como in the other.

Stay: Choose Hotel de la Ville opposite Monza’s Royal Villa if getting to the circuit easily is the priority. For a more indulgent base, stay in Milan at Four Seasons Hotel Milano, set within a former 15th-century convent in the fashion district, or Mandarin Oriental, Milan, close to La Scala and Via Montenapoleone.

Don’t miss: Give Milan at least a day beyond race weekend. Start at the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, continue towards La Scala and spend the afternoon exploring Brera. Closer to the track, visit Monza’s Royal Villa and park or see the Iron Crown and Chapel of Theodolinda at Monza Cathedral – both require timed or reserved entry, so book ahead rather than turning up on spec.

Worth the detour: Make Lake Como your post-race exhale. Stay overnight in Cernobbio, Como or farther up the lake and charter a boat between its villas and waterfront towns: Bellagio Resort & Casoin and Varenna are particularly worthwhile. For the full grand-hotel experience, Villa d’Este in Cernobbio remains one of the lake’s landmark addresses.

Eat & drink: In Monza, try Il Moro for its meeting of Sicilian cooking and Lombard produce or Derby Grill opposite the Royal Villa. Milan warrants something more glamorous: two-Michelin-starred Seta by Antonio Guida for dinner, followed by an aperitivo at the century-old Camparino in Galleria.

Get there: SIA flies direct from Singapore to Milan. Monza is easily reached by train, with buses connecting to the circuit on race days. Alternatively, arrange a private transfer for greater comfort and flexibility.

Nine years after Formula 1 last raced at Sepang, the championship makes an unexpected return to the Malaysian circuit in 2026.

Sepang International Circuit sits near Kuala Lumpur International Airport, south of the capital, making this a natural two-part stop: head to Sepang for the racing, then return to Kuala Lumpur for a city shaped by Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures, tropical energy and one of Southeast Asia’s great food scenes.

Stay: Base yourself in Kuala Lumpur if experiencing the city matters. Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur puts the Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC Park and Bar Trigona outside your door; Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur occupies an equally convenient KLCC position; while EQ Kuala Lumpur offers contemporary luxury between KLCC and Bukit Bintang.

If reducing the journey to Sepang takes precedence, Mövenpick Hotel and Convention Centre KLIA is the more practical upscale alternative near the circuit.

Don’t miss: See the Petronas Twin Towers, then look beyond KL’s skyscrapers. Trace the city’s older layers around Merdeka Square and Chinatown, browse Petaling Street and visit the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia for collections spanning Islamic art, architecture and decorative arts from across the world.

Give Batu Caves a morning of its own: its Hindu temple complex is set within limestone formations reached by the famous 272-step staircase, so arrive early before the heat builds.

Worth the detour: Spend a day in Melaka, about a two-hour drive away; its UNESCO-listed historic centre reflects centuries of Malay, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and British influence. Start around Dutch Square and A Famosa before crossing into the old shophouse quarter around Jonker and Heeren streets. Make lunch Peranakan – dishes such as ayam buah keluak, Nyonya laksa and pongteh are an introduction to the city’s distinctive Chinese-Malay culinary heritage.

Try Peranakan Place Signature at Heeren Street and Atlantic Nonya @ Melaka Raya. For greenery closer to KL, head instead to FRIM in Kepong for forest trails and the 250m Forest Skywalk, with its highest tower rising 50m above the surrounding landscape.

Eat & drink: Kuala Lumpur’s Malay, Chinese and Indian communities have made food one of the best ways to understand the city.

Move between kopitiams, mamaks (open-air stalls) and hawker stalls for nasi lemak, flaky roti canai, banana-leaf rice, satay and char kway teow, then see how Malaysian flavours translate into more polished dining.

Bijan Bar & Restaurant offers an accessible introduction to Malaysian cooking, while Dewakan Restaurant takes indigenous and locally sourced ingredients into tasting-menu territory. End at Bar Trigona, where Malaysian ingredients such as trigona honey find their way into the cocktails.

Get there: SIA flies direct from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Sepang International Circuit is about an hour’s drive from central Kuala Lumpur, so arrange a private transfer on race days. Alternatively, take the KLIA Ekspres towards the airport and continue by taxi or ride-hailing service to the circuit.

Singapore’s original night race, the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, gets an extra dose of adrenaline in 2026 with the country’s first-ever race Sprint, adding competitive racing on Saturday before qualifying and Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Few circuits are as inseparable from their surroundings: the Marina Bay Street Circuit runs through downtown beneath an illuminated skyline, placing hotels, restaurants, museums and waterfront attractions within minutes of the action.

This year’s entertainment adds another draw, with Lana Del Rey, Janet Jackson, The Killers, JJ Lin, Mark Ronson and DJ Snake among the confirmed performers.

Stay: Stay close to the action – the Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore puts you directly on the waterfront; The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore combines Marina Bay views with an impressive contemporary art collection; while Marina Bay Sands goes all-in on spectacle with its rooftop infinity pool, restaurants, shopping and Gardens by the Bay next door.

During race weekend, prioritise circuit access and views when choosing your room – both may prove more valuable than extra square footage.

Don’t miss: Visit National Gallery Singapore, housed across the former Supreme Court and City Hall, to discover Southeast Asian modern art through Singaporean masters such as Georgette Chen, Cheong Soo Pieng and Chua Mia Tee.

Then leave Marina Bay for Joo Chiat and Katong to admire the pastel Peranakan shophouses of Koon Seng Road. Alternatively, wander Tiong Bahru’s distinctive pre-war architecture, market and independent shops.

Save Gardens by the Bay for late afternoon, moving through the mist-filled Cloud Forest and Flower Dome before catching the Supertree Grove’s free Garden Rhapsody light-and-sound show at 7.45pm or 8.45pm.

Worth the detour: Swap skyscrapers for Pulau Ubin. Take a roughly 10-minute bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal – boats generally depart once 12 passengers have gathered rather than following a fixed timetable – then rent a bicycle near the jetty and ride towards Chek Jawa Wetlands.

No advance reservation is normally required for the boardwalk, but check the tides if seeing its exposed intertidal ecosystem matters to you. Go early, bring water, sunscreen and insect repellent, and linger for half a day.

Eat & drink: Let Singapore’s multicultural food culture set the itinerary. Start with kaya toast and kopi, then work through chicken rice, laksa, satay, char kway teow and chilli crab across its hawker centres and neighbourhood restaurants. Maxwell Food Centre is a convenient stop when exploring Chinatown, while Old Airport Road Food Centre is worth the trip for its wide range of local food.

Head to Joo Chiat and Katong for laksa and Peranakan cuisine. At the other end of the spectrum, Michelin-starred Labyrinth reinterprets familiar Singaporean flavours through a contemporary tasting menu.

After dinner, Native draws inspiration from ingredients and spirits across Asia, while the soaring Art Deco interiors of Atlas make the setting as memorable as the cocktails.

Get there: SIA connects Singapore with destinations around the world. On race days, take the MRT to City Hall, Esplanade, Promenade, Raffles Place or Bayfront, depending on your designated gate. Allow extra time if travelling by car due to road closures.

For more information on Singapore Airlines flights to these destinations, visit singaporeair.com.