Lights out, and away we go, with the kids!
For our own F1 adventure, we decided to keep things a complete surprise. We bundled the kids into the car for what they thought was a normal day out, drove straight to the airport and only told them at check in that we were getting on a plane. Their faces were priceless. Destination: Barcelona.
A family base on the Costa Brava Instead of staying in the city, we based ourselves around 40 minutes north of Barcelona in the lovely seaside resort of Pineda de Mar, at a friendly campsite called Camping Enmar.
Pineda de Mar is perfectly placed between the larger, livelier resorts of Calella and Santa Susanna on Spain’s Costa Brava. It felt relaxed and safe, with a wide sandy beach and a genuine Spanish feel, while still having plenty for the kids. After busy days, coming back to the pool at Camping Enmar for a swim and some downtime was ideal.
Building up to race weekend We arrived in Barcelona on a Tuesday, which gave us a couple of days to settle in and enjoy the area before the racing kicked off.
Then we got a fantastic surprise: we discovered that Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was offering a free pit lane walk on the Thursday evening for anyone holding weekend tickets.
As our base in Pineda de Mar was only about a 35‑minute drive from the circuit, we packed the car, stopped for a bit of shopping in the bustling town of Mataró on the way, and headed for the track.
For the kids, it was their first time ever at a circuit. Walking down the pit lane, watching the mechanics working on the cars and even spotting a few drivers was a real “pinch me” moment for all of us. It gave them a completely different appreciation of what happens behind the scenes. Afterwards, we drove back to the campsite and rounded off the day with a dip in the pool.
Making the most of weekend F1 tickets We had general admission tickets for the full weekend, so we took advantage of them and went to the circuit on all three days:
Friday: Free practice and a brilliant chance to explore without huge crowds. Saturday: More practice and qualifying, which really helped build the excitement. Sunday: Race day itself. If you have general admission, Friday is an excellent time to sample the grandstands, as those seats are open to weekend GA ticket holders that day only. It meant we could test different vantage points, soak up the views and then decide on the best places to watch from on Sunday.
We also spent time in the Fan Zone, which was a huge hit with the kids:
Racing simulators Pit stop challenges Driver interviews on the big stage Team merchandise and plenty of F1 activities It is a great way to break up the day and keep younger fans engaged.
Race day with children Sunday meant an early start, with gates opening at 7 am. Traffic was definitely heavier than on the previous days, but with a strong police presence it moved better than we expected. We parked up and made it to the entrance for around 9 am, only to find that many fans had already claimed their viewing spots.
We managed to find a good place to settle in for the day. It was a very hot race day, so having shade and breaks from the sun was essential. The circuit’s Kids Zone was an absolute lifesaver:
Bouncy castle Outdoor games Crafts and activities It gave the children a chance to burn off some energy and allowed us all to cool down out of the direct sun for a while.
We had prepared a freezer bag with ice-cold drinks and plenty of snacks, which made a big difference to both comfort and cost across the day.
The main event The race itself was thrilling, and watching the cars and drivers they usually only see on television was an incredible experience for the kids. The sound, the speed, the atmosphere: it all came together to create one of those core family memories you know will stay with them.
To round off the trip, we fitted in a final day visit into Barcelona before our late evening flight back to Dublin. It was the perfect way to combine a big sporting event with some city exploring and beach downtime.
Why Barcelona is ideal for a family F1 break If you are a family of Formula 1 fans and are considering a race weekend, Barcelona is a fantastic choice:
A short, straightforward flight from Dublin Great choice of coastal resorts to relax in before or after the Grand Prix Easy access to the circuit by car or organised transfers One of the more affordable F1 tickets on the calendar The circuit does still have some work to do around queue times and crowd management in parts, but overall the experience was very positive and we would absolutely go back.
So yes, Formula 1 and kids really do mix. With a bit of planning and the right base, it can be an incredible family holiday.
Next up for us: Monza…
