French Grand Prix ⋅ Transport

Getting to the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard

Marseille (44km), Toulon (33km) and Aix-en Provence (61km) all make good bases for Grand Prix goers. Nice at 165km away is a useful point of entry to the region but a bit far for the daily commute to the circuit.

Flights

Though Circuit Paul Ricard has the distinction of having an international airport on site in the form of Le Castellet Airport, this caters to private planes only and most visitors arriving by air will want to look for flights to either Marseille which is closer or Nice which is favoured by many budget airlines like Easyjet.

Driving and Parking

Once in the region driving is one of the most practical ways of getting to the Circuit Paul Ricard. Many rental car companies operate out of Marseille, Nice and Toulon and ample parking is available beside the circuit. From the motorway A50, take exit 11 and follow Le Beausset – Aubagne – Circuit du Castellet.

Around the circuit it’s best to ignore the directions of your GPS and look out for the local gendarmes directing traffic. Poor planning in 2018 meant that traffic was gridlocked for hours and although the circuit have vowed to take actions to ensure there is no repeat of that it is advisable to leave with plenty of time to get there, even on Friday.

Train

There are stations at Toulon and Marseille and Aix-en-Provence. TGV connections to these towns make it very convenient entry point from other destinations on the Paris – Marseille line or the Genoa – Nice – Barcelona line.

The nearest train station to the circuit is Bandol, but at 20km away still leaves you quite far from your destination. You may be able to catch a taxi from here but its no guarantee so if you do plan to arrive via Bandol its worthwhile arranging one in advance.

Shuttle Bus

Official shuttle bus routes operate from Marseille, Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, Hyères, La Ciotat and Aubagne. At Paul Ricard, buses pick up and drop off fans at parking area D.

The buses are operated by Isilines and fares start at an eye-watering €62 for a one day return transfer or €135 for 3 days. Tickets can be bought here, and note that tickets must be printed – tickets shown on a mobile device won’t be accepted.

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