The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has a reputation — Formula 1’s most glamorous season finale, where racing, luxury, and spectacle blur into one. But what actually happens when you decide to go at the very last minute?

With just over two weeks to spare before race weekend, I made a spontaneous decision to attend the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. I expected tickets to be sold out or wildly overpriced. Surprisingly, that wasn’t the issue. Availability wasn’t the challenge — choosing the right experience was.

Where We Stayed (and Why Dubai Made More Sense)

One thing worth knowing if you’re booking Abu Dhabi last minute: hotel prices escalate quickly.

By the time we were booking, most decent hotels in Abu Dhabi were either sold out or wildly priced. Even hostels were hovering around $300 a night (no, thank you), and five-star hotels easily reached a couple of thousand per night, minimum.

So we stayed in Dubai instead. Our hotel was exactly 59 minutes away, door to door.

Driving in the UAE is relatively easy, and the distance between Dubai and Yas Island is manageable — just over an hour depending on traffic and where you stay in the city. We rented a car, which gave us flexibility without committing to the crazy Abu Dhabi hotel prices.

What made the experience significantly easier was a recommendation from a friend in Bali who previously lived in Dubai. She told me about an app called Zofeur and it genuinely changed the trip.

Zofeur lets you book a professional driver to drive your own car. You can book them per ride, per hour, or even for the full day. This was so helpful especially if you want to have a drink. I ended up driving only once during the entire trip — every other time, a Zofeur picked me up, drove me to the circuit, and dropped me back.

One-way trips were around 150 AED, which, considering race traffic and long days at the track, felt more than worth it. No stress, no parking issues, no navigating after a full day on your feet.

If you’re staying in Dubai and planning to go back and forth to Yas, this is easily one of the smartest decisions you can make.

You can sign up to Zofeur here and get 60 AED off your ride.

*View of the main grandstand from 360 at Sixteen*

The Ticket That Got Away (and the Ones That Didn’t)

My initial find felt almost too good to be true for a last minute ticket: a four-day ticket priced at 2,995 AED, including pit lane access and hospitality-style perks. It wasn’t a traditional grandstand seat and didn’t include premium dining, but for the price, it made sense — which isn’t something you often say about Formula 1.

By the time I was ready to book, it was gone.

At that point, flights were booked and accommodation was sorted, so I pivoted. Grandstand tickets were largely sold out, but single-day hospitality experiences and suites were still available.

I booked 360 at Sixteen, a new hospitality concept located directly at Turn 16 and adjacent to the main grandstands, for one day — priced at 1,995 AED for the day. Unfortunately the full weekend options were sold out but I was hopeful I could score additional tickets for saturday and sunday.

Thankfully a few days later, another option opened up: Garden on Yas — a newly introduced four-day ticket. While pricing started at 2,995 AED, I ultimately went with the highest-tier option, which set me back 3,495 AED. All 4 day tickets included pit lane access, free entry to Yas Island theme parks like Ferrari World, after-race concerts and fans zones.

Suddenly, I had both: one premium hospitality day at 360 at Sixteen, and a four-day Garden on Yas ticket to cover the rest of the weekend.

It wasn’t the original plan, but it ended up shaping the entire weekend in a way I didn’t expect.

Thursday: Pit Lane Walk Chaos (and Why It Was Still Worth It)

Thursday was meant to be about the pit lane walk — one of the biggest perks of a multi-day ticket. Unfortunately, logistics didn’t exactly cooperate.

Driving from Dubai took just over an hour, but delays with the rental car meant I arrived too late for the 10:30 a.m. pit lane walk. Despite being on-site before noon, access had already closed. The frustration wasn’t missing it — it was the lack of clear information.

There was an evening pit lane walk scheduled around 6:30 p.m., but staff couldn’t confirm whether access was guaranteed or capacity-limited. Tickets were even being sold separately through the Abu Dhabi GP app but with no clear assurance. I decided not to spend more.

Instead, to kill a few hours we explored the track, fan zones, merchandise stands, and Yas Mall — which doubles as the parking and shuttle hub.

By evening, the pit lane queue was massive. The line barely moved for half an hour, then stopped completely — until around 7:30 p.m., when organisers finally opened access to everyone. It was crowded and chaotic, but seeing the pit lane at night, under lights, with the garages up close is something most Grands Prix simply don’t offer with a ticket like this.

Was it messy? Yes.

Still worth it? Also yes.

Saturday: Garden on Yas — Better Than Expected

Saturday belonged to Garden on Yas, and I’ll be honest — my expectations were low after Friday. I was wrong.

Located in the gardens of the W Hotel, this experience sits somewhere between a grandstand and full hospitality. Food isn’t included, but the setting is strong: yachts in the marina, cars racing past, and disappearing underneath the hotel itself.

The biggest drawback was confusion around ticket tiers. Garden on Yas offers Platform A, B, and C, but without proper visuals, choosing feels like a gamble. I opted for Platform A, worried that Platform B’s “partial track view” wouldn’t deliver.

Ironically, Platform B ended up having better sightlines for content and photography (although Platform A was the top tier ticket and the most expensive one!)

More frustrating: Platform A wristbands don’t grant access to Platform B, even when it’s less crowded. That restriction felt unnecessary and easily avoidable with clearer communication.

Drinks were expensive — 140 AED for two beers, yes TWO beers (maybe they charged us incorrectly? who knows?) — but the atmosphere was good. DJ sets powered by Ushuaïa Ibiza, with Idris Elba and Calvin Harris across the weekend, gave the space genuine energy.

Sunday: The W Hotel — The Insider View

Sunday was meant to be another Garden on Yas day. Instead, we received an invite to The W, and the entire day shifted.

After missing brunch due to a hotel checkout and an evening flight, we arrived around 3 p.m. The driver parade, especially after Singapore, felt underwhelming — so there were no regrets about missing part of it.

With marina guest wristbands, we took the water shuttle through the marina, weaving past superyachts before walking through paddock-adjacent areas. Along the way, we casually passed David Coulthard mid-interview, and later ran into Lando Norris’ mum — moments that felt entirely unforced, and very Abu Dhabi.

Watching the race from The W was unreal. Seeing the cars race through the hotel itself, with minimal crowds and uninterrupted sightlines, felt like a genuine insider moment. If you want guaranteed views from the comfort of your room or suite, this is the hotel.

Even though a planned paddock mission with Mastercard Arabia didn’t quite materialise, the universe had other ideas — and it delivered.

With four laps to go, we headed down to the marina to watch the fireworks. As Lando Norris was announced World Champion, the sky lit up over Yas Marina — a perfect ending to the season.

*The only hotel where the track literally runs through it.*

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Ticket Strategy (What I’d Do Again)

If you’re choosing tickets here’s what actually makes sense:

One premium day that feels worth the money:

→ 360 at Sixteen

Polished, flexible, and well thought out. Food included matters more than you think.

Best multi-day ticket for atmosphere and access:

→ Garden on Yas

Strong setting and energy, but manage expectations around drink prices and platform access.

If you can swing it:

Race weekend at The W Hotel is unmatched. Watching the cars move through the hotel itself is one of the most unique Formula 1 viewing experiences in the world — but rooms book out fast.

Abu Dhabi rewards layering experiences rather than committing to just one.

Why I’ll Be Back

Abu Dhabi is a proper destination Grand Prix with a world class mall , theme parks, beaches, hotels, nightlife, all wrapped around a circuit built for spectacle.

Not every moment was perfectly organised. But the access, the variety, and the way the weekend unfolded made it one of the most memorable Grands Prix I’ve attended. Chaos and magic often existed at the same time and somehow, that’s exactly what made it work.

Abu Dhabi rewards curiosity. It’s a race that encourages you to move around, try different vantage points, and experience Formula 1 beyond a single seat or grandstand.

That’s why I’ll be back.

I’ll be sharing a full race-weekend vlog and in-depth reviews of 360 at Sixteen and Garden on Yas on YouTube next.

Watch and subscribe here

This article may contain affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase or sign up through some of these links, The Grand Prix Life may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. All recommendations are based on personal experience.

All photographs by Stephanie Srikandi for The Grand Prix Life.
Images may not be reused or reproduced without permission.

A Last-Minute Trip to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: What It Was Really Like