Bergen Gokartsenter

In Straume, on the island of Sotra west of Bergen, the Bergen Gokartsenter bills itself as the first electric karting centre in Norway. The indoor track is set in a car park, sheltered from the fickle weather of the west coast, and runs quiet, emission-free electric karts. People come for a few indoor sessions, just a quarter of an hour from the centre of Bergen.

The choice of electric gives brisk acceleration and an immediate feel, pleasant for beginners and regulars alike. The track opens much of the week, in the evening from Monday to Friday and all day at the weekend, which makes it an easy outing to fit in. Helmet and gear are provided on site for races among friends, family or colleagues.

Bergen, the second city of Norway, is the great gateway to the fjords, famous for its Hanseatic wharf of Bryggen, listed as world heritage, and its funicular climbing Mount Fløyen. The rain there is legendary, which makes an indoor track all the more welcome. The Bergen Gokartsenter adds a dose of modern motorsport a short way from the city of seven mountains.

The permanent closure of the old children's track has refocused the offer on electric karting for all, in a hall easy to reach from the island of Sotra. People gladly book online before coming, especially at busy weekend hours. Between the Hardanger and Sogne fjords, reachable on a day trip from Bergen, and the wooden lanes of the old town, the region offers plenty to extend the outing well beyond the laps.