Dinokart - Kartódromo da Lourinhã

In Lourinhã, on Portugal's west coast, Dinokart runs an outdoor kartódromo of nine hundred and twenty metres, a modern layout rich in technical corners. You drive petrol-engined karts of two hundred cubic centimetres, open to all drivers, with lap timing that keeps the drive to do well going. The length of the circuit leaves real room to overtake and polish your lines, far from small city tracks.

Karting stays open to everyone, no licence or experience needed: a briefing, a helmet, and off you go chasing your best lap. The venue offers individual sessions and group events, enough to please families and friends out to challenge each other alike. The format suits beginners as well as regulars, and people happily return to beat their time. For hours and prices, it is best to check before coming.

Lourinhã is a small town in the Oeste region, nicknamed Portugal's dinosaur capital for the wealth of its fossil and egg deposits dating from the Jurassic, to discover in its museum. The nearby Atlantic coast unfolds its beaches and cliffs, popular with surfers and seafood lovers. The region, between countryside and shore, is easily reached by motorway from Lisbon, a little over an hour's drive north of the capital.