FM KART 76 Kartódromo de Vila Nova Poiares

In Vila Nova de Poiares, in central Portugal near Coimbra, the FM Kart 76 kartódromo runs one of the country's longest rental layouts: twelve hundred metres of outdoor track, eight metres wide. The fleet is well stocked, with around thirty adult Sodi karts of two hundred and seventy cubic centimetres, Honda-engined child models and two-seaters, all petrol-driven. The length and width of the circuit make it a real playground for anyone who loves speed.

Karting stays open to everyone, no licence or experience needed: a briefing, a helmet, and off you go chasing your best lap. The adult karts are driven from age sixteen, while the youngest take the wheel of the child models, which opens the activity to the whole family. The helmets come with a visor, you string together timed laps and happily return to beat your time. For hours, it is best to check before coming.

Vila Nova de Poiares is a green municipality in central Portugal, at the gateway to the Serra da Lousã and its schist villages. The region is known for its food, notably chanfana, a signature slow-cooked meat dish. Nearby, Coimbra, one of Europe's oldest university towns, unfolds its UNESCO-listed university and its medieval lanes by the Mondego. The area is easily reached by motorway from Coimbra or Porto.