Formula Center Helsinki

In Helsinki, in the Myllypuro district, the Formula Center occupies an unusual space: it is the only karting track built underground in Finland. Open since nineteen ninety-five, the venue runs an indoor track where you drive petrol karts, fully sheltered from the long Nordic winters. The undercover layout and the technical track make it a year-round playground, just a few hundred metres from the metro station.

Entry is open from a height of one metre forty, up to a maximum weight of around a hundred and thirty kilos, with no licence or experience needed. A briefing, a helmet, and off you go after your best time: a computerised timing system lets you compare laps and liven up races with friends or colleagues. The track takes up to about thirty drivers per group, which makes it a good choice for a birthday or a work outing. On site, a sauna and a dining area round off the visit.

Myllypuro lies east of central Helsinki, directly served by the metro, which makes the karting easy to reach without a car. The Finnish capital, set on the gulf, is worth lingering over for its waterfront, its architecture and its nearby islands, reachable by ferry. It is a handy activity to slot into a city break, especially when cold or rain puts you off heading outdoors.