Gokart - Firuzköy

In Firuzköy, in the Avcılar district, on the European side of Istanbul, this open-air circuit offers karting in the west of the metropolis, near the Küçükçekmece lagoon. The outdoor layout is driven in the open air, and people gather as a family or with friends to string together timed laps. It is a local option for the residents of this residential area, after a dose of speed without crossing the whole city.

Karting stays open to all, with no licence or experience: a briefing, a helmet, and you head off to find the best line. The format suits families, groups of friends and birthdays, in the relaxed mood typical of neighbourhood tracks. As the activity takes place outdoors, it is best to check opening times and prices by season before coming. People rarely leave after a single run, the friendly rivalry and the urge to do better soon taking over.

Avcılar is a district in western Istanbul, stretched between the Sea of Marmara and the large Küçükçekmece lagoon, a brackish body of water fringed by natural areas and birds. The quarter is home to a campus of Istanbul University and a seafront popular for a stroll. The historic centre of the metropolis, with Hagia Sophia, the Topkapı palace and the Grand Bazaar, remains reachable by the metro and metrobus that run along the coast. Its position, at the western entrance to the city, is handy for anyone arriving by motorway from Thrace or the airport.