Gokart Sportaréna

In Budapest, in the Zugló district, in the north-east of Pest, Gokart Sportaréna offers a covered karting track, drivable whatever the weather. You drive petrol karts here, on a sheltered layout that makes it an easy outing all year, away from the vagaries of the weather. People come as a family or with friends for a few timed laps, in a format built around instant fun and racing among friends.

Karting stays open to all, with no licence or experience: a briefing, a helmet, and you head off to find your best lap on the covered layout. Pricing comes by the session, and the short format suits beginners as much as regulars working on their lines. Everyone tries to set the best time, and people happily come back to beat it. For opening times and prices, it is best to check before coming, as it gets busy at weekends.

Zugló is a green residential district in the north-east of Pest, close to the large Városliget city park. This green lung of Budapest is home to Heroes' Square, Vajdahunyad Castle and the famous Széchenyi thermal baths, among the largest in Europe. The historic centre, with the neo-Gothic Parliament, Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge, is quickly reached by metro. Budapest, crossed by the Danube and UNESCO-listed for its riverbanks, has a thousand discoveries once the race is over.