Kartódromo de Abrantes

In Abrantes, in central Portugal by the Tagus, the kartódromo runs an outdoor layout of eight hundred metres in perimeter, seven metres wide. The track has seven right-hand and five left-hand corners, with several possible configurations, enough to vary the fun across sessions. Billed as a safe activity for all ages, it welcomes families and groups in an open setting of the Tagus valley.

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 kart rental and organises competitions, which makes it a gathering point for the region's speed lovers. The variety of layouts lets you adjust the difficulty to the drivers, and people happily return to beat their time. For hours, it is best to check before coming.

Abrantes is a town in central Portugal, set on a hill overlooking the Tagus, in a strategic position that gave it a military role over the centuries. Its castle offers a wide view over the river and the plain, and the town is known for its traditional sweets, the palha de Abrantes. Nearby, the Castelo de Bode dam and its river beaches draw lovers of swimming and water sports. Abrantes is easily reached by motorway from Lisbon, in about an hour.