Kartódromo internacional de Braga

In Palmeira, near Braga in northern Portugal, the Kartódromo Internacional de Braga is one of the country's major racing circuits, with an outdoor layout of twelve hundred and eighty-six metres. You drive petrol-engined karts, Sodi and CRG of three hundred and ninety cubic centimetres, along with two-seaters for riding with company. The length and quality of the circuit make it a gathering point for speed lovers and seasoned drivers of the Minho alike.

Karting stays open to everyone, no licence or experience needed: a briefing, a helmet, and off you go chasing your best lap. The length of the layout leaves real room to overtake and polish your lines, and the format suits families as well as groups out to test themselves against the clock. The track is open almost every day, with a midday break, so it pays to check the hours before coming. People happily return to beat their time.

Braga is one of Portugal's oldest cities, the historic and religious capital of the Minho, known for its lively baroque centre. Nearby, the sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, with its monumental zigzag stairway and its water-powered funicular, offers a wide view over the city and is among the most visited sites in the north. Guimarães, the cradle of the nation, is a few kilometres away. Braga is easily reached by motorway from Porto, in about forty minutes.