Olimpik Gokart

In Bağcılar, on the European side of Istanbul, Olimpik Gokart lays out one thousand seven hundred metres of covered track, which makes it one of the longest karting circuits in the country, billed as the largest indoor track in Turkey. Such a length changes everything: where most urban tracks run short, here you get a real layout, with long straights and sequences of bends to hunt for the best line. All of it under cover, drivable whatever the weather.

Karting stays open to all, with no licence or experience: a briefing, a helmet, and you head off to find your best lap on this exceptional layout. The length of the track leaves real chances to overtake and to build up speed, enough to appeal to beginners and confident drivers alike. People come for the rarity of a circuit of this size in the middle of the city, and return to shave seconds off over the sessions, alone or in a group.

Bağcılar is a large working-class district of western Istanbul, well linked to the rest of the metropolis by metro and major roads. The historic centre, with Hagia Sophia, the Topkapı palace and the Grand Bazaar, remains reachable by public transport to round off the day with a wander through the old city. The closeness of shopping centres and business districts makes it a handy stop for groups and outings with friends. Istanbul, a city on two continents, has a thousand other things to see once the race is over.