Family Go Karting Tenerife: Is It Safe and Worth It?

We visited Karting Club Tenerife during our October half-term trip with our 7-year-old son, Joshua, who had never driven a go-kart before. Before booking, we wanted to know whether go karting Tenerife was actually safe for young children, whether they'd get enough time on the track to justify the cost, and whether it was worth taking time away from the hotel.

Quick Answer: Is Go Karting in Tenerife Good for Families?

Yes, particularly if you have children who enjoy cars, racing or trying something a little different from the usual holiday activities.

The children's karts were heavily speed restricted and, from an adult perspective, they moved at what felt like a fairly relaxed pace. Watching our son go around the track was almost comical because it felt so slow compared to the adult karts. However, from his perspective, he was a real racing driver and took the whole experience very seriously.

Safety was clearly a priority. Helmets were mandatory, the junior karts were much smaller than the adult versions and staff closely supervised the track throughout the session.

Was it worth the money? I'd say yes, although the actual driving time is shorter than many parents might expect. Our session lasted around 12 minutes on track. When several family members are participating the costs can add up, but we're still glad we did it.

Would we do it again? Definitely. In fact, it would probably be one of Joshua's first requests if we returned to Tenerife.

In this review, I'll share our experience of family go karting in Tenerife, including the kart options available for children, how safe it felt, what the session was like and whether we'd recommend it to other families.

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Why We Chose Go Karting in Tenerife

We were looking for a shorter activity that could fit around some of the larger excursions we'd already booked.

Earlier that day we'd been kayaking and snorkelling, so we didn't want to commit to another half-day experience. Instead, we wanted something fun, easy and relatively quick that would give us a different experience from the pools, water parks and beaches we'd spent most of the week enjoying.

The main reason we chose go karting was simple: Joshua was desperate to try it.

He'd never been behind the wheel of a go kart before and was fascinated by the idea of driving his own vehicle. Once he discovered there were karts designed specifically for younger children, it quickly moved to the top of his holiday wishlist.

Although we booked our session in advance, I don't think it was absolutely necessary during October half term. The venue was relatively quiet and walk-ins appeared to be accommodated throughout the day.

For more activities we'd genuinely recommend, see The Tenerife Excursions We'd Book Again (And Which We Wouldn't).

Which Go Karting Track We Visited

We visited Karting Club Tenerifem located at Parque de la Reina, just off Exit 66 of the TF-1 motorway. The circuit is around a 15-20 minute drive from Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife, where we stayed, making it an easy activity to include during a family holiday.

We hired a car for part of our trip, so we drove ourselves and found the venue easy to reach. Parking was plentiful and we had no problem finding a space when we arrived. If you're not planning to hire a car, Karting Club Tenerife also offers free transfers from many of Tenerife's main tourist areas, which makes it accessible for families staying elsewhere on the island.

Our first impression was very positive. The venue felt much larger and more professional than we expected, with separate tracks for different age groups and a good viewing area overlooking the circuit. Joshua spent quite a while watching the karts from above before his session, getting more and more excited as he waited for his turn.

If you're debating whether a hire car is worthwhile during your holiday, see Driving in Tenerife With Kids: Easy Family Holiday or Unnecessary Stress?

Booking, Arrival and Check-In

We booked our session in advance, but after visiting I don't think it was strictly necessary during October half term. The venue was relatively quiet and there were plenty of available time slots throughout the day, so walk-ins appeared to be welcome.

There are a few different ways to book. You can reserve directly through the Karting Club Tenerife website, turn up and book on the day if there is availability, or book through platforms such as GetYourGuide. One advantage of using GetYourGuide is that many bookings come with free cancellation, which can be useful if your holiday plans change or the weather isn't playing ball.

We actually contacted the venue before our visit to move our booking to a later time and they were extremely accommodating, adjusting our session without any issues.

The whole experience felt relaxed and well organised from the moment we arrived. Check-in was quick and straightforward, although we did need to complete the usual forms and waivers before Joshua could take part.

The venue certainly wasn't crowded during our visit. There were other drivers on the track, but it never felt busy, rushed or overly commercial. Instead, it felt like a well-run local attraction where families could simply turn up and enjoy themselves.

From arrival to leaving, I'd estimate the entire experience took around 30 to 45 minutes, with roughly 12 minutes of actual track time. That's one of the reasons it worked so well for us. It's not a half-day excursion, but rather a short activity that can easily be added onto another day out, which is exactly what we did after our kayaking and snorkelling trip.

What Kart Options Were Available for Children?

One of the things I liked most about Karting Club Tenerife was that they genuinely cater for a wide range of ages, making it accessible for families with children of different ages rather than just older teenagers and adults.

When we visited, there were several kart categories available:

• Tandem Karts (Ages 3-5): Designed for one adult and one child travelling together. These are a great introduction for younger children who aren't old enough to drive independently but still want the experience of being out on the track.

• Pony Karts (Ages 6-9): The option Joshua used. These karts are specifically built for younger drivers and run on a dedicated junior track.

• Junior Cadet Karts (Ages 10-14): A step up from the Pony Karts, offering a faster and more realistic karting experience for older children.

• Teen and Adult Karts (15+): Larger, more powerful karts that use the main circuit.

Joshua was 7 when we visited, so he drove one of the Pony Karts, which are aimed at children aged 6 to 9 years old. As a parent, I immediately felt reassured because the karts are much smaller than the adult versions and heavily speed restricted. Watching from the side of the track, it honestly looked quite slow, but from Joshua's perspective he felt like a professional racing driver.

What worked particularly well was that the children's track felt completely appropriate for younger drivers. They had enough freedom to feel independent, while still operating in a controlled environment designed specifically for their age group.

One thing I'd recommend before booking is checking the latest age, height and kart category requirements. The child's age will determine which track and kart they can use, and this can make a big difference to the overall experience.

Safety: Did It Feel Suitable for Kids?

Safety was one of my biggest concerns before booking, but I came away reassured.

Every child was required to wear a helmet, and these weren't small helmets either. They were proper racing helmets that looked almost oversized on the younger children.

Before entering the track, staff provided a briefing covering:

• Basic controls

• Track rules

• Safety procedures

• What to do if there was a problem

The children's karts were speed restricted and constantly supervised. The circuit was protected by barriers and staff members monitored activity throughout the session.

Most importantly, the speed felt very appropriate for younger children. There was never a point where we felt uncomfortable watching Joshua drive independently.

What Our Child Thought

Joshua was excited long before he even sat in the kart. He spent much of the waiting time watching the circuit, asking questions and trying to decide how fast he thought he'd be able to go.

Once he was on the track, any nerves disappeared almost immediately. His favourite part was having his own kart and being able to drive independently without an adult sitting alongside him. From his perspective, this was a genuine racing experience.

The best indication of how much he enjoyed it? As soon as it finished, he asked whether he could do another session.

How Long Do You Need for Go Karting?

Not very long. This is one of the reasons I think it works so well as a family activity. The actual track session lasts around 12 minutes, while the entire experience including arrival, briefing and driving takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes.

If you're driving from another part of Tenerife, you'll obviously need to add travel time, but I wouldn't consider this a half-day excursion. It's much better thought of as a short activity that can be combined with other plans. That's exactly what we did, and it worked perfectly.

Is It Worth the Cost?

For children, I actually think it offers reasonable value. We paid roughly €10-15 for Joshua's session, which initially felt a little expensive considering the track time is only around 12 minutes.

However, when I compared it with karting experiences in the UK, it started to look much better value. It's difficult to find many karting sessions at home for under £30. As an introduction to karting for younger children, I thought it was a worthwhile experience. More importantly, Joshua absolutely loved it.

If we returned to Tenerife tomorrow, I'd have no hesitation bringing him back.

What We'd Do Differently Next Time

Honestly, not much. The activity worked exactly as we hoped it would.

The only thing we'd probably change is allowing a bit more time afterwards, as Joshua was keen to watch some of the older drivers and spend longer around the circuit once his session had ended.

Final Verdict: Would We Recommend Go Karting in Tenerife?

Yes. Go karting isn't a full-day attraction and it's not the sort of activity most families will build an entire holiday around. However, as a short, fun experience for children, we thought it worked really well.

It felt safe, well organised and genuinely enjoyable for younger drivers. Joshua loved every minute of it, and while the actual driving time is relatively short, it was one of the experiences he talked about most afterwards.

If you're exploring Tenerife and looking for something different from beaches, pools and water parks, family go karting is absolutely worth considering.

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About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.