The best amusement parks around the world

Amusement parks are not just great fun for children. Young-at-heart adults will also get their money’s worth here. There are some truly great parks around the world that you absolutely have to see, or should visit again and again. Here I have put together my very personal list of amusement parks that I think are worth visiting:

Amusement parks in Europe

Disneyland in Paris

The landmark of Disneyland in Paris is the enchanted Sleeping Beauty Castle. Disneyland Paris includes not only the theme park, but also Walt Disney Studios, the Disney Village entertainment center with dining, shopping, entertainment and accommodation options, as well as Golf Disneyland with its golf course. Here you can immerse yourself in the fantasy world of Disney films and also take a look behind the scenes of Disney movies. The highlight is Disneyland Park with its 5 themed lands. In Frontierland, everything is themed around the Wild West. Take a thrilling ride on the legendary “Big Thunder Mountain” roller coaster or get spooked in the haunted house “Phantom Manor.” In Adventureland, adventure playgrounds, fairytale towns and Adventure Isle await you. On Main Street USA, you can indulge in browsing, shopping and enjoying yourself.

Address:
Disneyland Resort Paris
F-77777 Marne-la-Vallée
Tel. no.: 0810 002345
Website: www.disneylandparis.de

Europa-Park Rust in Germany

Europa-Park in Rust is one of the largest amusement parks in the German-speaking region. Here you will find 14 themed worlds based on European countries, such as Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria or Spain, etc. In addition to 12 roller coasters, more than 100 attractions, rides and shows ensure a fantastic day. Famous attractions include the Swiss Bobsled Run, the “Matterhorn Blitz” and the indoor roller coaster “Eurosat.” With the Hyper Coaster “Silver Star,” you race along its tracks at top speeds of 130 km/h, and at 73 m it is the tallest roller coaster in Europe.

Address:
Europa-Park, Europa-Park-Str. 2
77977 Rust
Tel.: 07822/776688
Website: www.europapark.de

Gardaland amusement park on Lake Garda in Italy

Right near beautiful Lake Garda lies the Gardaland amusement park with a total of 3 different themed areas. With over 40 attractions for toddlers, teenagers and young-at-heart adults alike, this park offers an action-packed day. Roller coaster fans will love the rides on “Raptor,” “Blue Tornado” and “Magic Mountain” in the adrenaline-themed area, while toddlers will be thrilled by the beautifully colorful fantasy world of “Baby Corsaro,” “Baby Pilota” and a teacup carousel. Families are in great hands in the “Ramses” ghost train, on the “Colorado Boat” and in the Adventure Park’s 4-D cinema.

Address:
Gardaland, Via Derna 4
37014 Castelnuovo del Garda
Tel.: +39-0456449777
Website: www.gardaland.it

PortAventura in Barcelona, Spain

The PortAventura amusement park is located south of Barcelona, right next to the popular holiday resort of Salou in Spain. The park comprises 6 themed worlds with over 40 attractions: China, Far West, SesamoAventura (Sesame Street), Mexico, Polynesia and the Mediterranean. Die-hard coaster fans will be impressed by the “Shambhala” roller coaster. It is not only the tallest roller coaster in Europe, but also the fastest at 134 km/h. “Dragon Khan” boasts countless loops, and the two trains of the dueling wooden roller coaster engage in wild races. A must for visitors is also the “Hurakan Condor” free-fall tower, where you reach a top speed of 115 km/h.

Address:
PortAventura, Av. de l’Alcalde Pere Molas, km 2
43840 Vila-seca, Tarragona, España
Tel. no.: +34 977 77 90 90
Website: www.portaventuraworld.com/de

Phantasialand in Brühl, Germany

Phantasialand in Brühl is one of the pioneers among amusement parks in Europe and was built back in 1967. In this amusement park, more than 30 attractions for the whole family and 6 themed worlds await, such as Fantasy, Deep in Africa, Berlin, Mexico, Mystery and China Town. One highlight is the “Black Mamba” roller coaster, which features a loop and several corkscrews. Also very fun is “Maus au Chocolat,” which impressively combines a variety of sensory effects in a 3-D fun ride. A lovely family adventure is provided by a “Colorado Adventure” ride, where you race through mines.

Address:
Phantasialand
Berggeiststraße 31-41
50321 Brühl
Tel. no.: 0180-6366200,
Website: www.phantasialand.de

Efteling Park in Holland

In Holland, in the heart of North Brabant, the Efteling amusement park stretches out. Here, 4 themed worlds await you: Marerijk (Fairy Realm), Reizenrijk (Travel Realm), Anderrijk (Other Realm) and Ruigrijk (Adventure Realm). Roller coaster fans will greatly enjoy a ride on the “Python.” More fast rides can be experienced on the dueling wooden roller coaster “Joris en de Draak,” the dive coaster Baron 1898 or the water coaster “Vliegende Holländer.” The park specializes in themed rides, so “Fata Morgana,” “Carnaval Festival,” “Droomvlucht” with gondolas and “Hartenhof” delight the whole family. Toddlers won’t be able to get enough of the children’s train, the Fairytale Tree, a vintage car ride or the steam carousel.

Address:
Efteling amusement park
Europaplaan 1
5171 KW Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands
Tel.: +31 416 537 777
Website: www.efteling.com

Liseberg  in Sweden

The Liseberg amusement park in Sweden is the largest amusement park in Scandinavia and offers over 35 attractions. You can experience a wonderful up-and-down ride on “Balder.” The family will enjoy a ride on the 60 m high Ferris wheel. The new “Helix” roller coaster is the longest in the park at 1.4 km and the fastest at 100 km/h. A flight on the “Aero-Spin,” where you can fly high in the air, is full of adrenaline. A special experience is promised by a ride on “Mechanica,” which reaches a height of 30 meters.

Address:
Örgrytevägen 5
402 22 Gothenburg, Sweden
Tel. no.: +46 31 40 01 00
Website: liseberg.com

Legoland in Günzburg, Germany

For years, Lego has been a hit toy with children. In Günzburg in Bavaria, one of the most child-friendly amusement parks in all of Germany has been created around this theme. Here, more than 50 attractions with a total of 8 themed areas await you, such as the Entrance Area, MINILAND, Imagination, LEGO X-Treme, Land of the Knights, Land of Adventure, Land of the Pirates and LEGO City. In MINILAND, you can marvel at many famous buildings made with LEGO models from over 25 million LEGO bricks, such as Venice or Neuschwanstein. In the LEGO X-Treme area, you should dare to take a thrilling ride on the “Fire Dragon” or the “Flying Ninjago.”

Address:
LEGOLAND Germany
LEGOLAND Allee 2
89312 Günzburg
Tel. no.: 0180-670075701
Website: www.legoland.de

Amusement parks worldwide

Disneyland in Anaheim, USA

Disneyland is probably the most famous amusement park and consists of the two parks Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park. The Disney park consists of a total of 8 lands and features a balanced mix of fast and slow rides, adventure rides, shows and street parades. Highlights include thrilling rides in Tomorrowland such as “Space Mountain,” “Rocket Rods” (Disneyland’s fastest ride) and the “Astro Orbiter.” “Star Tours” promises a journey into the galaxy, where you fly between planets and stars using a flight simulator. Here you are also transported to locations from Star Wars, as master director George Lucas was involved in its creation. To find your way around the huge grounds, it is advisable to purchase an overview map at the ticket office.

Address:
1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
Tel. no.: +1 714-781-4636
Website: disneyland.disney.go.com

Ocean Park in Hong Kong, China

Ocean Park is an amusement park on Hong Kong Island in China and, as the name suggests, specializes in the theme of “marine habitat.” The park is divided into “Highland” and “Lowland” and connected by a gondola lift. There are also 8 themed areas on the park grounds: Headland Rides, Adventure Land, Amazing Asian Animals, Marine Land, Lowland Gardens, Whisker’s Harbour, The Rainforest and Tai Shu Wan Entrance. In addition to a total of 10 attractions, there are also some animals on the park grounds. Highlights are the 2 roller coasters “Zamperla-Bahn” and the double-looping roller coaster “Dragon.”

Address:
Ocean Park, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Tel. no.: +852 3923 2323
Website: www.oceanpark.com

Beto Carrero World, Penha, Brazil

The Beto Carrero World park is the largest in Latin America and features 9 themed areas with roller coasters, various carousels and shows. The themed areas are: Avenida das Nações, Mundo Animal (Animal World), Vila Germânica (Germanic Village), Velho Oeste (Old West), Ilha dos Piratas (Pirates’ Island), Aventura Radical (Extreme Adventure), Madagascar and Terra da Fantasia (Fantasy Land). A highlight is the Elevador-Torre do Terror (Free Fall); here you can experience a free fall from a height of 50 meters at speeds of up to 90 km/h. The “Star Mountain” roller coaster is also one of the most famous attractions in the park: with speeds of up to 90 km/h and a height of 35 meters, roller coaster fans will certainly get their money’s worth.

Address: 
Rua Inácio Francisco de Souza, 1597 – Praia de Armação, Penha – SC, 88385-000, Brazil
Tel. no.: +55 47 3261-2222
Website: www.betocarrero.com

Do you also have a tip for a really great amusement park? Then I would be happy to receive comments or emails about it.

Also read: Family outing to Familypark St. Margarethen