I’ve Traveled to 30+ Theme Parks Around the World—Here Are 5 of the Best in Europe

If you enjoy European vacations, then you have probably seen many masterpieces and sipped Aperol in mysterious town squares dating back centuries. You’ve also likely enjoyed the culinary delight of food tasting better than at home. Traveling to Europe is both romantic and a celebration of culture and tradition.

Locals do not usually spend their time in the same places as tourists. Theme parks are an important part of their fun-filled days. Theme parks in Europe are not just for children; they’re cultural landmarks which blend history, storytelling and innovation to create a unique experience that is tied to local traditions.

Since my college years, when I studied abroad, I have been an avid theme park fan and traveler in Europe. I never thought that theme parks in Europe would be worth a trip away from the other attractions at each destination. After arriving in Copenhagen, Denmark and being encouraged to visit Tivoli Gardens I realised what I had missed. Tivoli Garden is a magical park located right in the middle of Copenhagen. Since 1843, it has been a place to escape and enjoy the thrills of themed rides and worlds. Walt Disney’s 1951 visit to Tivoli Garden was no accident. The beautifully landscaped park inspired him.

Culture is often more than a visit to a museum or a culinary tour. Even though I enjoy these activities, I will continue to do so whenever I visit a new place. In recent European travels, I was rewarded by the joys of local culture when I added a day in a theme park. Theme parks are where locals go to relax and have fun on their day off. They also provide a great way to learn about the culture and history of the country.

When he was sharing details about a recent European itinerary of theme parks with a Belgian chocotier during a Belgian layover, he warmly smiled. He said with a gleam in his eye: “I’m happy you know what good life is.”

I have visited Europe’s most beautiful parks on previous trips, and this summer, I took a theme-park road trip around the continent. These are my top five, because of their amazing detail, scope, and storytelling.

Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark

Tivoli Garden, a prototype for other theme parks (notably Disney’s), has been a refuge for Danes since 1843. The park is second in age, only behind Dyrehavsbakken (a family-oriented park 30 minutes away). The park is so well integrated into the city that it’s right across the street of Copenhagen Central Station.

During my visit in the summer, I found that the park is much more. It’s not just a place for kids to get tired. The park offers a variety of thrilling rides and idyllic experiences, similar to a botanical garden. You should start with Rutschebanen (Danish for “roller coaster”), Tivoli’s most iconic attraction. The wooden roller coaster was built in 1914 and is one of the oldest roller coasters still operating. This wooden coaster, which flies through a mountain of steep drops and dark surprises feels like the precursor to Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds. This ride is unique in that it is still one of the five coasters around the world where the speed can be controlled manually by a brake operator. You’ll be captivated by the classic thrills of this historic park and its evocative architecture.

Parc Astérix in Plailly, France

You’d expect to be hesitant about the idea of leaving one of the most beautiful places in the world to spend a day at an amusement park. But when it’s Parc Astérix, let me make the case that it’s worthy of the hour trip north for a day of meticulously themed fun. The park delights in French humor and satire, drawing inspiration from the beloved French comic series “Astérix” and its ancient Western European setting. The park has built a series of immersive lands, including those inspired by Greece, Rome, Nordic Vikings and more. It also boasts more than 40 rides, attractions and shows that are full of charm and wonder.

Of all the park’s top thrills, it was its low-fi, storybook small boat ride, La Rivière d’Elis, that won my heart. The simplicity of this family boat ride can make it easy to overlook. The four-seater canopied boat ride through the Gardens of Olympia is the type of peaceful escape that would be admired if it was located in a central Parisian park. Add to that the powerful launches of Toutatis – which are now among my favorites coasters around the globe – the unexpected splashes of their pirates’ themed water ride La Revanche des Pirates and my rousing roars of cheers as I watched divers dive 80 feet high at the park’s Les Plongeons de l’Olympe show – and you have a park where you can leave with a renewed vigor and happiness.

Efteling Kaatsheuvel is located in the Netherlands.

Mention Efteling—a theme park located an hour outside Amsterdam—to any Dutch person, and you’ll immediately evoke a warm recognition of childlike joy. This world-class park has been entertaining families (and more recently tourists) since 1952. It is a shining source of Dutch pride. This is Europe’s most popular theme park. Over five million people visit the park each year to enjoy its intricately themed worlds, and genre-defining rides.

I returned to the park this summer and was again impressed by its impressive size. The park covers 178 acres, with whimsical gardens, lush forest, and hidden pathways that make you feel like you are in a living, magical world, rather than a theme-park. Danse Macabre adds to the already outstanding lineup of park attractions. The new dark spinning ride is inspired by Camille Saint-Saëns’ 1874 symphonic tone poem, and revealing any more details would detract from the ride’s ghostly allure. Droomvlucht remains one of the best dark rides I’ve ever experienced. De Vliegende Hoelder is a boat-meets coaster that has a few exciting surprises. A YouTube ride-through will ruin the experience. The park’s fountain show at night, which is powerful but graceful in its creative way, brings tears to my eyes.

Europa-Park Rust in Germany

Ed and Edda, a cheeky European version of the famous theme park mice couple, will never be an iconic silhouette. Their playful nature is the perfect match for this sprawling 230-acre themed land, which includes 17 European countries, and over 100 attractions. The Mack Family is the owner of this park, which has a rich history as a manufacturer and distributor of roller coasters, dark rides, and other high-quality rides. Their family started building carriages in 1780. This park has a modern aesthetic and impressive engineering.

The park is a masterpiece of detail. I returned this summer and was reminded how much thought has been put into each element. You’re greeted by long queues before the rides begin. This is especially true for Wodan Timbur Coaster – a wooden coaster that’s incredibly fast and travels across the park. I was shocked by the numerous engineering feats that went into Voltron, a coaster that debuted in 2024, especially during its first launch, which quickly climbs a staggering beyond-vertical 105° ascent. The “Phantom of the Opera”, a VR coaster themed park (which opened in 2024), left me the most spellbound. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is brought to life in this immersive experience. It’s perfectly timed with the twists, drops and turns of a real roller coaster. You must see it (via a VR headset) to believe it.

Erlebnispark Tripsdrill in Cleebronn, Germany

Set amidst the rolling hills and vineyards of southwestern Germany’s Württemberg region, about 45 minutes from Stuttgart, Erlebnispark Tripsdrill is Germany’s oldest amusement park, one that, much like the region’s wines, has only grown richer with age. Erlebnispark Tripsdrill, while not as big or grand as the aforementioned amusement parks, offers a premium day out for all ages. The park’s unique homages to traditional German culture are complemented by its thrilling thrill rides and picturesque countryside. The Swabian heritage of the area is told through local characters and inventors. The park is full of quirky touches, such as an animatronic character heaving in a barrel that you can see after exiting the fast-paced Karacho or an outhouse with a door that opens to reveal a bawdy splash of water. This is the strangest, most quirky and all-around charming park I have ever visited. A visit will give you a great laugh as well as a thrill.

Honorable Mentions

Toverland, Netherlands

Toverland, one of the most innovative parks in the world for families, amazed me with its attention. Rides like the gleeful Maximus’ Blitz Bahn electric bobsleigh run and the forceful Fēnix Fiery wing coaster might attract crowds, though it’s rides like Merlin’s Quest boat ride and the Pixarus sky fly that will be on my mind for years to come.

Walibi Belgium, Belgium

The new Mecalodon triple-launch family coaster was my top priority on my first trip to Walibi in Belgium last summer. The new coaster, which has plenty of airtime, a swift speed and covers a large area in the new Dock Bay, is a complete success. This park has a vibrant, adrenaline-filled energy with a great lineup of coasters. The towering Kondaa Steel Coaster, the fun Tiki-Waka Family Coaster and the powerful splashdown of Pulsar are all highlights.

Plopsaland De Panne, Belgium

Theme park for children based around Studio 100, the Belgian media company which produces children’s television shows. The Ride to Happiness – the park’s main attraction – isn’t just for kids. I was excited to visit the park because I had heard that it has one of the world’s best roller coasters. I can now gush about my experience. This coaster is a wild mayhem with two commanding launch that sends you inverting and spinning into bliss.

Phantasialand, Germany

Phantasialand is a rare theme park that offers rides as innovative as its theming. Taron is the fastest multi-launched coaster in the world. It spins an amazing web through a volcanic valley. It is an absolute joy to ride but even more so to watch the track cross itself more than one hundred times. Other attractions are also worth mentioning, including the FLY, the flying roller coaster, Mystery Castle, which is considered one of best drop rides on the planet, and Chiapas, the enchanting log flume that has the steepest drop in the entire world.

Disneyland Paris France

The heart of Paris is just a short train ride away. Disneyland Paris The most popular theme park on the continent. My last visit was a few decades ago, but I still remember the park’s unique French touches and many delights. Crush’s Coaster spins you around in the same ocean current as Crush does in “Finding Nemo.” Phantom Manor is a darker and more mysterious version of Disney Parks Haunted Mansion, which will appeal to fans. But the charm of this park lies in its simple and consistent themeing. La Tanière du Dragon steals the show, featuring a towering dragon that lies in wait beneath Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.