Planning your European vacation around a trip to a theme park is a great way to cater to the interests and attention spans of every age group in your family, whether you have toddlers or teenagers in tow. Time spent on adult hobbies can be exchanged for time spent at the resort, leaving everyone satisfied. And of course, there are plenty of parks easily accessible from the UK, so you can spend a short break centered around them. Disneyland Paris in France, Parc Asterix and Efteling in the Netherlands are all within driving distance. In fact, Disneyland has its own Eurostar station, which takes you directly from London to the park gates. We’ve picked highlights from dozens of theme parks across the continent. Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline-fueled roller coaster that will keep your heart pounding for days, or a fairy tale world filled with magical characters, there’s something here to suit your tastes.
Main photo: Roller coaster at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen (Alamy)
Mickey Mouse welcomes visitors to Disneyland Paris (Alamy)
1. Disneyland Paris
Europe’s most popular theme park, Disneyland Paris, attracts approximately 10 million visitors a year. It’s easy to see why Disney’s fairy tale world is brought to life with extraordinary flair, with plenty of storytelling to inspire young imaginations and plenty of rides to suit all ages and thrill levels. . Regularly changing shows, parades, and seasonal events featuring your favorite Disney characters from Mickey Mouse to Simba make return visits as magical and varied as the first. Disneyland Paris is made up of two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park, and if you’re staying here for more than a day, keep in mind that you can buy a pass that gives you access to both.
Hotels near Disneyland Paris
Entrance to Sesamoaventura, PortAventura Theme Park on the Costa Dorada (Alamy)
2. PortAventura Park, Spain
PortAventura Park, part of PortAventura World along with Caribe Aquatic Park and Ferrari Land, is located just an hour south of Barcelona. The park has six of his worlds to explore, from a Polynesian jungle to an area dedicated to Sesame Street, each with its own atmosphere and rides. Thrill-seekers can head straight to Mexico and the Huracán Condor (a drop tower that plummets participants 100 meters at more than 100 mph), then turn to China and head to the Huracan Condor, Europe’s highest and fastest roller coaster. You should head to the Shambhala roller coaster, one of the. Sesamo Ventura is specially designed for young children, giving them the chance to meet Bert, Ernie and others on mini versions of classic rides.
PortAventura Hotel
Blue Fire at Europa Park (Alamy)
3. Europa Park, Germany
Located on the French border, just south of Strasbourg, Europa Park Resort offers all kinds of entertainment, including thrill rides, family rides, an aqua park, movie theaters, virtual reality experiences, shows, regular special events, and themed events. A large playground with There is also a hotel and a Bavarian-style beer hall. The park is divided into multiple areas, with most areas themed around European countries from Iceland to Russia. There are 13 of his roller coasters on site, with Silver Star and Blue Fire being highlights, and all the loops and corkscrews you need to get your heart pounding. There’s so much to explore that you might want to take advantage of the discounted two-day ticket.
Europa Park Hotels
Chairoplane ride in Tivoli Gardens (Alamy)
4. Tivoli Gardens, Denmark
Tivoli Gardens, a magical old-fashioned amusement park in the heart of the capital Copenhagen, holds a special place in the hearts of every Dane. There are some thrill rides like drop towers and roller coasters, but you’re here for the nostalgic vibe more than the adrenaline rush. Founded in 1843, Tivoli retains much of its original charm, with low-key attractions such as a Ferris wheel and a classic merry-go-round. It’s especially magical at night, when the entire venue is illuminated with circus lights and lanterns.
Hotel Tivoli Garden
5. Parc Asterix, France
Located 40 miles from Paris, a trip to Parc Asterix can easily be combined with a vacation in the French capital. Dedicated to the cartoon character Asterix the Gaulish and his friends, including Obelix the Pigtail, the park is primarily aimed at “young Gauls,” but includes roller coasters, water rides, a bobsled ride, and more. There are also several more thrilling attractions. Your little one will love exploring his six historical worlds within the park, from the land of the Vikings to ancient Rome. If you want to spend a few days in the area, choose from his three themed hotels that are as imaginative as the parks, from floating cities surrounded by trees to medieval villages along canals.
Hotels near Parc Asterix
Peppa Pig Land (Alamy) at Gardaland Resort
6. Gardaland Resort (Italy)
Located on the shores of Lake Garda, Gardaland Resort is the perfect opportunity to combine a theme park visit with a relaxing family vacation. There are attractions for all ages here, with rides that will get your heart pumping and rides that will keep the little ones happy. Families should head straight to Peppa Pig Land (don’t miss your chance to meet Nonno Pig) and Legoland Water Park, which has water rides aimed primarily at younger age groups. Adrenaline junkies will be happy with several roller coasters and Space Vertigo, a 40-meter-high vertical drop tower. New for 2022 is Jumanji: The Adventures, a dark ride based on the film series.
Hotels near Gardaland Resort
Alton Towers Smiler (Alamy)
7. Alton Towers, UK
How many rides and attractions can you fit into a 400-acre theme park? There are just too many for one day or even a weekend, so one visit to Alton Towers just isn’t enough. There are over 40 attractions here, ranging from high-octane to toddler-friendly. If you prefer the former, we recommend queuing up for Smiler (the world’s first 14-loop roller coaster, G-Force 4.5+) and the world’s first lie-down Galactica coaster. Families with young children will want to head straight to CBeebies Land to enjoy laid-back rides themed around Peter and His Rabbit, The Octonaut, Charlie and Lola, and more.
Hotels near Alton Towers
Ferrari Land, part of PortAventura (Alamy)
8. Ferrariland, Spain
Part of the PortAventura World Resort south of Barcelona, Ferrari Land is themed around, you guessed it, legendary Italian sports cars. Have you ever wanted to race against other teams with a tire change in the pit lane, drive around his F1 track in his motion simulator, or join his theater flying around Europe in a Ferrari GT? Then this is definitely the place for you. Even if you have no interest in cars, there’s plenty to enjoy here. The highlight of the thrill rides is Red Force, the tallest (365 feet) and fastest (112 miles per hour) vertical drop roller coaster of any park in Europe.
PortAventura Hotel
Tropical Island, inside the world’s largest freestanding hall (Alamy)
9. Tropical islands, Germany
Even if they can’t control the Caribbean, East Germany will probably suffice. South of Berlin, Tropical Islands is a water world of its own. It’s a huge waterpark divided into several indoor and outdoor themed areas. The indoor section is an extraordinary sight, with a pool, waterfall, slide and beach under an expansive dome roof, all maintained at 26 degrees Celsius all year round. Outside is Amazonia, with more pools and slides, surfing areas and whitewater canals. If you’re looking to reduce your energy consumption, there’s also a sauna and spa, as well as several restaurants with a tropical architecture theme. You can also choose to spend the night in a hotel room, a two-person lodge, a safari tent, or a six-person villa.
Hotels near Tropical Islands
Symbolica (Alamy) in Efteling, Netherlands
10. Efteling, Netherlands
Efteling in the south of the Netherlands has created a magical land inspired by fairy tales and folklore. There are plenty of adrenaline-rich rides for older kids, with several roller coasters including the vertical drop Baron 1898 and the water-jumping Vliegende Hollander. But this is a particularly fascinating place for young children, where they can explore several expertly crafted worlds where they can meet clowns, kings and queens at the Symbolica Palace. Discover dragons and trolls in the fairy tale forest. And the mischievous goblins watching over the capricious Laughland. If you’re staying for a few days, there are plenty of accommodation options.
Efteling Hotel
11. Futuroscope, France
A unique theme park near Poitiers in western France, Futuroscope depicts a futuristic world with fantastical multimedia attractions, where every ride tells a story. That might mean traveling to Mars on a spinning roller coaster, taking dance lessons with a robot on a mechanical arm, or traveling through time with a crazy rabbit, but… Many involve his 4D and holographic effects. Kids will learn how to command the world in Futuropolis and become firefighters and lifeguards.
Hotels near Futuroscope
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Looking to book a trip to Europe in 2022 but haven’t booked your trip yet? Here are some great packages from BA Holidays and Expedia. If you’re still not sure where you want to go or what kind of holiday to book, contact us here. A Designer Travel expert will get in touch to help you arrange your perfect bespoke holiday.
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