From themed lands based on European countries, to state of the art rollercoasters, rides and attractions, Germany’s #1 theme park, Europa Park, isn’t widely promoted in the UK, but it should be. This fabulous and sprawling theme park is impressive, with luxury onsite resort hotels, a massive indoor waterpark and best of all, great transport links with the UK. Here, we’ll take a look at the best Europa Park rides and attractions.
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THE HISTORY OF EUROPA PARK
Last updated 22nd January 2024.
Located in a small town called Rust in south west Germany, fairly close to the borders of France and Switzerland, Europa Park opened its gates for the first time in 1975. Founded by the Mack family (who incidentally build rollercoasters and theme park rides), the park took inspiration from the US theme parks visited by founder Franz Mack and his son Roland. By its third year in operation, it had hit over a million visitors. It now sits as the 3rd most popular theme park in Europe – 5.4 million people passed through the gates in 2022. Still owned and operated by the Mack family, the charm, attention to detail and passion are all still evident.
WHY VISIT EUROPA PARK?
The park is made up of 18 themed areas (mostly themed to European countries), each with a wide variety of rides, rollercoasters, shows and restaurants. The majority of the rides in the park are designed and built by Mack (apart from a couple of the larger rollercoasters) – the benefits of this being smooth running and operation. Breakdowns are rare and usually fixed quickly. Ride operations are efficient – the queues move at a pace I haven’t seen at any other theme park. This is almost an annoyance given the amount of attention to detail and theming throughout the queue lines – you barely get a chance to take it all in.
Guest experience is key at Europa Park. The theming and surroundings are well kept and every small detail is considered within the themed areas, even down to the toilet block decor. Whilst there is an incredibly long list of Europa Park rides and attractions, we’ll take a look at some of the highlights, along with a glimpse of the resort hotels and large indoor water park.
EUROPA PARK RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS
With over 100 rides and attractions, Europa Park caters to everyone’s needs. From thrill seekers, to water ride fans, family friendly rides to high quality shows, there really is something for everyone. The theme park is an attraction within itself, with beautifully landscaped gardens and areas where guests can meader and enjoy their surroundings.
It’s not just the Europa Park rides that impress. Food and drink options are endless and sublime. Whether it’s a barista coffee in Scandi surroundings, or food delivered to your table by rollercoaster, you’ll find it at Europa Park. Lovers of fine dining can also take on a brand new experience that takes them on a sensory journey at Eatrenalin.
Back to the rides, each themed country has its signature Europa Park rides – some classics that have stood the test of time, and other new and modern coasters that push the boundaries.
REACH DIZZYING HEIGHTS AND HIGH SPEEDS IN FRANCE
Starting off with the most visible of Europa Park rides, SILVER STAR stands tall at the front of the park in the French area. A 240 foot tall hypercoaster with a maximum speed of 127kmh, this coaster is great fun and packed with airtime hills, heading out and back across the car park.
France was also the home of the retro EUROSAT indoor space themed rollercoaster, rethemed as EUROSTAR: CAN CAN COASTER. Yes that’s correct, a rollercoaster themed around the Can Can dance and the Moulin Rouge. Only Europa Park could get away with something so camp and unusual. Located in a giant silver globe in the centre of the French area, this dark coaster is great fun.
EXPERIENCE THRILLING WINTER THEMED EUROPA PARK RIDES IN SWITZERLAND
The Swiss area of Europa Park transports you into the mountain villages of Switzerland with quaint wooden log chalets and streams running through the cobbled streets.
The main attractions of this area are SCHWEIZER BOBBAHN, a Swiss Bob coaster winding down a metal ice run, and the MATTERHORN BLITZ – the park’s wild mouse ride. This is a fabulous area of the park, with small narrow streets and alleyways, and the ride queue lines are great fun, packed with old school animatronics.
HEAD TO OUTER SPACE FROM RUSSIA
Home to another retro space themed rollercoaster, EURO-MIR is a unique spinning coaster where the queue line runs under a scale replica of the Russian Mir Space Station, which also doubles as a walk through attraction. The ride track is built around, and within, five large mirrored glass towers. Another fun ride with some really unique features.
TAKE AN EXHILARATING BOAT RIDE THROUGH TEMPLES IN GREECE
The Greek area of Europa Park is one of the most impressively themed areas within the park. Set around a Mykonos village, featuring a Greek taverna, whitewashed buildings, windmills and temples, the area is visually stunning. The main focal point of the area is the POSEIDON water coaster. A combination of meandering boat ride through ruined temples and a high speed rollercoaster, the ride features some impressive splashdowns. Poseidon is one of the Europa Park rides that’s great for spectators too, with walkways and viewing platforms all around. The Greek area also features the family friendly PEGASUS rollercoaster.
THE BEST EUROPA PARK RIDES IN ICELAND
Iceland is one of the newer areas of Europa Park, and my very favourite. It was actually a new area during my first visit to the park, and having been back many times since, it’s great to see the area’s landscaping has bedded in, along with some new attractions. Featuring some of the most impressive Europa Park rides, the area is immersive and heavily themed.
First up, BLUE FIRE MEGACOASTER is a launched, multi looping rollercoaster, packed with thrills as it races along the track, with near misses through jagged rockwork. The queue line meanders through an Icelandic fishing village with mossy roofed huts and fishing boats. With a dark ride section, special effects, an awesome soundtrack as well as on-board audio, this rollercoaster is the full package.
Expanding the Iceland themed area a few years on, Europa Park installed WODAN – TIMBURCOASTER, the park’s only wooden rollercoaster. Themed around Norse mythology, the queue line area of this ride is absolutely outstanding in terms of theming – equal to Disney or Universal parks. There are fantastic effects and animatronics as you wander through torch lit tunnels before arriving at the large wooden station building. The ride itself is a high speed thrill experience, with plenty of airtime, twists and turns.
Iceland is also home to the family friendly WHALE ADVENTURES. A ‘splash battle’ boat ride through a fishing port, packed with animatronics, great scenery and lots of water, you’re unlikely to come off this ride dry.
RIDE FLUMES AND MINE TRAINS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF AUSTRIA
The Austrian themed area of Europa Park, a beautiful and green area located to the rear of the park, is focused around fun, rather than thrill. With classic rides including the ALPINE COASTER ENZIAN mine train and the TIROLER LOG FLUME, both of which travelled through the amazingly scented DIAMOND MINE – a fun walk through attraction packed full of animatronics.
January 2024 Update: Sadly, the Diamond Mine building was destroyed by fire during the 2023 season, but the area will reopen during the 2024 season with a slightly new theme, with the original rides reworked.
THE EUROPA PARK RIDES OF PORTUGAL
Portugal has a lovely feel of summer, and again, it’s another beautiful part of the park. The main feature here is the large water ride, ATLANTICA SUPERSPLASH. A large boat ride with a tall and wet splashdown, it’s great fun on a warm summer day. A beautifully themed ride station in the form of a fortress, sits next to the large Santa Marian sailboat which is perfect for a cooling drink afterwards.
The above is only a small selection of Europa Park rides, attractions and themed areas. There’s also the opportunity to go rafting in Scandinavia, or take a pirate themed underground boat ride in the Netherlands themed area. 2024 sees the addition of a new Croatia themed area with a brand new multi launched coaster – VOLTRON NEVERA. I think a visit may be on the cards.
A short distance away from the main theme park, Europa Park’s enormous water park, RULANTICA, is a place for water lovers to gather for a fun day out. With over 50 slides and attractions, a large wave pool, 2 pool bars and 3 saunas, there’s plenty on offer for thrill seekers and guests who want to chill out. With much of the waterpark under cover, it’s a year round attraction that adds an extra dimension to a Europa Park visit. Rulantica also has an onsite hotel – the magnificent Museum Hotel ‘Krønasår’.
BOOK PARK TICKETS AND HOTELS STAYS ON THE EUROPA PARK WEBSITE
EUROPA PARK’S FANTASTIC EVENTS
Europa Park also sees a number of seasonal events. The park hosts one of the best Halloween events that I have experienced. Every October, the park is dressed with thousands of pumpkins and squash, with Halloween parades and entertainment. There is an adults only evening event, formerly Horror Nights, which has now been re-branded as TRAUMATICA. The event includes a number of scare maze attractions, scare zones, entertainment and the Vampire’s Club – a night club which is set up in one of the ride stations. The event is a fantastic spectacle, but fairly full on if you are easily scared.
Winter Magic generally runs from the end of November to the middle of January. This fantastic festive event sees a number of Europa Park rides available to guests, alongside an ice rink, a 55 metre Ferris Wheel and fabulous winter shows. With the park decked up in its winter lights and decor, it’s really a fantastic festive event.
EUROPA PARK’S RESORT HOTELS
With the sheer number of Europa Park rides, attractions, shows and dining options, this is not a single day theme park. Despite operations and ride throughputs being fantastic, even on very busy summer days, it’s worth spending a minimum of three days in the park to make the best of it, including a trip to the resort’s water park – RULANTICA.
Located in the heart of the village of Rust, there are endless options of accommodation from small hotels, B&B’s and guest houses to choose from. It’s definitely worthwhile splashing out and staying in one of the resort hotels if you have the means. These high end accommodation options are heavily themed and each offers a completely different experience.
USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT EUROPA PARK
GETTING THERE | Getting to Europa Park is simple from the UK. Easily accessible from the airports of Karlsruhe-Baden, Strasbourg and Basel, it is a simple 30 – 40 minute journey to the park from the airports. The nearest railway station is Ringsheim, which is 4km away from Europa Park, with a regular bus service. The resort can also offer a shuttle service too.
TICKETS | There are a wide range of ticket options for your visit to Europa Park. Individual day or two day tickets can be purchased to the theme park, alongside day, or part day tickets for Rulantica. Hotel bookings can be made on a bed and breakfast option only, or to include park tickets for your full stay.
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Wow, this looks like so much fun!! Definitiely going on my bucket list!
I hadn’t heard of this before, but it looks awesome! Merci for sharing it!!
You’re welcome. It’s a fantastic place!
Those rollercoasters look scary! I’ve always been partial to a log flume, the least scary the better!
I’d heard of Europa Park but never much about it specifically so this was a really interesting read. I’ll have to try and make a visit at some point 🙂
It’s definitely worthwhile!
[…] Want to see my thoughts on the more modern theme parks? Take a look at my posts covering Alton Towers and Europa Park. […]