Your guide to the best European theme parks

  • Family activities
  • Europe
  • 7 min read
The Ultimate Guide to the Best European Theme Parks
The Ultimate Guide to the Best European Theme Parks

Whatever you want from a theme park – the thrills and spills of rollercoasters, gentler rides for little ones or timeless family-friendly entertainment – there are plenty to choose from across the continent. Here’s our guide to the best theme parks in Europe.

Driving to theme parks in Europe

Getting to any of these European theme parks won’t be a rollercoaster ride, either. In fact many are within just a few hours driving time of our terminal in Calais. If you are on holiday in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain or Denmark, having a theme park on your list of things to do is always a good idea. It’s a great family day out, and some of the bigger parks even have their own on-site accommodation if you want to stay for longer. 

France
The fireworks are always a highlight at Disneyland® Paris

Disneyland® Paris

Disneyland® Paris is not only the most popular attraction in France, it’s the most visited theme park in Europe, with nearly 10 million visitors per year. If you take your family to just one theme park, it’s got to be the big one! Whether it’s the chance to meet Mickey Mouse or any of his friends, ride on one of the iconic rollercoasters, or see the firework displays at Sleeping Beauty castle, the memories will last forever! 

‘Even miracles take a little time’, said Cinderella. But not too much time. Getting to Disneyland® Paris takes just 3 hours 15 minutes from Calais by car after your 35-minute crossing on LeShuttle. The parks are actually in the Paris suburb of Chessy, and are open all year round. 

Parc Asterix

Your little Gauls get to meet their heroes! 

The comic book adventures of Astérix and his band of indomitable Gauls come to life in this fun-filled park just 2 ½ hours drive from our terminal in Calais. Thrill-seekers will storm aboard record-breaking rollercoasters like Tonnerre 2 Zeus and Goudurix, while there are gentler rides for younger ones, as well as daily shows and parades that will get all the family laughing and smiling. Parc Astérix also has three on site hotels, each with a distinctive theme inspired by the characters and scenes of the Astérix stories. If you stay in one of the hotels you get into the park half an hour before anyone else! 

Festyland Parc 

A theme park for younger children, Festyland features rides such as rocking Viking longboats, carousels, bumper boats and a helter skelter. Inspired loosely by the history of Normandy, it has medieval castles and regular shows with a historical feel, but Festyland is 100% about fun. Located in Caen, around 3 hours 45 minutes drive from Calais, Festyland makes for an excellent family day out if you are doing a Normandy road trip. There is no onsite accommodation but plenty of places to stay in the surrounding area. The park is open from early April to late September. 

Bagatelle Theme Park

Just an hour’s drive down the stunning Opal Coast from Calais you’ll find France’s oldest theme park. Set within attractive woodland near Le Touquet, Bagatelle is a family-orientated park with plenty of attractions for all ages and sensibilities. Get flung around on Silver Wings, an aeronautical-themed ride, sucked down a plughole (or close to it) in ‘The Raft’, go for a white-knuckle ride on the Triops rollercoaster or search for gold in the Sunken Gold Mine. There are also water slides, bouncy castles and a zoo for younger ones. Bagatelle is also only open during the summer months. 

Belgium

There are attractions for all ages at Walibi 
Walibi Park

Walibi is the largest theme park in Belgium and only 2 hours 40 minutes drive from the LeShuttle terminal. Walibi includes a wide range of attractions, from thrill-a-second rollercoasters to whitewater rafting and mini adventures for little ones. The rides at Walibi are guaranteed to provide fun and adventure for all the family, and some have a photo service so you can get an official souvenir of your day out. Ticket prices for children are based on their height rather than age. Walibi is open mainly during the summer months but also has a limited season over the Christmas and New Year period.

Netherlands 

Efteling

There is something magical about Efteling, the oldest theme park in the world. Opened in 1952 in a forest near the town of Kaatsheuvel, around 70 miles from Amsterdam, Efteling is steeped in fairy tales and fantasy. Some of its rollercoasters, like the Flying Dutchman and Python, are legendary, and a real magnet for adrenaline junkies, yet the park retains its special atmosphere, where nature plays an important part in its four themed areas. Efteling is one of the Netherlands’ most popular attractions, and you could easily spend 2-3 days here. The site has its own holiday homes and hotel, and is open all year round.  

Germany
The thrills and spills never stop at Europa Park! 

Europa Park

With over 100 different attractions, rides and shows, Europa Park is a fun and thrill-packed experience for the whole family. Located in Rust, south-west Germany, it takes around six hours to drive to Europa Park from the LeShuttle terminal in Calais. Europa Park is BIG – one of the biggest in Europe, and boasts 14 rollercoasters at the last count, 12 water rides, a water park (Rulantica), the YULLBE VR experience and the Eurosat dome, featuring the CanCan dark ride. The park celebrates different European nations through its areas, and is open most of the year.  

Phantasialand

Fantasy and historic worlds are the main theme of this park near Cologne, from its recreation of 1920s Berlin to its medieval mystery world and African landscape. The Taron rollercoaster is the 3rd-fastest multi-launch coaster in the world, and its rapid river rides, chair swing and dark rides are also popular attractions. The fun at Phantasialand doesn’t stop when the summer ends. The park becomes a winter wonderland during its Wintertraum season, which runs from mid-November to the end of January. Drive to Phantasialand in around 4 ½ hours from Calais. 

Spain

PortAventura

If you’re driving all the way to Spain, make sure you find time to visit PortAventura, the most popular theme park in the country. It’s on the coast of Catalonia just south of Barcelona, and has five themed worlds based on ancient civilisations – Mediterrània, Far West, México, China and Polynesia. There’s also a section of the park dedicated to Sesame Street, especially for the younger ones – and maybe not quite so young ones with fond memories of the muppet TV series! PortAventura is part of the PortAventura World resort, which has six hotels.

A water log flume ride at a theme parkWild West Falls, Parque Warner

Parque Warner

Parque Warner is a Warner Bros licensed park near Madrid, full of rides inspired by TV, film, cartoons and comic book heroes. Among the attractions are inversion roller coasters, bumper cars, chair swings and tea cup rides, featuring all manner of DC Super Heroes and cartoon characters, from Wile E. Coyote to Batman and the Flintstones. Parque Warner’s high season is the summer months, and winter opening is sometimes limited to weekends and the Christmas period. The Madrid area does get very hot in the summer, so consider a trip to Parque Warner on a cooler day. 

Italy

Gardaland

If you thought Lake Garda was all about still waters, peace and tranquillity, prepare for a rude awakening! Gardaland is an amusement theme park on the banks of the lake overflowing with daredevil rollercoasters, water rides, drops and dark rides.  The big attractions are the Blue Tornado, Raptor and Oblivion: The Black Hole coasters, rising high into the Italian sky, but there is plenty of family fun too, including spinning rides, teacups and a Peppa Pig house. If you’re driving to Italy from the UK, and heading to this beautiful region, plan a family day out at Gardaland. 

Denmark

The entrance to a large amusement park in a cityTivoli Gardens is still one of Europe’s most popular amusement parks

Tivoli Gardens

Copenhagen’s world-famous Tivoli Gardens is one of the world’s oldest amusement parks, opened in 1843. Traditional entertainments feature alongside more modern attractions now, but Tivoli retains its enchanting old world feel. One of the rollercoasters, Rutschebanen, is even made of wood and has been running for over 100 years! In November and December Tivoli is transformed into a winter wonderland, with a Christmas market, lights and seasonal performances at the Concert Hall and Glass Hall Theatre making a visit to Tivoli an even more magical experience. 

Legoland® Billund

For an absolutely ‘Awesome‘ time, it‘s hard to resist the charms of the original Legoland® park at Billund. Hardly surprisingly it’s Denmark’s most popular attraction outside of Copenhagen, and features 11 themed areas, including the iconic Miniland and Adventure Land. The rollercoasters aren’t made of the small plastic bricks, you’ll be pleased to know, but everywhere else you’ll be in Lego® heaven!  Legoland® Billund is open from March to October and throughout December for its Christmas extravaganza. 

FAQs

What is Europe’s biggest theme park?

Disneyland® Paris is the largest theme park in Europe, covering an incredible 5,200 acres. 

What is the best attraction park in Europe?

Everyone will have their favourite theme park in Europe. Disney® fans are likely to choose Disneyland® Paris, but thrill-seeking rollercoaster devotees may prefer Europa Park in Germany. Lovers of Lego® will only have eyes for Legoland® Billund in Denmark. 

Which is better, Disneyland® Paris or Europa Park?

These theme parks are two of the most popular and largest in Europe, with millions of visitors every year. It’s hard to choose between the two, and happily you don’t have to; just visit both, as they are each within easy driving distance of the LeShuttle terminal in Calais. 


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