Disneyland Paris is one of the most famous theme parks in the world.
But its popularity also means it can get very busy.
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We’ve rounded up some of Europe’s most popular theme park alternatives to Disneyland. Credit: Alamy
Thankfully, if you’d prefer an alternative option, there are some fantastic theme parks across Europe with plenty of record-breaking rides.
Here are some top items to add to your list this summer.
Europa-Park, Germany
Europa-Park is Germany’s largest theme park and attracts more than six million visitors a year, making it the third most popular theme park in Europe after Disney.
Inside there are more than 100 attractions, including 13 rollercoasters, including the newest, Volton Nevera, which opened in April in the Croatia-themed area.
It first opened in 1975, and the gigantic water park “Rulantica” opened in 2019.
It’s the size of five football fields and has 50 slides across 14 themed areas, a constant 32°C temperature all year round, DJ sets and 1,700 giant sun loungers.
Want to stay overnight? Choose from six themed hotels, as well as a campground with caravan parks, teepees and log cabins.
Basic day tickets for Europa-Park start from €61.50 (£52) for adults, Rulantica from €35.50 (£30), and combination tickets from €76 (£64).
The flight time from the UK to Strasbourg is just 1 hour 30 minutes, while the drive to the theme park is less than an hour, and the train ride takes around 1 hour 30 minutes.
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Europa-Park is the third most visited theme park in Europe. Credit: Alamy
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The theme park has over 100 attractions. Credit: Alamy
Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen
Inside Europe’s largest indoor theme park – new rollercoasters and rides set to open in 2025
Tivoli Gardens, a small theme park in Copenhagen, is said to have been the inspiration for Disney’s theme parks.
Located in the heart of the capital, it is one of the oldest buildings in the world, having opened in 1843.
The museum has 30 different rides, but the main attractions are a giant Ferris wheel and a roller coaster, the oldest wooden roller coaster still in operation.
There is no hotel on site, but being in central Copenhagen there are plenty of options for hotels nearby, including the Tivoli Hotel.
Tickets start at 160 DKK (£18) for anyone over eight years old, but you’ll have to pay an extra 299 DKK (£34) to ride the rides.
A flight from the UK to Copenhagen takes just under two hours and there is a theme park within the city.
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Tivoli Gardens is said to have inspired the Disney parks. Credit: Alamy
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Entry is cheap, but rides cost extra. Credit: Alamy
Efteling, Netherlands
Efteling is a Dutch fairy-tale theme park that opened in 1952.
Some of the biggest attractions include “Baron 1898,” a 120-foot free fall into a mine shaft at 55 mph, and “Python,” with its double loop and corkscrew.
The double-track roller coaster Joris en de Draak whisks you past a 39-foot-tall, fire-breathing dragon, and the theme park also has the world’s largest rocking boat.
New additions include the new Fairytale Suite, which opened at the theme park’s hotel earlier this year, and a new Royal Gazebo attraction due to open next year.
A day ticket to Efteling is available to anyone aged 4 or over and costs between €38 (£32) and €51 (£43) depending on the day you visit.
Brits can catch the Eurostar from London’s St Pancras station and then take the one-hour drive to Amsterdam.
Brits can take the Eurostar from the UK to Amsterdam, which takes around four hours, followed by an hour’s drive, or fly to Eindhoven (just over an hour) and then a 30-minute drive.
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Efteling is often seen as a fairytale alternative to Disneyland
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The park has announced several new additions.
Gardaland, Italy
Gardaland, which opened in 1975, is also home to Italy’s Legoland water park.
It attracts about 3 million visitors a year and has seven roller coasters, including the new Wolf Legend, which opened this month.
The site also features three themed hotels (each rated four stars), as well as an aquarium and Peppa Pig Land.
1-day tickets can be purchased online from €39, but this does not include tickets to the water park, which can be purchased from €49.
The flight time from the UK to Verona is just around two hours, and from there it’s a 30-minute drive to the park.
Use these tips on your next theme park trip
Next time you visit a theme park, be sure to use our tips to make the most of your adrenaline-pumping day.
Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides near the front have the longest lines as soon as the park opens. Ride water rides during the summer midday – they’ll cool you off when the sun is at its hottest. Download the park’s app to find out which rides have the shortest lines. Some parks offer “birthday badges” for visitors on their birthdays, which give you free perks. If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how bad the rain is, you may be given a ticket to re-enter for free.
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Gardaland is home to Legoland Water Park and Peppa Pigland. Credit: Alamy
PortAventura World, Spain
Spain’s PortAventura World is the country’s largest theme park, with 40 attractions across six worlds.
The site also houses a water park and Ferrari Land, home to some of Europe’s fastest and most impressive rides.
Red Force opened in 2017 and is 112 metres tall with a top speed of 180 kilometres per hour.
Choose from six themed hotels, including Caribbean, Mexican, Mediterranean and Western.
The flight from the UK to Reus takes around two hours, and from there it’s a 15-minute drive to the theme park.
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PortAventura World is Spain’s largest theme park and home to the fastest rides in Europe.
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Red Force is the fastest rollercoaster in Europe. Credit: Alamy
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