When it comes to amusement parks, the first ones that come to mind are usually Disney, Hong Kong Ocean Park, Universal Studios Japan, and the like—most of which are in Asia. But if we combine European attractions with amusement parks, you’d probably still think of Paris Disneyland, XD. But Europe’s amusement parks aren’t just limited to Paris Disneyland! Today, travel expert Xiu is here to tell you that besides beautiful scenery and architecture, European attractions also offer plenty of family-friendly amusement parks worth visiting. Let’s take a look together.
Denmark | LEGOLAND Billund
LEGO is one of the toys that has accompanied many people through their childhoods, so LEGOLAND is also quite well known. There are 12 LEGOLAND parks around the world, with 4 more currently under planning and construction. The oldest of them all is this one located in Denmark.
The park is roughly divided into Mini Land and the amusement area. Mini Land is an area made up of over two million LEGO bricks, where you can see many attractions, characters, buildings, and more built from LEGO bricks. The amusement area features a variety of facilities, including thrilling roller coasters, water rides, as well as child-friendly rides and performance activities.
Park Information
* Address: Nordmarksvej 9, 7190 Billund, Denmark
* Transportation: From Copenhagen, take a train to Vejle and then transfer to bus No. 43 or 143 to the park | From Billund Airport, you can take a free shuttle bus
* Ticket Prices: One-day ticket 341 DKK | Two-day ticket 479 DKK (online price) |More ticket combinations
* Official Website:LEGOLAND Billund
Denmark | Tivoli Gardens
If you’re a fan of “Travel King” like Xiu, you must be familiar with this park. Haofang Xiangqi once came here to film and shared a little secret with us: if you read the name of the park backwards, it spells “I Love It.”
Tivoli Gardens was established in 1843 and is the second oldest operating theme park in the world. While entry requires a ticket, those who have a Copenhagen Card can enter the park directly.
One of the most beloved sights in Tivoli is the man-made lake, where you can ride small boats and roller coasters. From another angle, you can also see Chinese-style pavilions and Japanese torii gates. If you time your visit right, you might even catch cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Park Information
* Address: Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 København V, Denmark
* Transportation: By bus, get off at Glyptoteket or Hovedbanegården, Tivoli stations | By train, it’s about a 1-minute walk from the Central Station exit
* Ticket Prices: Starting from 350 DKK,For more ticket options, click here
* Official Website:Tivoli Gardens
Book now for great deals: Cheap flights to Denmark | Quality accommodation in Denmark | Value-for-money Denmark itineraries
Sweden | Liseberg Amusement Park
Liseberg Amusement Park is located in Gothenburg, Sweden, and is one of the largest amusement parks in Northern Europe, attracting around 3 million visitors each year. In summer, the park is open from the end of April to mid-October; during winter, it aligns with the Christmas season, opening from November until just before Christmas, also hosting a Christmas market selling traditional Swedish food!
Park Information
* Address: ?rgrytev?gen 5, 402 22 G?teborg, Sweden
Transportation: Take the tram or bus to Liseberg, Korsv?gen, or Lisebergs station.
* Ticket Prices: General adult ticket 485 SEK |More ticket types
* Official Website:Liseberg Amusement Park
United Kingdom | Alton Towers
Alton Towers is the largest theme park in the UK, located in the city of Staffordshire in central England. The park has a long history, established in 1980, and it’s said that even Princess Diana once brought her young son here to play.
Park Information
* Address: Farley Ln, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4DB, UK
* Transportation: Take a train to Stoke-on-Trent, Uttoxeter, or Derby, then transfer to a bus to Alton Towers
* Ticket Prices: Online advance one-day ticket £33 |More ticket types
* Official Website:Alton Towers
Germany | Europa-Park Rust
Europa-Park Rust is the largest theme park in Germany and the second most visited amusement park in the world after Disneyland Paris. The park boasts as many as 13 different roller coasters, along with numerous shows, making it a fun destination for the whole family. The Euro Dance Festival is also held here.
This year, everyone can also look forward to the opening of the new water park (Rulantica Water Park)! In November 2019, Europa-Park will add 25 new water attractions, including 17 water slides. Water lovers should definitely consider visiting here!
Park Information
* Address: Europa-Park-Straße 2, 77977 Rust, Germany
* Transportation: Take a train to Ringsheim Station, then transfer to bus 7231 and get off at Europa-Park Station
* Ticket Prices: Adults €42.00 | Children (ages 4–11) and seniors (60+) €34.50 | Children under 4 (including on their birthday) free
* Official Website:Europa-Park
Austria | Prater Park
Prater Park covers a vast area and was formerly a royal hunting ground. It features a variety of amusement rides, such as a Ferris wheel, roller coasters, drop towers, and more. Whether you’re looking for thrills, something milder, land-based or water attractions, it’s all here. Most rides cost around €4–5 per ride.
Park Information
* Address: 1020 Vienna, Vienna Prater
* Transportation: Take subway line U1 or U2 to Praterstern Station
* Ticket Prices: Free entry to the park; individual ride tickets apply
Italy | Gardaland Park
Gardaland Park is known as Italy’s top amusement park. As soon as you enter, you’ll see a wide range of adrenaline-pumping rides. Thanks to its large area and numerous attractions, even with many visitors, wait times aren’t too long — perfect for thrill-seekers like me XD. For those who are afraid of roller coasters, there’s also an aquarium (Gardaland Sea Life Aquarium) nearby to explore.
Park Information
* Address: Via Derna, 4, 37014 Castelnuovo del Garda VR, Italy
* Transportation: Take a train to Peschiera del Garda Station, then transfer to the free shuttle bus to the park
* Ticket Prices: Options include aquarium tickets or season passes,Click here to see more
* Official Website:Gardaland Park
Spain | PortAventura Theme Park
PortAventura World is the second largest theme park in all of Europe. It's just an hour’s drive from Barcelona, making it super convenient to reach. The park is divided into six themed areas: MEDITERRÀNIA (Mediterranea), POLYNESIA, CHINA, MÉXICO (Mexico), SésamoAventura (Sesame Adventure), and Far West (Wild West). Each area features its own unique architecture and offers a variety of authentic local foods, so you can enjoy six different experiences all in one trip.
Park Information
* Address: Avinguda del Batlle Pere Molas, km 2, 43840, Tarragona, Spain
* Transportation: Take the R-16 train line operated by Rodalies de Catalunya and get off at PortAventura World
* Ticket Prices: One-day, two-park online rate / Adults €55, Seniors & Youth €48 |More ticket types
* Official Website:PortAventura World
★ Recommended Attraction: Barcelona
Europe is huge and full of amazing sights. This time, the travel experts at Tripresso really put in the effort to handpick eight theme parks across Europe for you — covering all regions from Western to Eastern, Northern to Southern Europe. When planning your European itinerary, don’t forget to include a theme park to experience that magical foreign amusement park vibe.
Text by Aimee.H | Tripresso Travel Editorial Team