The lift-hill chain that clicks the carriage up the 73 metres of the Silver Star (the 4.5 seconds of the silence at the top, the drop at the 68°, the 127 km/h, and the 3.4 G at the bottom, the tallest steel coaster in the Europa-Park), is the moment that the theme-park fan waits the 45 minutes for. Europe has the 3 of the top 10 theme parks in the world by the visitor numbers, and the debate over “the best theme park in Europe?” is the frequent and the passionate. The answer depends on the what you want: the thrill, the family, the immersion, or the value. Here are the contenders.

The Best Theme Park in Europe?

• The Europa-Park, the Germany, the best all-round: The Europa-Park is the Rust im Breisgau (the Freiburg, the south-west Germany), the 1975, the 5.6 million visitors in the 2023 (the most-visited theme park in the German-speaking world), the 15 European-themed lands, the 100 rides, the 13 roller-coasters, and the best all-round theme park in Europe. The essential rides: the Silver Star (the 73-metre, the B&M hypercoaster, the 127 km/h, the best coaster in the park), the Wodan Timburcoaster (the wooden, the GCI, the 2012, the 1,050 m, the 100 km/h, and the best wooden coaster in Europe), the Blue Fire (the launch, the 0–100 km/h in the 2.5 seconds, the inversion, and the best launch coaster in the park), the Euro-Mir (the spinning, the Russian, the unique, and the most unusual coaster in the Europa-Park), the Pirates of the Batavia (the dark ride, the re-opened in the 2020 after the fire, the Dutch, the Indonesia, and the best dark ride in Europe). The essential Europa-Park strategy: the 2 full days (the park is the 95 hectares, the largest in the Germany, and the 1 day is the not enough), the best hotels (the 6 themed hotels, the Colosseo is the Italian, the Bell Rock is the English, and the €250–400/night for the 4-star plus the park entry. The essential: the hotel booking includes the early access, the 30 minutes before the park opening, and the best time for the Silver Star. The essential Europa-Park dates: the November for the winter season, the park is the open for the Halloween and the Christmas, and the best value), the ticket: the €61 for the adult 1-day, and the best value: the €240 for the 2-day hotel package. More Germany →
• The Disneyland Paris, the Efteling, and the Tivoli: The Disneyland Paris (the France, the most-visited in Europe): the 1992, the 15 million visitors in the 2023 (the most), the 2 parks, the Parc Disneyland and the Walt Disney Studios, the 58 rides, the immersion (the best themed environments in Europe, the Pirates of the Caribbean, the Phantom Manor, the Big Thunder Mountain, the best coaster in the park), and the essential Disneyland Paris experience: the 2 days, the €130 for the 2-day ticket, the Disney Hotel (the €300–600/night), or the budget: the Séjours & Affaires at the Val d’Europe, the €100/night, the next to the RER A that is the 1 stop from the park. The Efteling (the Netherlands, the most beautiful): the 1952, the fairy-tale forest, the wood, the Symbolica (the €35 million dark ride, the most expensive in Europe), the Baron 1898 (the dive coaster, the 37 m, the 90 km/h), and the best park for the young children and the families. ~€45 for the day ticket, and the essential: the Efteling Hotel (the fairy-tale, the themed suites, the €300/night). The Tivoli Gardens (the Copenhagen, the most historic): the 1843, the inspiration for the Walt Disney, the central, the restaurant, the garden, and the most beautiful park in Europe. ~€20 for the entry, the €50 for the entry plus the rides. The essential: the Christmas, the Tivoli is the most beautiful at the December lights. The essential verdict: the best thrill: the Europa-Park. The best immersion: the Disneyland Paris. The best family and the most beautiful: the Efteling. The most romantic: the Tivoli.