Guide and Tips for Visiting Europa Park Germany

How would you like to visit about 15 countries in one day? Europa Park will give you the chance to cure your wanderlust momentarily and inspire you to add new places to your travel wish list. This is Europe’s second most popular park, Germany’s biggest theme park and the world’s largest seasonal theme park. Read on for some highlights and tips for visiting Europa Park.

Europa Park is located in the town of Rust, Germany. It was about 45 minutes from the scenic region of Alsace France and the colorful towns of Colmar, Eguisheim and Riquewihr. We were in Germany visiting family and they highly recommended going here.

If you’ve ever visited Disney’s EPCOT Park in Florida, Europa Park is very similar but so much better and of course, just focused on Europe. The themed lands were bigger and more authentic. Each land also had several rides including roller coasters. We called it EPCOT on over drive.

There were over 100 attractions and shows in this family-owned park. That included 13 rollercoasters and 15 European themed areas plus additional lands aimed for smaller kids. We covered so much in one day. There were summer crowds but wait times were minimal because the Germans are also masters at efficiency. Our longest wait time was about 30 minutes for the new ride.

Germany

Understandably, the themed land of Germany greeted us at the entrance of the park. We felt like we were walking into a small German village with colorful half-timbered buildings and detailed wall frescoes.

Don’t Miss: The Voletarium was my favorite ride in the whole park. This ride had just opened when we visited. The 4D experience took us on a flight across 14 destinations in Europe in the continent’s largest flying theater. It was very similar to Disney’s Soarin’ Around the World in a couple of its parks.

But, this ride also had very detailed storytelling area to keep visitors occupied while in queues. Voletarium was also a make believe institute used by two brothers who were trying to turn their dream of flying into reality. So, it had the feel of being in a museum ending with the ride.

Iceland

We loved going through the Icelandic theme land and remembering our times at one of our favorite countries. We were transported to Iceland’s quaint harbor walking through here. While It may not be the same eating it in Iceland, try an Icelandic hotdog. Yes, they actually had it. There was also a small museum to learn more about Iceland.

Don’t Miss: For big adrenaline junkies, this was where two of the park’s biggest rollercoasters were located. The “blue fire” Megacoaster catapults people from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and has four upside down turns. Europa-Park’s first giant wooden rollercoaster, called WODAN Timburcoaster, didn’t disappoint (according to my kids). It looked intimidating especially the area where it crosses with the Megacoaster and the Atlantica SuperSplash rides.

Scandinavia

We’re big fans of the Scandinavian countries so this area was one of our favorites. The arcade area was filled with wooden houses shops and eating establishments. There was even a shark hanging for kids to put their heads in.

Don’t Miss: Go inside the Norwegian stave church to see its beautiful designs. It looked so authentic and reminded us of the stave church we saw in Bergen. My kids’ favorite was going down waterfalls, rapids and a grotto on the Fjord Rafting. You will get slightly wet. And if your stomach can handle it, the large Vindjammer Viking boat was a great ride.

Greece

The stores and eateries were housed in whitewash buildings in a little Greek village including a windmill. It was a great preview before our trip to Santorini and Mykonos the week after our visit. But, this land was also a tribute to Greek mythology.

Don’t Miss: Ride the Water world of Poseidon was the perfect ride to cool off combining a roller coaster and going through the water. If you want to stay dry, Pegasus – the YoungStar Coaster is a great ride on a flying horse with wonderful views of the themed land.

France

This was such a quaint area with blooms everywhere. The aroma of bread and pastries were so irresistible. It made us so hungry just walking through here we had to stop and sample the pastries. There was a small body of water that meandered through the area. Younger kids loved dipping their toes in here and watching the ducks.

Don’t Miss: The silver globe called Eurosat was the center of the area. For anyone who has visited Disney’s EPCOT, yes, it looks a lot like their silver globe too. There were many times throughout this park which made us wonder if Europa Park was the inspiration for some Disney park rides or vice versa. Some similarities were uncanny!

This will be converted into the CanCan coaster for the summer of 2018. It will give visitors the opportunity to see Paris aka the City of Light at night.

England

England was one of the park’s most charming areas. The remarkable buildings felt like we were in an English village. We found rides with English icons like the taxis and double decker buses. There were game booths/arcade games housed under the glass pavilion.

My son plays competitive soccer (football to the rest of the world). So, he was so excited to find Arena of Football here. In addition to a Walk of fame and an Adidas shop, he got to ride on these bumper cars shaped like cleats.

Don’t Miss: Ride the carousel with the beautiful hand carved horses. Watch the shows “with Shakespearean touch” at The Globe.

The Netherlands

Of course there were clogs and treats in the charming Dutch village. There were several rides for little ones here like red baron airplane and bumper cars that didn’t stop my kids from riding. No lines here!

Don’t Miss: My kids loved the spinning Koffiekopjes teacups. It was just like other teacup rides but these were exquisite looking. Our family loved the Pirates in Batavia ride. It was a boat trip inside an area made to look like the Dutch colony of Batavia when the pirates first arrived in this seaport.

There were plenty of animatronic characters to keep everyone entertained. It was a bit strange and eerie that this ride was so similar to Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean.

Ireland – Children’s World

My kids decided to skip this area since they were too old for most rides. But, if you have toddlers and elementary school aged kids, this area surrounded by a river and made to feel like an island would be one of the best places to hang out. Rides include a mini rollercoaster, dragon carousel, mini tractors and swing boat.

There was also a three story Limerick Castle which is an indoor play area perfect for running, climbing, jumping, sliding and exploring. Parents can have some adult time in a traditional Irish pub at O’Mackey’s Café and Pub.

Italy

This was Europa Park’s first themed area. The Fontana di Paradiso is the centerpiece and for a moment we felt like we were transported in an Italian piazza.

Don’t Miss: Go on a relaxing gondola ride indoors in Piccolo Mondo. There was a festive and catchy tune as we passed by Florence, Venice and Pisa. Want to see parts of the park from above? Ride Volo Da Vinci flying machines modeled after Leonardo’s invention, of course.

Austria

There was nothing that much distinctive about this area on the outside but still a pleasant place to walk around. I guess because we associate Austria so much with mountains, Mozart and the Sound of Music during our visit.

Don’t Miss: My kids rode the Tirol Log Flume twice because they loved it so much and it had barely any lines near closing time. This classic ride on a tree trunk has been around here since 1978. Visitors will go through valleys, mountains and the Magic World of Diamonds before going down a steep and large waterslide.

I now regret not going on the ALpenexpress VR-RIDE which is a virtual rollercoaster ride. They offer several virtual reality adventures and animated 3D worlds to immerse and ride with while simultaneously feeling the motions and twists of a being on an actual rollercoaster. Though, the ride isn’t free but at an affordable €2 per person per ride.

Luxembourg

It was surprising to find this small country have an area here and we didn’t even realize were on it. There was a small square and pyramid building with exhibits on the park’s history and the Mack family that owns it.

Don’t Miss: Board the Monorail from here for a great view of the parks. Check out the FoodLoop restaurant where food and drinks are brought to your table via rollercoaster tracks.

Portugal

The land of discoverers didn’t disappoint with a large “Santa Marian’ sailboat and a quaint seaside Portuguese village.

Don’t Miss: The Atlantica SuperSplash was one of the first rides my family went on. It was a hot day so this ride was just fitting for the big splash that came at the end. You’re bound to get wet. This boat ride took us up and down the Atlantic Ocean with some crazy spins.

Russia

We haven’t been to the real Russia and not planning to go anytime soon. So, it was fun to walk around this themed area that included golden domes, lovely architecture and colorful houses. It was great to watch the Russian craftsmen draw, paint and make trinket boxes and Matryoshka Russian Dolls (the stacking ones).

Don’t Miss: Visit the Mir Space Station for some exhibits on Russian space travel. Visitors can even pretend to be cosmonauts on the Euro-Mir. This ride looked dizzying but the family loved it as they did multiple turns, spins and dives inside and outside the two large glass towers.

Switzerland

One of the great things about this park was how much it brought back some memories while visiting the themed areas. The park’s Swiss village with chalets took us back to some of the beautiful alpine villages we saw in Switzerland.

Don’t Miss: What’s better than strolling through the Swiss Alps but going on a ride around them. The Matterhorn Blitz was a wild and rough ride that gave me a bit of whiplash but my kids loved it. For a quick ice run that almost felt like you were on a bob sled, ride on the Swiss Bob Run at 31 mph (50 km/h).

Spain

We loved all the yellows and reds here and felt like we were transported once again to a Spanish village filled with picturesque buildings, colorful florals and fountains. To make it feel more authentic, Europa Park actually imported all the tiles, ceramics and lanterns from Spain.

Don’t Miss: Watch a 20-minute flamenco show on the stage here. We were disappointed to miss this show.

There were also themed areas not related to European countries or regions. 

Grimm’s Enchanted Forest

It was like stepping into the pages of childhood fairy tale books when we walked into this themed land. Some of the Brothers Grimm’s favorite stories from Hansel & Gretel, Rapunzel, The Golden Goose, Little Red Riding Hood and The Frog King among others were represented in houses and storytelling time. There was also a cinema where kids can watch a short film where characters set the forest free. It is shown every 10 minutes.

Don’t Miss: Participate in some interactive activities to keep everyone entertained from helping Rapunzel out of her tower to trying on a golden slipper for Cinderella’s prince. Visit the doll exhibition in the Fairy Tale Gallery with over 200 detailed and hand painted dolls.

Adventure Land

This was one of our favorite places to rest and enjoy nature. The lake was surrounded with tree groves and many plants.

Don’t Miss: Ride the African Queen Steamboat into an African village and some fake animals. It was similar to Disney’s Jungle Cruise but more scenic. Go sightseeing on the lake and see the African Jungle King via the jungle rafts. No rowing needed but you may meet up with some crocodiles along the way.

Minimoys Kingdom

Based on a movie trilogy called “Arthur and the Invisibles”, this area was supposed to be the world of the Minimoys who were the tiny creatures Arthur met. Our family had never heard of these movies but we liked the oversized flowers, mushrooms and insects in this themed area.

Don’t Miss: With our feet dangling, the Arthur ride was the ideal way to explore this fantasyland. See why it has won several awards. Kids will also like the Poppy Towers inside the dome where they are bounced up and down surrounded by giant flowers.

The Mascot

Like other amusement parks, there was a mascot associated with Europa Park. We were pleasantly surprised to find out their mascot was also a mouse (like that famous theme park). But, this mouse looked a lot like the American pizza chain brand my kids used to adore – Chuck E. Cheese. Though, this was Ed Euromaus and his friends.

We couldn’t pass up the chance to have a photo op with him. There were several times and areas available for kids to meet the characters.

The Food

One of the best things about this park is the variety of food from its different themed areas/countries. You can find all of the European specialties in each area. From Icelandic hotdogs, French crepes, German bratwurst and pretzels, Spanish tapas and paella, Italian pasta, Greek gyros and so much more.

We could have spent the day just eating our way through the themed lands. Other than sampling most of the treats on the different lands, our actual meal was at Mille Fleurs restaurant in France. The prices were reasonable for the food throughout the park. Our family of four ate well for less than 50 euros which is cheaper than what we usually eat at American theme parks.

Of course, snacks and beer were widely available at the Erdinger Beer Garden. This is Germany after all. If you’re into fine dining, Ammolite – The Lighthouse Restaurant is the only 2* Michelin restaurant located in a theme park.

The Hotels

Europa Park wasn’t just a theme park. It was also a resort surrounded by five 4-star themed hotels plus the Camp Resort if you’re into the rustic option with teepees, log cabins and stage wagons. The park also has 200 camping spaces on its adjacent camping site.

These family-friendly lodgings offer various events, dining, water playgrounds and family-friendly activities from treasure hunts to children’s disco to breakfast with characters. Some hotel packages include park admission.

Our Thoughts – Go!

This park was beyond what we imagined and it was so much fun. They did an exceptional job living up to each themed area and sticking to some authenticity. Europa Park has officially become my kids’ favorite park in Europe jumping ahead of Tivoli in Copenhagen and Linnenmaki in Helsinki.

They’re also quick to tell you this is now their second favorite park after Tokyo DisneySea and will return to it in a heartbeat. There was something here for everyone in the family whether you like amusement park rides or not and no matter the age group.

As parents, it was refreshing to finally go to an amusement park without costing so much. We live an hour away from the Disney parks. It has become such a pain in recent years with the rising ticket costs and is so overcrowded.

We didn’t wait long for many of the rides or didn’t have to run around getting fast passes even on a summer day here. Europa Park offers fantastic value, incredible details on the lands, entertaining shows, excellent food varieties and offerings, great rides and clean and well-maintained facilities.

Tips for Visiting Europa Park Germany

• Buy tickets online to save some time lining up but no savings. Prices as of May 2018: Tickets are reasonably priced compared to American theme parks. Adults (Ages 12+): €49.50 ($59 US); Children Ages (4-11) & Seniors Ages 60+: €42.50 ($50.65 US) Please bring proof of children’s ages. 2 Day Admission Tickets are also available.
• How to Get Here: Europa Park is located in the region where Germany borders France and Switzerland. It’s easily accessible from many areas. The closest main airports were EuroAirport Basel in the French/Swiss border and the Strasbourg Airport in France.
• Go Early. We got to the park a few minutes before it opened and there were already a lot of people there.
• Parking: Pay for it on the way in so you can just exit quickly. It was €6.
• Download their app on your smartphone. It contains an interactive map, latest events, waiting times and even a Friend Finder feature.
• The park isn’t open all year. There are two seasons: Summer – late march to early Nov. 9 AM- 6 PM (longer hours during peak summer season); Winter – 11 AM – 7 PM; late November to early January.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes. This park is huge and you will walk a lot.
• Use the EP Express, monorail and steam train to take you from one area to another and minimize walking. Take the EP Express train from Germany and go towards the back and get off in Spain. There were far less people heading this way.
• If your kids speak German or French, they can be members of the Europa-Park Junior Club.
• If you can, stay at one of the resorts for an extended stay and visit the park to immerse in the whole experience of rides and shows. Staying at Europa Park hotels allow guests access to the park 30 minutes before the gates open in summer and 1 hour in Winter. Though, we saw rode many of the attractions and rides we wanted, there were still many we didn’t get to see.

*Have you heard of or visited Europa Park?

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