10 Theme Parks in Europe Perfect for Families

by Scott Hartbeck
Last updated: 7:00 PM ET, Sat July 22, 2023

Efteling, The Netherlands

1/10 One of Europe's most visited theme parks, Efteling in the south of The Netherlands is an enchanting mixture of a modern theme park and a fairy tale fantasyland. Your kids are sure to love The Fairytale Forest, the so-called "largest living picture book" where they'll be able to stroll through atmospheric woods home to characters from all your favorite tales. Expect to see Hansel & Gretel, Sleeping Beauty and others you know on a first-name basis, but you'll also get to meet Langnek—the much-beloved long-necked servant from The Six Servants—and other characters from stories popular in Europe.

For the older kids and adults, Efteling is home to plenty of rollercoasters, water rides, dark rides and even a haunted villa.

Gardaland, Italy

2/10 Located a short hop from Italy's gorgeous northern lakes, Gardaland is the nation's biggest theme park and a fine place to spend a day or two. Kids' hearts will be sent aflutter by Fantasyland, home to colorful, cartoon-like buildings and the fantastical Prezzemolo's Treehouse. For the big kids, there are also plenty of rollercoasters and river rapid rides in addition to a Jumanji dark ride, a LEGOLAND® Water Park and a Sea Life Aquarium. 

Gröna Lund, Sweden

3/10 Located on the leafy island of Djurgarden in Stockholm, this small but perfectly-formed park has been entertaining Swedes and visitors from around the world since the late 1800s. Grona Lund is known for a wide range of rides (from thrilling to kiddie) and for hosting great concerts, making no trip to the Swedish capital complete without a stop here. Perhaps the best part of this theme park is the fact that you can admire views of the city from atop many of the rides.

Puy do Fou, France & Spain

4/10 There's simply nothing else in Europe like Puy du Fou, as this so-called "showpark" near Nantes is home to 500 acres of nature, several period villages and 20 riveting shows full of live actors and animals. Your family will be captivated by everything from action-packed recreations of Roman battles to fiery Viking fights and much more. The shows are in French and the park provides an app that translates them, but don't be surprised at all if you don't end up needing it: the excitement level of Puy du Fou’s performances breaks through any language barrier. 

Prater, Austria

5/10 This theme park is about as synonymous with Vienna as St. Stephens Cathedral and a Wiener melange coffee. Technically called the Wurstelprater, this nostalgia-inducing amusement park sits surrounded by woodlands and is home to a mix of old-school rides like bumper cars and a ghost train in addition to modern thrillers. If there's one ride you can't leave Prater without taking a spin on it's the Riesenrad, a Ferris wheel that has been featured in multiple films (The Third Man & Before Sunrise being two of the notables) and has become the symbol of the city since its construction in 1897.  

PortAventura, Spain

6/10 Spain's most visited theme park is located just outside of Barcelona, near the coast. Here, your family will find a mix of adrenaline-pumping rides and kid-friendly diversions (the park boasts over 40 rides in total) in addition to new shows for every season. PortAventura is part of a bigger complex that includes a water park and Ferrari Land—a park that whisks guests away to Italy with the speed & style of Ferrari. 

Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England

7/10 Can you find bigger theme parks with more hair-raising rides in the U.K. than northwest England's Blackpool Pleasure Beach? Sure. Will you find any that match its mixture of "Coney Island''-style kitsch with quality rides right by the seaside? No chance. Take a spin on the world's first Ghost Train, Wallace & Gromit's Thrill-O-Matic—featuring the lovable cartoon characters—and the Big One roller coaster, which features breathtaking views over the sea all before walking along the boardwalk and climbing Blackpool Tower. 

Europa-Park, Germany

8/10 The second most popular theme park on the continent, Europa-Park is located in southeast Germany and offers the chance to experience all of Europe in one place. Lands themed around 16 European nations and three "fantasy lands”, 13 rollercoasters and over 100 attractions & shows are just a few of the reasons your crew will love this theme park. Oh, and to top things off, Europa-Park is home to a year-round waterpark called Rulantica.

Tivoli Gardens, Denmark

9/10 Located in the center of Copenhagen, Tivoli Gardens dates back to 1843 and is a cherished icon of the Danish capital. The park's reputation is so esteemed that Walt Disney himself is said to have used it as part of his original inspiration for Disneyland.

In addition to historic carousels & Ferris wheels and one of the world's oldest wooden rollercoasters, Tivoli Gardens is home to gorgeous landscaping and atmospheric lights that combine to create a charming atmosphere perfect for simply just wandering and "doing as the Danes do". Tivoli is also renowned for its wonderful restaurants and holiday-themed events.  

Disneyland Paris, France

10/10 Europe's most popular theme park, Disneyland Paris will provide you and your family a taste of the familiar Disney magic but with a European twist. Sleeping Beauty's Castle is here (this time tweaked ever so slightly to resemble Mont Saint-Michel) and so is Mickey and all your favorite Star Wars characters—albeit with slightly different accents. There are two parks: Disneyland Park & Walt Disney Studios Park, and both offer a whimsical European experience you and your family will never forget.

A family trip to Europe is an experience that no one in your crew will ever forget. Whether you're following in the footsteps of the Griswolds—whose crisscrossing of the continent in the late 80s made them legendary—or doing a deep dive into one European country, you're sure to make more cherished memories than you ever thought possible. 

One aspect of European travel that gets overlooked too often is the fact that Europe is home to many great amusement parks for families, with a day at a European theme park offering a refreshing change of pace.  

Home to kid-friendly rides, thrill rides, and enchanting themes all with a European twist, Europe's best theme parks can provide your family with a fantastic day out and a "vacation" from your vacation in addition to just a whole lot of gold old fashioned fun. 

Click on the slideshow to see some of the best theme parks in Europe for families, a list that incudes both famous names and lesser known ones, but all guaranteed to fill your day with smiles.

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