One Of Europe's Largest Theme Parks Is A German Resort Destination Filled With Endless Thrilling Roller Coasters

From the Neuschwanstein Castle rumored to have inspired Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany has all kinds of cultural attractions. But sometimes, you're in the mood for an adrenaline-filled experience at a theme park. Germany has got you covered there, too, with Europa-Park Resort in Rust, in the country's southwest. This sprawling theme park has lots of roller coasters and rides, immersive experiences, and a variety of entertainment options — giving guests plenty to do for days.

Europa-Park is one of the highest-rated theme parks in Europe, and it's spread over more than 230 acres, making it the largest theme park in Germany, per the Mack Group. Admittedly, you can find a few larger theme parks in Europe, like PortAventura World in Spain, but Europa-Park beats out many other parks when it comes to the number of visitors. Over 6 million visitors come to Europa-Park every year, putting it second only to Disneyland Paris for annual visitation numbers for Europe (via Statista).

Roland Mack, the owner of Europa-Park, described the park as "a place where dreams come true and the boundaries between fantasy and reality become blurred." You can visit different European countries, all while within the park itself — 18 of the 21 themed areas are based on Germany's neighboring nations. Compare that to the 11 you can find at Epcot's World Showcase Pavilions. In Europa-Park, you can watch a themed show about Portuguese fishermen featuring high divers and then go for a ride on a giant Viking swing in Scandinavia just after. The other areas at Europa-Park include the fantasy-themed Grimm's Fairytale Forest and Minimoys Kingdom, based on the animated "Arthur" movies.

Europa-Park has 14 rollercoasters, each with its own appeal. The Iceland themed area is home to two of them, including Wodan, the first giant wooden rollercoaster at the park. It's around 3,444 feet long and over 130 feet tall, and it has a maximum speed of over 60 mph. Even the line to get onto the ride is a fun experience. As one rollercoaster fan explained on Heartline Coaster, the queue area features on-theme rocky caverns and statues that move their heads as the trains enter and leave the vicinity.

Next, the Voltron Nevera powered by Rimac opened in 2024, and this rollercoaster in the Croatian area is not for the faint of heart. You start with a launch at a steep 105 degrees, experience seven inversions (where riders go upside down), and are weightless for 2.2 seconds. The ride's theme was inspired by the inventions of Nikola Tesla and the seaside town of Hvar, per Rimac. It's quite the experience. One Uptown reviewer called it "the most intense roller coaster" they have ridden and recommend it for thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies. 

For some more family-friendly rollercoasters, visit Europa-Park's Swiss area. The Swiss Bob Run mimics the feel of rocketing down an icy bobsled track. You can even try it out virtually via MackMedia's Coastiality app. The Matterhorn Blitz is built into a real Swiss chalet that dates back to 1785. According to Ultimate Roller Coaster, it uniquely starts with an elevator lift rather than a hill climb, and it has top speeds of around 35 mph. Both are open to kids 6 and up, if they're with an adult.

For water fun, Europa-Park has Rulantica. This massive indoor-outdoor waterpark has 14 of its own themed areas, and a number of high-thrill water slides. The bottom literally falls out from under you on the Dugdrob and Vildfål slides, and you can ride with your friends on the Vinter Rytt. There's also the immersive Snorri Snorkeling experience where you don virtual reality diving goggles and explore shipwrecks and meet mermaids. To visit both parts of the resort, you can get a combo Ride & Slide Ticket, where you can visit Europa-Park during the day and then spend time at Rulantica in the evening.

There's more to the resort than just rides: Watch several shows, including a magic show, ice skating, or stunt horseback riding for a break from the rollercoasters. There's also fairy-tale hour, with fairy-tale characters doing the readings. When it comes to dining, you can enjoy flavors from across the continent. One unique spot is Eatrenalin, which is a fully immersive fine dining experience that takes you from place to place on a moving chair during your meal. 

Accomodation-wise, there are six hotels at the resort. As you'd expect, each hotel is uniquely themed, including a medieval-style castle, Portuguese monastery, and Roman-inspired Colosseum lodging. You can also stay in Silver Lake City, an American Western-themed area just outside the park. It has a hotel along with cabins, tipis, and campgrounds for both RVs and tents. Europa-Park is about a 45-minute drive south from Strasbourg, France, a riverfront city where you can find a mix of French and German culture. If you don't have a car, there's a stop at Europa-Park along the Eurocity-Express (ECE) train line between Frankfurt and Milan that's just a short bus ride from the park.