Here are Rail Europe’s top five European amusements parks easily accessible by train.
Germany
Home to more than forty amusement parks (including Europe’s largest), Germany is a hub for family fun. From movie, country and wildlife-themed parks, a visit to Deutschland can easily be enhanced with a visit to one or two of their signature parks.
Europa Park in Freiburg
Europa Park is the continent’s largest amusement park. Set in the heart of the Black Forest, visitors young and mature can expect plenty of activities. The park is divided into 19 sections, where 16 are creative re-imaginings of European destinations (e.g. the Globe Theatre in England and Balthasar Castle in Germany), and the remaining three areas are dedicated to the Minimoys, Grimm’s fairy-tale forest, and jungle adventures. Visitors can also watch a show, relax at one of the park’s four-star resorts, or get an adrenaline rush on the waterslides. The 3hr direct TGV INOUI from Paris to Freiburg is a popular way to get there. Other options include the 1h46m journey from Zurich and the 30min train ride from Basel.
Phantasialand, Cologne
A 12-minute train journey from Cologne, Phantasialand is a haven for thrill seekers. Well-known for its roller coasters, including the award-winning Taron (the world’s second fastest multi-launch roller coaster), which reaches speeds of up to 117 km per hour. Visitors can enjoy the many restaurants and experience hotels in the estate, such as the Charles Lindburgh, the safari-themed hotels and more). Trains from Brussels to Cologne takes 1h34m, while Amsterdam to Cologne takes 3h and Hamburg to Cologne takes 3h35m..
France and Spain
France and Spain are well-connected to each other by rail, so exploring theme parks in either country when staying in the other is easy. France is home to dozens of parks (most of which are accessible from Paris); while Spain’s theme parks are often located along their coastal towns.
Disneyland Paris
Averaging 10 million visitors a year, Disneyland Paris is by far the most popular theme park in Europe. Easily accessible on the RER A (Regional Rail line A), the trip from central Paris takes about 45 minutes and drops visitors off at the park’s entrance. Apart from the actual park Disney Village offers plenty of shopping and dining options. Inside are the two themed areas – Disneyland Park (the original) and Walt Disney Studios. Disneyland Park is where visitors can enjoy the classic Disney experience, including Sleeping Beauty’s castle and It’s a Small World; while the Studios offer a more film-based experience with The Twilight Zone and Ratatouille. Getting to Paris is easy on these popular routes: London to Paris in 2h16m; Brussels to Paris in 1h22mins; or Amsterdam to Paris in 3hrs.
Port Aventura World, Tarragona
Just outside of Tarragona (under an hour from central Barcelona) is Port Aventura World, Spain’s largest amusement park and the third largest in Europe. Best known for its Dragon Khan roller coaster, which boasts one of the highest loops in history, Port Aventura itself is vast and has six “worlds” and forty rides. It is also adjacent to two other great parks – the Caribe Aquatic Park (perfect for those hot Spanish summers), and Ferrari Land, dedicated to the engineering and innovation of the famous Italian carmaker. Tarragona is easy to get to from many points, including Barcelona in 45 mins; Valencia in 2hrs and Madrid in just over 2hrs.
England
Theme parks in England offer up something for all kinds of holidaymakers. Peppered across the country, visitors are spoiled for choice. However, one that sticks out and easily accessible by train is the Thorpe Park Resort.
Thorpe Park Resort, Surrey
One of the leading theme parks in the UK, Thorpe Park Resort is accessible by train and a very short bus connection from central London – all in just under one hour. Home to the UK’s fastest roller coaster (Stealth) and the first-ever winged roller coaster (the Swarm), Thorpe Park also offers all of the standard theme park amenities including dining, resorts and shows. While there are some options for the littlest revellers, this amusement park is definitely more geared towards older kids and adults. Getting to London from other major cities is easy via train, and some of the more popular routes include Paris to London in 2h17m; Brussels to London in 1h52m; and Edinburgh to London in 4hrs.
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