Eden Villas and Apartments, Albufeira: An Honest Family Review 2025
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Charlotte Nichols
- Family Travel
- Kids days out
- Quick Tips
- Posted: 04/10/2025
Europa Park Germany: A Complete Family Guide 2025
Jenna Carr
The Travel Mum
Our little family is passionate about helping you save money. We are real people who understand the need to make your budget go further.
Europa Park Germany: A Complete Family Guide to Europe’s Best Theme Park
If you love theme parks, chances are Disneyland Paris is already on your radar – but there’s another magical European park that families often overlook: Europa Park in Germany. Set in the charming town of Rust, close to the French border, this incredible destination is Europe’s second most visited theme park and has even been voted the best theme park in the world!
I recently visited Europa Park with the family, and honestly? It completely blew me away. From world-class rides and beautiful themed areas to surprisingly affordable prices (for a theme park!), it’s the perfect mix of thrills, charm, and family-friendliness. Whether you’ve got tiny tots, adrenaline-seeking teens, or a mix of both – Europa Park has something for everyone.
Here’s everything you need to know to plan a fantastic family trip, including how to get there, where to stay, what to expect inside, and my honest review.
Getting to Europa Park from the UK
Europa Park is located in Rust, a pretty little town in southwest Germany. There are a few easy ways to get there from the UK:
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Fly to Basel (Switzerland), Strasbourg (France), or Baden-Baden (Germany) – all within a 1–1.5 hour drive. Basel tends to have the most affordable flights from UK airports, especially with easyJet and Ryanair.
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Hire a car at the airport and drive to Rust. The roads are excellent and well signposted, and having a car makes things easier if you’re staying offsite.
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Alternatively, you can take a train to Ringsheim/Europa-Park station and then hop on a short bus ride to the park.
If you’re visiting as part of a European road trip or Interrail adventure, Rust is also an easy stop between Switzerland and France.
👉 Travel Mum tip: Flying into Basel and hiring a car often works out the best option for families, especially when you factor in luggage, transfers, and flexibility.
Where to Stay: Onsite vs Offsite Hotels
Europa Park has a collection of themed onsite hotels that are really fun – think Venetian palaces, Spanish fortresses, and even a wild west town. Staying onsite gives you extra perks like early park entry and being walking distance to the gates.
However, these hotels can be pricey in peak season. Rooms typically start from around €300 per night for a family. If budget allows, they’re a treat – especially Hotel Colosseo, which has a stunning piazza with fountains and restaurants that make you feel like you’ve stepped into Italy.
We visited Europa Park while we were on a camper van road trip. They have an on site camping space which is right by the western themed accommodation.
Hotels near Europa Park
If you’re on a tighter budget (hello, school holiday prices), the good news is Rust village is filled with excellent guesthouses, B&Bs, and apartments just a 5–10 minute walk from the entrance.
👉 Travel Mum tip: Book accommodation early – especially for school holidays. Many guesthouses offer free parking and breakfast, and being able to walk to the park means no faffing with buses or shuttles in the morning. The best places will book up early.
Europa Park Tickets
Europa Park tickets are refreshingly reasonable compared to some of Europe’s other theme parks. Prices vary depending on the date you visit, click here to check prices for your dates and family.
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1-Day Ticket: From around £64 for adults and £54 for children (aged 4–11).
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2-Day Ticket: From around £120 for adults and £100 for children.
Children under 4 are free, which is great news for families with little ones.
If you’re planning to do everything properly (and trust me, you’ll want to), two full days in the park is ideal. There’s so much to see that trying to cram it into one day would be stressful.
👉 Travel Mum tip: Tickets are much cheaper if you book online in advance. You can print them at home or scan them on your phone at the gate.
Europa Park Layout and Theming
Europa Park is divided into themed “countries” – like France, Spain, Iceland, Greece, and Switzerland – each with its own architecture, food, music, and rides. It’s like travelling around Europe in a single day! There are 20 themed areas with over 100 attractions.
The theming is genuinely stunning. It’s not just a few flags and a food stall; whole streets are recreated with fountains, cobbled lanes, and authentic details. The attention to detail really impressed me – even the bins match the country themes.
The park is very walkable, though it is big. If you’re travelling with younger kids, a buggy is a must. There’s also a miniature train and a monorail if little legs get tired.
Europa Park Rides
Europa Park is famous for its rollercoasters, but it’s not all about thrill rides. There’s a brilliant mix for all age groups.
For Little Ones
There are gentle carousels, boat rides, playgrounds, and mini-coasters scattered throughout the park. The Ireland and Grimm’s Enchanted Forest sections are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, with beautifully themed play zones and rides designed for younger guests.
👉 Travel Mum tip: Download the park app. It shows height restrictions, wait times, and nearby facilities like toilets and baby changing rooms – a lifesaver for parents.
For Thrill Seekers
Europa Park has some of Europe’s best rollercoasters, including:
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Silver Star – A mega coaster with drops of 73m. Adrenaline junkies will love this.
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Blue Fire – A smooth, launched coaster in the Iceland section. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds!
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Wodan Timbur Coaster – A huge wooden coaster.
The queues were surprisingly manageable when we visited. Even the most popular rides rarely went over 45 minutes. We used the Baby Switch system on rides the kids couldn’t go on. One adult queues and rides first, then gets a Baby Switch card so the other adult can skip the queue and ride straight after.
Family Rides
There are dozens of rides where the whole family can hop on together – from water rapids and log flumes to dark rides like Pirates in Batavia, a beautifully detailed boat journey reminiscent of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean.
We particularly loved Arthur – The Ride, a suspended family coaster based on the Arthur and the Minimoys films. It’s part coaster, part dark ride, and really magical.
Food and Drink at Europa Park
Unlike many theme parks where you’re stuck with overpriced fast food, Europa Park actually has some excellent and varied food. Each themed area serves dishes from that country – you can nibble tapas in Spain, enjoy crêpes in France, or dig into bratwurst in Germany.
Prices are also reasonable. A kids’ meal (with drink) is around €6–8, and adult mains start at around €10–12. There are also plenty of picnic spots if you want to bring your own food – and yes, you’re allowed to!
👉 Travel Mum tip: Pack refillable water bottles. There are fountains dotted around the park to top up for free. Bring your own sandwiches and snacks if you want to keep costs down.
How Many Days Do You Need at Europa Park?
Realistically, you’ll want two full days in the park to experience everything without rushing. We only did one day in the park and it was a bit of a rush.
If you want to add on Rulantica, the massive indoor water park next door, plan for three days total. Rulantica is super fun with slides, lazy rivers, and baby splash zones – perfect for a rainy day. You can get cheaper evening tickets for Rulantica. If you are limited for time you could visit in the evening after the theme park. It stays opens late, usually until at least 10pm.
Budgeting for Your Trip
Here’s a rough cost breakdown for a family of four (2 adults + 2 kids) for a 2-day theme park visit this October Half Term.
- Flights to Basel – £79pp (£314 return for 4 people)
- 3 nights accommodation near the park – £394 for a family room
- Two day park tickets – £440 for the family of 4
- Car hire and fuel – £130
Total: Around £1,278 for a 3-night break for a family of 4: Not bad for a world-class theme park holiday during peak season!
👉 Travel Mum tip: Travelling slightly outside of UK school holidays (if your kids aren’t in school yet) can save hundreds. May, June, and September are ideal times to visit.
Final Thoughts on Europa Park
Europa Park completely lived up to the hype for us. It combines the magic and storytelling of Disney with the efficiency and quality of Germany. The attention to detail, variety of rides, and family-friendly touches make it a brilliant option for UK families looking for something a bit different.
Whether you’ve got thrill seekers, little explorers, or a mix of both, Europa Park has enough to keep everyone smiling. I genuinely think it’s one of Europe’s best family theme parks – and one we’ll definitely be returning to.
Travel Mum’s Quick Tips Recap
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✈️ Fly into Basel for the cheapest and easiest access.
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🏡 Book Rust guesthouses early for the best deals.
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🎟️ Buy tickets online in advance to save money.
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🧭 Use the park app to plan your day efficiently.
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🧺 Bring snacks and refillable water bottles.
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🍼 Take advantage of baby facilities – they’re excellent.
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⏰ Plan at least two full days in the park (three if adding Rulantica).
Some links in this post are affiliate links.
Written by: Jenna Carr
The Travel Mum
Our little family is passionate about helping you save money. We are real people who understand the need to make your budget go further. With The Travel Mum we have created a vibrant community of over 650k budget savvy travellers who want to travel more while spending less. No problem is too big or small, together we will do everything in our power to make sure you are making the absolute most of your well earned budget!
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