Theme and amusement parks are family holiday classics. Carousels, water slides, life-size puppets, fast food and sweets – this is what an ideal vacation looks like when you are from two to twelve years old. Children simply love amusement parks, which cannot be said about adults. But if you are a parent, then sooner or later you will still have to visit at least one of these parks during your vacation. Fortunately, many of them are located in beautiful places where adults can find something to do in their free time from visiting the attractions.
1. Disneyland/Paris
The first place in our ranking is taken by Disneyland Paris. This park is loved by many parents around the world, firstly because it is quite compact compared to its American counterparts, and secondly because it is located just a few tens of kilometers from Paris.
2. Legoland/Germany
German Legoland is located in the town of Günzburg near Munich. Little Lego fans will be delighted with this place, because everything there is made from the details of this construction set!
A visit to the park can easily be combined with a trip to the capital of Bavaria. In addition to the legendary beer halls and the historical center, it is worth visiting the Old and New Pinakotheks. And be sure to set aside one day for a trip to the Neuschwanstein castle of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, which, by the way, served as the prototype for the famous castle symbol of the Disney studio.
3. Port Aventura/Spain
The biggest advantage of PortAventura Park is its location. It is located on the Costa Dorada, near the town of Salou, ideal for a beach holiday. You can stay in Salou itself or in any of the nearby coastal towns and from there make forays into the park, Barcelona and Tarragona. Or you can stay in Barcelona; from here to the park is no more than an hour by car or an hour and a half by train.
4. Ghibli museum/Japan
A ninja museum, sumo wrestling, magnificent pagodas and parks, sushi bars and the Tsukiji fish market – neither children nor adults will be bored in Tokyo. Not far from the Japanese capital you will find two amusement parks at once – the familiar Disneyland and the unusual, much more Japanese Studio Ghibli museum park, created by the great master Hayao Miyazaki.
5. Six Flags Mountain/USA
Everyone knows that near Los Angeles there is the world’s first Disneyland and the luxurious Universal Park, dedicated to the blockbusters of the studio of the same name, but not everyone has heard about Six Flags – a classic amusement park. Most of the slides in Six Flags are designed for teenagers and adults, but there is also more than enough entertainment for preschoolers.
By the way, Los Angeles will not be boring for those who are not interested in attractions: beaches, shopping, luxurious parks and museums and, of course, the famous Walk of Fame – this city will not leave anyone indifferent.
6. Universal studios/Singapore
Among all of Southeast Asia, Singapore is best suited for family holidays. The city provides endless possibilities for entertainment for young guests: the famous night zoo, excellent beaches and numerous children’s museums. Adults will surely enjoy the combination of ultra-modern and colonial architecture, shopping and Singaporean cuisine. A few years ago, Universal Studios opened on Singapore’s Sentosa Island; Compared to its American counterparts, this is a relatively small park, but it is quite enough to make a trip to Singapore an unforgettable adventure for your child.
7. Ocean Park/Hong Kong
Ocean Park in Hong Kong is a great way to combine business with pleasure, because on its territory there are not only a water park and a roller coaster, but also a zoo and an aquarium. The most interesting thing here is the aquarium with a variety of jellyfish, which will not leave even adults indifferent. You can get to Ocean Park by taxi or bus both from the city center and from Victoria Peak. So, if you are only passing through Hong Kong for a day or two, try combining a visit to the peak with Ocean Park, just keep in mind that such a program will be quite tiring for a child.
8. Gardaland/Italy
If you are planning a trip to northern Italy with children, be sure to stop by this park; it is located just on the road between Venice and Milan, on the shores of Lake Garda, just a few minutes drive from Verona. This is the largest amusement park in Italy, with its own water park, aquarium and separate area for children. If you try, you can get around it in one day, so you don’t have to look for accommodation nearby. But if you like to do everything in detail, then it is better to spend the night in the nearby town of Peschiera del Garda or in one of the campsites near the park. Directly on the territory of the park there is its own (expensive) four-star hotel.
9. Efteling/
Holland
If you don’t like Disney and prefer to raise your child on classic fairy tales, then Efteling Park is perfect for you. The same rides, roller coasters and carousels, but in a slightly more classic and calm setting. From Amsterdam to Efteling it is easy to get by train or car, but we still recommend staying in the park for at least one night in order to have time to explore the entire territory, it is quite large. Efteling is one of the few theme parks in Europe that operate all year round, so you don’t have to plan your visit during the summer, you can choose a more suitable season for visiting Amsterdam.
10. Grona Lund/Sweden
Stockholm is the perfect city for a long family weekend. The main children’s entertainment is located on the island of Skansen: the Junibacken Museum, dedicated to the heroes of Swedish fairy tales, the Vassa museum ship, the aquarium and, of course, the Grenalund amusement park. The pearls of Grenalund are the Petson and Findus house, where children can play for hours, and the Ferris wheel. Adults will certainly enjoy the old town and palace of Drottningholm near Stockholm; and modern Swedish cuisine will definitely appeal to everyone, regardless of age.
