Germany’s Amusement Parks Help You Escape The Winter Blues

Winter time can be a bit of a downer. The weather is cold, the excitement of the holidays is over and summer seems a long time coming.

While most of Germany’s amusement parks are closed for the winter, mid-March signals the beginning of their new season. So, if you’re longing for an escape from the winter doldrums, then an amusement park vacation may be just what the doctor ordered. ;-)

Europa-Park

The biggest of them all is Europa-Park in Rust north of Freiburg with over four million visitors each year. Europa-Park has fifteen parts or “lands” you can visit, from Russia and Iceland to Spain and Portugal. The park was founded by the vehicle-making Mack family, who opened it in 1975 as a showcase for their latest inventions.

Don’t miss one of the newest super-thrill roller coaster and the first upside-down ride, the Blue Fire. Balthasar Castle is the Cinderella centerpiece, complete with its own moat.

Bayern Park

A more traditional and charming outing can be found at Bayern Park in Reisbach, 126 km (78 mi) east of Munich.

The Bayern Park is not your everyday modern amusement park filled with adrenaline rides, but its charm lies in the simplicity of its attractions. Relaxing train rides, beautiful mock architecture and fun family rides ensure that you’ll still have a great time. Highlights include the mandatory roller coaster, river rafting, pirate ships, boat rides and the Schweinchenbahn (pig train).

Holiday Park

Holiday Park is a popular destination for the whole family, located in Haßloch in the Palatinate region. Here you will find carousels, extreme roller coasters, free fall rides, log flumes and relaxing boat and train rides.

With over one million visitors each year, Holiday Park is half-theme park, half-nature park with a very green, wooded environment.

Bavaria Filmstadt

Movie lovers will want to check out the Bavaria Filmstadt in the Geiselgasteig district of Grünwald (just south of Munich).

Bavaria Filmstadt gives its visitors a behind-the-scenes peek at the world of TV and movie making. The guided tours of Filmstadt offer some great insider stories and anecdotes about life in the movies. You’ll also gain some insight into the production of movies and TV. The film tour takes you through many famous sets of German programs and the 1980s kiddie film, The Never-Ending Story.

Some highlighted shows featured at this park include German soap operas and the comedy Raumschiff Surprise-Periode 1.

Phantasialand

Finally, the adrenaline junkies will want to book their tickets for my personal favorite German theme park, Phantasialand in Brühl (just south of Cologne). Rides like the Colorado Adventure, Talocan and Black Mamba will take you through hairpin turns, corkscrews, dark tunnels and a final splash as you barrel along on these extreme coasters. If that weren’t enough, there is also a unique collection of Chinese architecture, reconstructed German capitals and world folk music.

You’re missing some of our theme parks?

Don’t sweat. There are much more incredible theme parks in Germany, all of which will thrill, entertain and help you create new, wonderful memories.

—Marcus