Travel to World Best Amusement Parks
A trip around the world for kids and adults, looking for fun and adrenaline!
The route
Zürich for Europa-Park, then Abu Dhabi, Tokyo, Orlando and New York. The 2016 version of this page started in Munich, which it called Monaco, the Italian name. Europa-Park is closer to other airports: the park lists Strasbourg and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden at 64 km, Basel at 90 km and Zürich at 186 km, and Zürich has the most long-haul flights of the four.
Two of the five parks on the 2016 list have changed since. The world's fastest roller coaster is now in Saudi Arabia, and the tallest one in New Jersey has been blown up. Details below.
Europa-Park, Rust, Germany
Germany's largest theme park opened in 1975 and has 14 roller coasters among more than 100 rides and shows. It had 5.4 million visitors in 2022, more than six million with its Rulantica water park next door. Expect an Epcot-like feel as you walk through the themed areas, 18 of which are European countries or regions. The newest big coaster is Voltron Nevera, a multi-launch ride that opened in April 2024. Europa-Park.
Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is an amusement park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and the first Ferrari-branded theme park. Its Formula Rossa reaches 240 km/h and was the world's fastest roller coaster from 2010 until the last day of 2025.
That day Falcons Flight opened at Six Flags Qiddiya City, outside Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. It reaches 250 km/h and is also the tallest and longest roller coaster in the world. If you want both records on one trip, Riyadh is an easy detour from Abu Dhabi.
Tokyo DisneySea, Japan
There are no language barriers when it comes to the Disney magic in Tokyo. In 2024 Tokyo Disneyland was the fourth most visited theme park in the world and Tokyo DisneySea the seventh, according to the Themed Entertainment Association. DisneySea opened its eighth port, Fantasy Springs, on 6 June 2024, with areas based on Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan and a hotel of its own.
Walt Disney World and Epic Universe, Orlando, USA
No place in the world can rival Walt Disney World's all-encompassing themed experience. Its Magic Kingdom was the busiest theme park on earth in 2024, with 17.84 million visitors.
Orlando now has a reason to stay longer. Universal opened Epic Universe on 22 May 2025, with five worlds that include Super Nintendo World and a Harry Potter land set in the Ministry of Magic.
Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey, USA
Kingda Ka was the reason this stop was on the route. Opened in 2005, it was once the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, 139 metres high and 206 km/h. Six Flags Great Adventure closed it in November 2024 and blew it up on 28 February 2025.
The park's next record-breaker, Bakunawa, is due in 2027. The park says it will stand 382 feet and be the tallest spinning coaster in the world. Keep New York on the route for the city, and if coasters are the point, wait for Bakunawa.
Tags: best amusement parks around the world, travel amusement parks, travel luna parks, travel to world best amusement parks
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