Are you planning a trip to Europa Park with kids? Europa Park is one of the best amusement parks for toddlers! Here are some great Europa Park tips that will help you have the best time with your young kids.
Since being stationed in Germany, we have grown quite fond of Europa Park. In fact, as much as we love Disney’s nostalgia, we have ultimately had a more enjoyable time at Europa Park than at Disneyland Paris. I feel a little guilty for admitting that, but there is so much more for younger kids to experience, and the prices are more reasonable.
Europa Park is located in Germany, close to the borders of France and Switzerland. With so much to do, I would suggest spending 2-3 days at the theme park and a day at the Rulantica Water Park. Here are some excellent Europa Park Tips if you are visiting with young kids!
Check availability and book in advance
Availability can be limited during the high season. The month of August is a holiday for many Europeans. Germany and France also celebrate many holidays, which can affect availability. It is always better to book tickets ahead of time. This can affect hotel availability as well.
Purchasing the tickets online through the app does save a little bit of money. However, I don’t find the site very user-friendly. You do have to set up an account.
Also, when we purchased park tickets the day of, the staff recommended that we purchase the tickets online while standing at the kiosk.
Europa Park closes for several weeks during the winter season. The official start of the season is in march.
Europa Park discount tickets
Children three years and younger are free. If you are visiting Europa Park on your child’s birthday, they are free up to the age of 12, you just need to present their passport. Europa Park also offers discount tickets for seniors and those with disabilities.
Download the Europa Park App
The app is not quite as all-inclusive as the Disney app, but it is still a great guide. It is very helpful for getting around, seeing wait times, and staying up to date on any shows.
Parking
The easiest thing to do is pay for the parking on the website when you purchase the tickets. The parking is very reasonable. You also have the option to pay for parking at a kiosk in the park. Even on the busiest of days, there have been plenty of parking spaces.
Visit during the holidays
Yes, I am aware that this is the probably the oddest of the Europa Park tips. Holidays can be quite busy for theme parks. However, there is something so amazing at Europa Park during the holidays. I would consider this an option if you’re hoping to enjoy the aesthetics over riding the rides. It really depends on your priorities with the trip.
Fall and Halloween
Over fall, the park is decorated with hundreds of pumpkins! Halloween is definitely not as big in Germany as it is in the United States, but they do have Halloween-themed parades, which are fun to watch
Christmas
The month of December is so magical; the park transforms into this Christmas wonderland. There are hundreds of live decorated Christmas trees- yes, real Christmas trees! The second time visiting was in December, and I was amazed. The Christmas lights are so well done, and the decor is beautiful. There is also a Christmas market, where you can drink the Gluwein and collect mugs! And the park even has a real ice skating rink!
Check the height requirements for rides before your trip
I am pretty sure we waited in three different lines our first and second time at Europa Park, only to be turned away. You can check the maximum height on the Europa Park Website. There are also detailed signs with each ride. I will admit I didn’t quite understand how to read the sign at first. This will give you an idea of what ideas your toddler can ride.
Make a plan and prioritize your day
Similar to my tips for Disneyland Paris, I recommend having a plan. There are so many rides for toddlers that I think you may be able to do just the rides alone in two days. That being said, there are so many various attractions for little children. There are playgrounds scattered throughout the park, ball houses, shows, interactive exhibits, and more.
See the shows
Europa Park has some really neat shows. I will say that we saw an exhibitionist/ magic show that was scheduled for English. The reality was that he spoke some English, but it was primarily in German. We enjoyed the show despite the language barrier. During the heat of the summer season, some of these buildings can get quite warm and stuffy.
The ice skating show has been really impressive every time we have seen it. I would recommend planning your day around it.
Tip: Every day, there is a large display in the park that lists all of the shows, the show times, and the languages
Let your kids participate in the Junior Club Studios
This is pretty neat. All of the Europa Park characters of the Mack family participate in the show! The kids have an opportunity to dance with the characters in front of the green screen. The TVs in the room show the entire thing, including the kids swimming. This is the best place to have a meet and greet with the Mack family characters.
Sign your kids up for the Junior Club
We visited Europa Park a number of times before we finally figured out where to sign up. You need to go to the gift shop in Holland. The screens are only in German and French, but the employee was able to help us. There, a card is printed out, and the kids can scan it for points after certain rides. It is free!
Enjoy the experience, not just the rides
Europa Park truly has so much to offer guests with young kids. Be sure to take some time to enjoy it. It can be a refreshing break from jumping from one ride to the next. Walk around the gardens, see a show, or interact with some of the nativities in the Black Forest portion. There is even a little 3D theater that doesn’t require glasses. The movie is in German, but my son still loves it!
Check out the Castle, Scholoss Balthasar
The Castle is located at the back of the park. You can eat lunch and dinner in the castle. It’s a pretty neat experience, and the food is very good. Be sure to take a little stroll in the manicured gardens.
Plan ahead for where you would like to eat
I would recommend eating at the castle for a nice meal. The quality of the food is fantastic, and it is priced a little higher. Europa Park is set up similarly to Disney’s Epcot in that it is made up of different countries. These different themed areas have restaurants from each country. There is a really nice Restaurant Seehaus. The outside is set up like a beer garden. There is a little playground right next to the outside seating area.
Food loop
I want to mention the Food loop specifically. It is a really cool idea. Each table is set up so that the food is delivered to you in a special way—I don’t want to give it away!
The quality of the food isn’t that great, but it does make for a very unique experience, and it’s very entertaining for kids. I would recommend going there for a snack. Because of its popularity, the line can get quite long.
Jump in the single-rider lines
Even when the park is busy, the lines are usually not horrible. I can’t speak for the roller coaster, but for everything else, it seems to be pretty true. Jumping into the single-rider line is a great way for one parent to ride while the other hangs out with the kids. There is likely to be a playground nearby.
Some of the roller coasters with the longer lines include: Aurther, The silver Star coaster, Blue Fire Megacoaster, Wodan Timburcoaster, and the new Voltron Nevera
Take advantage of the Baby Swap
I love the baby swap service. It is very considerate when theme parks adopt this. Just let the attendant know when you get in line, and they will give you a card. Once you are off the ride, your partner should be able to ride without standing in the long line.
Europa Park Fast Pass
Honestly, of the several times we have been to Europa Park, we have only used the Europa Park Fast Pass once. We used it for the Pirates of Batavia, and it really didn’t jump us that much further in line. Probably because the line wasn’t all that long.
While visiting the theme park with a toddler and a baby, we didn’t feel the need to use it. I cannot say how beneficial this is for the roller coaster rides, but it would be worth a shot to try it. The Europa Park fast pass works by reserving a designated time slot, you can book it through the app.
Be prepared for the weather
The weather has not always been pleasant on our trips to Europ Park. The best thing to do is plan accordingly. If it’s supposed to rain, pack up rain gear and rain boots. There is still so much to do inside the park with kids that you can still make the most of the trip despite any bad weather.
Enjoy the benefits of Europa Park Hotel Resorts
The resort hotels are themed
The themed hotels are really neat. The details in the rooms are impressive. The family room is nice because it has one queen bed and a bunk bed.
The hotels are very nice and offer a great experience for an overnight stay.
As a family of four, one being a toddler and the other an infant, it is standard to book a family room at a hotel (in many European countries). Family rooms can be quite expensive. When we stayed at a hotel right off the amusement park, the experience was lacking, and the total price reduction was not worth it. It is something to take note of; for a family of four, the best option for us is to stay at one of the popular theme park resort hotels.
A shuttle service also takes guests from the resort hotels to the park, and it includes Rulantica Water World.
I am sure there are some AirBnB’s in the area.
Early entrance into the park
Early access to the park is a wonderful perk. It could be a great opportunity to ride some of the major roller coasters before the park opens.
It is important to note that many of the restaurants and concessions do not open until 11:00/ 11:30. So, if you are entering the park first thing, be sure to bring some snacks and water. It can be a bit frustrating when you need some coffee, and your kids are hungry.
Depending on the season, the park is open for hotel guests 30 minutes or an hour before normal entry.
Enjoy the Pool
Families can enjoy a mid-day break at the swimming pool after spending much time time in the park.
Enjoy the hotel show
A few of the hotels have shows. I will say there is a fire and water show at the Kronosar, it was not impressive. I didn’t even realize the show was going on. There is a really cool show at the Colosseo. In fact, you can request to have a room that looks out to the show.
Enjoy the sauna
The sauna can be a perfect opportunity to relax, especially after a long day at the park.
Related Post: Proper German Sauna Etiquette
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Free Parking
Free parking is a great bonus. There is also a separate entrance for hotel guests. The park entrance for the hotel guests is located in Spain, towards the back of the park, while the main entrance is located in Germany.
Breakfast is included
The breakfast is a buffet. The food is great, and sometimes Ed the Euro Mouse will make his rounds!
Related Post: The Best Toddler and Baby Packing List
Purchasing baby items
If you need any baby supplies or food, there is a store located in the park.
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Wear comfortable shoes
You will be doing a lot of walking! This is probably one of the more important Europa Park Tips. The park doesn’t seem all that large, but any day at a theme park is a full day on your feet.
Wear comfortable clothes and dress for the season
One of the best Europa Park tips I can give is to layer your clothes. Park days are full days; you want to be comfortable, and you want your kids to be comfortable. I suggest bringing a thin jacket for the evenings during the Summer months.
If you are visiting during the Winter months, be sure to read this guide on what to wear for winter in Germany before your trip!
Bring swimwear
Europa Park has several water rides and splash pads, which are great for a hot day. It is lots of fun during the Summer, so make sure you add the swimsuit to your amusement park packing list.
Bring your own food
Thankfully, Europa Park allows guests to bring food. Pack some of your favorite snacks, and don’t forget the water. Consider having a picnic! There are so many beautiful spots in the park that are set up for picnics, making it one of the best theme parks I have ever been to.
Bring a refillable water bottle
The expenses can add up. There are drinking fountains throughout the park to refill bottles. If you are staying in a hotel, purchase a case of water.
Bring the baby gear
I would highly recommend bringing a stroller or wagon. We have visited with only a toddler carrier and another time with just the stroller until we figured out that the wagon and baby carrier are our perfect combination
To see my recommended carriers and strollers, click here.
Workaround naps
Naps can really impact your experience at theme parks with toddlers and babies. They are full and exhausting days. Have patience with them, and try to prioritize a nap.
My final thoughts on Europa Park tips, and why it is one of the best amusement parks for toddlers
Europa Park is clean, beautiful, and has so much to offer for the whole family. The European-themed areas are really neat, and there are so many attractions to enjoy. My husband and I joke about how we want to come back when we move back to the States. The price is reasonable for what it has to offer.
Another huge benefit that parents of young children can understand is that there are no gift shops at the end of every ride like there are at a Disney Park! Europa Park is a really good place for a family vacation
If you are traveling in the area, or if you and your family are big amusement park fans, then Europa Park should be added to your bucket list!
I would love to hear from you! Have you been to Europa Park? Do you have any additional Europa Park tips? Please let me know!
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