Adventure Parks Near Switzerland
Here are a few of the adventure and amusement parks in and close to Switzerland. No children were harmed in the process of making this post.
If you’re longing for the official Disney experience, Disneyland Paris will scratch that itch with a charming French accent to boot. It’s smaller than the California and Florida parks, but it has all the classic rides and characters, as well as some modern features like the Fast Pass. Of course, there are some differences. For example, it can be quite difficult to get autographs from the various characters. At the U.S. parks, you can stand in line and have a guarantee of an autograph and photo with multiple princesses. At Disneyland Paris, only the main characters like Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh have regular hours with a queue. With the others, you have to push and shove through a big mass of fans to get access.
The Walt Disney Studios Park next door offers more rides and shows, many of which are indoors, making it a good choice for a rainy day. Two days is typically enough to experience both parks, riding most rides and seeing a few shows and parades. Spring and fall are a nice time to visit, when the weather is milder and crowds slightly reduced. But be warned that during winter, up to a third of the rides can be closed for maintenance. Despite the proximity to Paris, the park food is below average. You can’t bring in a picnic, like sandwiches or a cooler full of food, but lots of snacks usually make it through the bag check.
Marne-la-Vallée, France
Open year round, typically 10:00 to 22:00.
Ticket prices vary widely based on length of visit, date, and other restrictions.
One park/one day starts at adults €57, children €52
This park is a cross between a big-time roller-coaster park and a knock-off Disney theme park. Europa Park has its own mouse, off-brand princesses, a creepier haunted house, Pirates of Bavaria instead of the Caribbean, an African Queen Cruise instead of a Jungle Cruise, and other nods to the Disney franchise. It’s a little cheesy, but don’t write it off just yet. It’s great fun and in many ways, more popular than Disneyland around these parts. There are tons of small rides and amusements for the little kids, often with small or no lines at all. Kids can ride the mini bumper cars over and over and spin around on planes and hot-air balloons and shoot up underwater monsters for points. Meanwhile, older kids will love the wide selection of big thrills, like the Blue Fire and Silver Star coasters, boasting of their bravery back at school. Some kids will want to spend half the day at the adventure playground, with a pirate ship to climb around on, lots of tall slides, canoes to row, and water to splash. Definitely take clothes to get wet and bring a picnic if you like. They have lots of shows as well and go all out for holidays, like on Halloween, when the whole park is decorated with pumpkins and spooky characters stalk the guests. If you fancy an overnight stay, the Camp Resort is a fun novelty for the kids, with teepees, covered wagons and log cabins to sleep in and campfires to gather around in the evenings and roast marshmallows.
Europa-Park-Straße 2, 77977 Rust, Germany
Open late March through early November, from 9:00 to 18:00, possibly longer hours during main season. Also open in winter from late November through early January, from 11:00 to 19:00.
Adults €42, children (4 to 11) €37, birthday child free with proof of birthdate
Legoland is a treat for Lego lovers. It’s a medium-sized park with big ambitions, slowly adding to the fun year after year. They have a handful of roller coasters and other amusement for big and small. “Miniland” has famous European cities and various Star Wars scenes built on a small scale out of Legos. They offer a small “factory” tour where you can see how Legos are made and a big store with their full range of products. There are a couple wet rides and water play, so remember to bring extra clothes. There’s a nice playground when you’re tired of standing in line. Many parents are annoyed by the pay-to-play extras inside park, which can dramatically increase the cost of your visit, including the driving school, a variety of carnival games, and the pricey Express Passes for reducing queue times.
89312 Günzburg Germany
Open late March through early November, typically 10:00 to 18:00, longer hours on weekends, during school vacations, and public holidays.
Adults €27.75, children (3 to 11) €31.12 (online price)
Connyland is a small amusement park near Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, with mostly low-thrill rides you might find at a fair, like bumper cars. They have one big roller coaster for big kids that gives a real thrill, and several others that are guaranteed to make you sick, like the swinging pirate ship and mini free fall. They recently added an indoor play facility with trampolines, climbing structures, and a proper ropes course for kids over 130 centimeters tall. Most kids love the Dino-Attack, where you ride around in a jeep shooting animatronic dinosaurs for points. It’s nice on a hot day, as they have a few water attractions, including a mini log ride and a raft ride with spray guns and a fun splash pool. Remember to bring swimsuits, towels and sunscreen. They no longer have the dolphin show, but there’s plenty of fun without it. Connyland doesn’t get as crowded as other, big-time parks, so kids can often repeat rides over and over again.
Connylandstraße, 8564 Lipperswil
Open late March through October, typically 10:00 to 18:00
Adults SFr.19, children (3 to 14) SFr.25
Ravensburger Spieleland is an enormous themed playground, more focused on games and play than big thrills. It has a variety of great playgrounds for big and small, super-tall, fast slides, a toboggan run, climbing walls, mini cars to drive, boats to navigate, a rafting ride, a labyrinth, a digging pit, a water play area, etc. But no big roller coasters. Children aged 4 to 10 will be quite happy here, given the right expectations.
Am Hangenwald 1 88074 Meckenbeuren Germany
Open late March through early November, typically 10:00 to 18:00 though hours vary by season.
Adults €29, children (3 to 14) €27, birthday child free with proof of birth date
Text and photos by Tanya Deans
Tanya indulges her kids a couple times a year in adventure parks and spends the rest of the summer hiking with her kids in the Swiss alps. Her blog Moms:Tots:Zurich has lots of tips and detailed information on family-friendly hikes in Switzerland.
I can recommend Phantasialand near Cologne. I’d say it’s quite similar to Europa Park, ie- very good. And Cologne itself is such a gorgeous city… Also Allgäu Skyline Park which is ‘the Swiss side’ of Munich and circa 2.5 hours from Zurich. It’s a little more basic although it has scary rides and still loads to do but not so crowded as the more well- known adventure parks.
Thanks for the tips. Good to hear about some different ones.