Europa-Park Resort

Europa-Park Resort in Rust, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, is one of Europe’s premier theme park destinations, offering a thrilling mix of rides, shows, and accommodations. Centrally located near the borders of France and Switzerland, the family-owned resort includes the Europa-Park theme park, the Rulantica water park, six themed hotels, a campsite, and a variety of dining and entertainment options. Renowned for its immersive theming and high-quality attractions, the resort draws millions of visitors annually, particularly from nearby regions in Germany, France, and Switzerland. == Understand == Europa-Park Resort is a seasonal theme park complex centered around the Europa-Park theme park, which features over 100 attractions, including 14 roller coasters, and can accommodate up to 50,000 guests daily. Operated by the Mack family, who have generations of experience in roller coaster design and construction through their company Mack Rides, the park has been named the "Best Amusement Park in the World" for nine consecutive years (2014–2023) at the Golden Ticket Awards, ascended in the USA. The resort leverages its prime location near major cities in France (Strasbourg, 55 km), Switzerland (Basel, 60 km), and Baden-Württemberg (Freiburg, 30 km), drawing large crowds, especially during school holidays in these regions. Special events, such as the Bastille Day parade in July, attract many French visitors, while Halloween Horror Nights and the Winter Magic season add seasonal appeal. The adjacent Rulantica water park, opened in 2019, complements the resort with year-round aquatic fun. The park operates seasonally: the summer season (April to early November) runs from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with closing times often extended by up to three hours during peak periods (check the Europa-Park website or app for daily updates). The winter season (late November to early January, excluding select closure dates) operates from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Hotel guests enjoy early access to select rides—30 minutes early in summer and one hour early in winter. On busy days, expect wait times of up to 75 minutes for popular rides, though the VirtualLine system helps manage queues. == Get in == Europa-Park Resort in Rust, Germany, is conveniently located near the borders of France and Switzerland, making it easily accessible by car, public transit, or air. The resort’s proximity to major cities like Freiburg (30 km), Strasbourg (55 km), and Basel (60 km) ensures multiple travel options. === By car === Europa-Park is directly accessible via the Autobahn (A5) motorway (exit 57b, Rust). Ample parking is available for day visitors and hotel guests, with clear signage guiding you to the resort. The parking fee is €10 for Europa-Park visitors. === By train === The nearest railway station is 1 Ringsheim/Europa-Park, the official stop for the resort, located 4 km from the park. From Ringsheim, bus service 7231 (see By bus below) takes about 5 minutes to reach the resort’s main entrance. Regional and long-distance trains serve the station, offering convenient connections from major cities. The following trains stop at the Ringsheim/Europa-Park station: Regional Trains (RE, RB): Connect Ringsheim to Freiburg im Breisgau (15 minutes), Offenburg (10 minutes), and other nearby cities. Operated by Deutsche Bahn, these are ideal for short-distance travel within Baden-Württemberg. EuroCity-Express (ECE): Daily service on the Frankfurt–Milan route, with two stops per day at Ringsheim/Europa-Park. Travel time from Frankfurt is under 2 hours, and from Basel, about 1 hour. TGV INOUI: Daily high-speed trains from Paris to Freiburg stop at Ringsheim/Europa-Park (2 hours 45 minutes from Paris-Est, 45 minutes from Strasbourg). A weekly seasonal TGV from Bordeaux to Freiburg also serves the station. RailCoaster (SBB): A seasonal service by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) from Zurich to Ringsheim, operating weekends and select holidays (e.g., 18 April, 21 April, 29 May, 9 June, 1 August 2025). Includes dining car, Wi-Fi, and family zones, with combo tickets covering park entry. Connections from Bern, Solothurn, Aargau, and Lucerne are available === By bus === Two main bus lines connect visitors to Europa-Park Resort, offering convenient access from nearby transport hubs. Südbadenbus Service 7230: This direct bus service links Freiburg’s main railway station with Europa-Park, covering the 30 km journey in approximately 40 minutes. Operating daily during the park’s open seasons, it’s an ideal option for visitors arriving in Freiburg by train or plane, providing a hassle-free ride to the resort’s main entrance. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Südbadenbus website or at ticket machines in Freiburg, ensuring a smooth travel experience. Bus Service 7231/570: Running daily, this service connects Ringsheim/Europa-Park railway station, and occasionally Herbolzheim, to the resort’s main entrance, Rulantica water park, or resort hotels in just 5 minutes. It’s the primary link for train travelers arriving at Ringsheim, with frequent departures aligned with train schedules. Tickets cost €2.50 for a single ride under the TGO tariff, available from bus drivers, RVF ticket machines, or the Südbadenbus Customer Centre in Freiburg. FlixBus: For broader regional and international access, FlixBus offers affordable connections from major German and European cities. FlixBus operates a dedicated stop near the Europa-Park Camp Resort. === By plane === There are many airports near Europa-park, some of which have airport shuttles to the park: 2 Airport Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (FKB IATA). This is the airport closest to Europa-park. The shuttle service has to be booked at least 72 hours in advance. Ryanair flies to the airport. 3 Euroairport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL IATA,MLH IATA, EAP IATA) (about 60 min away by car). The shuttle service has to be booked at least 72 hours in advance. Swiss and easyJet fly here. 4 Stuttgart airport (STR IATA) (about 90 minutes away by car). The shuttle service has to be booked at least 72 hours in advance. Lufthansa flies to Stuttgart airport from almost anywhere in the world, Finnair flies from Helsinki (and 10 Asian destinations via Helsinki) to this airport and Eurowings also flies to Stuttgart. Nearby airports with no shuttle services to Europa Park include: 5 Strasbourg airport (SXB IATA) (about 45 min away by car). Shuttle-trains connect this airport to Strasbourg's main railway station. From there, take the train to Offenburg railway station. Regional trains connect Offenburg to Ringheim railway station (Europa Park's 'official' station). 6 Friedrichshafen Airport (FDH IATA) (about 120 min away by car). Public transport can be used to go from the airport to Europa Park; first, go to the Freiburg im Breigau railway station. From there you can either use train and bus or just the bus to reach Europa-park (see 'By transit'). Other airports that are within driving distance (or from where Europa Park is easily accessible by train or bus) are Frankfurt Airport and Zürich. If you have a private plane or charter, Lahr airport is also an option. For more information, visit the Europa Park website == Tickets == === Europa-Park === You can buy 1-day tickets, 2-day tickets (for 2 days within a 6-day period), and annual tickets. Purchase tickets online through the Europa-Park Website or bundle them with a hotel stay via the resort's booking platform. You can also purchase tickets at the Europa-Park main entrance ticket counters, but note that availability is limited on busy days, and a €10 surcharge applies. Annual passes (ResortPass) are available, but very limited. Prices as of Summer 2025: 1 Check the Europa-Park website or app for exact dates and price categories, as they vary by season.2 up to their 12th birthday Because of the size of the park, a 2-day ticket is an option you should consider. Especially during peak season, when it can get very busy, it's unlikely you'll be able to see the entire park (or ride all the rides you want to ride) in one day. === Rulantica === Day tickets or time-based tickets for Rulantica are available. Lockers cost an extra €1. Purchase tickets online through the Rulantica Website or bundle them with a hotel stay via the resort's booking platform. Prices as of Summer 2025: 1 Check the Rulantica website or app for exact dates and price categories, as they vary by season. === Yullbe === For Yullbe check Yullbe website for tickets. == Get around == === Resort === Outside the Europa-Park theme park, the resort’s components—six themed hotels, Rulantica water park, and the Camp Resort—are well-connected by free shuttles, public buses, and walkable pathways, making it easy to move between accommodations and attractions. Shuttle services connect the six themed hotels to the Rulantica water park, operating frequently during Rulantica’s hours (typically 10:00 AM–10:00 PM, confirm via the app) with a travel time of 5–10 minutes depending on the hotel. These shuttles do not service the Europa-Park main entrance. Non-hotel guests can also use the shuttles by exiting the theme park through the special hotel exit (in the Spain themed are) and walking to the designated shuttle stops at the hotel area. The Krønåsar hotel, located adjacent to Rulantica, is just a 2-minute walk from the water park. Hotel guests also benefit from a special park entrance near the hotels, providing direct access to the theme park in 5–10 minutes on foot, bypassing the main entrance crowds. The Bus Service 7231, operated under the TGO tariff, links the resort’s main entrance, Rulantica, select hotels, and the Camp Resort with Ringsheim/Europa-Park railway station, and occasionally Herbolzheim. Walking is a convenient option due to the resort’s compact, pedestrian-friendly layout. From the hotels, the special park entrance is 5–10 minutes away, while Rulantica is reachable in around 15 minutes (2 minutes from Krønåsar). The Camp Resort is 10–15 minutes on foot from the Europa-Park main entrance, with well-marked paths throughout. === Inside Europa-Park === Europa-Park provides paper maps at the main entrance and hotel resort entrance, available in 3 languages (German, French and English) with traffic light coding for the day's expected visitor numbers (Green for quiet, Orange for moderate and Red for busy) and times for attractions including shows. These paper maps differentiate between the main season and winter season, depending on which attractions are available. There are also giant maps available park wide showing your current location and an e-map available on the Europa-Park app. There are queue time boards park wide, which are also shown in 3 languages (German, French and English), and on the Europa-Park app. There are also individual queue time boards available at most attractions. Show times are also available on the queue time boards, on the Europa-Park app and in front of the show venue. Europa-Park is relatively easy to navigate on the ground and takes roughly 20 minutes to traverse from the furthest side (such as Deutsche Allee) to the other (Spain). The pathways are typically flat and wide with a few inclines around quarters such as Scandinavia and Austria, as well as cobbles in Spain and Switzerland, making most of the park accessible to guests with mobility issues and families with young guests. There are 3 modes of transport available to all guests and are free to use. Panoramabahn - Opened in 1975, the Panoramabahn is a miniature steam railway with a circuit which stops in Germany, England, Spain and Russia. It may operate up to 4 trains and runs regularly until park close. Monorail-bahn - Opened in 1990, the Monorail-bahn runs from Luxembourg to Island and provides views from the middle to the back of the park (Russia, England, Abenteuerland, Scandinavia, Portugal, Island). It may operate up to 9 trains and it runs regularly until park close. The EP-Express - Opened in 1995 in conjunction with Hotel El Andaluz, the EP-Express operates as a private form of transport for guests staying in the resort hotels. The circuit stops at Alexanderplatz in Deutsche Allee, Hotels, Spain and Greece. It may operate up to 3 trains and provides excellent views of the park and hotels. Whilst park guests are allowed to use the EP-Express and exit at Hotel Resort, they cannot re-enter and must go through the resort entrance adjacent to the Spain quarter. Trains run regularly throughout the day and are available upon request at the main entrance and Hotels for hotel guests after park close. == See == 1 Balthasar Castle (Schloss Balthasar), Ritterstraße. Built in 1442 by the Böcklin von Böcklinsau family, this Renaissance-era castle is now part of Europa-Park, housing a restaurant. Accessible during park hours, it offers a glimpse into Rust’s noble history. Europa-Park ticket required. (updated Jun 2025) == Do == ===== Roller coasters ===== Europa-park is well known for its roller coasters and it has 14 of them, ranging from small kiddie coasters to the hyper coaster 'Silver Star'. 1 Silver Star. This 73-m-high (239 ft) coaster has a maximum speed of 127 km/h (78.9 mph) and is the largest roller coaster in Europa-park. It's in the 'France' section of the park and within its entrance hall are a coffee shop, gift shop and a small museum that features a life-size replica of a Mercedes-Benz Formula One car. This coaster used to be the highest in Europe. (updated Jun 2018) 2 Euro-Mir. A unique spinning coaster with dark-ride elements. The Mir space station training module is located above the queue for this ride. It's in the 'Russia' section of the park. (updated Jun 2018) 3 Wodan Timbur Coaster. A 40-m-high (131 ft) wooden coaster that reaches speeds of up to 100 km/h (62.1 mph). It has a beautifully themed queue and is in the 'Iceland' section of the park. (updated Jun 2025) 4 Blue Fire. A coaster that is launched at 100 km/h (62.1 mph) and was Europa-Park's first coaster with inversions. It's in the 'Iceland' section of the park. (updated Jun 2018) 5 Atlantica Supersplash. One of the two water coasters in the park. It's in the 'Portugal' section of the park; the queue is themed as an old trade ship and a harbour. (updated Jun 2018) 6 Poseidon. The other water coaster. This one has more coaster elements (a larger track) than 'Atlantica Supersplash' and is in the 'Greece' section of the park. Its station building is themed like a Greek temple, part of the track goes through Atlantis-like ruins. (updated Jun 2018) 7 Eurosat - CanCan Coaster. Dark-ride coaster with a Parisian theme. (updated Jun 2025) 8 Pegasus. Ride on a flying horse. (updated Jun 2025) 9 Matterhorn-Blitz. Wild and rugged mountain ride. (updated Jun 2025) 10 Voltron Nevera. A high speed multi launched coaster designed and built by Mack Rides, Voltron features a beyond vertical launch, a junior scorpion tail and eight inversions and has been internationally renowned as one of the best new coasters in the world. (updated Nov 2025) ===== Enclosed rides ===== 11 Voletarium. Flying theatre. Tip: Avoid riding in the morning, as wait times are longest then. (updated Jun 2025) 12 Castello dei Medici (Ghost castle). A spooky dark ride in the 'Italy' section of the park. (updated Jun 2018) 13 Piraten in Batavia. A pirate themed dark ride that is reminiscent of the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' ride in the Disney parks. It's a relatively well hidden ride, but well worth the 'search'. It's in the 'Netherlands' section of the park. (updated Jun 2018) 14 Atlantis Adventure. An interactive dark ride themed around Atlantis, in the 'Greece' section of the park. (updated Jun 2018) 15 Piccolo Mondo. Gongola journey through Italy. (updated Jun 2025) 16 Madame Freudenreich Curiosités. Journey through grandma’s hilarious dinosaur garden. (updated Jun 2025) There are a number of other dark rides in the park including one themed around dinosaurs in the 'France' area of the park. ===== Water attractions ===== Besides the two water coasters there are many other water attractions including: 17 Josefina’s Magical Imperial Journey. Majestic boat ride through Empress Josefina's palace garden (updated Jun 2025) 18 Fjord Rafing. River rapids ride that goes through caverns and past waterfalls. It's in the 'Scandinavia' section of the park. (updated Jun 2025) 19 Tirol Log Flume. A log flume ride in the 'Austria' section of the park. It 'meets' with the powered roller coaster 'Alpenexpress' (also in 'Austria') several times. (updated Jun 2025) 20 Whale Adventures Splash Tours. A splash battle themed like a harbour village in 'Iceland'. (updated Jun 2025) ===== Other attractions ===== There are many other attractions in the park such as merry-go-rounds, car-rides, walkthroughs, an observation tower and a 4D-cinema. 21 Euro-Tower. Observation tower with a breathtaking 360° view. (updated Jun 2025) ==== Shows ==== Sixteen shows play in Europa-park ranging from dancing fountains to an ice-skating show, including: Inspired by the panda - a show presented in collaboration with the Chinese National Circus about the friendship between humans and pandas in the Asian restaurant Bamboe baai. Flamenco show - in which the 'Ballet Espanol' from Valencia dances Flamenco. Surpr'Ice - an ice-skating show about a journey to Rio de Janeiro. Waterloo - a musical for the whole family in the recreated Globe Theater, in the 'England' section of the park. Besides these shows, there are many other events throughout the day such as diving shows in 'Portugal' and a parade that goes through different sections of the park. === Rulantica === 1 Rulantica, Roland-Mack-Ring 1, ☏ +49 7822 776 655, info@rulantica.de. Rulantica is the water park of Europa-Park Resort. It opened in 2019. €36-52. (updated Jun 2026) == Buy == Shops are abundant. Besides the regular souvenir and candy shops, most country themed sections of the park have shops that sell things typical for the country that section represents. Many attractions also have gift shops that sell things related to the ride. These shops are usually at the exit of the attractions but you can also enter them if you didn't ride that attraction. There are no main shopping areas in the park. To buy groceries or other essentials and save money, exit Europa-Park via the special hotel exit within the Spain themed area, where you’ll find shops within a 15-minute walk. 1 Lidl, Tullastraße 1. (updated Jun 2025) 2 EDEKA, Franz-Sales-Straße 29. (updated Jun 2025) == Eat == === Resort options === 1 Eatrenalin, Roland-Mack-Ring 5 (near the Krønåsar hotel and Rulantica water park), ☏ +49 7822 8605890, info@eatrenalin.com. 17:10-01:00. Eatrenalin offers a cutting-edge, immersive dining experience combining gourmet cuisine with multimedia and sensory effects. Located near the Krønåsar hotel and Rulantica, this futuristic Michelin-starred restaurant features an 8-course menu (with vegetarian and vegan options) served in a moving, themed environment that blends technology and storytelling. Reservations are essential due to limited seating, and the experience lasts about 2 hours. Book via the website or Europa-Park app, and arrive 15 minutes early for check-in. Dress code is smart-casual. €255-445. (updated Jun 2026) 2 Captain’s Finest, Peter-Thumb-Straße 10 (Hotel Bell Rock), ☏ +49 7822 860 5922, hotels@europapark.de. Daily 6:00 PM–10:00 PM (closed 13 Jan–21 Mar 2025, except 14–15 Mar and 2–3, 8–10, 15–16 Mar 2025; check website for updates). Captain’s Finest offers a sophisticated à la carte dining experience with a New England maritime theme, evoking the ambiance of a luxurious ocean liner like the Mayflower. Located in the 4* superior Hotel Bell Rock, the restaurant features wood-paneled ceilings and a summer sun terrace, perfect for business dinners, romantic evenings, or family celebrations. Signature dishes include Black Angus steak tartar, Maine lobster, New England tuna tartar, and Midwest U.S. steaks, with vegetarian options like apple parfait. Children up to 14 can dine at a reduced rate at the adjacent buffet restaurant. €30–€65. (updated Jun 2025) === Within Europa-Park === Food is generally rather expensive. If you are on a tight budget, your best bet is to bring your food with you. The park restaurants offer a range of vegetarian and vegan meals, and gluten-free dishes. == Sleep == === Hotels === The six hotels at the Europa-park resort are (superior) 4-star hotels and as heavily themed as the park. Every hotel room has standard shower, toilet, telephone, hair-dryer, TV, and free high-speed internet access. Most hotel rooms also have standard air-conditioning and a safe. The hotels are often fully booked. If you want to stay at the Europa-park resort you should book well in advance. 1 Hotel Krønasår. Newest Hotel located near the water park Rulantica. From €80 per person. (updated Jun 2025) 2 Hotel Bell Rock. Bell Rock has 225 rooms (including 35 themed suites), a large hotel park, swimming pool, 3 restaurants, 2 bars and 2 spas. From €80 per person. (updated Jun 2026) 3 Hotel Colloseo. Themed around ancient Rome, it features a (almost live size) replica of the Colliseum and a large plaza. 324 rooms (including 22 themed suites), a large swimming pool, 3 restaurants, 2 bars/cafés and a spa. From €80 per person. (updated Jun 2026) 4 Hotel Santa Isabel. Built in the style of an old Portuguese monastery. 66 rooms, a swimming pool, 2 restaurants and a spa. From €80 per person. (updated Jun 2026) 5 Hotel El Andaluz. Built in Andalusian style, this hotel has 182 rooms (including 10 themed suites), a tropical garden, a swimming pool with sauna, a restaurant and a bar. From €91.50 per person. (updated Jun 2026) 6 Hotel Castillo Alcazar. Built in the style of a Spanish castle from the Middle Ages. This hotel has 120 rooms (including 8 themed suites) and shares the garden, swimming pool and sauna with Hotel El Andaluz. It does have its own restaurant and bar/lounge. From €81.50 per person. (updated Jun 2026) For reservations and questions concerning the hotels +49 7822 / 860 5679. === Camp resort === Europa-park's camp resort is themed like a western village. You can stay in a tipi, log cabin, covered wagon or bring your own tent, camper or caravan. The bungalow park has 458 beds, the camp site has 200 sites for tents and caravans. The camp resort is 5 minutes (by foot) away from the park, and parking is free. Besides the regular camping facilities (e.g. toilets, showers), there is also a swimming lake, tennis court, badminton, beach-volleyball and fireplaces for grilling (firewood is at your disposal for free). For reservations and questions concerning the Camp Resort +49 7822 / 860 55 66. 7 Tipi Town, Rheinweg 5. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. From €132. (updated Jun 2025) 8 Western Houses, Rheinweg 5, ☏ +49 7822 860 55 66. From €306. (updated Jun 2025) 9 Europa-Park Camping, Rheinweg 5, ☏ +49 7822 860 55 66. From €17.50. (updated Jun 2025) === Other options === Because Europa-park is such a popular destination and also because Europa-park is near the Black Forest, another popular tourist destination, there are many other hotels and camp sites nearby or not too far away. If you would like to stay at a camp site/resort, you should definitely consider staying in the Black Forest. == Connect == Europa-Park Resort is a place to escape everyday life, but staying connected is easy if needed. For sending postcards or mail, drop-off boxes are available near the main entrance of Europa-Park, and near Hotel Colloseo. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout Europa-Park, Rulantica, the resort hotels, and the Camp Resort, ensuring you can stay in touch without relying on cellular networks. While the Wi-Fi speed is sufficient for checking emails or posting updates, it’s optimized for use with the Europa-Park & Rulantica app, which offers real-time ride wait times, show schedules and VirtualLine reservations. This connectivity helps navigate the resort’s busy days, especially during peak seasons like school holidays. However, Europa-Park Resort is designed to immerse you in its European-themed worlds, from the thrills of “Silver Star” to the Nordic charm of Rulantica. Constant screen time can detract from the magic of the experience. Try to limit device use, perhaps checking the app only for planning, and focus on enjoying the sights, sounds, and moments that make the resort a unique escape from the outside world. == Go next == Taubergießen: A nature reserve located 2 km west of the resort. It consists of Rhine wetlands and can be explored via guided flat-bottom boat tours or marked hiking trails. Freiburg im Breisgau: 35 km south (approx. 30 min by car via the A5 or 45 min by train/bus). A university city known for its medieval cathedral and the "Bächle" water runnels in the streets. Strasbourg, France: 55 km north (approx. 45 min by car). The seat of the European Parliament and a UNESCO World Heritage city center (Grande Île). Colmar, France: 40 km west (approx. 40 min by car). A town in the Alsace region known for its preserved timber-framed architecture and the Unterlinden Museum. Emmendingen: 25 km south. A district town with a 12th-century castle ruin (Hochburg) and a Jewish museum.