# Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Busch Gardens Williamsburg, formerly known as Busch Gardens Europe and Busch Gardens: The Old Country, is a theme park in Williamsburg, Virginia.

## Understand

Busch Gardens has been voted the world’s “Most Beautiful Park” for 20 consecutive years by the National Amusement Park Historical Association. More than 50 thrilling rides, attractions and shows fill the park, 40 of which are kid-friendly.

### Visitor information

Busch Gardens Williamsburg website.

## Get in

Exit 243A on I-64
Nearby airports include:
* Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
* Richmond International Airport (RIC)
* Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF)

## See
### Banbury Cross (England)

Fashioned after England, complete with stereotypical red telephone booths and common English architecture. A variety of shops await guests in this small hamlet. Guest Services windows are next to the turnstiles of the Main gate. A simulacrum of the famous St. Stephen's Clock Tower (Big Ben) is the central element of this area. Banbury Cross also includes The Squire's Galley, serving breakfast and lunch, as well as a funnel cake shop, ice cream shop, and candy store. Banbury Cross also contains the skyride station nearest to the Main Gate. The Aeronaut (first leg) of the skyride departs to Aquitaine, France, while the Zeppelin (third leg) skyride arrives from Rhinefeld, Germany.
* 37.23631-76.646031 The Globe Theatre. 900-seat 4-D theater. A double-sized replica of William Shakespeare's performance home is the most prominent attraction in the area (updated Feb 2017)
* a double-sized replica of William Shakespeare's performance home, is the most prominent attraction in the area. A quaint Scottish hamlet situated at the top of the hill on the path leading from Banbury Cross, England. It is the second of Busch Gardens' European hamlets. 37.23529-76.645791 Tweedside Train Station offers a 20-minute ride through the park with additional stops in Festa Italia and at the central train station, Caribou, in New France. 37.23539-76.646141 Tweedside Gifts is adjacent to the train station and offers a variety of gift items. (updated Feb 2017)
* 37.23463-76.646652 Loch Ness Monster. A looping Arrow Dynamics roller coaster. It is the only roller coaster in the world to feature interlocking loops. (updated Jan 2025)
* 37.23436-76.651523 Li'l Clydes. A ride for young children, in which they ride a carousel of Clydesdales. (updated Jan 2025)

### Killarney (Ireland)

This area prominently features Celtic Fyre, at the 37.23607-76.648094 Abbey Stone Theatre, an engaging celebration of Irish dance, showcasing world class performers.
* 37.23605-76.647571 Grogan's Pub. Irish cuisine.
* 37.23583-76.647692 Emerald Isle Gifts. gifts, crafts, and jewelry from Ireland.
* 37.23622-76.648535 Eagle Ridge & 37.23607-76.648726 Wolf Valley – Animal exhibits just outside the village.

### San Marco (Italy)

When Italy/San Marco was opened, it completed the outer circle walkway around Busch Gardens. Part of the park's expansion included a high pedestrian bridge across the Rhine River into Oktoberfest, Germany. The bridge houses a salute to the various branches of the United States military. San Marco is based upon Renaissance-era Italy. A prominent feature within San Marco is 37.23457-76.64367 Da Vinci's Garden of Inventions. This garden features Italian statues and flowers set amid rides based on sketches by Leonardo da Vinci. Also in the area is the outdoor show "Festivale Italiano." Guests can often watch master Italian artisans handcrafting Capodimonte porcelain flowers.
* 37.23553-76.644058 Escape from Pompeii. A shoot-the-chutes boat ride featuring an extensive indoor portion within the city of Pompeii, featuring fire and water effects. (updated Jan 2025)
* 37.23461-76.643919 Little Gliders & 37.23484-76.6438410 Little Balloons – Family-sized carnival rides themed to Da Vinci's inventions.
* 37.23484-76.6435411 The Battering Ram. A high-capacity, high-thrill swinging ship. (updated Jan 2025)
* 37.23466-76.6433112 The Flying Machine. A lightly themed troika ride that spins riders. (updated Jan 2025)
* 37.23451-76.642213 Festa Italia (Italy). Festa Italia is themed around a fair celebrating Marco Polo's return to Italy from his famous visit to China. It has a general "party" atmosphere, and contains many of the park's midway games, all given a festival theme. It attractions are themed around Roman mythology. (updated Jan 2025)
* 37.23522-76.6422914 Apollo's Chariot. A B&M Hypercoaster reaching over 200 ft (61 m) high, featuring dives towards and around ponds and hills. Apollo's Chariot also features a deep purple and gold color scheme. (updated Jan 2025)
* 37.23413-76.6414815 Roman Rapids. A circular-raft rapids ride among Roman ruins. (updated Jan 2025)
* 37.23429-76.6419516 Tradewinds. A permanent-placement music express ride. (updated Jan 2025)
* 37.23452-76.6424517 Turkish Delight. A typical spinning "teacup" ride. (updated Jan 2025)

### Rhineland (Germany)

This section is based upon Germany. It is largely themed to a runaway ski resort in the German Alps. The third leg of Busch Gardens' skyride arrives and departs from this section. Also in Rhinefeld is Land of the Dragons, a large children's play area featuring a playground, five rides, and seasonal shows.
* 37.23258-76.6474118 Alpengeist. A Bolliger & Mabillard inverted roller coaster, Alpengeist is themed to a ski-lift taken over by a local legend, the Alpengeist (Ghost of the Alps). (updated Jan 2025)
* 37.23307-76.6462819 Kinder Karussel. The park's antique Herschell Carousel. (updated Jan 2025)
* 37.23355-76.6464320 Land of the Dragons. Interactive children's play area featuring a treehouse, children's rides and a Ferris wheel. (updated Jan 2025)

### Oktoberfest (Germany)

Like Rhinefeld, this section is based on Germany during the annual celebration of Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest features many of the park's flat rides. It is also home to a large assortment of carnival-style games. Das Festhaus is a large, air conditioned eating facility where guests can purchase authentic German food or American classics. While eating in Das Festhaus, guests can experience This is Oktoberfest, an upbeat show featuring German singing and dancing, or listen to a brass quartet, playing a variety of well known tunes and German folk songs. This section has a 246 ft (75 m) drop tower called Mäch Tower, and a "multi-launch" roller coaster.
* 37.23145-76.6457421 Der Autobahn (Bumper Cars).
* 37.2318-76.6457722 Der Roto Baron (Red Baron).
* 37.23212-76.6458523 Der Wirbelwind (Swing Ride).

### Aquitaine (France)

Centering on the quaint French village of Aquitaine, this section is based upon France. It is home to many French boutiques and one of the park's skyride stations, where the first leg of the skyride arrives from England and the second leg departs for Rhinefeld, Germany. The 37.23382-76.6491924 Royale Palace Theatre in France hosts numerous shows throughout the season.
* 37.23453-76.6478925 Griffon. The world's second tallest and fastest Diving Machine roller coaster, named after the legendary creature, the griffin; contains a ninety-degree drop from over 200 ft (61 m) and a "splashdown" finale. (updated Jan 2025)

### New France (French Canada)

It is based on French colonial Canada. It consists of a hub of Canadian-themed shops with a colonial tone throughout the area.
Rides in New France include the 37.23439-76.6498526 Busch Gardens Railway departing from Caribou Station and 37.23305-76.6479627 Le Scoot Log Flume, featuring a 50-foot (15-m) plunge through a saw mill.
* 37.23372-76.648842 Trappers Smokehouse. An outdoor grill centrally located. Trappers Smokehouse offers grilled and smoked items such as chicken, ribs, and beef brisket
Guests also can paint a variety of colorful ceramics in the quaint 37.2335-76.648763 Caribou Pottery shop.

## Eat

* 37.23303-76.646663 Das Edelweiss (Rhinefield). Traditional German ice cream and sweet shop. Includes: funnel cakes, strawberry parfait, fresh cut watermelon, fresh fruit smoothies, milk, fresh brewed iced tea, coffee, hot chocolate, lemonade,assorted pepsi products. (updated Jan 2025)
* 37.23069-76.646654 Das Festhaus (Oktoberfest). Large variety of lunch and dinner meals available. (updated Jan 2025)
* Trapper's Smokehouse, 1 Busch Gardens Blvd (New France). Large variety of lunches and dinners available such as ribs, chicken, and desserts.

## Go next

* Colonial Williamsburg - A few miles northwest of Busch Gardens in the historic district of the town of Williamsburg, this "living history museum" in recreates Virginia's 18th-century capital as it appeared preceding and during the American Revolution.