We’ve scoured the globe to find the best theme parks in the world for kids. Places that easily cater to kids and teens while entertaining parents, too.
Amusement parks are, by their nature, designed for kids. They’re all about fun rides, eating delicious food, and engaging with fantasy worlds. We’ve scoured the globe to identify some of the best theme parks in the world, with special focus given to the best theme parks for kids and teens. However, these particular theme parks have a little something for everyone, from dancing and acrobatics to ice shows, 4D movies, Christmas experiences, and unbelievable adventure rides. It’s time to choose your adventure.
Understood to be the most visited theme park in the world, Magic Kingdom is located within the Walt Disney World Resort complex. Magic Kingdom also happens to be one of the best theme parks for kids, given that it’s home to famous rides and attractions, such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, and Cinderella’s Castle.
Boasting 18 themed areas, more than 100 attractions, 13 roller coasters, six hotels, a tee-pee village, and a camping area, Europa Park caters to toddlers, children, teens, and adults. There are zones fashioned after Norway, Italy, Spain and England to name a few, as well as fairytale-inspired attractions and scare-your-pants-off coasters for adrenaline junkies. The performances include flamenco, gymnastics, ice shows and more.
IMG World of Adventure is the first theme park of its kind in Dubai and is entirely indoors. The key adventure areas are Marvel, Lost Valley, Cartoon Network, Haunted Hotel, IMG Boulevard and IMG Kids Zone, and rides are themed to much-loved characters such as Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, The Avengers, Ben 10, Adventure Time, Powerpuff Girls and others.
Best suited to children 13 and under, LEGOLAND Windsor has 55 rides and attractions themed around LEGO. It features more than 53 million LEGO bricks used across areas of interest such as Miniland and DUPLO Valley, making it one of the best theme parks for kids and brick-obsessed parents.
A list of the best theme parks in the world wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Islands of Adventure and its sister park, Universal Studios. Making up two-thirds of the parks at Universal Orlando Resort, these amusement parks are home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – complete with Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade – which are spread across the two parks. Catering to young children and teens alike, Islands of Adventure has dedicated areas such as Jurassic Park, Seuss Landing, Marvel Super Hero Island and Toon Lagoon.
Ferrari World is the first Ferrari-branded theme park in the world and home to the fastest roller coaster in the world, Formula Rossa, which hurls riders forward at a face-numbing 240km/h in just 4.9 seconds. However, there’s something to suit every family member at this theme park, with an excellent selection of dining and shopping options, a Ferrari driving experience, and rides for little ones such as Junior Grand Prix, a 4D fantasy universe, Nello’s Adventureland and a happy little Tyre Twist.
If you’re looking to gift your children with a Christmas experience unlike any other in the world, then a visit to Santa Claus Village in the Arctic Circle is a must. Although not technically a ‘theme park’, this unique purpose-built village is internationally recognised as the Official Hometown of Santa Claus. Open 365 days a year, you can visit the husky park, jump on a reindeer safari, go snowmobiling and sledding, see the northern lights, ice-kart or visit the Elf’s Farmyard Zoo. Snowman World offers sliding, ice skating, a snow restaurant, and ice bar.
Everland is South Korea’s largest theme park for kids and teens, and is comprised of five zoned areas: Zootopia, European Adventure, Magic Land, Global Fair, and American Adventure. With rides varying from a traditional carousel to thrilling roller coasters, there’s a ride to suit guests of every age. Better yet, Everland has its very own zoo which won the world’s highest animal welfare accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2019. So you can enjoy meeting elephants, pandas, sea lions, tigers, and other delightful critters knowing they’re well cared for.
If you’d like your children to engage with a little bit of history while enjoying a ride or two, be sure to visit Tivoli Gardens, the second-oldest amusement park in the world. Built in 1843, Tivoli Gardens has truly beautiful leafy leisure areas, wonderfully kitsch attractions, and fantastic rides for the whole family. Undeniably one of the best theme parks for kids, Tivoli Gardens ticks the boxes for shops, restaurants, rides, games, and performances.
Six Flags Magic Mountain claims the title ‘Thrill Capital of the World’, and even won the Guinness World Record for most rollercoasters in one theme park in 2022. Although the 20 rollercoasters make this theme park a winner for thrill-seeking teens, Six Flags Magic Mountain also has milder rides for the smaller members of the family, such as the carousel, Pepe Le Pew’s Tea Party, Tweety’s Escape and the Whistlestop Train.
Gardaland Resort is one of the largest complexes in Europe, comprised of Gardaland Park, Gardaland Sea-Life, LEGOland Waterpark, and three themed hotels. Garland has 36 rides to suit children and teens, such as Jumanji The Labyrinth, Jumanji The Adventure, the Blue Tornado coaster, Jungle Rapids, a 4D cinema experience, and the Transgardaland Express train, to name just a few.
Comprised of two parks, PortAventura and Ferrariland, this theme park has six worlds, more than 40 rides, and ever-changing performances for families to enjoy. However, the real drawcard of PortAventure is Red Force at Ferrariland, the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Europe. In 2023, PortAventura also opened a new ride fashioned after the popular video game and film, Uncharted.
Once a private estate home for a wealthy family, dating back almost 200 years, Alton Towers was transformed into a theme park in 1980. There are play areas for the little ones, and more than 40 rides and attractions, 20 of which are aimed at families and young children.
Located within the Resorts World Sentosa complex, Universal Studios Singapore is Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios. Given its location on Sentosa Island, it comes as no surprise this venue is one of the best theme parks in the world for kids and teens. Broken up into seven themed zones, the park has 28 rides and attractions, from Shrek’s 4D Adventure and Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase to Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure and the Revenge of the Mummy indoor coaster.
The largest theme park in The Netherlands, Efteling is a unique fantasy-themed amusement venue located in the middle of a natural landscape with enchanting rides, shows and attractions. The park caters to little ones, families, and daredevil teens, and is divided into five ‘realms’: Reizenrijk (Travel Realm), Marerijk (Fairy Realm), Ruigrijk (Adventure Realm), Anderrijk (Other Realm), and Fantasierijk (Fantasy Realm), each one inspired by myths, legends, fairytales and folklore.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023, Disneyland Paris has its very own dedicated train from Paris city to the park and a fantastic selection of rides and attractions. There are five main zones: Discoveryland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland and Main Street USA. Kids will enjoy rides such as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain ands Big Thunder Mountain. The resort is made up of three complexes, Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios and Disney Village.
Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England is the largest theme park in the United Kingdom, and home to the country’s two most infamous coasters, Nemesis and Oblivion.
LEGOland Windsor Resort in England is the most visited theme park in the UK welcoming more than 2 million visitors a year.
Germany’s Europa Park, which covers 950,000 square metres of land, and gets 5.75 million visitors per year, is the biggest theme park in Europe.
The Disneyland Park in Paris, France, is said to be the most visited park in Europe, welcoming around 12 million visitors per year.
Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, is the world’s most visited theme park.
Walt Disney World Resort, as a whole, is the largest in the world, spread over 40 square miles, including Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot.
Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, Australia’s Dreamworld, and England’s LEGOland Windsor Resort are some of the best theme parks for kids aged 5 and up.
Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, Queensland, is Australia’s biggest theme park, spread over 85 hectares. Dreamworld is home to famous rides such as The Claw, Tower of Terror2, and has its own zoo. Dreamworld is also Australia’s most visited theme park.
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