When considering amusement parks, roller coasters, and similar attractions, most thrill seekers gravitate towards the abundant offerings that are available throughout the US. While this makes perfect sense, it is always wise to think a bit broader, especially when it comes to theme parks.

I have wanted to visit Europa-Park, which is roughly 30 minutes from Strausbourg, France, since 2002. The authentic theming throughout the park, along with its thrilling attractions, sparked an interest in me that hasn’t waned. However, the 9/11 attacks stalled my visit, initially, and ongoing life priorities over the decades put my dream of visiting Europa-Park on the back burner–until recently.

Europa-Park is turning the big 5-0 this year, and it’s inviting the world to the party. As a result, I finally had the opportunity to visit the park as part of its grand birthday celebration, and I was not disappointed.

Located in Rust, Germany, Europa-Park is privately owned by the Mack family. Their company is known around the world primarily for its prolific roller coaster design and engineering, which has been successful for several generations. Mack Rides are so popular with amusement park owners that it’s very likely you have ridden one of their coasters (particularly their Wild Mouse-type rides). With Europa-Park, the Mack family chose to create a park that blends storybook charm with high-octane excitement across 15 well curated European-themed lands, with over 100 attractions.

Europa-Park isn’t just big, it’s bold! With 14 roller coasters and dozens of immersive rides, there’s something for every age and adrenaline level.

Voltron Nevera (NEW for 2024–2025)

The star of the park’s 50th anniversary, this multi-launch coaster is themed around Nikola Tesla and electric energy. In addition to reaching speeds over 60 mph, this coaster features seven inversions, four launches, and the steepest launch in the world at 105 degrees! Let me be perfectly clear: This is not a ride that simply aspires to slightly adrenaline. No. Voltron Nevera is brazen, in-your-face, unrelenting, and yes, I’ll say it, it is extremely rude and downright disrespectful. And for roller coaster enthusiasts, this reality is very welcome! While traversing the concentrated insanity of this ride, I spent much of my time screaming like some crazed madman and finding myself in a near constant state of weightless airtime (which is not an easy thing, given my height and size). And to make matters even more intense, I sat in the back row on the left outer side of the coaster. To date, Voltron Nevera is the most intense roller coaster I have ever ridden. I highly recommend it for anyone who is seeking the next big coaster thrill, as well as those who feel they are total bosses when it comes to riding roller coasters. To the latter, assuredly, Voltron Nevera will leave you humbled and with a sense of helplessness.

Silver Star

Towering at a staggering 239 feet (73 meters), Silver Star dominates the skyline and delivers one of the most intense coaster experiences in Europe. This hyper coaster, designed in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, reaches blistering speeds of up to 81 mph (130 km/h), providing a relentless rush of adrenaline. Its enormous airtime hills fling riders out of their seats with powerful negative G-forces, while the wide, open seating amplifies the sense of exposure and vulnerability. The smooth, steel track provides a deceptive elegance to a ride that’s nothing short of ferocious. For pure speed and sky-high thrills, Silver Star is a bucket-list coaster for any adrenaline junkie.

Blue Fire Megacoaster

Blue Fire isn’t just a ride, it’s a controlled explosion of power. Riders are catapulted from 0 to 62 mph in a mind-blowing 2.5 seconds via magnetic launch, straight into a heart-pounding sequence of inversions. The coaster features a vertical loop, twisted horseshoe roll, and multiple high-speed corkscrews, all taken at lightning-fast pace. Its smooth yet aggressive ride profile keeps you pinned to your seat while your heart rate, displayed on an onboard monitor, climbs with every twist and roll. It’s a masterclass in modern coaster design, pure kinetic energy, and precision engineering.

Exciting rides and stunning views are what make Europa-Park so special.

Wodan Timbur Coaster

Bringing raw power and ancient myth to life, Wodan Timbur Coaster is Europa-Park’s wooden juggernaut. This beast thunders through a dense wooden structure at 62 mph, delivering unrelenting lateral forces, sudden drops and gut-wrenching airtime. The queue is an immersive Nordic journey with roaring fires, moving statues, and ominous chants that prime you for the fury of the ride. Unlike its steel siblings, Wodan delivers a visceral, roaring experience that rattles your bones and leaves you breathless. It’s chaos, mythology and creative engineering all wrapped into one wild ride.

Arthur (within the Minimoys Kingdom)

While not an extreme coaster, Arthur is an imaginative suspended ride that still manages to impress. Hovering above stunning sets and diving into immersive indoor scenes, it’s a hybrid between a dark ride and a family coaster. Though gentler than its towering counterparts, Arthur delivers moments of genuine surprise with swift turns, simulated flight and dazzling visuals (plus, you’ll hear a sample from one of Snoop Dogg’s tracks during your journey).

Euro-Mir

Euro-Mir is a swirling, spinning, space age-themed coaster that is a disorienting masterpiece. Towering mirrored cylinders mark its futuristic façade, but inside lies one of the most unique coaster experiences in Europe. The ride starts with a slow, rotating lift inside a space-station-like tower that builds anticipation with hypnotic techno music. Suddenly, you’re flung into a chaotic dance of high-speed curves and spiraling drops, all while your car spins unpredictably. The result is a dizzying, disorienting thrill where no two rides feel the same. Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t forewarn you about something I noticed with this ride: If you’re a person who is big on ”glam” even while at a theme park (I still don’t understand why some people do this when going to theme parks), you will find that Euro-Mir and psychics are great friends and have a tendency to “snatch” and I don’t mean making your makeup look fabulous…no, no, no. If you insist on wearing a wig or a weave (lace-front or otherwise), THAT is what is getting snatched! Euro-Mir’s tight turns, unpredictable spins, and high speeds will completely undo even the most secure hairpiece. What’s more, Europa-Park will not replace missing or deconstructed coiffures, so please govern yourselves accordingly.

Eurosat – CanCan Coaster 

Step into the dazzling world of Parisian nightlife with CanCan Coaster, a wild indoor coaster that fuses sensory overload with high-speed excitement. Housed within a massive geodesic dome, this ride is a love letter to the Moulin Rouge, complete with music, lights, and a whimsical pre-show that sets the stage for a neon-fueled escapade. Once on board, the coaster performs a spiral ascent around the bodice of a Moulin Rouge windmill in near darkness (similar to Euro-Mir) before navigating sharp turns, rapid drops, and tight helixes at surprising speed. With a pulsating soundtrack and theatrical lighting, every twist feels like a dance step in a chaotic cabaret. It’s a ride that delivers more than thrills, it delivers spectacle!

“Travel” to Greece via Europa-Park

Europa-Park isn’t just a theme park—it’s a thrilling fusion of storytelling, culture, and high-octane excitement. After years of anticipation, my visit during its 50th anniversary proved well worth the wait. With standout rides like Voltron Nevera and Silver Star, Europa-Park delivers unforgettable experiences for every kind of thrill seeker. Europa-Park is an adventure worth taking!