Loving theme parks since she was a tot, now a teen, Sofia Evans is on a mission to ride the fastest and best roller coasters around the world. She shares her top 10 best amusement parks in the world. Get ready for a wild ride!
There are hundreds of amazing amusement parks in the world, featuring the most exciting rides and rollercoasters. To narrow it down, here is the top 10: the best of the best.
1. Cedar Point - Ohio, USA
Nicknamed the ‘roller coaster capital of the world’, it is no surprise that Cedar Point is the No.1 destination for roller coaster enthusiasts and families alike. Located in Sandusky, Ohio, it contains a huge 16 roller coasters. Including low-thrill family coasters such as Woodstock Express, to extreme thrill coasters such as Top Thrill Dragster, Millennium Force, Maverick, Steel Vengeance, Magnum XL-2000, the list goes on.
Opening in 1870, Cedar Point has been continuously ranked 1st or 2nd in the Golden Ticket Awards best amusement parks in the world list since 2010. The park is situated on a peninsula, and covers 147 hectares. It is kept clean and tidy, with friendly staff and many food and entertainment options.
You cannot cover everything that Cedar Point has to offer in one day; most guests visit for two to three days. The convenience of the onsite hotels adds to the overall package of this great park.
2. Six Flags Magic Mountain - California, USA
Six Flags Magic Mountain is one of the United States’ most well known and popular amusement parks, for good reason. Located an hour from Los Angeles in California, it is a record-breaking park, containing many superlative roller coasters amongst its 20 parkwide. It has a roller coaster for everyone.
From a wild wooden coaster called Apocalypse, to an intense flying coaster named Tatsu, to ones with an abundance of inversions (upside downs) such as Scream, Six Flags Magic Mountain has every thrill you’d want. Young ones are still in luck, however, as Magic Mountain does not lack in the tamer rides department, with a whole section of the park dedicated to the little ones.
We can assure that you will not get bored at Magic Mountain, as it has plenty of things to do, even for non-riders.
3. Kings Island - Ohio, USA
From the extreme thrills of the Orion and Beast, to the fan-favourites Mystic Timbers and Banshee, Kings Island contains a vast variety of roller coasters and other thrill rides, providing endless fun for thrillseekers and families alike.
Opening in 2020, the Orion roller coaster is an all-rounder, with heights up to 91 metres tall and speeds of up to 146 km/h. The Beast is a classic wooden roller coaster and is one of the longest coasters in the world with a duration of over 4 minutes. Banshee’s trains hang below the track with your legs dangling, making it an interesting and different experience from the usual trains above the track.
It contains an award-winning land for children called Planet Snoopy, with a number of rides and coasters created for youngsters. Kings Island is located half an hour north of Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a must-visit for people craving extreme thrills in a safe and pleasurable environment.
4. Alton Towers - Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Alton Towers is the United Kingdom’s best amusement park, the rides and entertainment are scattered over 543 hectares of forested and aesthetic landscaping. They have multiple record breaking roller coasters, including the Smiler, famous for its 14 upside downs (most inversions on any roller coaster), the Oblivion, which was the first roller coaster to have a vertical drop, and more.
With extensive entertainment, food options and a relaxed atmosphere, Alton Towers should be a bucket list park for everyone. It contains not only 10 roller coasters and an abundance of other rides but also leisurely gardens and walks through its forest. There is also a Skyride that takes you throughout the park to different parts. There is a lot of walking though so make sure you wear comfortable shoes!
5. Disneyland - California, USA
No Disney park will beat the original; Disneyland in Anaheim, California has been loved by guests from all over the world since 1955. The iconic Disney princess castle is stunning against the sky. Disneyland has many well-themed, thrilling and family-friendly rides including a boat ride, bobsled roller coaster, haunted mansion, a railroad roller coaster and many more. All of these rides are enjoyed by millions of park guests every year.
When night falls, Disneyland really becomes “the happiest place on earth” with mascot parades and fireworks! The park stays open till late everyday (10pm or 11pm) so that people can enjoy the atmosphere till well past sunset. Everybody should visit Disneyland at least once, and it’s easy to spend a week or more here.
6. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - Florida, USA
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is an all-rounder park, with not only great rides but also a fun atmosphere. Busch Gardens is landscaped and designed around themes of Africa and Asia, with lands heavily themed to different countries. It also has a zoo featuring over 12000 animals for you to enjoy when you need a break from the thrills.
Iron Gwazi is a fantastic roller coaster (often labelled as one of the best in the world) – it whips you around and provides you with negative g-force, giving you the feeling of weightlessness. Cheetah Hunt is an intense ride that launches you to speeds of almost 100 km/h. Busch Gardens really is the ultimate family adventure, combining thrills, live entertainment and animals.
7. Hershey Park - Pennsylvania, USA
Who doesn’t enjoy a chocolate-themed amusement park? Hershey Park, located in central Pennsylvania, takes pride in its unique theme, with rides called the Jolly Rancher Remix, Cocoa Cruiser and Candymonium. Don’t be fooled by their names, however, as the Jolly Rancher Remix isn’t afraid to whip you upside down and launch you backwards, and Candymonium lifts you to staggering heights of 64 metres before you are released down the hill and reach top speeds of 122 km/h! There are 13 great roller coasters in the park, and a fourteenth is being built right now.
8. Ferrari World - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
If you like roller coasters, Ferrari World is a must-visit – even more so if you like cars too! Ferrari World has a few car-themed roller coasters including Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster in the world. At an extreme 241km/h, Formula Rossa is not for the faint of heart. All riders must wear goggles! The coaster trains are shaped like dragsters and launch you to top speeds in just 4.9 seconds. Not only is it fast but it’s also long and climbs you to heights of up to 50m.
Flying Aces is another superb roller coaster in Ferrari World, some people claiming it tops Formula Rossa as the best ride in the park – and that’s saying something. Another big roller coaster is under construction and is expected to open sometime this year.
The vast majority of the park is situated indoors, connected to a shopping mall. The park is well-air conditioned, so that the hot weather is not a problem, making it a great activity for an Abu Dhabi stopover with kids. Car enthusiasts also would love Ferrari World, with many models, facts and even games about cars to enjoy.
9. Europa Park - Rust, Germany
Since 2013, Europa Park has been ranked the world’s best amusement park by the Golden Ticket Awards every year, and for good reason. Located in Rust, Germany, Europa Park is one of the most popular family attractions in Europe, with visitors from all over the world visiting to face the one-of-a-kind experience that Europa Park gives you.
It has 13 roller coasters, with one for everybody. Some of their best rides include Blue Fire Megacoaster, an intense looping coaster, Silver Star, a tall, fast hypercoaster, Woden Timber Coaster, a thrilling wooden coaster, and many more. It also has a variety for the younger ones, with tame rides for the kiddies to get ready for the big ones.
Standing in the park you are constantly surrounded with massive roller coasters, food shops, gardens, themed buildings and more. Most visitors decide to visit Europa Park for multiple days as one day is not enough to get the full experience.
10. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park - Colorado, USA
Ever wanted to be launched off of a canyon? Look no further than Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, a small amusement park located in Colorado at an elevation of 2164 metres above sea level. Their famous ride, Giant Canyon Swing, is a massive swing ride which swings you right over the canyon that the park sits upon. You can ride a bobsled ride down the edge of the canyon too, controlling your own speeds as you woosh through the rocks.
For something different when visiting Colorado with kids, you can also go on tours around the natural caves and caverns beneath the park, as well as ride a zip line that shoots you over the trees and rocks. If you are looking for something more traditional, there is also Defiance, a roller coaster that flips you upside down and drops you at a steepness of 102.3°!
