Famous theme parks worldwide

Alton Towers Resort occupies a 200-acre (81-hectare) site in the Staffordshire Moorlands that includes historic gardens originally belonging to the Earls of Shrewsbury estate. The property combines the ruins of a 19th-century Gothic Revival mansion with modern rides, including several steel roller coasters. The park welcomes over 2 million visitors annually and features different themed areas along with an on-site hotel and water park.

Gardaland spans 51 hectares (126 acres) on the shores of Lake Garda and provides 40 attractions ranging from family rides to high-speed roller coasters. This amusement park opened in 1975 and features themed areas including Fantasy Kingdom and Peppa Pig Land. The resort includes three on-site hotels along with a Sea Life aquarium. As the largest amusement park in Italy, Gardaland attracts several million visitors annually.

Fuji-Q Highland features four roller coasters with record-setting dimensions. The tallest reaches 259 feet (79 meters), the fastest 107 mph (172 km/h). The park sits at the base of Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture and combines intense rides with various themed areas. Beyond the roller coasters, Fuji-Q Highland offers additional attractions including a haunted house and rides for different age groups. The facility takes advantage of its location with views of Mount Fuji and draws visitors seeking extreme rides.

PortAventura World combines three separate parks in Salou: the main PortAventura park with themed areas representing several continents, Ferrari Land featuring attractions related to the Italian automotive brand, and Caribe Aquatic Park as a water park. The complex includes 40 attractions, among them roller coasters and family rides. The facility spans several hundred acres along the Catalan coast and offers shows as well as dining establishments. The park attracts millions of visitors annually and ranks among the largest entertainment complexes in Spain.

This Pennsylvania amusement park offers more than 70 rides and a water park across 50 hectares (124 acres). Hersheypark evolved from a 1906 leisure park for Hershey Company employees into a major theme park with 15 roller coasters, including historic wooden structures and modern steel designs. The facility divides into themed areas representing different eras and regions, and includes family attractions, theater shows, and dining establishments. The adjacent Boardwalk water park extends the offerings with slides and water features during summer season.

Jardins de Tivoli opened in 1843 and stands as the second oldest amusement park in the world after Dyrehavsbakken. The park covers 8 hectares (20 acres) in central Copenhagen and features 25 rides, including a wooden roller coaster from 1914, a historic carousel, and various family attractions. The grounds also include the Tivoli Concert Hall (established in 1843) with its music performances, several theaters and stages for shows, and landscaped gardens with illuminated areas. The architectural ensemble combines Danish wooden buildings with Chinese and Moorish style pavilions, maintaining its historic character through the preservation of original elements.

Efteling combines classic fairy tales with rides and attractions across 200 acres (80 hectares) for different age groups. The park in Kaatsheuvel features thematic areas including the Fairy Tale Forest with characters from European stories, roller coasters of varying intensity, and shows. The property includes several hotels for multi-day stays and a golf course. The design draws on traditional Dutch landscape elements and architectural forms. Visitors find attractions aimed at families with children as well as more technically challenging rides. The park opened in 1952 and has expanded its infrastructure over the decades.

Lotte World combines one of the world's largest indoor amusement parks with an outdoor area called Magic Island in Seoul. The complex spans multiple levels and includes over 40 rides and attractions, among them roller coasters, themed rides, and shows. The covered facility remains accessible year-round regardless of weather conditions. Beyond the amusement facilities, the site features a shopping mall, a folk museum displaying Korean cultural history, an ice-skating rink, and dining establishments. The park opened in 1989 and blends traditional Korean architectural elements with international themed zones.

Puy du Fou presents French history through large-scale shows featuring up to 1,200 performers, horses, birds of prey, and stage effects. The 350-acre (140-hectare) site in Vendée contains several reconstructed historical villages, including a Gallo-Roman arena and a medieval settlement. Visitors experience timed shows depicting different eras, from Roman times through Viking raids to World War I. The evening main show Cinéscénie uses the grounds and nearby castle as a backdrop for a narrative spanning centuries of regional history. The park operates without mechanical rides, focusing instead on theatrical productions, falconry demonstrations, and period craft workshops.

Silver Dollar City in Branson is a theme park that recreates life in 1880s America. The site features over 40 rides and attractions, including several roller coasters and water rides. Throughout the park, craftspeople demonstrate traditional techniques such as glassblowing, blacksmithing, basket weaving, and wood carving. The park offers live music and theatrical performances centered on 19th-century themes. Seasonal events present festivals and special programming at different times of the year.

This theme park in the Smoky Mountains combines traditional Appalachian culture with modern rides. Dollywood covers 150 acres (61 hectares) and features 40 rides, including several roller coasters, along with daily live performances of bluegrass and country music. The park also showcases craft demonstrations such as blacksmithing and glassblowing that reflect regional traditions. With over 3 million visitors annually, Dollywood is Tennessee's most visited ticketed tourist attraction. The park is owned by singer Dolly Parton, who is from this region.

Europa-Park covers 235 acres (95 hectares) and features over 100 attractions, including 13 roller coasters and themed areas representing different European countries. Each country section showcases architectural elements and cultural characteristics of its respective region. Beyond the rides, the park offers shows, dining facilities, and an adjoining hotel resort that complement this entertainment destination in Rust.

Ocean Park spans 91 acres (37 hectares) on the southern coast of Hong Kong Island, combining a zoological garden with an amusement park. The park houses an aquarium featuring sharks and rays, a coral reef display, a polar zone with penguins and seals, and sections for giant pandas and other species. Visitors access different areas via a cable car or the Ocean Express funicular train connecting the waterfront zone to the summit area. Attractions include roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, and water rides. The park regularly hosts animal care demonstrations and educational programs about marine ecology.

Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is a theme park that combines international film franchises with attractions developed specifically for the Japanese market. The park features themed areas based on movie properties, including various Hollywood productions and an extensive section dedicated to Japanese animation series and video games. Visitors find recreated movie sets, rides, shows, and interactive experiences that bring blockbuster films and local pop culture phenomena to life. The park regularly expands its offerings with new licensed themed lands and seasonal events.

Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia north of Los Angeles features 20 roller coasters across 262 acres (106 hectares). The park, opened in 1971, contains themed sections including DC Universe with attractions based on Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. The facility includes roller coasters with different characteristics: Twisted Colossus combines two track layouts, Full Throttle reaches 160 feet (49 meters) in a vertical loop, and X2 is a wing coaster with rotating seats. The park supplements its offerings with water rides, family areas, and live entertainment during summer season.

Phantasialand in Brühl is a theme park spanning 30 acres (12 hectares) that brings together six themed areas. This park, established in 1967, combines different attractions ranging from high-speed roller coasters to rides for children. The areas carry names such as Mystery, Fantasy, Berlin, and Mexico, each offering specific designs. The installations include roller coasters with different technologies, water attractions, and shows. The park adds to the range of European leisure facilities alongside locations in the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, and Spain.

Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan spans 330 acres (130 hectares) and features 17 roller coasters, over 200 attractions, and a water park with slides. This park remains Canada's largest amusement park and provides various themed areas with rides for different age groups. The facility combines classic roller coasters with modern attractions and water features during the summer season.

Parc Astérix draws on the Gallic comic books created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo to shape its themed areas. The facility encompasses 40 attractions, including 7 roller coasters and 5 water rides, distributed across zones representing ancient Gaul, Greece, the Roman Empire, and the Viking era. Visitors find shows featuring stunt performances and animal presentations, along with dining facilities designed to match the themed worlds. The park sits approximately 22 miles (35 km) north of Paris in the commune of Plailly.

Beto Carrero World covers 14 million square meters (about 5.4 square miles) in Penha and ranks among the largest theme parks in Latin America. The park is divided into seven themed areas ranging from Wild West to fantasy settings. Visitors find a racing track, a zoo housing native and exotic animal species, and daily shows. Attractions include roller coasters, family rides, and water attractions. The complex also features restaurants, shops, and entertainment programs for different age groups.

Disneyland Paris encompasses two theme parks, seven hotels, an entertainment district, and a golf course across 2,230 acres (902 hectares) in Marne-la-Vallée. This resort features rides, shows, and themed areas based on Disney characters and stories. As Europe's largest tourist attraction, the complex receives visitors from numerous countries and represents a major entertainment destination within this collection of historic and modern amusement parks worldwide.