Best amusement parks in Europe for families

We are planning a multi-week European summer trip with our two kids, aged 7 and 11, and want to include a couple of world-class amusement parks in our itinerary. We are trying to decide between Disneyland Paris, Europa-Park in Germany, and Efteling in the Netherlands. Which of these parks offers the best overall experience for this specific age group in terms of rides, wait times, and family-friendly atmosphere?

With a 7 and an 11-year-old, Europa-Park is hands down your best bet! The ride variety is incredible and caters to that exact age group—big enough thrills for the 11-year-old, but plenty of whimsical stuff for the 7-year-old. Wait times can get long in peak summer, but the park handles crowds much better than Paris.

We did all three last summer with kids the exact same ages. Efteling was actually our favorite for atmosphere; it feels like walking through a fairytale book. That said, if your kids love rollercoasters, Europa-Park wins. Disneyland Paris was magical, but the lines and costs were brutal.

Europa-Park is amazing, but make sure you book well in advance. If you are looking to save some cash on this massive trip, you should definitely read up on how to travel Europe on a budget because theme parks alone will drain your wallet quickly!

Disneyland Paris has the strongest IP recognition for kids that age, but Europa-Park offers way more actual rides and less queue frustration. Plus, the themed European countries inside the park are super immersive.

Efteling is a hidden gem compared to Disney, though it's gaining popularity fast. For 7 and 11, the Python coaster and the Baron 1898 drop tower are huge hits. The whole park is just so relaxing compared to the chaos of Paris.

If you want to escape the massive crowds and typical tourist scams, you might want to check out some alternative spots too. While planning your route, reading tips on how to actually avoid tourist traps in major European cities saved our family so much money and headache.

We went to Efteling last July and our kids (8 and 12) still talk about it. The atmosphere is unmatched. It's less commercialized than Disney, and the wait times for most rides were very manageable compared to major US or French parks.

Disneyland Paris is great for a nostalgic two-day trip, but for pure ride value, Europa-Park destroys it. The French park still suffers from operational delays and the crowds in summer are insane.

Europa-Park is located right near the Black Forest, which is gorgeous. We combined it with a few days of exploring off-the-beaten-path locations. If you love nature, you might enjoy looking into top 10 hidden gems in Europe for summer vacation to add some relaxation between the theme park days.

At 7 and 11, your kids are at the golden age for Europa-Park. They are tall enough for almost all the major coasters like Wodan and Silver Star, but young enough to still appreciate the fairytale forest. Go with Germany!

We loved Efteling! It feels much more authentic and whimsical than Disneyland Paris. The food is better, the staff is friendlier, and you don't feel like you are constantly being upsold at every turn. Perfect for a 7 and 11-year-old.