Europa-Park

The park's reputation is well established. Awarded many times over, it's undoubtedly THE theme park to visit in Europe. So that you can make the most of your visit to the park, here are the tips and tricks I can give you.

Before you come

Beware of school vacations

Swiss, Belgians, Germans and French cross paths in the park. And... so do each country's school vacations. I agree, it's not easy, but if you have the time to choose the ideal date, do so, and don't come unannounced.

Every school vacation brings its share of families into the park. And that's just as many people waiting in line.

Keep an eye on the weather

Your day in the park won't be the same if you come in rain or shine.

If rain is forecast continuously, expect to take a copious shower if you attempt a Silver star or Blue fire during the day. The tip may seem insignificant, but believe me, I've experimented with blue fire in the rain and... it tingles a bit. If you've got shower gel with you, go for it! If not... go back to the shows in the covered attractions, or better still, postpone them.

If, on the other hand, a heatwave is forecast, don't forget your sun protection (glasses, cap and cream). Sunburn can happen when you're waiting patiently to get on a ride. The wait can be long. Allow around 40 minutes for popular rides at the height of the season.

Keep your belongings dry

There are plenty of water attractions at Europa-park. These include Rafting, Logs, Poseidon and Wales Adventure. In summer, with friends, it's very rare to come away from these attractions with a piece of cloth still dry. If you feel like doing one of these rides, be aware that you'll need to take your belongings with you on the ride.

To make sure everything doesn't get soaked, I've got the ultimate tip: the garbage bag! Easy to store, easy to pull out, you just slip your backpack inside, and presto: sandwiches stay dry! To take things a step further, I've made it a habit to take a tupperware in which I slip papers, car keys and phone. Paranoid or far-sighted, the choice is yours.

Take a water bottle

I suggest you take a water bottle with you. Don't hesitate to refill it if it's empty when you use the park's toilets. The water in the park is pretty good, and there's no shortage of refreshment points.

To take it a step further, if you're planning to visit the park in summer, I'd even recommend that you freeze your bottle or water bottle the night before, if you can. That way, you'll have fresh water all day long, just long enough for the ice cube to melt. And believe me... it's a collector's item!

Take something to eat with you

Whether you're a big snacker or a more modest thrifter, sandwiches are your friend. Here, the trick is not just to be greedy, but also to have something to eat or drink with you at all times, so that you can satiate yourself at any time, even when you're waiting in line.

30' waiting? No problem, now's the time to pull a sandwich out of your bag. Clever! But that's only if you can resist the smell of waffles and pancakes wafting through the air.

Download the mobile app

Useful in many ways, this app will essentially help you monitor waiting times on all attractions.

Get the official EP & Rulantica app from the store, and install it. I'll tell you more about it below.

Before entering the park

Pay for parking

This tip may seem silly, but think about your departure. You're likely to leave the park in the evening, with aching feet (if, like me, you walk more than a dozen kilometers during the day), and you won't want to worry about parking.

I suggest you do this before you even enter the park. This way, you'll be able to go out in the evening with less to do. As an indication, at the time of writing, on 30/12/23, the price of parking is €8.

Make a detour to the Voletarium

This impressive simulator is the first attraction you'll pass. It's located on your left just after entering the park. It's a very popular attraction, and its location means it's always crowded. Fortunately, it's possible to book a time to pass it.

To do this, there are terminals at the entrance to the attraction. Take a ticket. On this ticket you'll be allocated a time slot for a simulator ride. Set a reminder on your phone, and that's it! All you have to do is turn up on time when the time comes!

At the opening

Go to the back of the park

If you've got good legs and you're one of the first visitors of the day to set foot in the park (and that's important), head for the back of the park. There's no doubt that you'll be among the first lucky ones to be able to take a ride on Blue Fire or Wodan without waiting.

The less experienced visitors rush to the park's first attractions, such as the Can-can coaster or Silver star, so waiting times quickly explode on these rides. By going against the flow and making this first effort at the start of the day, you'll guarantee yourself almost an hour's peace and quiet, while the crowds spread out around the park. You can do them later, when the time is right.

During the day

Use the mobile application

This app must set the pace for your day. It should be your compass, your guide. Check it regularly, and observe the evolution of waiting times for the attractions that interest you. Historically, there were only a few attractions on the list, but now all the best-selling attractions are there. Bookmark the ones that interest you, so you don't waste a second.

The little extra? Thanks to the virtual line, you can even queue virtually. You're given a time to go on the ride, you show up on time, and there's no need to wait! If you want to make the most of your day, keep a close eye on waiting times and, above all, on how they evolve.

10' saved here, 10' saved there... and in the end, you'll get an extra ride!

Keep track of yourself

Let's not get distracted by euphoria, and stay focused on your location in the park. This will be the best way to react when you see that you're at one end of the park, and that it's the right time to cross over to an attraction for which there's little waiting.

Avoid the little train

It's beautiful, it's attractive but... it wastes time! Here again, I'm mainly talking to people who want to do a lot of attractions. Taking the little train is a trap, insofar as it's relatively slow. By the time the passengers have disembarked, the new ones have boarded, and this at every station... your watch is going crazy.

If, on the other hand, you're not pressed for time, let yourself be lulled by the sound of the bogies on the rails. The tac-tac, ta- tac, tac-tac is mesmerizing.

Catering

It's not all French fries in the park, but a whole host of specialities. There's a wide range on offer. From Japanese pizzas and burgers to grilled salmon, you're bound to find something to your liking. The trick here is to make sure you check the opening times (not everything is open all the time), and better still, eat asynchronously.

Unless you like to wait, avoid the 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. dining slot. Instead, I suggest you keep an eye on waiting times during this period (yes, again!). It's the perfect time to take a ride on the roller coaster.

Beware of shows

Shows on ice or in the arena are really captivating, but they're a real time-suck. If you want to relax for a few minutes or marvel at the sights and sounds, this is ideal! On the other hand, if you're planning to take in one attraction after another during the day, I suggest you check the timetable carefully, and especially the time the shows will take.

Bear in mind that you'll have to wait to get in if you want good seats, and you'll have to be patient once the show is over to get out of the theater or arena.

Think about the baby switch

Tt's a great tip for parents or young parents, but one that is often overlooked. The principle is simple. The first person queues up in the conventional way, asking an employee for a pass. Meanwhile, the second person can enjoy the park with their child or children. When the first person's turn is over, the second person collects the pass, passes through the exit, and presents it to board the ride in turn.

It's a great way to avoid waiting in line twice!

Ride empty-handed

Don't be too confident that your glasses or sunglasses will stay on your head. And be even less confident that your phone will stay in your pocket until the end of the ride.

Instead, play it safe, and leave any loose items at the bottom of your bag, or better still, directly in the locker when you board. You'll be delighted to see the collections of blown-up cell phones preemptively displayed in the coaster queues. Just don't add yours to the collection, that would be silly.

As for me, I had the misfortune one day to lose mine during a Can-can Coaster ride. It stupidly fell out of my back pocket. Luckily for me, the phone remained at the bottom of the seat, and I was able to retrieve it a few minutes later. Since then, I've been vaccinated, and I won't be doing it again.

Stay until the end of the day

This technique has already proved its worth several times for us. At the end of the day, a large proportion of visitors head for the exit, get closer to the entrance and consequently slowly desert the back of the park. Well... now's the time (if you've got any energy left) to get on with your favorite rides.

In the worst case, you'll have to get off the train and go back up the queue to take another ride, and... in the best case, if you're lucky, the operators will allow you to stay on the train and take one ride after another!

My record to date is 7 consecutive rides on the Blue Fire.