BestAmusementParks
The world's best theme parks, from the historic fairgrounds that invented the form to the modern mega-resorts with single-day queues that demand a strategy. The thing that decides your day is not the park but the queue: at the big US and Japanese resorts, arriving at opening buys you more rides before 11am than the entire afternoon will, and paid line-skipping has now been added on top of that at most of them.
Shanghai Disneyland
Shanghai
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Mainland China's first Disney resort park, opened in 2016 and centered on the Enchanted Storybook Castle, the largest of any Disney park. It mixes classic Disney attractions with China-specific design.
Universal Beijing Resort
Beijing
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Universal's first park in China and its largest globally by area, opened in 2021 with themed lands spanning Harry Potter, Jurassic World, Transformers and Kung Fu Panda. It anchors a growing resort district.
Tivoli Gardens
Copenhagen
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A historic pleasure garden in central Copenhagen, opened in 1843 and among the oldest operating amusement parks in the world. It pairs vintage rides with landscaped gardens, concerts and seasonal illuminations.
Disneyland Paris
Marne-la-Vallée (Paris)
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Europe's most visited theme park resort, east of Paris, centered on Sleeping Beauty Castle. It is one of the continent's leading tourist attractions and is easily reached from central Paris by rail.
Parc Astérix
Plailly, Île-de-France (near Paris)
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A French park north of Paris themed on the Asterix comic books and ancient Gaul, mixing coaster-heavy thrills with humor drawn from the series. It is one of France's most popular home-grown parks.
Tokyo Disneyland
Urayasu, Chiba (Tokyo)
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The first Disney park built outside the United States, opened in 1983 near Tokyo. It closely echoes the classic American Disney layout and is one of the most visited theme parks in the world.
Tokyo DisneySea
Urayasu, Chiba (Tokyo)
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A nautically themed Disney park unique to Tokyo, organized into ports of call inspired by seafaring myth and history. It is widely praised for its elaborate theming and detailed environments.
Universal Studios Japan
Osaka
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A major movie-themed park in Osaka, home to Super Nintendo World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It is among the most attended theme parks in Asia.
Universal Studios Singapore
Sentosa Island
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A movie-themed park on the resort island of Sentosa, with zones spanning ancient Egypt, sci-fi and a Madagascar area. It is a central attraction of the Resorts World Sentosa complex.
Everland
Yongin, Gyeonggi (near Seoul)
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South Korea's largest theme park, set in the hills near Seoul, with themed zones, extensive seasonal gardens and a zoo. Its wooden coaster and safari areas are among its best-known features.
Lotte World
Seoul
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A large complex in central Seoul that pairs one of the world's biggest indoor theme parks with an outdoor island section on a lake. Its all-weather indoor design makes it a year-round attraction.
PortAventura World
Salou, Tarragona (near Barcelona)
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A large resort on Spain's Costa Daurada with themed lands and a separate Ferrari Land area. It is one of the most visited parks in Europe and a popular day trip from Barcelona.
Liseberg
Gothenburg
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Scandinavia's largest amusement park, in central Gothenburg, mixing modern coasters with landscaped grounds and a popular Christmas market season. It is one of Sweden's most visited attractions.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
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A Ferrari-branded indoor theme park on Yas Island, housed under a vast red roof and home to one of the fastest roller coasters in the world. Attractions center on racing and the Ferrari marque.
Disneyland Park
Anaheim, California
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The original Disney park, opened in 1955 and the only one designed under Walt Disney's direct supervision. Its themed lands and Sleeping Beauty Castle set the template for Disney parks worldwide.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, California
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A thrill-focused park north of Los Angeles known for one of the largest collections of roller coasters of any park in the world. It draws visitors chasing high-speed and record-height rides.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal City, California
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A theme park set on the grounds of a working film and television studio, famous for its Studio Tour tram ride through backlot sets. It combines movie-themed attractions with behind-the-scenes production areas.
Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
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The centerpiece park of Walt Disney World, anchored by Cinderella Castle and organized into themed lands such as Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Adventureland. It is consistently among the most-visited theme parks in the world.
Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando, Florida
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A Universal Orlando park built around highly themed islands, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter's Hogsmeade and a Marvel Super Hero zone. It is known for its immersive environments and thrill rides.
Universal Epic Universe
Universal Orlando, Florida
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The newest gateway park at Universal Orlando, divided into several immersive worlds spanning Nintendo, Harry Potter, monsters and fantasy themes. It marked a major expansion of the resort when it opened.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz, California
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California’s oldest surviving amusement park, open on the sand since 1907, still running the 1924 Giant Dipper wooden coaster and the 1911 Looff carousel — both National Historic Landmarks.
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