Gardaland Park + Gardaland SEA LIFE Aquarium
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The Italian answer to Disneyland is Gardaland, the number one amusement park in Italy: first in terms of date of foundation (1975), size (more than 400,000 square metres), and number of visitors (more than 3 million every year), it was also the first to introduce fixed roller coasters in Italy.
Already established in the 1980s thanks to its strategic location in an area of great tourist interest and the absolute novelty of many of its attractions, the amusement park on the Veneto shore of Lake Garda has become the dream of children of all generations. It is a wish that sooner or later even the most recalcitrant parents have to fulfil.
Let yourself be infected by the enthusiasm of your little ones and you won’t regret it: once you cross the entrance of Gardaland you enter a parallel world of fantasy, colours, games and emotions where you can experience a day completely different from your daily routine.
And it is not just a destination for families: there are many groups of friends who choose a trip to Gardaland as an experience for a day of fun in company, knowing that they will find attractions for all ages. Gardaland is a constantly evolving world, always in step with the times, ready to continually offer new opportunities for fun.
Today’s park is called Gardaland Park and is a part of the Gardaland Resort, a container that also includes three themed hotels, an aquarium and a brand new water park. It is four times the size of the original; of the almost 40 attractions present today, very few date back to the first years of opening: all the others have been replaced, removed or modified several times.
Even the ticket price has risen over the years, but this does not stop the millions of dreamers of all ages determined to access the kingdom of fun at least once in their lives.
You can go to Gardaland from March to December. Each year, a detailed opening calendar is published with opening times for each season.
Variations are possible from year to year, but in general the park is open every day in the summer months and on specific days in October (Magic Halloween period) and December (Magic Winter period).
If you have the chance, avoid the summer months because they are the most crowded, plus the heat makes the long queues under the sun less tolerable.
The best time to go to Gardaland is spring, taking care to avoid the Easter period and long weekends; September is also a good period because the influx of visitors drops and the temperatures are very pleasant.
If you can only visit the park at the weekend, choose Sunday because it tends to be less crowded than Saturday.
The Gardaland park is divided into several thematic areas, each of which imaginatively reproduces an earthly habitat, a historical period or an invented world inspired by fairy tales, cartoons or cinema. Within each thematic area are attractions for all ages, refreshments, entertainment and services.
The park’s attractions are divided into three types: Fantasy, attractions for small children; Adventure, attractions for all ages; Adrenaline, attractions for adults, teens and braver children.
Looking at the map of Gardaland you will realise that the Fantasy, Adventure and Adrenaline attractions are scattered in several places: these three names in fact do not indicate specific areas of the park. Nor do they strictly indicate attractions for a specific age group: the limits for access to Gardaland’s attractions are in fact not set according to age but according to height.
There are therefore attractions for children up to 80, 100, 110, 120, 130 and 140 cm in height and attractions with no restrictions; a small number of attractions, on the other hand, have restrictions for a maximum height limit.
A day out at Gardaland does not just mean going on and off the rides but also enjoying a packed entertainment programme with animations and shows; some shows are repeated from year to year while others are seasonal.
What are the top attractions at Gardaland? Let’s take a look at the must-see attractions for each type (Fantasy, Adventure and Adrenaline).
One of the most recent and most welcome additions to Gardaland’s already ample offer of amusements for young children is Peppa Pig Land, a small world entirely dedicated to the famous TV character: there is a house that faithfully reproduces the one from the cartoon, then boats, a small train and hot air balloons on which you can climb.
Another themed area is Prezzemolo Land, a playground inspired by Gardaland’s mascot.
Gardaland’s children’s attractions also include the classic rollercoaster for little ones (Ortobruco), a retro-style horse carousel and a flying saucer.
A feather in the park’s cap is I Corsari (The Corsairs), a dark ride attraction (ride on dark wagons) inaugurated in 1992 after 3 years of work in which no less than 30 companies were involved. In 2018 it has undergone a complete restyling that has made the animations even more dynamic and the scenic effects more realistic: you will feel like living first-hand epic duels and treasure hunts on the seven seas.
Among Gardaland’s historic attractions, one of the most popular with people of all ages is the Colorado Boat, a fun-filled water ride on logs that offers the thrills of an adventure without the chills of extreme attractions. Splashing is guaranteed, and it will be hard to do without the souvenir photo on sale at the exit of the course.
An evolution of this historic attraction is the more recent Escape from Atlantis, a water coaster set in ancient Greece and featuring spectacular scenery.
Another unmissable attraction at Gardaland set in the distant past is Ramses, the underground track inside a gigantic Valley of the Kings animated by astonishing laser visual effects and sound effects. The grand entrance is a 1:2 scale reproduction of the Abu Simbel Temple of ancient Egypt.
Mammoth and Kung Fu Panda are the two roller coasters for everyone: you can enter these roller coasters from as early as 100 cm in height.
The TransGardaland Express, on the other hand, is the little train that used to go all the way around the park, allowing you to admire it from above. Due to the expansion of the park the little train today only completes a partial tour, but it remains a historical attraction with a vaguely nostalgic flavour perfect for the whole family.
When water slides, rotating cups and tunnels with 3D effects are no longer enough to arouse emotions, it’s time to try Gardaland’s extreme attractions. But think about it first: it’s not for everyone.
If you are convinced you can conquer fear climb aboard Gardaland’s three most adrenalin-pumping roller coasters: Oblivion, Blue Tornado and Raptor.
Oblivion-The Black Hole was the first dive coaster in Italy and is still one of the longest in Europe. The dive coaster is a rollercoaster with a swooping drop: the one in Oblivion is 42 metres high, during which a speed of almost 100 km/h is reached.
The Blue Tornado is a roller coaster with a military setting and seats that leave the passengers’ legs suspended in the air: at a height of 33 metres and a speed of up to 80 kmh, it is a thrilling experience.
Perhaps the top among Gardaland’s rollercoaster rides, Raptor is a unique attraction in Italy: it is a wing coaster, i.e. a rollercoaster with side seats suspended in the void. On its course, full of hair-raising curves and ups and downs, it encounters obstacles that are avoided at the last second.
A minimum height of 140 cm is required for these three attractions. With 10 cm less height you can experience the thrill of a vertical swooping descent aboard the Space Vertigo launch tower.
There are different types of tickets and passes to enter Gardaland, but the advice valid for everyone is: buy your ticket online.
Buying your ticket to Gardaland online has a twofold advantage: the first is to avoid the long and nerve-wracking queues at the ticket offices, the second is to save you a little on the full price (which, let’s not forget, is rather expensive).
We advise you to buy the day ticket for Gardaland directly online: you will save long queues at the ticket offices, especially on the busiest days.
Gardaland Express is a paid service that allows you to avoid long waits at the park’s attractions. It gives you access to a priority queue, similar to the fast track ticket for airport boarding.
You can purchase a Single Gardaland Express ticket (single ride for a specific attraction) or a Gardaland Express package for multiple attractions (single ride or unlimited rides depending on the package chosen).
Tickets and packages are on sale only inside the park and therefore cannot be purchased online; they must be purchased in addition to the park entrance ticket.
Gardaland’s opening hours vary depending on the season and on special events. Generally from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm it is always open; evening openings are usually on weekends during the summer months and on Halloween. Some attractions open one or two hours after normal park opening hours.
Before deciding on the date of your visit, we recommend you take a look at the opening calendar to check the time of day you are interested in.
Here is some useful information that will help you organise your day at Gardaland in the best possible way.
Inside the park there are two information points, the Welcome Desk located in the ticket office area and an information office in the Villaggio West area.
Inside the park there is a nursery area equipped with everything you need to change and feed very small children, including a changing table, bottle warmers and nappy dispensers; pram hire.
If the idea of your child getting lost in such a large park makes you anxious, you can ask the park’s information office for an anti-lost bracelet on which to write the child’s name and a telephone number to call in case of need.
On rides with height restrictions for toddlers, a baby switch service is available: parents can take turns getting on the attraction while keeping their turn in the queue; in this way, one of them can wait with the child who cannot get on because he or she is too short, without having to do it all over again to get on the ride when the other parent returns.
The park provides visitors with numerous useful services that make their visit easier, including
Some services are free of charge, others are chargeable.
Entrance to Gardaland is allowed to everyone, however for safety reasons access to attractions may be denied or subject to specific procedures in the presence of certain particular physical conditions or illnesses. For example, some attractions are forbidden to heart patients, people subject to epileptic seizures or people with reduced mobility.
Free or reduced tickets are available for disabled persons and their companions; to use them, you must present medical documentation at the Welcome Desk at the main entrance.
A detailed map with attractions accessible to persons with motor, sensory and cognitive limitations can be picked up at the same office.
It is possible to go to Gardaland in the company of your dog, but are you really sure you want to?
Pets are allowed inside the park but cannot enter the attractions and show areas; in the restaurants they can only access reserved areas. Throughout the park, dogs must always be kept on a leash.
Bear in mind that the huge influx of visitors and the resulting noise may frighten your pet or cause it stress. If your four-legged friend is not used to being around so many people, think carefully about whether or not to bring him.
Without careful organisation a visit to Gardaland can turn from the fun day of your dreams into your worst nightmare. The cost of the ticket, the large influx of visitors, the prolonged exposure to the sun due to the long queues to access the attractions can put a strain on your nerves.
Here are a few tips to avoid stress and make the most of your day at Gardaland:
Eating at Gardaland is not really a problem: there are more than 16 refreshment points inside the park. You can have a quick snack standing up or enjoy a meal comfortably seated, choosing from pizzerias, restaurants, self service, bars, kiosks, sandwich shops, focaccerie, ice cream parlours and beer gardens.
In this immense amusement park even quenching your hunger is a real feast: the culinary proposals and settings of Gardaland’s bars and restaurants are inspired by the most famous attractions. So you can dine while watching a medieval tournament, taste Mexican cuisine, refresh yourself with a cocktail or a Hawaiian-flavoured milkshake… and many other experiences. The dishes and snacks on offer also include vegetarian and gluten-free options.
There is no dedicated picnic area, but those who want to eat a packed lunch brought from home can take advantage of the numerous benches scattered throughout the park; some of them are in the shade.
Sleeping at Gardaland is a fabulous idea to prolong the magic of the park beyond closing time; it is also a great idea for those coming from far away and who want to avoid the stress of early mornings arriving the day before.
Be warned, however, there are no hotels inside the park: the official Gardaland hotels are located outside, just 800 metres away, and are connected by free shuttle buses.
The park’s official hotels are three: Gardaland Hotel, Gardaland Adventure Hotel and Gardaland Magic Hotel.
These are elegant 4-star structures with hundreds of rooms that reflect the theme of the amusement park in their decor and offer numerous services for the comfort and enjoyment of guests. Each hotel has standard rooms and special themed rooms, perfect for an unforgettable family holiday, plus bar and restaurant. The themed rooms are the most expensive, but also the most popular with children.
Gardaland Hotel is characterised by dreamlike settings inspired by the world of fairy tales, Gardaland Adventure Hotel has four different themed settings for exploration and adventure (Arctic, Arabian, Jungle and Wild West), Gardaland Magic Hotel is dedicated to the world of magic and spells.
In the summer months, guests of the three hotels can access the Blue Lagoon, an outdoor area with swimming pools and water games.
Gardaland is located close to Lake Garda, a very attractive area with very different tourist proposals: outdoor holidays, wellness and spa holidays, wine and food tourism, cultural itineraries and business trips.
This means that it is not necessary to sleep in the official Gardaland hotels: within a radius of a few kilometres from the park you can find a variety of hotels, b&b’s and flats to suit all needs; among these there may be accommodation more in line with your tastes and budget.
If you only want accommodation for one night so that you do not have to drive after a full day at the park, you should look for a cheap guesthouse or a 2-3 star hotel in the immediate vicinity of Gardaland.
If, on the other hand, you want to combine a visit to the park with a holiday at Lake Garda, the possibilities widen enormously. The most convenient location is Peschiera del Garda, which is also one of the towns on the lake with the most amenities and accommodation for tourists; alternatively, you can move north to Lazise.
Arriving at Gardaland by car is very easy because the entrance to the park is just a few kilometres away from the Peschiera del Garda and Sommacampagna motorway exits, located along the A4 motorway, one of the most important roads in northern Italy.
For those coming from Trentino Alto Adige along the A2, the recommended exit is Affi; once off the motorway, follow the signs for Peschiera del Garda.
Reaching Gardaland by public transport is quite simple: the Peschiera del Garda railway station, served by numerous regional and Intercity trains, is only 2 km away and is connected by a free shuttle bus leaving every 30 minutes; the journey takes only 5 minutes.
Local and long-distance bus companies, e.g. Flixbus, have direct routes to the amusement park from various cities in northern Italy.
Even those who live far from Gardaland can easily reach the park. Less than 50 km away are two airports served by low-cost flights: Verona airport is only 22 km away, Brescia airport just over 40.
Less than 100 km away is the airport of Bergamo Orio al Serio, one of the main airports of the low cost airline RyanAir; if, on the other hand, you want to combine a day at Gardaland with a visit to Venice, you can look for a flight to the Marco Polo airport or Treviso, both about 140 km away.
Since the year of its opening Gardaland’s mascot has been Prezzemolo, a green dragon with long ears.
In 1993 a competition was organised to relaunch the image of Prezzemolo; the competition was won by cartoonist Lorenzo De Pretto, to whom we owe the image of the dragon as we know it today.
Two years later Prezzemolo became the protagonist of a comic book in which the other characters that animate the park today appear: Princess Aurora, Mously, Bambù, Pagui and T-Gey. A 26-episode cartoon was made from the comic strip.
The Gardaland amusement park is located in Castelnuovo del Garda, a municipality in the province of Verona about 30 km from the provincial capital and less than 2 km from the shores of the lake.
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