Knowing my love for all things amusement parks, my boyfriend surprised me with an unforgettable birthday gift: a trip to Phantasialand in Brühl, Germany! Neither of us had really heard of this park before, but as he dug into the research, it kept popping up as a “hidden gem.” It’s not the biggest theme park, but the reviews raved about its world-class theming. Intrigued, he booked it—and I couldn’t be happier that he did.
The Park Experience
Oh, wow. The theming here is absolutely incredible! It’s no surprise Phantasialand has racked up awards. Honestly, compared to other parks I’ve visited, the attention to detail here rivals Disneyland—maybe even surpasses it in some areas. The rides are so cleverly integrated into the scenery that it’s almost a game to spot where they start or end. I was blown away.
One pleasant surprise? The lack of in-your-face gift shops. We found one souvenir store, and that was about it! It was so refreshing not being constantly nudged to buy stuff after every ride. Instead, the park focuses on what really matters: the rides, the theme, and the overall experience.
Speaking of food, there were plenty of spots to grab a bite, with options for every budget. The prices were actually quite reasonable; we paid around 25 euros for a full meal in the steampunk area, which is pretty much what you’d spend for a meal in the city.
The park itself isn’t as massive as others like Disneyland, Europa-Park, or Energylandia, but there’s still so much to explore. We actually ran out of time to hit every ride! Since it was late October, we skipped a couple of water rides (though they have dryers for those brave enough to get soaked) and a few smaller attractions.
Being off-season, there were virtually no lines! The longest we waited was 20 minutes for a popular rollercoaster, and even then, half of that was just walking through the empty queue maze. Most of the rides were a walk-on!
The rollercoasters weren’t ultra-intense but were still so much fun. One even surprised me with a double acceleration! And the steampunk-themed coaster was serious business—they even scanned us with a metal detector before boarding because it’s a face-down coaster where everything needs to stay secure. I also confirmed (once again) that 3D roller coasters just aren’t for me, with or without the glasses.
One unexpected highlight was the quality of the shows. We caught “Nobis,” which featured jaw-dropping circus acts. We’ve seen similar shows around the world, and this one really held its own. The singing was good, but the acrobatics? Just wow. There were two other shows, “Rock on Ice” and “Battle of the Best,” but sadly, we ran out of time.
Getting There
We flew into Cologne, where there are plenty of budget-friendly flight options. It’s super easy to get from the airport to the city center—just a quick 20-minute train ride for about 3.5 euros.
We stayed in Cologne for a day to do a little sightseeing and then took an Uber to Phantasialand the next morning. It was about a 30-minute ride and cost 30 euros. We could’ve used public transport, but since it was a Sunday, the wait times were longer, and with four of us, the cost was almost the same. Plus, we were feeling lazy and wanted a direct ride!
That said, public transport is a totally doable and budget-friendly option if you don’t mind a bit of extra travel time.
