A THEME Park in Europe has been described as both “remarkable” and “one of the best” and Walt Disney once tried to buy its rides for any price, only to be rejected.
Most people heading to Barcelona will typically visit the Sagrada Familia, visit the Gothic Quarter and spend some time in the Parc Guell.
AlamyAvio is one of the park’s most recognisable rides and is a replica of a plane that flew from Barcelona to Madrid[/caption]
AlamyOther family favourite rides can be found throughout the amusement park[/caption]
AlamyThe Lookout and the Ferris wheel are two of several rides that offer views over Barcelona[/caption]
However, high on the hills overlooking the city is Europe’s third oldest theme park – and one of its best.
The Tibidabo Amusement Park doesn’t have the fastest or the most-thrilling attractions.
But its collection of rides has been labelled as “weird and wonderful” while its views over Barcelona are stunning.
It was included in Do Travel Mag‘s list of the best parks in the continent because of its unique location and its history.
They said: “This remarkable funfair overlooking the city of Barcelona is considered one of the best theme parks in Europe.
“Tibidabo is known and loved for its weird and wonderful rides, breathtaking views and place in history.
“Even Walt Disney recognised its charm. In 1957 he offered to buy its collection from the Automata Museum, for any price! Yet he was turned down.”
Among the unique rides, many of which show off the park’s views, are the likes of L’Embruixabruixes, or “the sorceress” in Catalan.
It was the first major ride at Tibidabo and sees riders go on a “flying carpet” through two dark sections, as well as an outdoor part above the treetops.
Another of the park’s iconic rides is Avio – a small red plane that “transports you like a giant bird over an amazing backdrop and you will feel as if you are flying in a real plane” according to a review of the ride from when it first opened in 1928.
It’s one of Tibidabo’s most recognisable attractions and again provides park-goers with amazing vistas of the city below.
The plane is a replica of the first aircraft to fly from Barcelona to Madrid and is even powered by its own propeller.
AlamyA red rollercoaster loops around tree tops in the theme park[/caption]
AlamyTibidabo is the oldest amusement park in Spain and the third oldest in Europe[/caption]
AlamySome people say it’s one of the best parks to go to in the continent[/caption]
Other classic fairground staples like a carousel, bumper cars and a haunted house can be found, while the red rollercoaster Muntaya is another family favourite.
However, many people visit the park to ride on the Ferris wheel and Talaia, or “lookout” in Basque.
The latter of the two lifts riders in a giant bucket to a pinnacle of 1,808ft above sea level, providing the best viewpoint in the park.
That peak is almost matched by the big wheel, which has a high point only slightly lower down.
The park is also found right next to the Sagrat Cor cathedral, which is found at the highest point on Tibidabo hill and is meant to be Barcelona’s version of the Sacré-Cœur in Paris.
Tibidabo Amusement Park has thousands of five star reviews on TripAdvisor, with plenty of people amazed by the park on the top of the hill.
One wrote: “This is one of the best day trips you can make in Barcelona. Great views, good food options, fantastic attractions.”
Another said: “It is truly a cool experience for theme park lovers to be on the highest and oldest theme park in Spain.
“Other than the attractions and rides, you can literally see the entire Barcelona and coast from here!”
A third added: “The park is a lot of fun and not too expensive for a full day of fun. The views you get from some of the attractions are amazing.”
Entrance to the park, including unlimited rides and bus or funicular shuttle rides costs £30 per person over 120cm in height.
Tibidabo Amusement Park is one of many quirky theme parks throughout Europe.
Farting dog park
Others include Bonbon Land in Denmark, where a farting dog is at the heart of most of their attractions.
The standout is the Hundeprutterutchenbane – better known as the “farting dog switchback” rollercoaster.
JCB amusements
Meanwhile, Diggerland in the UK is themed around JCBs and diggers – giving kids the chance to play with excavators and machinery.
There are four different Diggerlands throughout the country, including Kent, Devon, Durham and Yorkshire.
Underground park in a salt mine
Elsewhere, an underground theme park called Salina Turda is found in one of the world’s oldest salt mines in Romania.
Inside the mine a huge 20m panoramic wheel which is the “only one in the world that works underground”.
There are also games including bowling, mini-golf, table tennis and billiards.
Meanwhile, this strange British theme park in the US gets a lot wrong about people from the UK.
And this little known theme park is considered to be one of the best in the country.
GettyThe Sagrat Cor cathedral overlooks the amusement park[/caption]
AlamyThe views from the Ferris wheel are some of the best in the city[/caption]
AlamyThe Sorceress was the first big ride to have been built at Tibidabo[/caption]