Black Mamba, Kamikaze, or Magic Eye: With action-packed slides, today’s water parks are true adventure parks. The longest, the steepest, the fastest slide – one superlative follows the next in Germany’s water parks. But while loops, free-fall sections, and high-speed tubes make many adults weak at the knees, children simply love the wet racing fun. Especially in the cold season, water parks offer a wonderful way to let the kids run wild. And what’s good for the whole family: Relaxing in the water in pleasant temperatures and simply forgetting winter for a few hours. We present the best water parks.
1/5 Exotic oasis in the Spreewald: Tropical Islands, Krausnick
It’s one of the most extraordinary water parks of all – and, strictly speaking, much more than that: Tropical Islands is its own exotic vacation world! Beneath the gigantic membrane roof of a former airship hangar lies a true tropical paradise with the world’s largest indoor rainforest, a 200-meter-long sandy beach, a lagoon, and a huge „South Sea“ pool. For children, there’s a 27-meter-high slide tower, a colorful adventure ship, and numerous other attractions. You can even float around the 107-meter-high hall in a hot air balloon. Tropical Islands is open 24 hours a day. If that’s still not enough, you can even spend an entire vacation here.
2/5 More sliding is not possible: Galaxy, Erding
Slide until your (swimming) pants smoke: Galaxy Erding boasts some superlatives when it comes to gliding into the water in the most original way possible. Dozens of slides of varying difficulty levels guarantee fun and thrills for everyone – and all this over a total length of 2,500 meters. While even little ones from three years old will enjoy the undulating Moon Slide, the Black Mamba and the Speed Racer tubes give older children a massive adrenaline rush. Other highlights include the 360-meter-long Magic Eye tire slide, a nearly vertical dive slide, and a giant water jump.
3/5 A fast-paced pleasure: Aqualand, Cologne
The slides at Aqualand Cologne also offer a unique kind of thrill: With tons of rushing water, the 103-meter-long Aquacanyon plunges down at a particularly rapid pace. The bravest can enjoy thrilling head-to-head races at speeds of up to 82 km/h in the double tube – and the Aquaconda even offers a wet ride upwards! The seven extraordinary slides are suitable for ages six, eight, and ten, depending on the difficulty level. Very young children have fun in their own paddling area.
4/5 Halfpipe and South Sea palms: Galaxy Black Forest, Titisee
Featuring the world’s largest stainless steel halfpipe and Germany’s longest four-layer mat slide, the „Galaxy,“ part of the Black Forest Water Park, entices visitors to Titisee for an action-packed day. Those who’ve worked up a sweat on the 20 slides can then relax in the palm oasis with 200 authentic South Sea palms.
5/5 Jungle adventure for little explorers: H2O, Herford
Exciting jungle adventures await little explorers around the Caribbean island of Tabokiri at H2O Herford: a diving grotto with exotic fish, a jungle temple with a waterfall, suspension bridges, and a sailing ship that turns into a giant water playground. A tire slide, a timing slide, and a wave pool ensure that the visit is also an experience for older children.