A rich culture, delicious cuisine, and affordable prices – all these things make Portugal an attractive tourist destination. But if you’re visiting this country, you need to add the waterparks in Portugal to your bucket list as well.
When it comes to water attractions, the waterparks in Portugal are famous for having some of the most thrilling attractions in Europe. With the warmth of the sun and beautiful beaches attracting visitors, water parks have inevitably become popular.
But there are just so many names that come up when you search on the internet. Where do you even start and which one do you choose? You just cannot visit every single one of these waterparks during your visit to Portugal right?
It doesn’t matter if you are a local or a tourist, with so many options to choose from, it would surely get confusing for you. After all, all we want for us and our family is the BEST.
That is exactly why, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 waterparks in Portugal to make your life a bit easier.
Whether it be information about timings, activities, or anything else, we’ve researched for you. All you have to do is pick the one that suits your taste and enjoy your vacation. Just keep on scrolling to find out more!
5 Best Waterparks In Portugal –
1. Slide and Splash
If you’re out in Algarve to enjoy the warmth of the sun and a day out on the beaches, make sure to give a visit to this place. This is one of the biggest and most famous water parks in Portugal.
It has been spreading smiles and joy since the 1980s. In fact, with an area of 65 square kilometers, it would even make it to the list of largest water parks in Europe.
1.1 Rides for Adults and Kids
If you are a bit bold and want to enjoy a thrilling experience then make sure to head on to the Thrill Tower. It includes three slides – Boomerang, Race, and Bigfall. Other daring rides in this water park include water slides such as the Kamikaze, Black Hole, and Tornado.
This place has entertainment for both adults and children. There are special areas for children under five so that they to can have a memorable experience. If you are out with your entire family, make sure to take the kids to the Tropical Paradise. Here they have colorful rides and foam slides exclusively for kids so that they can enjoy their time safely.
1.2 Other Attractions
Along with rides, Slide and Splash hosts many live shows with some of them happening twice a day. If you or your kids are interested to meet some birds or reptiles make sure to not miss this attraction.
After an entire day of thrills, if you wish to have a relaxing time you can head on to get a massage or visit the fish spa. There are also jacuzzis and pools where you can just sit back and enjoy the cool water.
After enjoying the rides and relaxing, you must be craving something delicious, right? Just visit the ice cream shops and restaurants and enjoy whatever your heart desires. There are even some souvenir shops for you to take home gifts and memories. If you got any professional photos in the park, you can also collect them from here.
This truly sounds like an all-in-one experience, doesn’t it?
1.3 Ticket Booking
You can book your tickets online and they will be sent to your mail within a couple of hours. Your ticket will give you access to all the rides and services of the parks for the entire day.
Click here for more information on Slide and Splash.
2. Aquashow Park
Located in Quarteira, Aquashow Park is another thrilling waterpark in Portugal. It has over 20 attractions to make you scream with excitement and fun. Whether you’re in the mood to laze around or to make your heart skip a beat, this waterpark has something to suit everyone’s choices.
2.1 Rides for Adults and Kids
The biggest slide in the park is called Mammothblast. This attraction was added to the park in only 2021. It can fit up to five people in a single ride. As long as you are at least 120m in height, nothing is stopping you from going on this slide.
Another popular attraction in Aquashow Park is the Freefall. At a height of almost 30 meters, this is the highest free-fall slide in the European continent. If you visit this waterpark, you need to try this one out at least once.
The Water Coaster is yet another ride at this waterpark that can be counted as the best in Europe. As the name suggests it is a roller coaster in water. It can be enjoyed by 8 people at the same time and it is one of the largest water coasters in Europe. A bonus of taking this ride is that you can also get a picture clicked of you on the ride.
When it comes to rides for kids you can head on to Aquakids and Aqualandia. They have large and smaller slides, kids’ swimming pools, and star tunnels. All of these have been built keeping the safety of your child in mind. There are even Mini trains available for children between the ages of 3 to 8 years to ride.
If you were hoping for a more peaceful day make sure to check out gentler options such as the Wild Snake and Lazy River. This is one of the oldest rides at the park where you go through a snake-shaped tunnel called the Wild Snake and enter into a pool. Here you can let your nerves rest and allow yourself to drift along with the soft currents of the Lazy River.
2.2 Other Attractions
There is also an Outdoor Jacuzzis available for anyone who is 16 years old or above. Another attraction to visit at the Aquashow Park would be the Wave Pool and the Tropical Pool for kids. You could even choose to enjoy the Gaming machines available at the park, get a massage, or feast on the various foods available at the park. You can try many delicious foods like sandwiches, burgers, ice creams, and pastries.
2.3 Aquashow Hotel
And the best part about visiting Aquashow Park is that the Aquashow Hotel is right beside it. If you’re visiting the area, you can stay at this beautiful hotel while enjoying all the local attractions starting from the park. The hotel is well-air-conditioned and has a modern vibe to it.
It also has amenities such as fitness centers, spas, and pools available at the hotel. And if you’re craving some food, Restaurant Charme will serve you authentic Portuguese cuisine or any other dish of your choice.
2.4 Ticket Booking
The timings of Aquashow Park are different depending on the time of the year you visit. If you are visiting the waterpark you even get access to free car parking. They provide free entry for children who are 5 years old or younger and if you book your tickets online you even get a handsome discount on your tickets.
Still not convinced? Head onto their Youtube channel to get a more in-depth experience. The videos will help you understand how thrilling every ride at the park is.
Click here for more information on Aquashow Park.
3. Zoomarine
Another waterpark in Portugal located on the coasts of Algarve, is the Zoomarine waterpark.
3.1 Rides for Adults and Kids
If you are out on a holiday as a family, this place would suit you well as many rides in Zoomarine Park can be ridden by both adults and children together. A great example of this is the Zoomarine Express, a min-train ready to take you on a small adventure in the park.
There is also the mini-roller coaster Buffalo which is also accessible for both adults and children. Other attractions at the park include the Atlantida Merry Go round with its seats shaped like adorable animals.
The Ferris wheel in Zoomarine, called the Giant Wheel is another family-friendly attraction. It will give you a bird’s eye view of the entire park. Zoomarine also has swimming pools, wave beaches, water slides, and other water rides as well.
3.2 Other Attractions
After you are tired from your rides you can even choose to visit the birds and animals in the park. There are tortoises, macaws, alligators, and even an aquarium called the Oceanus with a variety of fishes.
The park also offers Dolphin Emotion experiences for anyone who is 6 years or above. You can choose to interact with these lovely creatures in shallow water or go for a whole swimming session. A variety of packages are available to suit everyone’s comfort.
And if all you want is to sit back and relax after a tiring day, the Park also offers a 4-D cinema experience where it screens movies such as ‘Ice Age’.
If you want to enjoy the day with some beautiful creatures and enjoy rides and roller coasters, then this park might be a great place to add to your list.
3.3 Ticket Booking
Zoomarine offers both annual passes and park tickets for one or two days, so you can book your package according to your convenience. The prices of the park tickets are different for different ages and also depend on the season in which you are visiting. A great thing about this park is that it has special entrance tickets for persons with disabilities at a considerably lower price.
Click here for more information on Zoomarine.
4. Aqualand
Algarve seems like a waterpark Paradise as the next destination in the list is also located here.
4.1 Rides for Adults and Kids
This waterpark in Portugal is known for having the highest slide in the entire country. The Kamikaze slide is almost 36 m high, but it takes just 4 seconds for you to safely land in a pool of water.
If you think that your heart is not ready for such a daring experience you can check out the Banzai instead. This is a slide that is 23m high that is just as thrilling as the Kamikaze. And if you’re in the mood to have a race with your friends and find out who is the fastest, you can try out the Super Surf slide instead.
Aqualand also has other rides to give you an adrenaline rush. The King Cobra slide is almost five stories high and is one of the biggest highlights of Aqualand. The Hydra is a more recent attraction in this park. It is a group of three water slides or tunnels. You sit on a rubber tube and slide down the twists and turns of this ride.
Aqualand also has attractions and rides for children in their Kidzworld. There are two main areas for kids in this – the Children’s Paradise and the Rainbow Park. They have kids’ pools, children’s slides, and even castle-themed rides for the young ones to play and enjoy.
4.2 Ticket Booking
The park is open from June to September but make sure to check out the exact opening dates on their website before you go for a visit. The entrance is free for anyone who is 4 years old or younger and the park also offers family and friend packs. You can book tickets to the park and even shop for stop through their online website.
Click here for more information on Aqualand.
5. Parque Aquatico Amarante
The waterpark in Amarante is the biggest Mountain Waterpark in the Iberian Peninsula. It has been operating since 1994 and has a range of attractions and rides for all.
5.1 Rides for Adults and Kids
The park includes water slides, pools for adults and kids, and places for resting. The park even has a feature of foam parties on its wave beaches where adults can play and enjoy themselves.
If you are going with kids check out the Frog slide which sends you right into the water. The Amarante Park also has an attraction called the Aquaspray. Here, kids can play and enjoy themselves while they get sprinkled with cool water.
5.2 Other Attractions
After the activities of the day get over you can relax and lie down in the New Green Space which overlooks the entire park. And if you’re feeling a little hungry just head on to the restaurants where you can buy delicious burgers, fries, baguettes, and pies.
5.3 Ticket Booking
You can only visit this place from May to September so make sure to plan your visits at the right time. The entrance to the park is completely free for children who are 4 years old or younger.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the online tickets for Amarante Park are much cheaper than when you buy them from the ticket counters. That is make sure to buy your tickets well in advance through their online portal to save some cash.
Click here for more information on Parque Aquatico Amarante.
Conclusion
These are our top picks for the best water parks in Portugal. We hope this list helps you to enjoy summers in water to your heart’s content. You can see from this list that Portugal is a paradise for waterpark lovers.
These waterparks in Portugal are sure to give you enough excitement for a lifetime. If you’re visiting these locations, make sure to carry your hats and sunscreens with you. After all, getting a sunburn is the last thing we want on an exciting day playing in the water.
Have you visited any of these places? Or maybe you’re planning to visit one of them this summer? Maybe you already have your favourite place that is dear to your heart.
We’re eager to hear about which water thrill stole your heart in the comments.
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