There are plenty of ways to cool down during the German summer. Splash around in the city's Wasserspielplatz (water playgrounds), take a dip in the lake or in one of Germany's best beaches or you can even go the other way and steam it up in the sauna. But the most fun you can have in summer is to go to a water park.
Perfect for children and adults, German water parks (Freizeitbad) are a new development but these watery destinations are a great place to enjoy the waves. Usually some combination of indoor and outdoor pools for year-round enjoyment, they feature massive slides, multiple pools, and spa facilities.
Slide your way through the 9 best water parks in Germany.
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Tropical Islands
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Located just outside of Berlin, Tropical Islands is housed in a mammoth dome you can see from miles away. Visitors truly are transported somewhere altogether more tropical when they step inside. It features warm temperatures year-round and attractions for the entire family:
The park is the size of eight football fields - enough to fit the world’s biggest indoor rain forest, man-made sandy beach, tropical spa and sauna complex over 10,000 square meters, four water slides (Rutschen) with speeds up to 70 km/h, and even an indoor balloon that floats 60 meters in the air.
Visitor Information for Tropical Islands
- Address: Tropical-Islands-Allee 1, 15910 Krausnick
- Hours: Daily from 6:00 - midnight; sauna & spa 9:00 - midnight
- Admission: €42 (€49 including the spa) Adults; €33 Kids (under 5) free
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GALAXY Erding
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Europe's biggest water slides and the country's largest spa combine for 145,000m² of perfect water park in Germany. Therme Erding draws in nearly 1.5 million visitors per year!
With slides totaling 2,500 meters of ups-and-downs, this is a state-of-the-art water park action. Highlights include the Magic Eye, a 360-meter closed tube slide, reportedly the longest in the world. In summer, the garden, outdoor pool, and pool bars open up with sports facilities for beach volleyball, table tennis, and playgrounds.
In VitalOase spa, visitors can take a break under calming palm trees. Visit areas like the Royal Spa that is styled after a Venetian palazzi. And unlike some of the other sites on this list, the sauna is kid friendly, even offering the world's biggest infra-red family sauna.
Visitor Information for Therme Erding
- Address: Thermenallee 1-5, 85435 Erding
- Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00 - 23:00
- Admission: €33 for a day ticket (children up to 3 are free); variable prices for shorter visits or spa only
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Badeparadies Schwarzwald
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Address
Am Badeparadies 1, 79822 Titisee-Neustadt, GermanyPhone+49 7651 9360333
The thrilling water park has 18 water slides and a massive wave pool to simulate all the fun of the beach.
There are attractions fit for every level of swimmer, including Germany’s longest 4-track mat-slide for the adventurous. Also keep an eye on their blog as they regularly feature themed events, like Magical Fairy Tales.
Had enough fun in the sun? Chill out in the Palm and Wellness Oasisarea with multiple saunas.
Visitor Information for Badeparadies Schwarzwald
- Address: Am Badeparadies 1, 79822 Titisee-Neustadt
- Hours: Daily from 9:00- 22:00
- Admission: €22 (€29 including the spa); 3 euro more on weekends; variable prices for shorter visits or spa only
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Europa-Park
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Not limited to water attractions, Europa-Park is a full-on amusement park. There are themed lands, roller coasters, and stage shows.
In summer, the water rides are at the forefront. Atlantica SuperSplash, Poseidon Water Coaster and the Tirol Log Flume Ride provide splashy thrills.
If you go in winter, note that most of the water rides are closed due to below freezing temperatures. But you can still take a dip in the hotel pools year-round.
Visitor Information for Europa-Park
- Address: Europa-Park-Straße 2, 77977 Rust
- Hours: Summer Season (March – Nov)9:00 - at least 18:00; Winter Season (Nov - Jan) 11:00 - at least 19:00
- Admission: €49.50 summer (Children are free til age 12); €38.50 winter (Children €32.50)
Continue to 5 of 9 below.
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Fildorado
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Located near Stuttgart, this luxurious bathing city consists of a wave pool, lazy river, lap, and outdoor pools plusexhilarating themed slides. The Black Hole slide encloses sliders in darkness while the jump slide has swimmers leaping into action.
After the thrills, sit back and relax in the sauna. There are aroma and meditation facilities with everything from a panoramic to fireplace sauna. The German Sauna Association has even awarded the site five stars. Fancy!
Visitor Information for Fildorado Filderstadt
- Address: Mahlestraße 50, 70794 Filderstadt
- Hours: Daily 9:00 - 22:30
- Admission: €8.80 - 16.50 depending on time of visit; discounts for children and families
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Aqualand Cologne
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Aqualand branded its 150-meter long slide Aquaconda, but it is not the only themed mega-slide. Try the Aqua Canyon, Red Star, and Boomerang with various free falls, twists, and plunging dives.
Visitors should also explore the park's grottoes which feature steam mist and 10 themed saunas plus a hammam.
Visitor Information for Aqualand Cologne
- Address: Merianstraße 1, 50765 Köln
- Hours: Monday to Thursday 9:30 - 23:00; weekends 9:00 - midnight
- Admission: €18.90 day ticket +€7 for spa; discounts for children and shorter time periods
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Ostsee Therme
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This spa and resort on the Baltic Coast takes all of the wild elements of the sea and tames them for visitors of all ages. The park features more than 14,000square meters of thermal saltwater pools, tropical landscape and over 300-meters of slides. For the babies, there is a separate baby-pool with a consistent water temperature of 34 degree Celsius. The therme is within sight of the Bay of Lübeck so visitors can access the beach.
The adults-only area includes a variety of saunas from eucalyptus to bio. There are also relaxation oases, sports studio, solaria, and massage treatments. To cater to your other needs, visit the restaurant, bar, and shop. The Hotel Gran BelVederalso has direct access to the thermal spa.
Visitor Information for Ostsee Therme Scharbeutz
- Address: Strandallee 143, 23683 Scharbeutz
- Hours: Water worlds: 9:00 - 23:00
- Admission: €18 Adults / €23 for spa; €10 Kids
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AquaMagis
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Address
Deutschland, Böddinghauser Feld 1, 58840 Plettenberg, GermanyPhone+49 2391 60550
This colorful park features twelve slides like the Green Kick (tube slide with a catapult launch) plus surfing experiences from the beginner Sauerland Surfer to the 100-meter Crazy Surfer for professionals.
Decoration fits the watery theme with a pirate ship and the children's adventure pool. In the sauna section, enjoy the organic Tree Sauna with Amazonian showers.
Visitor Information for AquaMagis
- Address: Böddinghauser Feld 1, 58840 Plettenberg
- Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 - 22:00
- Admission: €19 day pass; discounts for children and shorter time periods
Continue to 9 of 9 below.
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Ocean Wave
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An impressive 101-meter-long slide is beautifully styled as a lighthouse, appealing to both kids and adults. Portholes on the climb up reveal the layout of the park before you careen down among the waves. Soothe any sore muscles in the tropical area with saunas and steam baths.
Visitor Information for Ocean Wave
- Address: Dörper Weg 22, 26506 Norden-Norddeich
- Hours: 10:00 - 22:00
- Admission: €14 day pass; discounts for children and shorter time periods
