Splashing, swimming, sliding, surfing and sunbathing – an action-packed day at a waterpark is always a holiday highlight for all ages. Take a peek at 18 of the best water parks in Europe that are definitely worth a visit, and get set for some brilliant fun!

Whether your family prefers the mini slides and the lazy river or something more extreme, our round up of the best water parks in Europe has it all. Not only that, it’s a great way to try something you don’t normally get to do at home, or perhaps a chance to let your inner adrenalin-junkie loose!

Do check about booking tickets in advance, as many parks offer a family discount or advance purchase discount that can really help keep costs down.

Opened by the Princess of Thailand in 2008, Siam Park boasts dozens of breathtaking rides and attractions. With an extravagant Thai-style decor, you can expect lots of lush vegetation, dragons, snakes and Thai temples that create a really immersive experience.

Some of the Park highlights include the Wave Palace pool, with the world’s largest artificial waves reaching 3m in height; the Muy Thai lazy river for some relaxed floating; the Mekong River adrenalin ride; the high octane Singha slide which sees speeds of 18 metres per second; and, not forgetting, a Thai Temple that houses a 28m high water slide that’s so steep it’s almost vertical.

Young children (or those seeking a tamer thrill) will find plenty to enjoy with plenty of family-friendly rides and entertainment. There is also a dedicated children’s area, The Lost City, with multiple towers, bridges, nets, cascades and 15 mini water slides.

The Costa Caribe Aquatic Park is part of the Portaventura resort in Tarragona, making it accessible from Barcelona, Reus, Salou, Cambrils and other holiday hotspots.

Rides include swirling water slides, Caribbean-themed pools and a devilishly vertical 21m free-fall drop. After all the excitement, take a break and catch some sun on the loungers at Bahama Beach or splash in the wave pool. It’s part of the famous Portaventura theme park, so if you don’t feel like getting wet you can always continue the need for speed and hop on over to the roller-coasters.

The Fasouri Watermania Park is a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice winner, so you know it’s going to be great!

Less than an hour’s drive from both Larnaca and Paphos, there are dozens of unmissable adrenalin-fuelled attractions to choose from, including the renowned Black Hole Extreme and Kamikaze slides, as well as a 400m lazy river, kids splash pools, huge wave pool and plentiful sun lounging spots.

Feeling the Cyprus heat? When it comes to keeping cool in the sun, WaterWorld is the place to go – ranked one of TripAdvisor’s best waterparks in the world.

From braving the exhilarating slides to relaxing on the lazy river, there’s something for everyone and every age at this hugely popular Cyprus waterpark.

With more than 25 slides and activities, this is one of Europe’s largest themed waterpark, promising plenty to keep you and the little ones entertained for a full day of fun. There are loads of stomach-churning rides, a big wave pool, loads of sun loungers, and even slides to suit non-swimmers.

Aquariaz is an aquatic paradise set in the heart of Avoriaz. This water wonderland in the French Alps is designed to feel like a tropical jungle paradise, with loads of large rock features and lush trees.

You’ll love the lazy river with its gentle current and lots of chill-out areas with water jets, and it’s got a half-pipe slide, a big pool, climbing walls, and plenty of space for kids to play. The Water Playhouse is a colourful space dedicated to younger children and features geysers, slides and pouring-water play equipment that extends into a large paddling pool.

It’s open in winter ski season as well as during the summer, and during winter the outdoor spa is heated so you can get in and feel toasty in a hot tub under the stars, surrounded by snow and alpine air.

AquaPark Biscarrosse is located on the shores of the Biscarrosse-Sanguinet Lake, just 20m from a beach of fine sand and a short drive from Bordeaux or Biarritz.

A little different to the usual water park experience, this park is more like a giant, inflatable, floating, bouncy obstacle course on water! There’s a giant catapult, a massive water slide, big zorbing-type inflatable balls, and all manner of water-based thrills.

Therme Erding’s Galaxy Water Slide World, located under a retractable dome about 30 miles from Munich, is a perfect choice for a jam-packed day out. If your tweens and teens are adrenaline junkies, they’ll go nuts for Europe’s longest water slide – the 365m Magic Eye.

Younger kids and the less-adventurous will love floating along the Crazy River, splashing in the heated wave lagoon, or experiencing the variety of more gentle slides geared towards children 3 and up.

Who’d have thought that you can have a proper tropical experience just 35km from Berlin? Tropical Islands is housed in what used to be an airship hangar, but is now essentially a massive dome of fun! That fun includes a lagoon, a beach, bumper boats, water slides and even indoor balloon rides.

Oh, and if that’s not enough to entertain the family, then there’s also the rainforest experience complete with turtles, flamingos and macaws among other exotic creatures!

If you are in the mood for some exhilarating Nordic adventures, check out Lalandia, the biggest water park in Scandinavia. Family-friendly slides include the likes of Twister and Octopus, however there is lots more than slides to discover too – the huge aqua splash playground, the activity pool where you can shoot hoops or do a balancing act on water lilies, and the exciting wave pool.

Kids of all ages will also adore the Cave Pool, where they can explore and see coral reefs and brightly coloured exotic fish in a huge underwater tank.

For an added bonus, Lalandia is located in Billund, where LEGOLand is another huge family draw!

With 20 different pools and slides, there is something for everyone at Aquapark Istralandia, including more than 1.6km of tube slides, with a range of speeds for both adults and children.

Practice surfing the ocean waves in the spacious pool, or relax in the hydro-massage pool complete with waterfalls! Older kids will enjoy adrenalin-filled excitement on rides such as the Flying Boats, Black Kamikaza or the 27m Free Fall! Younger children are also in for a treat with the spray kids arena, family pool, pirate lagoon, and mini surf slides.

One of the biggest indoor water parks in Europe, Aquaworld in northern Budapest features a modern water temple inspired by the Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia. With 11 huge waterslides and 19 pools, including wave and surf pools, this water park was designed with families in mind!

Just outside Lagoa in Portugal’s Algarve region is Slide and Splash, which delivers exactly what it says in its name – 16 acres of pure fun in the sun!

As well as awesome water slides and attractions, there are lots of wildlife attractions too, include daily falconry and reptile shows, as well as lots of green space to enjoy the sun.

Adventure-seekers will enjoy Adaland with more than 25 acres of waterpark, including over 20 slides to experience.

Feeling brave? You’ll love the white-water rafting simulator and slides like Red Phantom, which features speeds up to 37 mph, and White Tiger, where four family members can race side by side. Strap yourselves in to the 406m Amazon family slide which holds up to 6 people per boat, or go it alone in the twisting, completely dark tunnels of the Black Hole.

There’s also a kiddie pool featuring a pirate ship, a mushroom shower, floating toys, sea creatures and mini water slides for little ones.

Faliraki Waterpark is the largest in Greece and a real summer experience for the entire family. Slides include family-friendly choices like head-first mat racers, the rafting slide, Boomerango, and Sting Ray. More adventurous slides include Twister, Turbo, Free Fall and the swirling, tumbling Space Bowl.

Cool down by bobbing in the wave pool, floating in the lazy river, or with an invigorating splash under the giant Tipping Bucket, which tips 2,500 litres of water from a height!

Little ones will enjoy mini slides, toddler and activity pools, pirate ship and a splashy wonderland suitable for even the youngest toddlers.

Just outside Venice, Caribe Bay Waterpark is the largest water park in Italy and replicates a real Caribbean island complete with more than 2,000 palm trees and white sand.

Slip and slide your way down the Captain Spacemaker (one of the world’s highest water slides), and the side-by-side racing slides, the Barracudas. Take in a show at the Tiki Arena or play in the sand at Shark Bay. There is so much to experience, from pirate galleons, towering fortresses, caves and beautiful waterfalls to paradise lagoon, breathtaking slides and towers for adrenaline-fuelled bungee jumping.

The Caribbean-themed Caneva World at Lake Garda is an exciting double theme park – split between a Movieland and Aquapark – which means you have so much to experience!

At the Aquapark, you’ll discover a great mix of rides, including Crazy River, Super Splash, Twin Peaks, and Frozen Bob, as well as large swimming pools where the whole family can chill out.

Located near the bank of the Nemunas River in Druskininkai in southern Lithuania, AquaPark has 30,000 sq. m. of water fun that can be enjoyed year-round.

Families can relax along the lazy river while surrounded by lush palm trees, bob around in the sea-wave pool, swim in the large pools, or plunge down the waterslides.

Slides range from 4m mini slides to the 212m extreme Bermudas slide which include sound and light effects to enhance your senses!

Powered by geothermal water and solar energy, AquaCity Aquapark includes 13 outdoor and indoor pools with a temperature of thermal water 28-38°C, water slides and more than 350 water attractions.

With multiple year-round indoor and outdoor thermal pools, Aquapark is definitely worth a visit. Children will love the pirate ship anchored in the middle of a salt water pool on Treasure Island, the outdoor inflatable pirate water park, and separate outdoor children’s pool.

Water slide fans can get excited for the year-round Black Hole and Twister slides, as well as the Mayan Pyramid, Family Slide, Kamikadze, rafting toboggan, aquazorbing and more during summer months.