Inside incredible European theme park 'better than Disneyland' with tiny queues

A has been hailed as "better than Disneyland" for its minimal queues and the five million visitors it attracts annually. PortAventura in Salou, , may only see a third of the footfall that does, but those who venture to this sunny resort often return as enthusiastic fans.

The park is designed with various themed hotels that whisk guests away to different realms, all while providing four and five-star opulence. For those keen on the Wild West, Hotel Gold River and Hotel Colorado Creek offer four-star stays. There are also Caribbean and Mediterranean-themed accommodations available.

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The park itself continues the immersive experience, with areas reflecting different parts of the globe. At the entrance lies Mediterrània, featuring the Furius Baco ride – a wing coaster that launches riders on a high-speed tour around a vineyard under the blazing sun. In the Far West section, a river rapids adventure and log flume take visitors back to the days of cowboy saloons.

This zone also boasts a duelling wooden racing coaster and a junior version that weaves through it, ensuring even the little ones get a taste of the excitement.

The tropical Polynesia section of the park offers a swinging ship ride and other water-based attractions. However, bear in mind that many of these rides close during the winter months, so it's worth checking online before booking if you're planning an early season visit.

The Mexico area is steeped in ancient history, with temples and statues nestled between spinning rides, a family-friendly coaster journeying through a mine network, and a mirror maze.

The star attraction here is Huracan Condor, one of the world's tallest drop tower attractions, which uniquely allows riders to stand while experiencing the plunge.

China, the largest themed land in the park, boasts two major coasters. Dragon Khan, featuring eight inversions, has been thrilling visitors since the park's opening in 1995. Shambhala, the park's newest rollercoaster, stands over 75m tall and reaches speeds nearing 80mph.

Ferrari Land, a major drawcard for the park since its 2017 opening, houses Europe's tallest and fastest rollercoaster, the formidable Red Force. Towering at an impressive 112m and reaching speeds of 112mph, it dwarfs the UK's tallest rollercoaster, Thorpe Park's Hyperia, which will stand at 72m and take riders to 80mph.

The Ferrari ride, designed to emulate the adrenaline-pumping speed of an F1 car, offers a straight launch track that promises to give thrill-seekers the acceleration experience they crave. Fans can watch from a special stand designed to imitate the thrill of a real racetrack.

A Sydney-sider raved on TripAdvisor about their experience, saying: "For us, it was all about the rides, and we were not disappointed. We stayed at the Gold River Hotel and accessed the park quickly and easily.

"The queue times were very acceptable - the maximum wait time that we experienced was about 30 minutes - and well worth it, it's better than Disneyland."

Echoing these sentiments, a visitor hailing from County Durham declared: "This is much better than Disneyland Paris, the rides were super fun with short bearable queues (15-30mins). This park is well laid out and features many rides suited for all types of thrillseeker."

UK residents can jet off easily to PortAventura; return flights from Liverpool Airport to nearby Reus are now going for a steal at £34, with pre-booked online park entry fees standing at £48 for adults and just £42 for kids.