Lesser-known waterfront theme park reveals new unique ride and fair-themed land – with cheap flights from the UK
THERE are plenty of theme parks across Europe, which means holidaymakers probably haven’t heard about every single one.
Located on Djurgården Island in Stockholm, Gröna Lund, which is home to over 30 rides and attractions, will soon be increasing its offering.
The 142-year-old amusement park will be opening a new super swing ride in 2025.
Pumpen, the super swing ride, will be the second of its kind in the entire world and the first of its kind in Northern Europe.
Standing at 12m, the new swing ride will feature two gondolas that can each seat 10 people.
A computer-generated image shows the gondolas swinging from two arms on the ride.
Gröna Lund’s boss, Jan Eriksson, said: “We want to offer amazing experiences for all our visitors, both young and old. That’s why we have searched high and low for a unique ride that can be enjoyed by all ages.
“We have truly found that in this unique super swing, which we have chosen to name ‘Pumpen.’ Whether you are 4 or 84 years old, you will feel the same thrill in your stomach when you experience both weightlessness and falls combined with speed.”
The Swedish theme park has also submitted its first planning application for a new area, which has been inspired by Nöjesfältet amusement park from the 1890s.
Theme Park bosses hope to expand into a nearby car park to bring the new themed land to life.
Nöjesfältet amusement park was previously housed on the site, which only adds to the fairground theme.
Christer Fogelmarck, boss of Parks and Resorts Scandinavia, said: “Gröna Lund’s new area will draw inspiration from the heydays of world’s fairs, primarily the Stockholm Exhibition that took place in the same location in 1897.”
Located on Djurgården Island in the Swedish capital, Gröna Lund is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world.
The theme park is home to over 30 rides and attractions, including Monster, dubbed the King of Rollercoaster.
Monster debuted in 2021 and features four inversions, reaching top speeds or 55mph.
Other rollercoasters include Insane, a vertical spinning ride with G-forces and seats that rotate freely on their own axle.
There’s also Twister – a wooden coaster that has a huge first drop before park-goers are taken along a 480m-long track.
For younger visitors, there’s the Little Ferris Wheel, spinning teacups, a carousel, bumper cars and a train ride.
There are a number of food and drink stalls on-site, including a Kryddhyllan, which serves food from all over the world.
The theme park welcomes one million guests every year and has been praised by visitors on TripAdvisor, with a 4.5/5 star rating from thousands of reviews.
One person wrote: “If you are visiting Stockholm then Gröna Lund is a must because they have rides for all ages and intensity.
“It’s really close to the city centre, a short tram ride from the central station”.
Another person added: “This is a wonderful Amusement Park, not too big yet not too small, with areas for small kids, for big, for teens, for adults”.
The amusement park is currently its Halloween event, with entry from 495 SEK (£35.72) for a full-paying adult and 395 SEK (£28.51) for children.
Gröna Lund is open on select days in November, with opening times varying each day.
The Swedish theme park is located right next to some of Stockholm’s other must-visit sites like the ABBA Museum, the Vasa Museum and Skansen – a huge open-air museum.
Ryanair operates a direct route from London Stansted to Stockholm, with one-way fares starting from as little as £14.99.
LITTLE-KNOWN PARKS
There are plenty of other little-known theme parks dotted throughout Europe.
One of those places is Walibi Holland – one of the largest theme parks in the Netherlands.
The Dutch theme park has more than 30 rides and attractions, including its brand-new rollercoaster Untamed, which can reach a top speed of 92 km/h.
Walibi Holland is also set to open another new rollercoaster next year too as well as another new indoor area, which is expected to open between 2026 and 2029.
Entry tickets cost €42.50 (£37) for a full-paying adult, while tickets for children under the age of 11 cost €32.50 (£28).
Use these tips on your next theme park trip
Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.
- Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens.
- Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer – this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest.
- Download the park’s app to track which rides have the shortest queues.
- Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out “birthday badges” that can get you freebies.
- If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return.
Set in Zator in Southern Poland, Energylandia is thought to be one of the largest amusement parks in Europe.
Energylandia first opened its doors in 2014 and is now home to more than 123 rides and attractions, which sit across six different zones.