Top 10 Destinations to Travel in May: Amusement Parks

The first and second parts of our article on family travel options for the May holidays were dedicated to relaxing by the sea and educational city walks. But given that the weekend in early May may be only 2-4 days, we'd like to offer a third option for a holiday with the kids — a relaxing but bright as a firework trip to one of the big amusement parks.

There's no need to look for something for your child to enjoy — the amusement parks have something for everyone, with attractions for kids and adults alike.

Kidpassage offers an overview of several famous amusement parks. We've chosen parks in Europe to spend more time on vacation and less on the road. However, the list also includes a new and extraordinary theme park in the United Arab Emirates. When planning your trip, try to set aside 1-2 days to visit the attractions.

The park, inhabited by Walt Disney characters, is located 32 km from Paris and covers an area of 1,943 hectares. There are two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.

The first is divided into themed zones: Adventureland, Discoveryland, Fantasyland, Frontierland and  Main Street.

From the Main Street station, you can take a train journey around the entire park to appreciate the scale and tweak your plans: rides you ignored when making your goals may seem very appealing in person.

There is an attraction for every taste: pirate romance, Indiana Jones's dangerous adventures, and the Wild West with cowboys and Indians. A spooky haunted house for daredevils; Sleeping Beauty's castle and the Dragon's cave below, Alice's maze, a flight with Peter Pan, the Legend of the Lion King — for dreamy, but not at all cowardly, girls.

There are roller coasters, panoramic and 4D cinema, and diving into the depths of the sea —we can't even begin to list all the attractions. The second of the parks are no less attractive: besides visiting the rides, you can go into the film studios and learn the secrets of special effects.

Tickets for one or both parks can be purchased in advance via the Disneyland website. You must keep your ticket until you leave the park.

The simple-hearted and charming Gauls Asterix and Obelix, heroes of French comics and cartoons, are so beloved in this country that an entire theme park has been created in their honour. Ginger Obélix (as played by Gerard Depardieu), his friends and rivals are everywhere.

The park is divided into thematic zones: Gaul, Ancient Greece, Roman Empire, Vikings and Crossroads of Time. Should you venture into the Dragon Cave and risk stumbling upon a ghost or a monster, or enjoy a great show at the dolphinarium?

Enjoy a whirlwind ride on the "Journey to Zeus" rollercoaster, or take a journey on a giant galley. Watch a public execution or stroll the Druid forest for a traditional French dish of roasted chestnuts.

The park has 32 rides, including several roller coasters and plenty of water fun. All the rides are made with humour — sometimes crude and bullying, but charming nonetheless. Asterix Park is open from April to September.

Take the train and travel around Europe in an hour? No problem if you visit Europa Park. Every country here will try to captivate you with its special colour and unusual attractions. And then there are the fictional lands — Viking Land, Chocolate Land, Grimm's Enchanted Forest and the special Children's World.

Which should you prefer — high-speed rides up and down various roller coasters and water rides, along mountains and rivers; encountering dinosaurs; dark illusions of Cassandra; the merry-go-round "Mad Tea Party"? How about trying a little of everything? As well as the rides, the park also has excellent theatrical attractions. There are many playgrounds for children with misgivings about boisterous entertainment. Every year the park organises themed adventures.

• Europa-Park: detailed description, opening hours, how to get there, ticket prices

Even if you haven't played any of Ravensburger's colourful board games, this park is still worth visiting simply because it can surprise visitors with kind and fun surprises. The names of the themed areas — Green Oasis, Kaleidoscope of Games and Entertainment, Adventureland, Discoveryland, Future World, Wonderland, and Interactive Land - will tell you where to look for the activities that best suit you.

Slides, jumps, climbs, mazes, flights to the sky and rafts down the river, a hilarious circus show and exciting competitions are all fun for adults and children alike.

The park is close to the picturesque Lake Constance so that you can combine your visit with a relaxing break in the quiet foothills of the Alps.

A journey to the land of attractions created from the parts of the favourite Lego constructor awaits visitors to Legoland Park. Made on a scale of 1:20, the buildings and constructions resemble the original but, at the same time, look adorable and very childlike, although their creation is a long, detailed job.

The park has both indoor and outdoor attractions. The park amazes you with its interests: you can visit the sunken Atlantis, see ancient Egyptian pharaohs, travel through the jungle, fly on a dragon's back in a jousting tournament or test your courage in the "Factory of Heroes". Players who like to play with the construction set will also get the chance.

• Legoland in Güntsburg: detailed description, opening hours, ticket prices
• Legoland Theme Parks Around the World

You will enter a real film studio and find yourself in the world of the film industry, where you can trace the whole way of making a film, from writing the script to the premiere screening, see costumes and entourage, TV and film sets, work of directors and cameramen, stunt performers show with puzzling stunts, and most importantly, have a delightful opportunity to try yourself as a film actor.

The atmosphere in the park is spectacular. You can also visit the 4D cinema. We recommend allocating 3-4 hours for a park visit. School-aged children will find this park particularly interesting.

• Bavaria Filmstadt: description, opening hours, how to get there, ticket prices

The park's thrill rides can take you from China to Mexico, from the Mediterranean to Polynesia and from the Wild West to Sesame Street. Each thematic area has suitable activities for thrill-seekers and those who love fun. You might decide to swim off the coast of Polynesia, risking the volcano in the ocean's depths, or ride the giant "Imperial Cobra".

You can wander the Blacksmith Maze or feel like a cowboy among the Wild Buffalo. The best family entertainment is in the SesamoAventura area. Port Aventura also includes a vast water park with all the best water activities.

Scandinavia's largest park has 44 rides, including some steep roller coasters and a list of rides that can even be ridden with infants.

The park also offers visitors 20 games to compete against their rivals or test their skills.

Children who don't like risky adventures will have a great time at the playgrounds and have lots of fun at the Trail of Laughter. You can explore the entire park by riding on the aerial railway or climbing up the panoramic platform. You can also visit the colossal aquarium, home to warm and cold sea creatures.

This park's creators have ensured that kids, teenagers and adults alike have fun. Adventurous, fantastic, spectacular and extreme attractions await visitors — a boat ride down a mountain river, a stunning roller coaster, a journey to the Ice Age to meet a mammoth, flying islands and pirate schooners.

Toddlers will be captivated by the colourful merry-go-rounds. At the same time, teenagers are usually happy to indulge in the games in the Games Area or enjoy the illusions in the Magic House. A ride on the monorail train takes you around the park from above, while the Transgardaland Express takes you around the Fantasy Gallery.

This theme park is not just for fans of speed racing and sports cars but also for all lovers of active entertainment. Fly over to the home of Ferrari in Italy, take a virtual tour of the Ferrari factory, see behind the scenes of Formula 1 and even get inside a 12-cylinder engine — you won't find such an adventure anywhere else.

Young car champs will enjoy a particular learning area where they can drive a radio-controlled car and a driving school where real trainers will show them the tricks of extreme driving. And for those looking to get their adrenaline pumping, head out on the dizzying roller coaster or the virtual race simulator. And no one will miss out on the chance to feel like a real Formula One racer behind the wheel of a race car.

Our article has only described a small part of each park's advantages — there are many more ways to have fun and relax when you visit any of them. Please note that all parks usually have restrictions for certain rides depending on how tall the children are.

Despite this, you'll be able to find attractions to suit the whole family. You can check out the Kidpassage catalogue for many other great amusement parks. Enjoy your choice and have an enjoyable holiday!