If you’re heading to Lake Garda with kids and wondering whether Gardaland is worth a visit — the answer is a resounding yes from our family of five! With three boys aged 6, 8, and 10, we spent a full day at Gardaland during the first week of June and had an absolutely brilliant time. We’re big fans of theme parks and have visited Disneyland Paris, Efteling, Legoland Billund, PortAventura, and Emerald Park multiple times over the years — and Gardaland definitely holds its own among them
From the moment we arrived, we were struck by how immaculately clean and beautifully themed the entire park is. It’s bursting with character, colour, and fun at every turn. As theme park lovers we were pleasantly surprised that the food and drink prices were really fair at Gardaland compared to the likes of Disneyland Paris and Legoland.
We were staying just outside Lazise and took the 483 bus directly to Gardaland — a smooth and easy journey. There is a stop just outside Piani di Clodia or alternatively from Lazise itself. If you’re coming from further afield, there’s a free shuttle bus from Peschiera del Garda train station that drops you right to the park entrance, which is really handy. Just a tip: avoid relying on taxis — they’re both expensive and surprisingly hard to get in this area, especially at peak times.
Tickets & Costs
We booked our tickets through a link from Piani di Clodia reception, which gave us a small discount. In total, we paid €205 for the five of us for a full day in the park. Considering how much there is to do and how well it’s all run, we felt it was worth it.
Queue Times & Crowd Levels
We visited during the first week of June, and crowd levels were incredibly manageable. The longest we queued for any ride was 20 minutes — and that was rare. Most rides were either walk-ons or just a short wait, meaning we got to pack loads into our day without the usual theme park stress.
What We Skipped: Legoland Water Park
We considered the Legoland Water Park, which is located inside Gardaland, but ultimately decided against it. It looked lovely but quite small, and with it being an additional cost, we felt we had more than enough to do in the main park without adding water gear into the mix. If you’re doing more than one day or visiting in peak summer heat, it could be worth it, but it didn’t feel essential for us.
Gardaland Ride Guide by Height
✅ Under 100cm
These rides are perfect for toddlers and younger kids who don’t meet height requirements yet. Most of these allow children to ride with an accompanying adult.
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Doremifarm – A gentle tractor ride through a musical farm.
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Baby Corsaro – A pirate-themed mini boat ride.
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Funny Express – A colourful train that circles a cartoon world.
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Prezzemolo Land – A play zone with splash features and climbing areas (bring swimwear!).
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Monorotaia – A slow monorail giving an aerial view of the park.
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Flying Island – A gentle rotating platform that rises up for a panoramic view.
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Peppa Pig Land (entire area) – Includes several gentle rides:
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Grandpa Pig’s Train
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Peppa Pig’s Balloon Ride
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George’s Dinosaur Adventure
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✅ 110cm and up
Kids at this height unlock a few more adventurous attractions, while still keeping things family-friendly.
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Magic House – An optical illusion “mad house” ride; no height restriction, but may be better appreciated by slightly older kids.
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Jungle Rapids – A family raft ride with a few fun splashes.
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San Andreas 4D – A 4D cinema experience with earthquake effects.
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Il Corsaro – A dark boat ride through pirate-themed caves and animatronics.
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Kung Fu Panda Academy – Mini bumper cars and themed play.
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Transgardaland Express – A scenic train around the park.
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Colorado Boat – A log flume ride with two drops (kids over 100cm with an adult, but better from 110cm+ for comfort).
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Fuga da Atlantide – A visually stunning water ride with two big but smooth drops (min 110cm with adult, 130cm alone).
✅ 120cm and up
This is where the thrill level increases! Most of our boys’ favourite rides were unlocked at 120cm.
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Mammut – A fast-paced family coaster through icy tunnels; a big hit with our 6- and 8-year-olds.
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Raptor – A wing coaster with inversions and a post-apocalyptic theme. (min 140cm, but if your child is above 120cm and brave, keep it in mind for next time!)
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Sequoia Adventure – A steampunk-style vertical coaster (min 120cm).
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Sequoia Magic Loop – Looping coaster that flips you upside-down.
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Shaman – A double-loop coaster with VR option (min 120cm).
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Ortobruco Tour – A long caterpillar-themed coaster — tame but fun.
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Flying Island – Still fun for older kids who want a chill moment.
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Atlantis Submarine Simulator – Interactive, great for tweens.
✅ 140cm and up
These are the biggest thrill rides in the park — ideal for older kids, teens, and adults.
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Oblivion – The Black Hole – A vertical drop coaster with intense speed and airtime. Only our 10-year-old (just tall enough!) dared to try it.
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Blue Tornado – An inverted coaster with loops and fast turns — intense and thrilling.
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Raptor – Also mentioned above, this is one of Gardaland’s standout thrill rides.
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Sequoia Magic Loop – A looping coaster with upside-down segments.
Insider Tips for a Smooth Day
Here are a few practical tips from our visit to help you make the most of your Gardaland day:
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Arrive early – Get in just before opening to make the most of the lower morning queues.
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Download the app – The Gardaland app shows live wait times, maps, and show schedules.
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Use the lockers – There are lockers at the entrance if you want to lighten your load. Handy if you bring towels or spare clothes.
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Bring swimwear for younger kids – Prezzemolo Land has a great splash area, and your little ones will definitely want to jump in so no harm to bring a towel of change of clothes if you know they’ll be tempted.
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Wear comfy shoes – The park is large, and you’ll do plenty of walking.
- Wear Crocs – there are lots of water rides where you get soaked. Crocs mean no wet shoes and socks!
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Don’t skip the shows – There are several live performances, including acrobatics and magic shows. A great break from rides!
- Bring Snacks – snacks are always a good idea to distract kids in queues.
Final Thoughts
Gardaland exceeded our expectations in every way. From the cleanliness and theming to the variety of rides and the manageable queues, it really is a gem of a theme park — especially if you’re visiting with kids of different ages. Whether you’re in the area for a holiday or just looking for a fun day out, it’s absolutely worth the visit.
Would we go back? Absolutely. The kids are already asking!
