I went to one of Europe's biggest theme parks with more than 40 attractions and record-breaking rollercoasters

The Irish Sun

19-07-2025

WITH my eyes screwed tightly shut, I brace myself for the plummet.
Suddenly, I'm being hurled an agonising 76 metres down a sheer drop, approaching terrifying speeds of 83mph before being thrown through a helix loop.
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Go head over heels on the Dragon Khan ride which has eight loops
Credit: Supplied
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The park has the tallest coaster in Europe
Credit: Supplied
When it's all over, I can barely recall what had just happened.
The theme park is celebrating its 30th birthday this year but, judging from the spine-tingling ride I'd just been on, the park is far from slowing down.
In fact, it is positively thirty and thriving.
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Boasting some of Europe's fastest and most exciting thrill rides, top-class waterpark Caribe Aquatic, Ferrari Land, and five on-site 4H and 5H hotels, this was a birthday party invite I couldn't turn down.
With GCSEs done and dusted and school out for summer, teens Poppy and Charlie were raring to let their hair down.
Armed with our Unlimited Express Passes (an essential extra if you want to hit every one of the park's biggest rides, among more than 40 attractions), we literally hit the ground running.
And it was the best £54(ish) we could have spent.
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In under an hour we had been left rattled racing each other on wooden coaster Stampida, cooled off in the Grand Canyon Rapids and been blown away by multi-dimensional dark ride Uncharted and eight-loop coaster Dragon Khan.
Luckily the park is not just bold, it's also beautiful, with lush landscaping across the six themed lands of Mexico, Polynesia, China, Far West, Mediterranea and SesamoAventura, where we could recover from the adrenaline rush and soaring temperatures.
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My favourite was the Far West, where I could live out some of the Westerns I spent my childhood watching with my dad, moseying like outlaws through town and shooting targets, before picking out costumes in the Saloon Bar for a hilarious photo memento.
Even the teens threw themselves into the dressing-up box, donning petticoats as saloon girls.
Their adrenaline highlights were Shambhala and Red Force.
After happily watching them ride the former three times in succession, they finally persuaded me to strap my creaky, menopausal bones in.
I think I was actually transported out of my body and into the mythical kingdom of Shambhala for the duration of the ride.
So when it came to visiting Ferrari Land, a must-see for petrolheads and F1 fans, I decided to get my kicks on terra firma by speeding round the Maranello Grand Race track in a mini toy race car, while the girls tackled the legendary Red Force alone.
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The Red Force roller coaster
Credit: Supplied
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Have fun in Ferrari Land
Credit: Supplied
As the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in Europe, it did not disappoint.
Carts climb 112 metres before plummeting at a 90- degree angle, with an incredible launch system that reaches 111mph.
For the first time in two days, my hyper-excited giggling girls were left absolutely speechless.
All this adrenaline-fuelled fun can build up quite the appetite, and thankfully — unlike many
We enjoyed a leisurely lunch overlooking
Electrifying twist
The park has plenty of quality fast food, too, if you're keen to maximise ride time, but we were more than happy to have a break from the heat and adrenaline.
Another great lunch and dinner spot can be found in the Far West, at The Iron Horse restaurant.
There's a special 30th Anniversary burger on the menu that completely steals the show.
The excellent grub wasn't limited to the theme park either.
We'd opted for half-board at the 4H Wild West-themed Gold River Hotel and took full advantage of the vast buffet breakfast each morning.
Dinner was also excellent, with fresh seafood and grill options.
The dining hall can get quite busy, but we managed to find a lovely, quiet spot to eat outside each night.
Aside from the food, the hotel itself is a non-stop Wild West adventure from the breathtaking atrium to the surrounding cabin accommodation brilliantly disguised as a frontier town.
Anyone staying at one of the theme park hotels also gets private early access to the park and tickets to the main park and Ferrari Land are included in the price of your stay.
You may not need early access, though, thanks to
I'd barely finished my dinner before the girls were dragging me back to hit the rides again.
The park is totally transformed after dark, with each world glowing against the night sky.
Hurtling through darkness on rollercoasters adds an electrifying twist.
Of course, it wouldn't be a 30th birthday bash without fireworks, either.
And the nightly spectacular Fiesta Aventura is guaranteed to wow, featuring a fabulous illuminated parade, a spectacular drone display and fireworks extravaganza.
It was the perfect end to one hell of a wild ride.
GO: PORTAVENTURA WORLD
GETTING THERE:
Ryanair has direct flights from the UK to Barcelona Reus, a 20-minute drive, from £21.99 one way.
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STAYING THERE:
Four nights' half-board at the 4HHotel Gold River including unlimited entry to the park and one day's Ferrari Land access is from around £275pp, based on two people sharing.
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PARK ENTRY:
One-day ticket to PortAventura Park and Ferrari Land is £43.50; £38 for juniors or seniors.
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