Gardaland
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Gardaland is in Castelnuovo del Garda, on the southern shore of Lake Garda near Verona. It is the best-known theme park in Italy. On these pages you can read all about the roller coasters and the other rides, the shows, the food, the resort's three hotels and how to get there.
Discover Gardaland
What kind of park is it?
Gardaland calls itself Italy's number 1 and the oldest theme park in the country. The park opened on 19 July 1975 and has more than 40 rides and shows, divided into adventure, adrenaline and fantasy. With your ticket you can go on all the rides and see all the shows as often as you like.
For daredevils there are Oblivion, Raptor and Blue Tornado, according to the park its most feared rides. Adventurers head for Jungle Rapids, Fuga da Atlantide and Mammut. Young children have fun in Peppa Pig Land, Prezzemolo Land and Fantasy Kingdom. Children under 90 centimetres get in free.
How is the park laid out?
Gardaland divides its rides into three types:
- Adrenaline: the big roller coasters and thrilling rides, such as Oblivion, Raptor, Blue Tornado, Shaman and Space Vertigo.
- Adventure: adventure for the whole family, with Mammut, Jungle Rapids, Fuga da Atlantide, Jumanji - The Adventure and Animal Treasure Island.
- Fantasy: for young children, with Fantasy Kingdom around the Albero di Prezzemolo, Peppa Pig Land, Prezzemolo Land and the medieval area.
Not all areas open at the same time: according to the park map, the first area opens at 10.00 and other areas follow at 11.00 and 12.00.
Opening times:
Gardaland is not open all year round. During Gardaland Magic Winter the park is open on a number of days between 5 December 2026 and 6 January 2027, from 10.30 to 18.00. The 2027 season has not yet been announced (as of November 2026).
Prices:
An undated ticket for Magic Winter costs € 34 online, a dated ticket from € 29 (as of November 2026). SEA LIFE is included. Children under 90 centimetres go free.
Staying overnight:
The resort has three hotels: Gardaland Hotel, Gardaland Adventure Hotel and Gardaland Magic Hotel. Together they have 475 rooms, 264 of which are themed.
How the park began
The idea for a theme park on Lake Garda came from Livio Furini, an entrepreneur from Verona. He was inspired by a visit to Disneyland in California. Gardaland opened on 19 July 1975, with the green dragon Prezzemolo as guardian of the castle at the entrance.
In 2004 the Gardaland Hotel arrived: according to the park, the first themed hotel at an Italian theme park. Since 2006 Gardaland has belonged to Merlin Entertainments, the group behind the LEGOLAND parks and Madame Tussauds, among others. This was followed by SEA LIFE (2008), the Adventure Hotel (2016), the Magic Hotel (2019) and LEGOLAND Water Park (2021).
SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND Water Park
The resort has two more parts. Gardaland SEA LIFE Aquarium is, according to the park, the first themed aquarium in Italy, within walking distance of the park. You will see more than 5,000 animals in 40 tanks, walk through an underwater tunnel with sharks and rays and watch the sea lions.
LEGOLAND Water Park is inside Gardaland itself and was the first LEGO water park in Europe. You can only get in with a combo ticket or a supplement on your park ticket. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. The water park is home to Miniland, with Italian monuments made from more than 4 million LEGO bricks.
Events throughout the year
Gardaland changes with the seasons. In autumn there is Gardaland Magic Halloween, with the Halloween Party on 31 October. Around the holidays comes Gardaland Magic Winter, with lights, Christmas decorations and shows. From 4 to 8 December 2026 the Gardaland Theatre also hosts Supermagic Elementi, a big magic show with a separate ticket.
Read more on the Shows page.
Use the app
In the official Gardaland Resort app you can see the waiting times, the show times and a map with navigation. Our waiting times page shows the waiting times too.
Shorter queues
With Gardaland Express, the park's paid fast track, you wait less at the most popular rides. You use it through a separate app.
Free for the little ones
Children under 90 centimetres get in free at all the resort's parks.