Germany impresses with its amusement parks – especially the one in Baden-Württemberg, which is not only the largest in the country, but has also taken first place in the global rankings for the ninth time – ahead of Disney and Universal Studios. But it’s not just this park that inspires: there is also a real highlight very close to Hamburg that you can reach by car in under an hour – a star in its category in northern Germany. The destination can also be easily reached by public transport in around 1 hour.
Northern Germany’s largest theme park
Located in Soltau, Lower Saxony, in the middle of the Lüneburg Heath, the Heide Park Resort impresses with an area of 900,000 m². It is not only the largest leisure park in northern Germany, but also one of the largest in the country. What does the park have to offer? A whole lot: over 40 attractions and shows for visitors of all ages – including spectacular roller coasters and rides that were the first of their kind in Germany. The so-called “Big 7” at Heide Park Resort include the following rides:
- Colossos – Clash of the Giants
A real giant among the wooden roller coasters: With a height of 53 meters, a track length of 1,344 meters and a top speed of 110 km/h, Colossos is one of the most impressive rides in Europe. The ride takes around two and a half minutes and is not for the faint-hearted. - Flight of the demons
The first so-called “wing coaster” in Germany offers free space to the left and right of the tracks – a particularly intense ride experience. 40 meters high, almost 800 meters long, 100 km/h fast and with five rollovers in around 52 seconds. - Octopus
Unique in Germany: the Dive Coaster Krake plunges its passengers from a height of 43 meters into an almost vertical 87° drop. The track is 476 meters long and reaches speeds of up to 103 km/h. The cars hold six people and run in compact trains of three – perfectly tuned for pure adrenaline. - Scream
This gyro drop tower was once the highest of its kind in Europe. From a height of 103 meters, you drop around 71 meters into the depths – at speeds of up to 98 km/h. The entire ride takes around 77 seconds. The facility was built at a cost of around 7.5 million euros. - Bobsleigh run
A true classic with record status: with a track length of 990 meters and a height of 27 meters, the bobsleigh run is the longest and highest of its kind in the world (as of 2023). It reaches speeds of up to 58 km/h, offers space for up to seven trains at the same time and can accommodate around 1,750 passengers per hour.
Further highlights
Not part of the “Big 7”, but still real highlights: The Toxic Garden, Germany’s first suspended looping coaster (since 1999), provides fast-paced rollovers. The Grottenblitz, a real classic from 1985, offers around 150 seconds of fun at 45 km/h on a 370-meter track. And the little ones are also catered for – for example with Peppa’s boat ride and the dragon taming rides, two family-friendly attractions that have been an integral part of the park since 2016 and 2018 respectively. So kids can not only experience a lot in the colorful, exciting Hanseatic city, but also get their money’s worth at Heide Park Resort.
Northern Germany’s largest theme park also has a lot to offer in terms of culinary delights – with a varied, family-friendly range of restaurants. These include the Pizza & Pasta Station (near Peppa Pig Land), the Heide Park Grill and Sultan’s fun restaurant with special children’s menus. Hearty snacks can be found at Adventura Snack (near Flight of the Demons) or in the Admiral’s Inn, which serves hearty classics. The offer is complemented by cafés, ice cream parlors and sweet treats for in-between meals.
A 4-star hotel with lovingly designed themed rooms awaits you directly in the park – from pirate and dragon rooms to demon rooms. There is also an indoor play area, evening shows and even a treasure hunt in the hotel – an experience for the whole family. Another accommodation option is the Holiday Camp: just a few minutes’ walk from the park, you can spend the night in colorful, surfer-style cabins. The camp is particularly suitable for school classes, youth groups or larger families. You can find out more about the offers, highlights and all accommodation options on the official Heide Park Resort website.
Travel from Hamburg
Fortunately, getting to the Heide Park Resort from Hamburg is very straightforward. By car, take the A7 to the Soltau-Ost exit and then simply follow the signs to the park. The distance is around 70 kilometers and the journey time is between 44 and 50 minutes, depending on traffic. There are up to 8,000 parking spaces available on site – it is advisable to book your parking ticket online in advance, as it can be more expensive on site.
Northern Germany’s largest amusement park is also easily accessible by train: You can travel directly to Wolterdingen (HAN) – from there it’s about a 20-minute walk to the park. Alternatively, you can take the RB38 “Heidebahn”, changing trains in Buchholz (Nordheide), for example. This connection will take you to Soltau (HAN). From the train station there, you can reach the park in just 8 minutes on bus line 150.