Opened on May 1, 1995, on the very site initially chosen by Disney for the EuroDisney project, PortAventura Park quickly became a massive hit with the public.
It was conceived, designed, and built through a close partnership between local administrations and Anheuser-Busch, then the owner of the Busch Gardens and SeaWorld chains, instantly becoming a point of reference for fans of large American-style theme parks.
With its immersive theming, thrilling coasters, and careful urban planning, PortAventura Park transports guests to some of the world’s most exotic destinations.
Where is PortAventura Park Located?
PortAventura Park is located in Spain, 85 km south of Barcelona, and is easily accessible via the Barcelona-Toulouse railway line.
What Does It Include?
PortAventura Park is part of the larger **PortAventura World**, which consists of:
- 2 theme parks (PortAventura Park and Ferrari Land)
- 1 water park (PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park)
- 5 four-star hotels
- 1 five-star hotel
- 1 golf club
- 1 holiday center for children with serious illnesses
When Is It Open?
PortAventura World’s season starts in March and runs until early January.
For up-to-date schedules and to download the park’s app, visit the official website.
How much does PortAventura Park cost?
The ticket price for a one-day visit to PortAventura Park is sold on the official website starting from €40 per person in low season.
Tickets are available for up to three-day visits, including access to all three parks, starting from €86 per person in low season.
What are the themed areas of PortAventura Park?
PortAventura Park is divided into six themed areas:
- Mediterrània
- Polynesia
- China
- México
- Far West
- SésamoAventura
Mediterrània
This area is inspired by a typical fishing village in a small Mediterranean town, and also serves as the park’s main street — both entrance and a dining area with many restaurants and food stands perfectly blended into the setting.
This street is the stage for the park’s traditional closing parade, and in the lake facing it, during the summer, you can enjoy the evening light, fountain, and fireworks show.
There are three attractions in this area:
- Estació del Nord
- Port De La Drassana
- Furius Baco
Estació del Nord is one of the train stations, in full Western style, scattered throughout the park. 
Furius Baco is the flagship attraction of this area and has been one of PortAventura Park’s stars for many years.With acceleration from 0 to 135 km/h in just 3 seconds, it was the fastest coaster in Europe from 2007 until 2017.The theming is very beautiful and original, with the outdoor queue winding through a real vineyard and the indoor section through the rooms of a winery complete with machinery and barrels.
Polynesia
In this area, the key word is immersion!
The tall palm trees, the lush vegetation, the pavement, the railings, the background music, and the architecture of the buildings will make you feel thousands of kilometers away.
In this land of PortAventura Park, there are three attractions and also many shows, all obviously Polynesian-themed.
The attractions are:
- Canoes
- Kontiki
- Tutuky Splash
Canoes is a ride for children only, on small canoes. Kontiki is the classic swinging boat found in many parks and funfairs, but here it is themed and installed on the lake, fitting perfectly into the setting.
Tutuky Splash is the main attraction of the land, where you’ll embark on a journey to discover the volcano that dominates the area.
This ride is recommended only if it’s very hot and you want to cool off because coming out dry is impossible.
China
This area is inspired by Imperial China and the Himalayas, with replicas of real buildings, sculptures, and mysticism.
It’s perhaps also the largest area of PortAventura Park, as the originally built section is on the lower side compared to the new zone that hosts the three main attractions.
This area, now less frequented, still hosts several flat rides for children, a theater, and the docking port for boats arriving from the Mediterrània area.
Even if you’re not interested in these activities, I still recommend passing through because the level of theming is very high.
The three main attractions are:
- Angkor
- Dragon Khan
- Shambhala
Angkor is the longest splash battle in Europe, measuring 300 meters and inspired by the Cambodian temple of Angkor Wat.
This attraction shares many architectural similarities with Jungle Rapids at Gardaland, as it was designed and conceived by Claudio Mazzoli.
With its 45-meter height, 8 inversions, and a top speed of 110 km/h, Dragon Khan will put your courage to the test!
If Dragon Khan’s stats didn’t scare you, here are those of Shambhala, which in 2012 was the tallest hyper coaster in Europe:
- a height of 76 meters
- a top speed of 134 km/h
- a length of 1650 meters
With these numbers, you’ll truly feel on top of Tibet!
México
Set in the pre-Columbian era, this Mexican-themed land is quite fascinating for its variety of attractions, shows, and restaurants.
Notable mentions include the La Cantina restaurant, the Gran Teatro Maya, and the Templo del Fuego show/attraction.
In addition to those mentioned, there are many flat rides, many of which are themed and quite thrilling, but the two main attractions are undoubtedly El Diablo – Tren de la Mina and Hurakan Condor.
El Diablo – Tren de la Mina is a mine train coaster with a track of about 1000 meters and three drops, all weaving through highly detailed theming — especially impressive considering it was inaugurated back in 1995.
Hurakan Condor, standing 100 meters tall, is one of the tallest free-fall towers in Europe.
Once you reach the top, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view — not just of the park, but of the entire surrounding area. But it doesn’t end there — prepare for a surprise before the drop!
Far West
As the name suggests, this area is themed after the Old West, featuring elements from the Grand Canyon and the Texan town of Penitence. Most attractions here are family-friendly, but not exclusively.
In addition to the flat rides, which as you’ve probably noticed at PortAventura Park are always beautifully integrated into their surroundings, the main attractions are:
- Uncharted: El Enigma de Penitence
- Silver River Flume
- Stampida
- Gran Canyon Rapids
Uncharted: El Enigma de Penitence is PortAventura Park’s latest addition, inaugurated in 2023 and based on Sony’s video game and movie franchise.
It’s an indoor coaster featuring multiple direction changes, projections, and effects—though, ironically, the queue line feels more immersive than the attraction itself.
What a pity.
Silver River Flume is the classic log flume ride, but unlike the Colorado Boat at Gardaland, this one features three long and steep drops—so a soaking is guaranteed!
Once again, the queue theming is more detailed than the ride itself, which doesn’t feature any real theming.
Stampida is a dueling wooden coaster, meaning two coasters run side-by-side for a portion of the ride before diverging and crisscrossing—who will win the race, the red train or the blue one?
Gran Canyon Rapids may seem like a typical raft ride, but its impressive theming and rough waters truly make you feel like you’re rafting down the Colorado River.
SésamoAventura is dedicated to the characters of Sesame Street and includes about a dozen attractions aimed at children under 12.
With a cost of 12 million euros, this 1.2-hectare extension was designed by Claudio Mazzoli, previously active at Gardaland—hence its strong resemblance to Fantasy Kingdom.
Inside, you’ll find many familiar attractions, but the only truly unique one worth mentioning is the dark ride Sesame Street: Street Mission, which is also the only dark ride in the entire PortAventura World Resort!
Tips and Conclusion
As always, I recommend you follow my essential theme park tips found in this article, but here are a few pointers that might come in handy.
Arrive early at the park, even 30 minutes before official opening time.
I suggest exploring the park in a circular route. This way, you’ll transition smoothly from one land to the next. As shown in the video, the park branches off at the end of the Mediterrània area—if you want to tackle the big coasters in the China area, take the right fork and make your way through all the lands.
Keep in mind that in Spain, lunch is typically later, so having lunch at 12:30 gives you a dual advantage.
Two full days are necessary to visit, as PortAventura Park also features numerous shows that greatly enhance the overall experience.
