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world's top water parks

The top 18 water parks in the world

We explore the world’s greatest water parks, from Therme Erding to Typhoon Lagoon

Since their early days in the 1940s and 50s, water parks have only grown in popularity. Now, there are world-class water parks across the globe, from North America and Latin America to Europe and Asia.

Disney's Typhoon-Lagoon world's top water parks
Typhoon Lagoon

Well established markets such as Europe and North America are home to many of the top facilities in the world. For example, Therme Erding in Germany and Typhoon Lagoon at Disney World in Florida. Meanwhile, Asia features some newcomers that are rising in popularity, like Chimelong Water Park and Wuhu Fantawild Water Park in China. Many newer water parks have also entered the market in the Middle East in recent years.

Here, blooloop showcases the 18 top water parks in the world, measured by attendance. The visitor numbers and ranking below come from the TEA/AECOM Theme Index 2019, which can be downloaded here. The latest attendance figures from the TEA/AECOM Theme Index are for 2022, but the ranking remains the same as it was in 2019.

1 Chimelong Water Park, Guangzhou, China

chimelong water park world's top water parks

Chimelong Water Park in Guangzhou became the world’s most popular water park a few years after it opened in 2007. The aquatic attraction features colourful slides and tubing rides, as well as music and dance performances. WhiteWater supplied slides including the first Family Python in China.

Tony Sze, senior counsellor for Guangzhou Chimelong Group, said: “Our expectations were thoroughly exceeded by WhiteWater’s ability to design, manufacture and manage the installation of both Chimelong Guangzhou and Chimelong Ocean Kingdom from the initial idea to project completion.”

Chimelong Water Park is part of a resort, also home to two hotels, as well as Chimelong Paradise, Chimelong Safari, and International Circus. Su Zhigang founded the Chimelong Group’s original theme park in 2006. Chimelong’s resort in Guangzhou features world-class attractions, including a new family-friendly play and climbing area at the water park.

2019 attendance – 3,014,000

2022 attendance – 1,620,000

2 Typhoon Lagoon, Disney World, Florida, US

typhoon lagoon storm slides world's top water parks

Typhoon Lagoon is a water park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista. It is one of two water parks operating at the resort and was the second to open following Disney’s River Country. This closed in 2001.

The water park in Florida opened back in 1989. It is inspired by a tropical paradise, with decor including ships, fishing tackle and surfboards. Typhoon Lagoon’s sister water park, Blizzard Beach, first opened its gates in 1995.

Typhoon Lagoon attractions include waterslides such as Crush ‘n’ Gusher, Bay Slides, and Storm Slides. There’s also a lazy river called Castaway Creek, as well as family-friendly water rides, and the largest wave pool in North America.

2019 attendance – 2,248,000

2022 attendance – 1,915,000

3 Blizzard Beach, Disney World, Florida, US

disney blizzard beach

Blizzard Beach, the aforementioned sister attraction at Walt Disney World Resort, was the third water park to debut at Disney’s Orlando property in 1995. The majority of its attractions, from waterslides to rapids and pools, are located atop an artificial hill of 90 feet called Mount Gushmore.

Summit Plummet is one of the tallest and fastest freefall body slides, while Teamboat Springs is one of the world’s longest group whitewater raft adventures. Toboggan Racers is a unique attraction where guests compete on a mat. Cross Country Creek is a scenic lazy river and Runoff Rapids boasts three inner-tube waterslides.

Blizzard Beach now features a selection of Frozen-themed attractions. These are part of Tike’s Peak, a polar-themed wonderland for young guests with tiny waterslides and aquatic activities. The new offerings include Anna and Elsa’s igloo, and statuettes of Olaf and his Snowgie pals can be found in the wading pool.

2019 attendance – 1,983,000

2022 attendance – 101,000

4 Therme Erding, Erding, Germany

wiegand.maelzer VR Slide waterpark waterslide Therme Erding world's top water parks

Therme Erding, the world’s largest water park, thermal bath and spa complex, can be found close to Munich and welcomes approximately 4,000 daily visitors. Therme Erding covers 185,000 square metres and launched in 1999. It is the first of two German parks to make this list of the world’s top water parks.

In total, Therme Erding’s 27 indoor and outdoor slides span 2.7km in length. Most of these were supplied by wiegand.waterrides, a leading water rides and attraction provider. Therme Erding was one of the first water parks to include a virtual reality (VR) waterslide experience

Therme Group, a global developer and operator of wellbeing destinations, is working to take its concept to GlasgowManchesterNew York City, Toronto and Frankfurt. Also, the company has shared plans to develop a wellbeing resort in South Korea.

2019 attendance – 1,850,000

2022 attendance – 1,700,000

5 Thermas dos Laranjais, Olimpia, Brazil

thermas dos laranjais top amusement parks latin america

Thermas dos Laranjais is the most visited water park in Latin America and the fifth most popular globally. It first opened in 1987 and is home to the largest complex of thrilling waterslides in Brazil. It is located in the northern part of the state of SĂ£o Paulo.

Thermas dos Laranjais features more than 55 attractions. These include waterslides, surfing facilities, pools, rivers and family-friendly offerings. The park attributed lower attendance to economic factors in 2019. WhiteWater created five of the leading attractions at Thermas dos Laranjais. The company is also providing an impressive tower with two groundbreaking six-person raft rides.

2019 attendance – 1,845,000

2022 attendance – 1,729,000

6 Atlantis Aquaventure, Paradise Island, Bahamas

aquaventure bahamas

Atlantis Aquaventure, a tropical water park in the Bahamas, opened back in 1994. The water park is the leading water-themed attraction in the region on TripAdvisor. Aquaventure water parks are home to attractions including the Mayan Temple, which has a series of rides and slides. There’s also a river ride with waves, rapids, tidal surges, steam and waterfalls, and an exhibit for the park’s cetaceans called Dolphin Cay.

There are three Aquaventure water parks in the world, found in the Bahamas, China and the UAE. Cloward H2O, an expert in aquatic design, contributed to the project in Dubai. The water park is now the world’s largest after expanding by 30 percent.

2019 attendance – 1,813,000

2022 attendance – 1,751,000

7 Volcano Bay, Universal Orlando, Florida, US

Universal Volcano Bay world's top water parks

Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay only opened in 2017, replacing the outdated Wet ‘n Wild on International Drive. Volcano Bay is adjacent to Universal’s Cabana Beach Bay Resort. It covers 25 acres and includes more than 30 experiences and attractions. These range from body slides and raft rides to a multi-directional wave pool and hydro-magnetic waterslide coaster.

“Universal’s Volcano Bay sets a new standard on every level,” said Tom Williams, former CEO and chairman of Universal Destinations & Experiences. “It provides our guests with spectacular entertainment experiences and innovative technology that helps them enjoy more of what matters most – connecting with each other and having an amazing time together.”

Universal Orlando is currently constructing a fourth gate, Epic Universe, which is on track for a 2025 opening. The new park will include rides and attractions based on Harry Potter and Universal’s classic monsters.

2019 attendance – 1,811,000

2022 attendance – 1,850,000

8 Aquatica, Orlando, Florida, US

Aquatica Orlando Lazy River world's top water parks

SeaWorld’s Aquatica Orlando first opened in 2008. The water park is home to several WhiteWater products. In 2021, Aquatica opened Florida’s first duelling waterslide, Riptide Race. “Riptide Race will offer a ride experience you won’t be able to get anywhere else in Florida,” said David Heaton, Aquatica Orlando VP.

Riptide Race riders slide side by side and face-to-face in racing lanes. “Aquatica will be the first water park in the state to have a thrilling, and more importantly, duelling waterslide,” added Heaton. In 2019, Aquatica became a Certified Autism Center.

2019 attendance – 1,533,000

2022 attendance – 1,548,000

9 Hot Park, Rio Quente, Brazil

hot park rio quente world's top water parks top amusement parks latin america

Hot Park can be found at the Rio Quente Resort, one of the biggest resorts in Brazil. The water park covers 55,000 square metres and also features an aviary with more than 200 birds. The resort offers other facilities, including F&B.

Located in the Cerrado, Rio Quente has five hotels, bars and restaurants, and pools and aquatic attractions. Hot Park has more than 17 attractions in natural thermal waters. Thrilling rides include AeroBike and Xpirado, while relaxing offerings include a lazy river.

2019 attendance – 1,469,000

2022 attendance – 1,430,000

10 Wuhu Fantawild Water Park, Wuhu, China

Lazy River Fantawild water park world's top water parks

Fantawild Holdings, a leading one-stop solution provider in the theme park industry, opened Wuhu Fantawild Water Park in 2014. Fantawild operates a chain of theme parks and water parks across China.

Fantawild also has water parks in Zhengzhou and Xiamen. Attractions on offer at Wuhu Fantawild Water Park include the Boonie Bear Village, a lazy river and a playground for children with water guns, floating bridges and water cannons.

2019 attendance – 1,348,000

2022 attendance – 928,000

11 Caribbean Bay, Seoul, South Korea

caribbean water park south korea world's top water parks

Caribbean Bay is an indoor and outdoor water park located in Yonqin, Seoul. It first opened in 1996 and is part of Everland, the largest theme park in South Korea. Aquatic attractions include pools, waterslides, a spa, sauna and wave pool. Caribbean Bay also boasts the world’s longest lazy river ride. WhiteWater created some of the waterslides and water ride attractions for Caribbean Bay.

2019 attendance – 1,333,000

2022 attendance – 995,000

12 Atlantis Aquaventure, Dubai, UAE

Atlantis Aquaventure Dubai

Aquaventure at Atlantis the Palm in the UAE features several world firsts and award-winning water rides, many of which were created by WhiteWater. The water park is home to zip lines, slides racing through shark-filled lagoons and family-friendly offerings.

Kerzner International opened the second Atlantis Aquaventure water park on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah in 2008. The first attraction launched on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, and the third opened in Sanya, China in 2018.

ProSlide provided17 waterslides for phase three of the Aquaventure expansion. “The water rides ProSlide installed are second-to-none and are the perfect complement for our vision for Atlantis to be among the world’s best water parks,” said Sascha Triemer, vice president of marine and water park at Atlantis.

In 2023, Aquaventure became the first water park in the Middle East to earn a Certified Autism Center (CAC) designation.

2019 attendance – 1,322,000

2022 attendance – 1,500,000

13 Aquapalace, Prague, Czech Republic

aquapalace prague world's top water parks

Aquapalace Prague, the only Czech entry on this list of the world’s top water parks, is the biggest water park in the Czech Republic. It is located in ÄŒestlice and opened in 2008. It features connected indoor and outdoor areas. The main water park covers 9,150 square metres.

Attractions and rides include 12 waterslides, one of which is the longest waterslide in the Czech Republic. The water park also features a winding river, artificial waves and pools at its three areas – Palace of Adventures, Palace of Relaxation and Palace of Treasures. Aquapalace offers wellness facilities, such as saunas, baths and relaxation zones.

2019 attendance – 1,300,000

2022 attendance – 1,200,000

14 Tropical Islands, Krausnick, Germany

world's top water parks

German indoor water park Tropical Islands is owned by Parques Reunidos. It features various leisure activities and generates annual revenues of €71 million. It is the first indoor water park in the Parques Reunidos group.

Parques Reunidos acquired Tropical Islands from Tanjong Plc for €226m back in 2018. Tropical Islands covers 650 hectares and is located inside a former zeppelin hangar near Brandenburg, close to Berlin, Dresden and Leipzig. It opened in December 2004.

The park can accommodate up to 8,200 visitors daily and boasts various attractions, including the highest waterslide tower in Germany. In 2019, Tropical Islands added a giant water play structure from Polin Waterparks, a leader and innovator in water park technology.

“Germany is a strategic market for Parques Reunidos,” said Richard Golding, chairman of Parques Reunidos. “As well as representing a truly unique opportunity in itself, Tropical Islands also reinforces our market positioning in the country, where together with Movie Park and Belantis we will reach 3 million visitors.”

2019 attendance – 1,233,000

2022 attendance – 1,150,000

15 Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park, Wuhan, China

wuhan playa maya water park world's top water parks

Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park is located in Hubei, a landlocked province in Central China. It made headlines in August 2020 when images emerged of crowds of visitors enjoying an electronic music festival. The park reopened in June 2020 amid the pandemic and was operating at 50 percent capacity (via The Independent).

2019 attendance – 1,210,000

2022 attendance – 560,000

16 Aquaventure Atlantis, Sanya, China

Atlantis-Aquaventure-Sanya

Aquaventure Atlantis in China has grown its attendance by 100 percent since opening in May 2018. “It really is the world’s number one water park,” said Alan Mahony, vice president of Aquaventure at Atlantis Sanya. The $1.65 billion attraction provides 200,000 square metres of space and was built to a master plan from RAD Architecture.

Atlantis Sanya in Haitang Bay boasts 21 restaurants, bars and lounges. It also houses the Lost Chambers aquarium and Dolphin Cay encounter. Aquaventure features 35 attractions, including 15 custom-designed slides and rides by ProSlide, an industry leader in water ride manufacturing and design.

Atlantis Aquaventure is the biggest water park in Asia. “Atlantis Sanya is the ultimate vacation destination in the region,” said ProSlide president and CEO Rick Hunter. “It delivers so many incredible guest experiences in one park experience.”

“We are not just concentrating on the waterslides – we are providing an immersive, interactive themed experience,” added Mahony. “You’ve seen Disney and Universal come into Asia, but we’re really the first internationally branded water park in the region.”

2019 attendance – 1,200,000

2022 attendance – 630,000

17 Sunway Lagoon, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

sunway lagoon world's top water parks

Sunway Lagoon, which started operating in 1992, is located in Malaysia and owned by Sunway Group. It boasts more than 90 attractions across 88 acres. It features a Water Park, Amusement Park, Extreme Park, Wildlife Park, Scream Park and the Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon.

Sunway Lagoon’s offerings include African Pythons, Congo Challenge and Cameroon Climb. It is also home to the world’s largest vortex ride and the world’s largest surf pool, as well as an interactive water playground and 5D cinema experience.

WhiteWater, a leading water park manufacturer, supplied many of the attractions. “We’ve worked with WhiteWater since the 1990s,” said Magendaran Marimuthu, assistant general manager at Sunway Lagoon.

2019 attendance – 1,200,000

2022 attendance – 950,000

18 Siam Park, Tenerife, Spain

water slide at Siam Park

Opened in September 2008, Siam Park is a 46-acre water park on the island of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. The aquatic attraction has been voted the world’s top water park in the TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards for eight consecutive years. Siam Park is owned by Wolfgang Kiessling.

His son, Christoph Kiessling, told blooloop: “What other parks do is theming. What we do is different. We go to the country, buy materials and work with local craftsmen so that what we build is authentic.” He added: “We control the ride experience like no other water park in the world. We are not plastic fantastic – we are about sensation and emotion.”

Attractions at the immersive water park include waterslides such as Singha, Kinnaree, Vulcano and the Tower of Power. The Lost City by WhiteWater features an additional 15 slides, towers, slides, bridges and water features. The Mai Thai River is one of the longest lazy rivers in the world.

2019 attendance – 1,200,000

2022 attendance – 1,150,000

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Bea Mitchell

Bea is a journalist specialising in entertainment, attractions and tech with 10 years' experience. She has written and edited for publications including CNET, BuzzFeed, Digital Spy, Evening Standard and BBC. Bea graduated from King's College London and has an MA in journalism.

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