Best Theme Parks in the World That You Just Can't Miss!

The easiest big international park to reach from India, and the one most families start with. Universal Studios Singapore sits inside Resorts World Sentosa, with zones running from Ancient Egypt and Sci-Fi City to Far Far Away and Madagascar, so it works for a six year old and for teenagers who only want coasters. One full day covers the park, and the aquarium and Sentosa's beaches fill a second. Packages to Singapore average around Rs 60,000 per person.

Hong Kong Disneyland is the most compact of the Disney parks, which makes it the kindest one for young children and for a first Disney visit. Castle-side parades, Toy Story Land, Mystic Manor and the Frozen area can all be done in a single day without a punishing schedule. Hong Kong itself needs two or three more days.

Tokyo DisneySea is the park serious Disney fans travel for, built around harbours and volcanoes rather than a castle, with theming and food a level above the other resorts. The Fantasy Springs area added Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan sections. Tokyo Disneyland sits next door and is the more classic of the two, which makes it the better choice for younger children. Give each park a full day. Packages to Tokyo average around Rs 1,66,000 per person.

Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is the strongest pick for older children and teenagers. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World are the two areas people queue longest for, and Osaka slots easily into a Tokyo and Kyoto itinerary. One long day works, though the park gets very busy at weekends and on Japanese holidays. Packages to Japan average around Rs 1,37,000 per person.

Walt Disney World is four parks in one resort: Magic Kingdom for the castle and the classic rides, Epcot for the world showcase, Hollywood Studios for Star Wars and Toy Story, and Animal Kingdom for the safari. It is the biggest trip on this list and needs at least four park days plus travel, with a United States visa arranged well in advance.

Universal Orlando is the other half of an Orlando holiday and the better choice once your children are past the Disney age. Its two Harry Potter areas sit in separate parks joined by the Hogwarts Express, and Epic Universe added a third park to the resort. Two days covers it comfortably, three with the water park. Plan it alongside Walt Disney World rather than instead of it.

Disneyland Paris is the Disney park most Indian travellers fold into a wider Europe trip. There are two parks side by side, the original Disneyland Park and the second gate now being rebuilt as Disney Adventure World. It sits at the end of an RER line from central Paris, so a day trip from the city works.

Ocean Park is the local favourite in Hong Kong and a good second day once you have done Disneyland. It runs across a headland, with a cable car and a funicular linking the two halves, and it mixes rides with a large aquarium, giant pandas and the Arctic and rainforest exhibits. It suits mixed-age groups better than a pure ride park does. One full day is enough.

IMG Worlds of Adventure is entirely indoors, which is what makes it work in Dubai. The zones cover Marvel, Cartoon Network, a dinosaur area and a horror attraction, and the air conditioning means a summer visit is comfortable when outdoor parks are not. It suits children who like superheroes more than princesses. Half a day to a day, and it is close to the city.

Dubai Parks and Resorts gathers several parks on one site at Jebel Ali: Motiongate for Hollywood and DreamWorks rides, Legoland Dubai with its own water park, Real Madrid World, which replaced the earlier Bollywood Parks, and the Riverland dining street between them. A combined ticket makes two days sensible. Packages to Dubai average around Rs 43,000 per person.

Ferrari World on Yas Island is mostly under one roof, which makes it a sensible choice in the Gulf heat. It is built around the Ferrari name, with racing simulators, a factory style tour and the launch coaster people come for. Yas Island also holds Warner Bros. World and a water park, so a day here fits neatly into a UAE trip.

Warner Bros. World on Yas Island is fully indoors, which matters between May and September. It is split between Gotham City and Metropolis for the DC characters and Cartoon Junction and Bedrock for Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo and the Flintstones, so it leans younger than Ferrari World next door. Half a day to a day, and the two pair well over a weekend.

Legoland Malaysia suits children roughly four to twelve and is small enough that parents are not walking all day. Miniland, with its Lego models of Asian landmarks, is the part everyone remembers, and there is a water park and an aquarium on the same site. It is about an hour from Singapore by road, so many families combine the two. Packages to Malaysia average around Rs 54,000 per person.

Genting SkyWorlds sits at the top of the Genting Highlands cable car, about an hour from Kuala Lumpur, and the hill air makes it far more comfortable than a park at sea level. The themed areas run from Ice Age and Rio to a robots zone and a Malaysian heritage street. The resort around it has hotels, shopping and indoor attractions for a wet afternoon. One day is enough.

Everland is South Korea's largest park, an hour from Seoul in Yongin. It mixes coasters with a drive-through safari, a zoo and gardens that draw crowds for tulips in spring and for the autumn colour later on. Mixed-age families get the most out of it. South Korea usually requires a visa for Indian passport holders, so check the current rules before booking.

Shanghai is among China's most important cities. It is the most populous city in China and also the most populous in the world. Due to it's wide array of tourist attractions, Shanghai serves as one of China's best tourist destinations.

Universal Studios Hollywood is the only Universal park built on a working studio lot, and the backlot tram tour through real sets is the reason to come. Super Nintendo World and the Harry Potter area cover the rides. Treat it as a day inside a wider Los Angeles or California trip rather than a destination on its own. A United States visa takes planning.

Rust is a small town in Germany, located in the south-western part of the state of Baden-WÌørttemberg. The town is situated near the Rhine River and is a popular tourist destination due to its picturesque views and cultural attractions. Rust has a wide range of activities and attractions that make it a great destination for tourists.

Efteling is a fairytale park rather than a thrill park, and it is older than most of this list. The Fairytale Forest, the Droomvlucht dark ride and Symbolica are what people remember, and the wooded setting keeps it pleasant even in the rain. It suits younger children and adults who prefer atmosphere to speed. It is about ninety minutes from Amsterdam.

PortAventura on the Costa Daurada near Salou pairs a theme park with Ferrari Land and a water park, and it is a straightforward train ride from Barcelona. The themed worlds include a Chinese area and a Wild West one, and there are hotels on site if you want two days. It works as a break in the middle of a Spain trip rather than a trip on its own.

Tivoli Gardens sits in the middle of Copenhagen next to the main railway station, and it is as much a garden and concert venue as an amusement park. The wooden coaster has been running for over a century. It is at its best in the evening when the lanterns come on, and during the Christmas season. A couple of hours is enough, so it fits around a city day.

Gardaland sits on the shore of Lake Garda near Verona and is the busiest park in Italy. It mixes coasters with a Peppa Pig area for small children, a sea life aquarium and a Legoland water park alongside. Families usually build a day here into a lakes or Venice holiday rather than travelling for the park alone. It is easy to reach by train and shuttle.

Fuji-Q Highland is for people who take roller coasters seriously. It sits at the foot of Mount Fuji, so the view from the top of the rides is part of the appeal, and the haunted hospital attraction has a long reputation. Younger children have a Thomas the Tank Engine area. Go early on a weekday, because the queues build quickly.

Aquaventure at Atlantis The Palm is a water park rather than a theme park, and it is the pick if your family would rather slide than queue for coasters. The slides run from gentle rapids to steep drops, there is a long private beach, and the marine exhibits are part of the visit. Allow a full day. It works through most of the year in Dubai.

Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast is built around film and comic book characters, with stunt shows, parades and a serious set of coasters. It sits in a cluster of parks, so combined passes with Sea World and Dreamworld are worth checking. Australia is a long flight and needs a visa arranged in advance, so it suits a longer holiday.

The Prater is a public park with a permanent funfair inside it, so you pay per ride rather than for entry. The giant Ferris wheel, built in the 1890s, is the landmark and turns slowly enough to take in the whole city. Ghost trains, carousels and beer gardens fill the rest. An evening here fits into a Vienna itinerary without using up a day.

Alton Towers in Staffordshire is Britain's best known theme park, laid out in the grounds of a ruined country house. Nemesis and Oblivion are the coasters people travel for, and there is a water park, a CBeebies area for small children and hotels on site. It is a fair way from London, so it works better inside a wider England trip. A UK visa is needed.

Blackpool's seafront park, now called Pleasure Beach Resort, is one of the oldest in Britain and keeps a large collection of wooden coasters alongside The Big One. There is a Nickelodeon area for younger children and a Ripley's exhibition on site. It suits a day out on a wider England trip rather than a journey in itself, and Blackpool is a train ride from Manchester.

Gold Reef City is built on an old Johannesburg gold mine, and the underground mine tour is as much of a draw as the rides. The Apartheid Museum stands on the same site and is worth an hour or two on its own. You get a park day and a piece of South African history in one visit, and it is close enough to the airport for a stopover.

Wonderla near Bangalore is the best run of India's amusement parks and a sensible trial run before spending on an international one. It combines dry rides with a large water section, so pack for both. There are sister parks in Kochi and Hyderabad. A day is plenty, and weekdays are much quieter than weekends.