Efteling with Kids: Complete Family Guide & Review

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If you’re considering a family trip to the Netherlands, Efteling is somewhere I’d definitely recommend visiting with kids – here’s our complete review and everything you need to know. We’d heard so many good things about Efteling before our visit – it’s the largest theme park in the Netherlands, but it’s much more than somewhere you go just for the rides. The entire park is based around fairy tales, fantasy and storytelling, with beautiful woodland areas, impressive theming alongside some genuinely brilliant roller coasters. Finn and Lola loved it – and the queue times were fabulously short despite it being the summer holidays!

In this Efteling review I’ll guide you through everything we wanted to know before our visit – including the best Efteling rides for different ages, how many days you need, ticket prices, where to stay, getting to Efteling from the UK and whether you need a car. I’ve also included tips for visiting Efteling with kids and keeping the cost of your trip down.

Visit: August 2026

What is Efteling?

Efteling is a fairy-tale theme park in Kaatsheuvel in the Netherlands. It originally opened in 1952 and has since grown into one of Europe’s biggest and most popular theme parks, attracting millions of visitors each year. If you’ve never visited before, it’s actually quite difficult to compare Efteling directly with other popular theme parks as it has such a distinctive feel of its own. A huge part of the park is based around fairy tales, myths and legends. There’s also a much bigger range of rides than I expected with a mix of gentle family attractions, playgrounds and big thrill-seeker coasters. This mix makes Efteling particularly good for families with children of different ages.

What makes Efteling so good and why is it so popular?

One of the things that makes Efteling special is that it’s surprisingly beautiful – with so much woodland and greenery. There are lakes, gardens and quieter areas between the major attractions rather than every available bit of space being filled with rides. We did 14,000 steps in one day! We were also amazed at the short queue times – we visited on a sunny day in August during the school holidays and the park was busy yet the queue times ranged from just 5-40 minutes. With temperatures of up to 30 degrees on the day that we visited this was a huge relief and it makes things a lot more manageable if you’re visiting with kids.

The theming is also great – Efteling doesn’t feel like somebody has simply built a roller coaster and added a few decorations around it; many of the attractions have complete stories behind them, and the queues, buildings, music and surrounding areas are all part of the experience. Another huge plus for an Efteling family trip is the variety. You can ride a huge roller coaster in the morning, wander through the Fairytale Forest after lunch, take a relaxing boat ride and then watch a show. It also doesn’t feel as commercial as some of the other major theme parks we’ve visited and you can even buy a Mr Whippy for €2!

Where is Efteling Theme Park located?

Efteling is in Kaatsheuvel in North Brabant, in the south of the Netherlands. It’s around 1 hour 15 minutes from Amsterdam by car, if you’re combining with a city visit, but its location in the south of the Netherlands also makes Efteling surprisingly convenient for families driving from the UK. 👉 The official address for your sat nav is: Efteling, Europalaan 1, 5171 KW Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands

How to get to Efteling from the UK:

🚗 Getting to Efteling by car from the UK is really simple – in fact it’s the perfect destination for a road trip. Take the ferry from Dover to Calais (or Le Shuttle from Folkestone to Calais – though it’s a bit pricier than the ferry) and it’s then just a 3-3.5 hour drive on a toll free route. If you live further up the country, you can also take a ferry from Harwich directly to the Hook of Holland port in the Netherlands. From there it’s around a 70 minute drive.

✈️ If you’d prefer to fly, Eindhoven Airport is the closest to Efteling – and from there it’s about 40 minutes by car if you’re looking at a transfer or hiring a car. You can also fly from Amsterdam Airport though it’s a bit further away from Efteling – about 1 hour 15 minutes by car – but if you’ve got more time or you’re keen to explore Amsterdam this could be a good option.

Can you visit Efteling without a car?

You definitely don’t need a car to visit Efteling – it’s actually fairly straightforward to reach using Dutch public transport. Efteling is connected by bus to both Tilburg and ‘s-Hertogenbosch railway stations, which means you can travel most of the journey by plane or train and then catch a bus for the final section.

✈️ If you’re flying into Eindhoven Airport, and want to avoid hiring a car or a pricey transfer, you can make use of public transport and take a train and bus combo (Eindhoven > Tilburg > Efteling). If you’re flying into Amsterdam Airport, trains run regularly from Amsterdam to Tilburg or ‘s-Hertogenbosch, and you can catch a bus to Efteling from there.

🚝 You can also travel to Efteling on the Eurostar from London. Once you’re in the Netherlands you can change to continue your trip on the Dutch rail network towards Tilburg or Den Bosch before catching a bus for the final part of the journey.

Efteling Ride Guide:

What age is Efteling theme park suitable for?

One of the questions I had before visiting was whether Efteling was mainly aimed at younger children because of all the fairy-tale theming. It definitely isn’t. There’s a really good mixture of attractions to suit kids of all ages. My two (13 and 15) had an absolutely fantastic day – and the short queues meant they could ride their favourite rollercoasters multiple times! I would say Efteling is suitable for kids of all ages which makes it fantastic for families as there is something for everyone. Be sure to measure the kids before your visit to avoid disappointment and here’s a quick ride guide…

Best Efteling rides for younger kids

Droomvlucht is probably one of Efteling’s most famous family rides – you travel through a fantasy world filled with fairies, trolls, magical forests and castles. While Symbolica is another brilliant family dark ride, taking you through the Palace of Fantasy.

Gondoletta is a lovely option when everyone needs a break, taking you on a relaxing boat ride through the park.

Then there’s the Fairytale Forest (Sprookjesbos). This isn’t technically a ride, but it’s such a huge part of Efteling that you really shouldn’t skip it. You’ll find scenes from famous fairy tales hidden throughout the woodland, and you could easily spend a good chunk of your day exploring it with younger kids.

There are ride-on style attractions perfect for tiny tots – and you can hop on the train around the park to explore without wearing out little legs.

Plus, plenty of playgrounds where the little ones can let off steam in between attractions and queues.

Efteling rides for bigger kids

Once your children are a little taller, they can start to look at some family coasters like Max & Moritz which is really good stepping stone between the gentler attractions and Efteling’s bigger thrill rides. Or, head to Vogel Rok – an indoor roller coaster where much of the ride takes place in the dark. My two liked that one!

Piraña is Efteling’s river rapids attraction and a good choice for the whole family if you don’t mind the possibility of getting wet.

For braver children there’s also Danse Macabre, a much darker attraction based around a haunted abbey – the minimum height is 1.2 metres. Or head to the Fata Morgana dark ride.

Efteling also has a fairground style area, with things like flying swings, which are perfect for kiddies who aren’t a fan of the scarier rides.

Best Efteling thrill rides for older kids and teenagers

If your children love proper roller coasters, Efteling has some excellent ones. Baron 1898 has a huge drop – Finn and Lola absolutely loved this one and went on several times! It’s the only ride in the park where you can’t ride with your bag but there is a locker area on the way in.

Joris en de Draak is a racing wooden roller coaster where the trains race each other around two tracks – riders need to be at least 1.1 metres tall. This was my favourite ride – loads of fun without being as scary as the Baron!

There’s also Python, Efteling’s looping steel roller coaster, complete with two loops and a corkscrew, which the kids also loved.

Or hop on De Vliegende Hollander which combines a dark ride with a water coaster (though you barely get wet). This one was actually surprisingly scary! Between these and the family attractions, there’s definitely enough to keep older kids and teenagers entertained.

👉 You can click here to visit the full Efteling Ride Guide.

Is Efteling open all year round?

Yes, Efteling is open 365 days a year, so you can visit throughout summer, winter and the school holidays. You don’t necessarily have to save an Efteling family trip for summer, and a winter short break could be a good alternative if you’re looking for something different. The main thing I’d check before booking when visiting outside summer is planned ride maintenance. Plus, opening hours vary depending on the time of year though so it’s important to check the official calendar for your specific dates. For our visit in August opening hours were 10am – 9pm so there was plenty of time for fun! Click here to check opening times for your visit.

Can you bring food to Efteling?

Yes, you can bring your own food and drinks into Efteling, which is particularly useful if you’re trying to keep the cost of your family trip down. There are plenty of places around the park where you can stop and eat – we brought our own food and only paid out for ice-creams. Frugal Mum Tip: Even if you’re planning to buy lunch or dinner inside the park, I’d definitely take drinks and snacks with you when visiting Efteling with kids. (Plus, having something in your bag also means you don’t have to waste time in food queues!) There are water refill stations dotted around the park – so bring some refillable water bottles.

We thought the food prices were really reasonable for a theme park too – having been absolutely fleeced at some other similar attractions! 😆 At one restaurant children’s meals were €8.95 – this included nuggets or sausages, a drink, chips and an apple. Whilst the adult equivalent was €9.75. It was also really hot when we visited (we seem to always pick a heat wave for a theme park visit!) so we all had two ice-creams across the day. These were €2-3 each so a lot more affordable than other sites.

Can you do Efteling in one day?

Yes, you can absolutely visit Efteling in one day, particularly if you arrive for opening and decide which attractions you really want to do beforehand. However, I wouldn’t expect to see and do absolutely everything. Efteling is a big park and there’s much more to explore than just the headline rides, so once you factor in the Fairytale Forest, shows, meals, queues and simply walking between different areas, the day disappears surprisingly quickly. However, not all rides will suit children of all ages so you can definitely map out your favourites and have plenty of time for those.

For families with children of mixed ages, two park days might work best to make sure everyone gets to enjoy their favourite rides. For us with teens, we had plenty of time for several goes on the big coasters, the forest walk and a couple of the family rides. If you only have one day at Efteling, I’d download the Efteling app beforehand, arrive when the gates open and decide on your top 5 attractions that are absolute must-dos. You can then fit everything else around these depending on the queue times.

Accommodation for Efteling:

There are plenty of fabulous options for your Efteling getaway – with on-site accommodation as well as some of the best family-friendly resorts in the Netherlands nearby.

Best places to stay near Efteling with kids:

There are some great holiday parks within a hour’s drive of Efteling. In fact, the closest Eurocamp resort is just 10 minutes away so you can be on the park in no time! Choosing a holiday park is a great way to keep accommodation costs low. Plus, you’ll have child-friendly facilities (like pools, playgrounds, waterslides and entertainment) and self-catering facilities – if you’re looking for a base for 3 days or more then it’ll likely be the best choice for your trip. My article on the 10 Best Places to Stay Near Efteling Theme Park with Kids has lots of options and here’s a quick glimpse at my top 5 picks:

Eurocamp: Marvilla Parks Kaatsheuvel: A family favourite, this one is just a 10 minute drive from Efteling and the kids can enjoy the brilliant indoor pool with a toddler area, an outdoor splash play zone, waterslides and soft play.

Eurocamp: Lake Resort Beekse Bergen: Just 20 minutes from Efteling, and next door to a fabulous safari park, this brilliant site features an indoor swimming pool with a play area, playgrounds, bike hire, a lake and free entry to Speelland Attraction Park. Check out my Lake Resort Beekse Bergen Review.

Landal: Het Vennenbos: Perfect for year-round visits, a 45 minute drive from Efteling, this holiday park boasts a fantastic subtropical swimming paradise (with waterslides, a lazy river and a toddler play area!), a bowling alley and an indoor play forest.

Eurocamp: TerSpegelt Village: A 45 minute drive from Efteling, this one offers a fun action packed getaway. It boasts direct lake access (for swimming and water sports), a pool, play areas, dinghy rides, pedalos, a bowling alley and all sorts! My TerSpegelt Village Review has all the details – this is where we stayed for our Efteling visit.

Center Parcs: De Kempervennen: A 50 minute drive from Efteling, and another great option for year-round getaways, this resort boasts a sub-tropical pool complex, an indoor ski slope, an aqua inflatable, paintballing, paddle-boarding, bowling, soft play, playgrounds and all sorts!

Efteling short breaks – which on-site hotel is best?

If you’re planning to stay for just a couple of days, or travelling without a car, then you might want to check out the accommodation options on-site at Efteling. You also get unlimited access to the theme park during your stay (handy for multi-day visits) and you can enter the park 30 minutes earlier. Frugal Mum Tip: Because the official Efteling accommodation includes park admission for every day of your stay, it can actually work out cheaper than local hotels and resorts once you’ve factored in the cost of your tickets so it’s well worth comparing your options. Here are the Efteling short break accommodation types:

Efteling Grand Hotel: If budget isn’t your main concern, and you want to make the trip feel really special, this luxury option has the best location of all the official accommodation because it’s inside Efteling itself.

Efteling Wonder Hotel: The Efteling Wonder Hotel is probably the one I’d look at if you want your accommodation to feel like an extension of the theme park. There are some fab themed rooms and it’s conveniently located right next to the park.

Efteling Bosrijk: This one is set in woodland close to Efteling. It has both hotel rooms and larger holiday homes (great for splitting the cost if you’re travelling with grandparents or friends), as well as an indoor swimming pool.

Efteling Loonsche Land: A family-friendly option surrounded by nature, with hotel rooms and holiday homes available, this one may be more budget-friendly as it’s around a 15-minute walk from Efteling.

Efteling vs Disneyland Paris vs Duinrell – which is better with kids?

If you’re considering an Efteling family trip from the UK, Efteling vs Disneyland Paris is probably one of the comparisons you’ll make but I don’t think there’s a clear winner because they offer quite different experiences. If the kids love Disney characters then a trip to Disneyland Paris obviously has it’s perks but for those more interested in the theme park side of things Efteling offers a great day out. Queues are shorter, tickets are typically cheaper and the big thrill rides are fabulous for older kids and teens.

If your sights are set on the Netherlands, you might be choosing between Efteling and Duinrell instead – and those two are even harder to compare! Duinrell amusement park is not on the scale of parks like Efteling or Disneyland Paris but the rides are great fun and the waterpark is amazing. Duinrell is actually a holiday park with an amusement park rather than full theme park like Efteling – and plenty of people will visit both! There’s a lot to consider so check out my Efteling vs Disneyland Paris or Efteling vs Duinrell articles for a full comparison if you’re still undecided.

How much are Efteling tickets?

Efteling uses date-based pricing, so how much you pay depends on when you visit. For 2026, standard Efteling admission for visitors aged four and over ranges from €40 to €56 per person, while children aged three and under can enter for free. Parking is an additional €15 per car per day. Frugal Mum Tip: If you’ve got flexibility over your family trip, it’s definitely worth checking different dates before booking your accommodation. A family of four paying €40 each would spend €160 on admission compared with €224 on a €56 ticket day. That’s a €64 difference just by choosing a cheaper date.

Is Efteling good value for money? I think Efteling offers really good value for families, particularly when you compare it with some of Europe’s other major theme parks. With shorter queue times it definitely feels like you’re getting more for your money. Finn and Lola went on their favourite rides multiple times and queues were typically only around 30 minutes despite an August visit! Even at the highest 2026 ticket price, there’s a huge amount included with your admission and if you pack up a picnic there’s no need to spend a penny more during your visit. Being allowed to bring your own food into Efteling is a really useful advantage for families visiting on a budget.

Tips for visiting Efteling with kids:

👉 My biggest tip for visiting Efteling with kids is to download the official app before you arrive. It includes the park map, current waiting times and attraction information, which makes planning your day much easier. I’d also measure younger children before your visit and check the ride restrictions so everyone knows which attractions they’ll be able to go on.

👉 Try to arrive for opening, particularly if you’re only visiting for one day. Those first couple of hours can be really useful for getting some of your priority attractions done before queues build. If you’re staying in official Efteling accommodation, make use of the early access too.

👉 Don’t underestimate how much walking you’ll do. Efteling is a big park, so comfortable shoes are essential, and I’d seriously consider taking or hiring a pushchair for younger children even if they don’t normally use one much at home. As I mentioned earlier, we did 14,000 steps!

👉 I love this – if you’ve got younger children who can’t go on the bigger attractions, look out for Efteling’s Baby Switch option so adults can take turns riding. (Efteling is so family-friendly!) Older children and adults can also make use of single-rider queues on selected attractions if they don’t mind sitting separately.

👉 Lockers can be rented in the park for just €1 – so if you’ve got a baby bag, a picnic rucksack, raincoats and all sorts of bits with you it’s worth getting a locker to make the day more enjoyable.

Is Efteling worth visiting with kids?

Efteling is absolutely worth visiting with kids – in fact it works well for families with children of all ages. Finn and Lola have added Efteling to their top 3 theme parks (and we’ve been to a lot of them!) and we were surprised at how well the park worked for a visit with teens. The bigger rides are great for thrill-seekers, while younger children have entire areas and attractions that don’t feel like an afterthought. The theming is also on another level compared with many traditional theme parks.

It’s surprisingly easy to reach from the UK too. You can drive from Calais in around three hours, travel by Eurostar or put together an Efteling holiday with flights, and once you arrive you don’t actually need a car if you’re staying close to the park. The Netherlands is also a fabulous place for a family holiday – with plenty of great resorts to choose from nearby and other great days out for the kids. (Check out my guide on the 15 Best Things to Do in the Netherlands with Kids.) It’s such an under-rated holiday destination and one of our favourites so definitely consider a Netherlands visit and for a fun days out Efteling should be top of your list! Click to head to the Efteling website for more info and I hope you have an amazing time! 😊