Top 10 Things You Must Do in PortAventura
From the brand new Uncharted, to Ferrari Land’s Red Force, unmissable shows to restaurant recommendations, I’ve got 10 things you must to in PortAventura, as well as top tips to make the most of your visit.
With over 60 attractions across three parks, it is no surprise that PortAventura World is one of Europe’s best theme parks. I visited twice and loved the variety of rides for people of all ages. However, with so many great attractions to choose from, what are the things you must do in PortAventura ?
If time allows I recommend spending three days in PortAventura, especially if you are travelling during the Summer time and want to visit Caribe Aquatic Park. It is impossible to see everything if you are just visiting for the day, but I have highlighted some things you must do in PortAventura below to help you make the most of your visit.
For thrillseekers or families travelling with teens, I have listed some of the best rides in PortAventura. If you are travelling with young children then you won’t want to miss SésamoAventura, while Ferrari Land will probably be the highlight for petrol heads.
I have teamed up with Attraction Tickets .Com, the UK & Ireland’s largest provider of theme park tickets, to remind you to book your tickets before you go! They offer gate ready tickets and combination tickets so you can avail of access to PortAventura, Caribe Water Park and Ferrari Land at discounted prices.
If you have any questions on the best tickets to buy for PortAventura, you can contact the experts in Attraction Tickets Dublin office on 1800 927 467 or check out my handy guide here:
Read: The best tickets to buy for PortAventura
1. Plan your visit
Summer is the busiest time to visit PortAventura so I have some top PortAventura tips to help you plan your visit.
- If you are holidaying nearby and are flexible on the days you visit, it is best to go midweek, as locals from nearby Barcelona and Tarragona visit at weekends.
- PortAventura is open from 1030am to 1030pm every day in July and August, so if you have tickets that allow you access over a few days, it might be wise to come in late afternoon and stay until closing time.
- Make sure to bring sunscreen and flip flops and light clothing for water rides in PortAventura. You will probably need to rent a locker anyway, as you can’t bring bags, phones etc on many of the thrill rides.
- Download the PortAventura app before you go – this has handy maps and wait times listed for all the rides.
Read: Top 10 reasons to visit PortAventura
2. Don’t miss the brand new ride Uncharted at PortAventura
The launch of new rollercoaster ride, Uncharted: The Enigma of Penitence, was one the most anticipated events in this year’s theme park calendar. Opened recently in June 2023, this is the only ride in the world to be inspired by the Sony Pictures movie Uncharted, and is a must do in PortAventura.
With a multitude of special and audiovisual effects, this indoor coaster takes riders on a journey in the dark, and boasts five launches, plenty of unexpected twists and turns, and is the first coaster in Europe to have a lateral drop.
Uncharted: The Enigma of Penitence also offers a unique virtual reality experience that recreates the roller coaster ride for visitors with functional disabilities, who are unable to ride the attraction.
3. Face your fears on some of Europe’s highest and fastest rollercoasters
PortAventura has over 40 rides so you can be sure there will plenty to suit adults and children of all ages. However, I have picked four of the best PortAventura rides that shouldn’t be missed!
Shambala is PortAventura’s highest and fastest rollercoaster also boasts the longest drop in the park, while Dragon Khan begins with a descent followed by eight loops which you will pass through in 69 seconds, reaching a speed of up to 110 km/h.
Furius Baco catapults you from 0 to 135 km/h in just 3 seconds and is one of PortAventura’s best thrill rides. And last but not least, you can’t miss Hurakan Condor, its stands at over 100 meters tall and is the park’s tallest drop tower ride. You should ride this for no other reason that it offers the best views of the park!
4. Ride Red Force at Ferrari Land
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If PortAventura’s thrill rides have you wanting more, pop on over to Ferrari Land and ride Europe’s tallest roller coaster, Red Force. At 112 meters tall you will experience the same sensation as in Formula 1 racing, and reach a speed of 180km per hour in 5 seconds – trust me, if you like thrill rides, you will love it!
You can also discover what it feels to ride a Ferrari in an F1 simulator, there are 8 simulators, two of which are suitable for children.
5. Book a relaxing lunch or dinner
If you fancy a relaxed lunch and not the typical theme park fare, you can prebook restaurants with table service in advance. This is ideal if you are planning on spending a full day in the park, or if you fancy going during the evening and staying for the Fireworks display – see more on that below.
There are many different options to choose from including a Mexican Restaurant – La Hacienda el Charro, the Mediterranean inspired Racó de Mar, which has everything from paella to pizza, and The Iron Horse which boasts tasty American food.
Ferrari Land has a table service restaurant too, Ristorante Cavallino, and if there are any football fanatics in your family, don’t miss the world’s first LaLiga themed restaurant – LaLiga TwentyNine’s.
6. Cool down at Tutuki Splash
Tutuki Splash is a must do in PortAventura on a hot Summer’s day. This water ride has it all – its a relaxing barge ride at the start, finishing with a rapid drop from the top of a volcano into a lake – perhaps not for the faint hearted!
There are plenty of mild water rides in PortAventura to enjoy too, including Grand Canyon Rapids and Silver River Flume.
7. Spend the day at Caribe Water Park
Although there are good water rides in PortAventura, if time allows I suggest spending a day at Caribe Aquatic Park. Waterparks are part and parcel of sun holidays and Caribe will not disappoint. The park opens from 1030 – 630pm daily in July and August and there are 16 attractions and pools for you to enjoy.
Daredevils will love King Khajuna where you take on a free fall from 31 metres and reach speeds of 6 metres per second. If you prefer a more chilled out experience, you can stretch out on one of the water beds in the Caribbean style swimming pool.
8. Take in a show
While PortAventura World may be famous for its huge selection of rides, you can also enjoy some great shows here. Shows vary throughout the year with themed events on during Christmas, Halloween and Easter.
This summer you can enjoy colourful daytime performances and parades as well as exciting night time shows. Choose fun and laughter in Bang Bang West, or Polynesian warriors juggling with fire in Noches de Fuego en Tahití.
Ferrari Land boasts its own show too, with dance routines and acrobatic basketball – who knew there was such a thing?
9. Buy Express Passes
If you are planning on visiting during the peak summer months, and want to ride a lot of the top thrill rides, then you might want to consider purchasing Express Passes.
There is a wide selection to choose from including Max Passes which allow you Express access on 10 attractions once, Premium Passes which allow unlimited Express access, and Express Premium Gold Passes which include front row seating to selected attractions.
Fortunately many of these can be booked in the park, so you can wait to see what wait times are like before you purchase.
10. Stay for the fireworks
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One of the highlights during our visit to PortAventura was the super fireworks display at closing time. Fiestaventura combines mulitmedia effects with fireworks in a dazzling display over the lake.
The show stars at 22.45pm in July and August so it’s certainly worthwhile to plan an evening visit to Port Aventura on at least one occasion during your holiday.
I hope my post on the top things to do in PortAventura will help you make the most of your visit. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, attraction details are subject to change. This post was sponsored by Attraction Tickets.com.
