Is Rulantica the Best Waterpark in the World?
If you don’t know me, you may not know that a childhood drowning experience has depreciated my ability to enjoy water-based attractions as an adult. It takes a fair amount of convincing to get me out to a waterpark, particularly one that I don’t know very well and can’t entirely predict. But after seeing photos, videos and promotional materials from Rulantica - a massive indoor-outdoor waterpark complex spanning 97,000 square feet and boasting more than 20 unique aquatic attractions - even I was excited to visit Europa-Park’s sister park in Rust, Germany, for a full day of summer fun. So, are the rumors true? Is this the best waterpark in the world, or does Snorri the Octopus’ Nordic wonderland fall short?
Arrival & Check-In
Unless you’re staying next door at the Krønasår Hotel, your day will begins with a shuttle bus that drops you at Rulantica’s main entrance or a fight for a parking spot in the adjacent lot. Your next step will be check-in, where you’ll receive your waterproof Rulantica wristband. This is arguably the most important piece of equipment for the day. Think of it as your wallet, your locker key and your access pass all rolled into one - guard it with your life, and take it everywhere you go. Every purchase (food, drinks, extra experiences, etc.) is linked to the band, with the cumulative balance due when you check out. Convenient, yes, but it’s also easy to forget just how many “small” purchases add up over a ten-hour visit. Complimentary beach bags are available to tote towels and essentials, and lockers can be rented for €1/day. A quick tap of your wristband secures one as yours for the day, and you’re off to the park.
Above: Rulantica is a massive indoor-outdoor waterpark complex spanning 97,000 square feet and boasting more than 20 unique aquatic attractions.
The Indoor Attractions
It’s in no way hyperbolic to say that emerging from the changing area feels like stepping into another world. You’ll immediately spot a massive wave pool surrounded by towering slides, Nordic statues and glowing runes carved into the towering rockwork. Rulantica is designed with the same meticulous attention to detail and theming that makes Europa-Park such an adventure….but here, Snorri’s country is the only country that matters. The whole interior of the waterpark is themed as a massive undersea cave where Snorri the Octopus plays with dragons, mermaids and trolls…and lucky you, you’re his guest of honor! The most thrilling attractions - drop slides like Dugdrob & Vildfål, racing slides like Odinras and banked slides like Vinter Rytt and Svalgur Rytt, among others - can all be found indoors at Rulantica, which keeps the park exciting for guests visiting during the winter season. Also indoors are a number of family attractions like Skip Strand and Vikingløp, and the kids’ play area, the Trølldal.
Other attractions and experiences might start indoors and then head outdoors, like rough-and-tumble shallow adventure slide Vildstrøm which is…to say the least…an experience. And while every indoor and outdoor attraction is remarkably immersive and well-themed, there is one indoor attraction that stood out to us above all the others. The term lazy river doesn’t quite fit Snorri’s Saga, Rulantica’s interactive tubing adventure; after all, not many lazy rivers have their own soundtrack, let alone a narrative to follow. It’s perhaps more accurate to describe the attraction as a themed dark-ride-meets-waterway starring Snorri, the park’s mischievous mascot. Expect to see glowing mermaids, projection effects, animatronics, and - obviously - plenty of unplanned splashes, courtesy of your cephalopod guide. Much as I dislike being surprised by water, it’s impossible not to revere Snorri’s Saga as one of the best lazy rivers in the world.
The Outdoor Attractions
Given the exceptionally high temperatures during our visit, we did our best to hit the outdoor attractions early in the day - before the heat had a chance to peak. This also helped us avoid the worst of the crowds, though the outside spaces certainly weren’t empty. Svalgurok, a massive aqua fortress guarded by an animatronic dragon, is one of the park’s outdoor showstoppers. Imagine an entire Viking village designed as a play structure, complete with hidden slides, “trap” features, and buckets guaranteed to soak you no matter how carefully you step. Forced perspective keeps you questioning which arms of the aqua-gymnasium are genuine tube slides and which arms are playful theming tricks.
Tønnevirvel, a splash-battle ride which was enclosed in a large glass atrium early this year, pits riders against each other with water cannons. It’s chaotic, competitive, and impossible to ride without being shot in the face by a jet of water. I suppose that’s intended to be a feature, not a bug…but suffice it to say, I will not be doing this particular attraction again. Next door, the brand-new Svømmepøl is quickly becoming a fan favorite. This swim-up bar and relaxation space weaves Nordic mythology together with relaxation by incorporating heated water and hydrotherapy loungers. With integrated temperature control, this latest addition to the park promises year-round utility - even in the colder months. And, of course, there are plenty of childrens’ play areas outdoor, too…Snorri Strand and Snorri’s Spelaborg offer wet and dry experiences (respectively) for young explorers of all persuasions.
Dining at Rulantica
Theme park food is rarely the highlight of any given trip, but Rulantica really surprised us. Lunch at Lumålunda delivered solid quality with options like pasta, salads, and stone-baked pizzas. Our pick, the Gyro Pizza topped with Greek-style meat and yogurt sauce, was hot, fresh and genuinely delicious. The side salad we picked up was fresh and included what an American would consider “premium” ingredients like coleslaw and pinto beans. I can confidently say that this is the only waterpark food that I have ever craved after coming home from the park…and, compared to our waterparks here in the U.S.A., the value per bite was off the charts, too! Best of all, refillable “Snorri” mugs could be used with the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines at any of the dining venues within Rulantica; if there’s one thing you can do to sell me on a place, it’s to give me a limitless supply of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Bars and snack stands throughout the property served cocktails, cider, and beer, with the Nordic-inspired specialty drinks doubling as immersive touches…and we are delighted to say, the alcoholic beverages are every bit as delicious and well-balanced as the “virgin” beverages.
Hyggedal
One of the best choices we made was booking a spa package at Hyggedal, the adults-only retreat perched above the main waterpark. For €50, we were granted a private lounger sofa for two, private Hyggedal bathrooms, entry to an adults-only sauna and access to the exclusive Hygge Sauna Bar. From our perch high above Rulantica proper, we had panoramic views of the park while escaping the otherwise constant soundtrack of splashing and screaming. As a practical bonus, Hyggedal also provides a relatively secure place for towels and valuables - since the only way in or out of the spa area is to pay the upcharge, most of the sofas and loungers around us were empty for the entire day. Hyggedal is Rulantica’s calm above the chaos: a 1,000 m² Nordic retreat with three textile-free saunas, an outdoor terrace and a steam bath all tucked into cozy wood-and-stone spaces that feel downright luxurious. While not cheap, the upgrade gave us an escape hatch whenever we needed it, and the quiet zone that we craved throughout a long and overstimulating park day.
Characters, Parties & Upcharge Experiences
In our opinion, it’s not a true theme park unless you have characters and live entertainment - and fortunately, Rulantica offers both in spades. During the day, you’ll see numerous roaming characters both indoors and outdoors. We had a run-in with an elderly merchant (who was a tremendously detailed puppet, by the way), a pair of pirates, some mermaids and even Snorri himself - in two different size variations! And as the sun began to set, a live DJ settled into a perch above the outdoor pools to kick off the “Rulantica Vibes” pool party, which was very high-energy and had guests of all ages shimmying and shaking their way around the pool deck.
And although all of the above activities were free of charge with valid park admission, there were a number of other upcharge experiences that could be purchased (via tap-and-go wristband) to add more fun and flavor to your day. Experiences like Snorri’s Snorkeling VR are relatively affordable at €6 per person and allow you to do some deep sea diving with a technological twist. Hyggedal was our big splurge of the day, and we were perfectly happy with it - but if you really want to go all in on luxury, there are some premium options including luxury cabanas (Komfort Hyddas), beach eggs or sofas near the outdoor swimming areas, or even entire suites and cabins (Sørvind and Vestavind) in an exclusive VIP beach area. Any of these upcharge experiences could add a little - or a lot - of zest to your day. It’s up to you to determine what kind of day you want to have, and how much you’re willing to pay for it.
Above: A pair of aquatic horses awaits those entering or leaving the indoor-outdoor waterpark complex at Rulantica.
Final Thoughts
By the time we returned our wristbands and settled our tab, one thing was clear to us…Rulantica isn’t just a waterpark. Rulantica is a full-fledged theme park and resort experience which just so happens to have water. Every square inch of the outdoor and indoor space is wrapped in details, hidden easter eggs and Nordic mythology. Even as a non–waterpark enthusiast, I left this complex thoroughly impressed and - if you can believe it - itching to go back and revisit again. Is it the best waterpark in the world? Well, quite frankly, I’ve not visited enough waterparks to know…but to me, this stands out as the most compelling, broadly enjoyable and best-themed waterpark that I’ve ever seen or heard about. If you’re a waterpark fan or even a theme park fan charting a course to Europa-Park, I highly recommend that you spend at least one full day at Rulantica. Pre-purchase your tickets, pace yourself and prepare to be thoroughly soaked. And don’t worry - you’ll still leave with plenty left to explore on your next visit. For more information, be sure to visit https://www.europapark.de/en/rulantica or check out our experience vlog below!
