Tripsdrill Erlebnispark

Tripsdrill, tucked into wine country near Cleebronn between Stuttgart and Heilbronn, is Germany's very first amusement park -- opened in 1929 and still owned and operated by the same family four generations later. Despite its out-of-the-way location amid rolling vineyards, the park has grown into a genuinely substantial 77-hectare site with over 100 attractions, repeatedly recognized as one of the best theme parks in Europe. Visitors enter through a village street styled after 1880s Swabia, immediately setting a distinctive, historically-themed tone unlike most modern theme parks. From there, the park splits into thrill rides (including the launched coaster Karacho, reaching 100 km/h in 1.6 seconds, and the wooden coaster Mammut) and family-friendly attractions like the maypole chairlift offering a bird's-eye view of the whole park, and water rides including a memorable bathtub-themed flume. Admission includes the adjacent Wildparadies (wildlife park), open year-round even when the theme park itself is closed for the season (late March through early November) -- over 60 animal species across 47 hectares of forest and meadow, with ranger-led walks and falconry flight demonstrations most days.