Mammut and Blue Tornado seen from Flying Island
Gardaland: complete guide and discounted tickets
Written by someone who has been going for over 10 years, not copied from a brochure
My story with Gardaland
I'm Paolo. I started going to Gardaland when I was about 18, around 1984, with my lifelong friend Massimo. Back then there were no mobile phones and photos were almost black and white. Gardaland was much smaller: you entered through the castle and went down the clock-tower stairs. There wasn't much, but for those days that little was pure adrenaline.
Over the years I kept coming back, for a long time with a season pass and the whole family in tow. At Gardaland I've tried everything, really everything.
Why I recommend Tikez.it tickets
Over the years I had access to park admission discounts, which I shared with friends and acquaintances. A chance meeting with some Israeli tourists, and sharing those discounts with them, made me a point of reference in Israel for anyone who wants to visit Gardaland, Movieland, Caneva Waterpark and Medieval Times.
Year after year the discount codes became less and less worthwhile. In recent years, though, I met the owner of Tikez.it, a leading ticket pre-sale website for these parks, and by talking with him I obtained, for everyone who buys on my recommendation, an extra discount on top of the listed price, valid for all the parks.
Important: I don't sell tickets. I recommend where to buy them and share the discount I negotiated with Tikez.it. You buy directly on their website, safely and officially.
On top of that, Tikez.it has impeccable customer service: friendly, helpful and reachable directly on WhatsApp for any question about your purchase or tickets.
Skip the line at Gardaland
This system doesn't actually let you skip the regular queue and board your chosen ride straight away: it puts you in a priority queue with shorter waiting times.
Before visiting the park, it's worth downloading the official Gardaland Resort app:
The Express ticket must be registered in the dedicated Gardaland Express app:
and it only works if your phone's GPS shows you are inside the Gardaland perimeter. Express tickets are for a fixed date that cannot be changed.
Before buying them, I always recommend checking the park's crowd forecast.
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Very often it's an unnecessary expense if the expected crowd level is below 60%. My advice is always: check the forecast first, then get to the park, look at the real waiting times and only buy Express tickets if you really need them.
Where to buy Express tickets
Online on the official website (not on the day of your visit), or inside the park at the dedicated ticket desks and Gardaland Express Points, recognisable by the Express flag/sign, in:
- 📍 Medieval area
- 📍 Mammut area
- 📍 West area
- 📍 Jumanji – The Adventure area
or at the ticket office before entering the park.
Want to know more (prices, which rides are included, when it's really worth it)? Visit the dedicated page:
⚡ All about skip the line →The rides I recommend
Among the most popular attractions, there are four I'd recommend to everyone: Fuga da Atlantide, Raptor, Colorado Boat and Animal Treasure Island. Plus one for pure adrenaline seekers: Blue Tornado.
🌊 Fuga da Atlantide
A water ride full of emotions, with two adrenaline peaks on its two drops. Suitable for practically everyone and an absolute must: you won't find a ride like it, or even similar, anywhere else.
🦅 Raptor
The world's first B&M wing coaster: practically the prototype of every wing coaster. Fantastic theming and adrenaline off the scale: you ride in seats hanging in mid-air on either side of the track, through a corkscrew, a zero-g roll and an in-line twist. An incredible experience, for almost everyone.
The front row, bookable only with a special ticket that isn't always on sale, is the ultimate experience. It's a memory of Gardaland you'll be telling people about.
🪵 Colorado Boat
A historic ride from Gardaland's first expansion. Aboard a log you'll travel through rapids, waterfalls and… you'll find out the rest on board.
🏝️ Animal Treasure Island
One of Gardaland's most underrated big attractions. An underground journey… oops, I'm giving away too much. A fantastic dark ride, an absolute must, suitable for everyone.
🌪️ Blue Tornado — for adrenaline seekers
Super fast, with quick manoeuvres one after another. The first drop gives you indescribable emotions, with adrenaline shooting sky-high and making you scream.
Warning: this is not an easy ride. Only ride it if you're in good health: strong accelerations and sudden changes of speed.
🗺️ First time at Gardaland? Don't waste time looking for the rides
I created a tool that plans your day at the park:
- Your ride list in seconds: answer a few simple questions (who's in your group, heights, how much you love adrenaline) and it suggests the attractions that suit you.
- Which one first: it recommends the best order based on the rides you chose and live waiting times.
- "Take me there": one tap and Google Maps walks you to the entrance of every ride.
When to go (shorter queues, better weather)
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My advice is to avoid weekends: they're always crowded. On weekdays the park is much more "liveable".
In summer I recommend the LEGOLAND Water Park + Gardaland combo: spend the hottest hours at the water park and the cooler evening at the theme park.
🎟️ LEGOLAND Water Park + Gardaland combo →To pick the right day you'll also find my full forecasts:
Practical information
Parking
Gardaland's car park is currently free and is practically right in front of the park entrance. The only exception is the covered car park, under the solar panels, which costs about €7–10 extra depending on the day and period.
Once you've parked, you reach the entrance through the pedestrian underpass that connects the car park to the park: a walkway decorated with lots of LED lights creating light effects and patterns, so the walk to the entrance is already part of the experience. On the busiest days there are usually staff showing you where to park, to keep the traffic flowing smoothly.
A tip: as soon as you arrive, look for the big waterfall in front of the entrance, topped by a monumental carved head — striking scenery with a strong exotic/tribal feel, between Africa and pre-Columbian art, recreating the atmosphere of an ancient temple or lost civilisation. It's one of the most recognisable spots at Gardaland and a great backdrop for a souvenir photo.
My opinion: parking is one of the most convenient things about Gardaland — being so close to the entrance makes arriving very easy. On very busy days it's still worth arriving early, to park closer and get into the park faster.
Food
There are no kosher options in the park. Some food outlets offer vegan dishes, but the menu changes every season: it's always best to ask directly at the food outlets.
A tip: around lunchtime the ride queues are shorter, so sometimes it pays to have a late lunch.
✡️ Kosher resources on Lake Garda →Getting there from Lake Garda
Gardaland is in Castelnuovo del Garda, a few minutes from Peschiera. You can get there by car (A4 motorway, Peschiera del Garda exit), by train to Peschiera and then the free shuttle bus to the park, or from the lake towns by ferry or bus to Peschiera. I've put everything on one page, with the address for your navigator, shuttles and useful apps:
🧭 How to get to Gardaland → ⛴️ Lake ferries & buses →
Frequently asked questions
In general Thursday and Friday are the least crowded days; if possible, avoid Saturday and Sunday. To pick the right day you can use my crowd forecast calendar:
📅 Gardaland crowd calendar →