Parks in Italy
Enjoy the Great Outdoors on Your Next Italian Trip

Parks in Italy

What better way to experience all of the natural wonder and beauty that Italy has to offer than by exploring one of the country's national parks? Scattered all across this great country, these national parks cover approximately five percent of all of Italy’s land and visiting some parks in Italy is an excellent way to discover the true beauty which the Italian landscape embodies.

Top 5 National Parks in Italy to Visit

There is no doubt that all national parks in Italy are beautiful and are worthy of visiting, however - these top five offer something unique for tourists who are on a tight schedule and can’t possibly visit all of them!

  • Stelvio National Park, Italy - located in the Lombardy region amidst the Northern Alps. This Italy park is very diverse in its landscape because it offers its visitors sweeping meadows, lush valleys, dense alpine forests, snowcapped mountains and glacial views. Stelvio pass is a popular hiking trail that traverses high into the mountains and will give history & war enthusiasts an up-close look of some abandoned WWII military ruins.
  • Abruzzo National Park - a protected Italy park which is located in the Abruzzo region of Italy and is a completely untouched area of land. Founded in 1923 - this park was created in an attempt to preserve Italy’s wildlife and prevent extinction of the region's endangered species.
  • Aspromonte National Park - located in the southernmost, non-island region of Italy which is Calabria. It is best known for the abandoned town of Pentedattilo which was founded in 640 BC. Nestled into the hillsides, this ghost town has remained untouched for hundreds of years and gives an interesting glimpse into the history of the region.
  • Maddalena Archipelago National Park - located on the northern coast of Sardinia, this national park is made up of beautiful, crystal clear waters, sandy beaches and numerous islands. It is a geomarine protected Italian park which is very unique, because it is comprised of both sea and land. It is a lovely tropical paradise and is the perfect location for sailing or island hopping.
  • Cinque Terre National Park - of the busiest and most sought after parks by tourists who visit here. This Italian park is comprised of five different towns that are all built into the face of the steep mountainside cliffs, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The brightly coloured buildings, in all shades of the rainbow - can be seen dotting the landscape from miles away. Winding roads and the weaving paths join the fishing villages together to make up what is know as the Cinque Terre. This area is considered a UNESCO heritage site and once you experience the beauty it bares, you'll want to come back time and time again. 

An Italian park can offer a variety of of experiences, catering to the interests of all travellers. Whether your next Italian visit brings you here to take in the mountains, see the wildlife, explore the sea or simply tour the historical sites - there are plenty of holiday parks in Italy for everyone to enjoy. 

Theme & Amusement Parks in Italy

For those who are craving some entertainment to spice up their vacation, why not try an Italian park with a theme? Whether you enjoy the thrills and chills of spectacular rides, or simply enjoy a festive setting that many Italy theme parks have to offer - you won't want to miss some of the most popular ones mentioned below. 

  • Mirabilandia - one of the amusement parks in Italy located in Savio, which is a part of the municipality of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region. It was established in 1992 and happens to be the biggest theme park Italy has to offer with 40 hectares of thrilling fun which includes the Mirabilandia Beach - an additional water-world area that amounts to 10 hectares.
  • Gardaland - is another Italian park for the whole family, located in the country's north-east. It was first opened in 1975 and is located close to Lake Garda, but is not actually on it. This park gets around 3 million visitors every year and is a super fun resort which is perfect for the whole family. The whole park area is about 35 hectares and it includes the Gardaland Park, Sea-Life aquarium, Gardaland Hotel, and not to mention - all the thrilling rides and exciting shows.
  • Leolandia - does not come short when it comes to fun and adventure in the genre of Italy theme parks, especially when it comes to children and fun for the whole family. It has 40 different attractions for all ages - these include many water rides, roller coasters, animal shows, models of miniature Italian landmarks as well as many different theme areas. It was opened in 1971 and is located near Milan, in a commune of Capriate San Gervasio - in the Lombardy region.
  • Italia in Miniatura - is another one of those holiday parks in Italy with its own unique charm. The entire park is measures 85,000 square metres and features 273 miniatures of famous Italian landmarks as well as other European buildings, not to mention a monorail which you can ride and take in all the amazing wonders that are in the palm of your hand. The park was opened in 1970 and is located in Viserba, which is a part of Rimini - located on the Adriatic Coast, in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region.
  • Movieland Park - estabished in 2002 and is located in Fossalta, in the Veneto region. It is also positioned directly on the shores of Lake Garda and this family-friendly amusement park features Hollywood movie-themed attractions, various rides & other entertainment for the whole family.
  • Cavallino Matto - meaning 'Crazy Little Horse' is Tuscan's largest amusement park which is open each year from March to October. It was established in 1967 and is situated on 60,000 square metres of pine forest near the coast of the Tyrrhenian sea. This Italian park is great fun for the whole family offering many rides, dining facilities, acrobat performances, various shows and a 3-D cinema called 'The Movie Stars Theatre'.
  • Fiabilandia - a seaside theme park Italy offers for the young ones in the family. It was first opened in 1965 and is located in Rimini, right on the Adriatic coast. Fiabilandia offers its visitors many rides, water games and a delicious seafood buffet restaurant if they happen to get the munchies from all the fun and excitement.
  • Aquafan - also on the Adriatic coast in a town called Riccione, Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. It is a large waterpark geared for all ages featuring many exciting water slides, pools but also nighttime events for the adult crowd. It is an absolute must amongst Italy theme parks if visiting the area in the summer.
  • Etnaland - established in 2013, this theme part offers many roller coaster and white-knuckle rides, water slides in their Acquapark, many kids' attractions and last but not least - dinosaurs! Located in Sicily at the foot of the magnificent Etna Volcano near Catania.
  • Caribe Bay - formerly Aqualandia was established in 1989 and is a water theme park that somewhat resembles a Caribbean island. It is located in a beach area of the commune of Jesolo which is near Venice. This park is truly a lot of fun for all ages and features many shows & other entertainment, plus they also have a huge water slide, bungee jumping and much more. Be sure to check them out when passing through this area of Veneto, you won't be disappointed!

Parks in Italy - Map & Train Tips

Below is a map with some popular Italian park destinations with some nearby train stations.

Use the handy Train Map to help locate the closest train station to the destination of choice.

Similar Topics

Leave a Page Comment & Subscribe to Stay Informed

Subscribe to Train Travel Italy Newsletter