The tallest roller coasters in the world in 2026
The ten tallest roller coasters operating today, from Falcons Flight at 163 metres to Orion, how height is measured, what replaced Kingda Ka, and the tallest in Europe and in wood.
Guides
Explainers and deep-dives for roller-coaster fans: how the stats work, what actually makes a ride thrilling, and how to get the most out of Achtbaan.
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The best roller coasters in the UK, ranked by thrill
All twelve UK coasters on Achtbaan ranked by thrill score, from Big One and The Smiler to Stealth and Colossus, park by park across Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Blackpool.
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The best roller coasters in Germany, ranked by thrill
The eight German coasters on Achtbaan ranked by thrill score, from Silver Star and Voltron Nevera at Europa-Park to Taron, Colossos and Expedition GeForce, and how to ride them all.
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The best roller coasters in the Netherlands, ranked by thrill
The six Dutch coasters on Achtbaan ranked by thrill score, from Goliath and Untamed at Walibi Holland to Efteling’s themed rides, and how to ride all six.
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The fastest roller coasters in the world and in Europe
The record holders and their real top speeds, the fastest coasters in Europe, why every coaster above about 160 km/h is launched, and how to find fast rides in the explorer.
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Roller coaster inversions explained: loops, rolls and records
What counts as an inversion, how vertical loops, corkscrews, rolls and cobra rolls feel, which coasters hold the record for most inversions, and how to ride them comfortably.
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Scared of roller coasters? How to work up to your first big one
What makes a coaster feel intense, three steps from a small wooden coaster to your first inversions with examples from the catalogue, and where to sit when you are nervous.
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How to plan a roller coaster trip in Europe
Which parks to combine by region, what to check before you book, how to plan each day around the headline coasters, and how your ride log picks the next park.
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Types of roller coasters explained, from hyper to inverted
Hyper, giga and strata heights, launched and lift-hill starts, and inverted, flying, wing, dive and 4th dimension rides: what each type means, with examples from the catalogue.
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Airtime on roller coasters: floater vs ejector
What airtime is, why some hills float you gently and others throw you against the lap bar, what makes a coaster good at it, and where to find the best airtime rides.
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Coaster credits: how to keep your coaster count
What counts as a coaster credit, the grey areas enthusiasts argue about, and how to keep your coaster count, import an old one and plan the trip that adds the most rides.
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Steel vs wooden vs hybrid roller coasters: what's the difference?
Steel, wooden and hybrid coasters each ride completely differently: smooth and loopy, rough and floaty, or the wild best of both. Here's how the three track types feel, with real examples, and which is most thrilling.
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What makes a roller coaster thrilling?
Speed, height, inversions and length each change a ride in a different way. Here's what the four core coaster stats really tell you, and how to read the mix instead of the maximum.
