Spain boasts some of the most well-known and best loved coastlines in all of Europe. Its costas are packed to the brim, from sea to promenade, every summer with Brits, Germans, Scandinavians and local Spaniards. So, why then are there so many water parks in Spain, particularly along the coast? Whatever reason, it has to be said Spain boasts some of Europe’s best water parks. Here are four of the best.

Parque Acuatico Mijas
Steep, plunging water slides, lazy Jacuzzis and vast swimming pools make Parque Acuatico Mijas near Malaga a popular choice with families. The maze of flumes that form the Labyrinth Slides are popular with water lovers of all ages, whilst the Kamikaze slides are not for the feint-hearted. The wave pool offers a real beach-like experience and Blue Lake is like a desert oasis

Marineland Catalunya
Not far from Barcelona, Marineland Catalunya is part water park, part marine zoo. There are dolphin and sea lion shows, hundreds of sea birds, seals and penguins to visit then huge pools to swim in, slides such as the Tornado, the Boomerang, the Blackhole and the Twister to test your nerves and of course plenty of areas where you can chill out, relax and enjoy the sun

Aqualandia
In British favourite Benidorm you’ll find Aqualandia. It is the oldest water park in Spain, built in 1985, but don’t think it is by any means tired and dated. In fact it is one of the biggest and best water parks in the world and has won many awards. The park covers a massive 150,000 square metres. There are secluded coves and waterfalls, such as the Geyser, there is the Amazonas river that flows around the entire park & huge flumes and slides like the Zig-Zag; this park is a man-made paradise

Western Park Magaluf
If you can make it over to the Spanish island of Mallorca, you must make a visit to Western Park in Magaluf. There is a full range of shows and entertainment from diving spectacles to sea lion displays. But the most popular attractions include the Beast, a huge, vertical slide & the Big Hole where you’ll float through dark, winding, sliding black tunnel in a giant rubber ring