After successfully launching the award-winning roller coaster Helix in 2014, this year Liseberg unleashes Valkyria.

We were invited to a press event on 7th August 2018 to be one of the first to experience the new ride and enjoy the rest of the theme park. 

Liseberg is open 11am - 11pm most days in the summer, with a whole 12 hours of thrills. We had an amazing time, so here is our review of Valkyria plus everything else.

The mighty Valkyria is now the longest dive coaster in Europe and has been manufactured by the roller coaster maker Bolliger & Mabillard. It is the first time that Liseberg has invested in an attraction from the Swiss company, which has a reputation as the creator of some of the world’s best roller coasters.

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After the fast lift hill from the station building, riders have a moment to look out over the Mölndalsån River, and a heart-stopping pause at the very edge of the vertical drop that defines a dive coaster. In Valkyria’s case, it’s a 50m (164ft) free fall straight into an underground tunnel that's filled with smoke. Riders then burst out the other side at 105 kph (65 mph) into an immelmann. After two further inversions (a zero-g roll and a heartline roll) and a few swoops out over the river, the 700m (2,300ft) long ride comes to an end.

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Valkyria has comfy floorless seats that hang over the track and a well themed station with a few pre-ride videos scattered along the queue. The shop is packed with great souvenirs and on-ride photos come in a stylish folder. The theming is based around Norse mythology, so it has a really Nordic feel with lots of stone, wood, ‘fire’ and props such as swords and shields. It is the seventh dive coaster that we have experienced, and it delivered everything that we had hoped for. 

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We chatted to Andreas Andersen, the director of Liseberg, who told us that Valkyria is part of a huge 1.9 billion SEK (€200 million) investment in the park that will include a new hotel and waterpark. He was incredibly proud to unveil the new ride to us before the public opening on 10th August. 

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Located just across from Valkyria is Loke, a massive Gyro Swing ride that reaches 42m (138ft) into the air, which opened at Liseberg in 2017. The gigantic pendulum takes a rotating wheel of passengers, with legs dangling free, over a river on one side and above wooden coaster Balder on the other. At its highest point you're even upside down but the smooth swinging motion actually makes this somehow both gentle and intense!

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Also next to Valkyria, in the new Myths & Legends area of Liseberg, is the wooden coaster Balder. This excellent ride has so much airtime, so many head chopper moments and is so surprisingly smooth that it's one of our favourite wooden coasters in Europe.

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The other major coaster at Liseberg is Helix, featuring 2 launch sections, 7 inversions (2 corkscrews, a pretzel knot, a top hat, a heartline roll, and a norwegian loop) and a top speed of 100kph (62mph). We couldn't believe how impressive it was and had to ride multiple times by day and by night. It is so packed with speed, airtime and inversions that it never loses a moment of excitement during the whole 1381m (4531ft) circuit. The immediate drop and first inversion out of the station set the tone for this world class attraction in an incredible location.

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Lisebergbanan is in some ways a classic runaway train. It opened in 1987 and was custom designed for the park, making full use of the unusual hillside location which means that it can start at an impressive 45m (148ft) high but still remain close to ground throughout. Reaching a top speed of 80 kph (50mph) and delivering up to 3g in force, this is no ordinary train ride!

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We do love big thrill rides, but Mechanica is at the very extreme end! It's a relentless, disorientating and stomach churning experience with a dramatic soundtrack to further intensify the action. A giant arm rotates 360° vertically at terrifying speeds as the central disc also rotates, as does each pod that holds a row of riders. At the peak of 30m (98ft) there is a momentary pause halfway through, allowing just enough time to catch your breath before it completes each cycle.

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AeroSpin takes full advantage of its high position in the park, elevating riders a further 35m (115ft) in the air in individual planes that can be controlled to either glide gracefully as the central tower rotates or with a bit of skill enter in an endless series of 360° revolutions at immense speed.

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Once a sedate observation tower at the highest point in the park, the 116m (381ft) structure was converted into a drop ride in 2011. AtmosFear still offers incredible views of the theme park and Gothenburg, but be prepared to free-fall 90m (300 ft) at 109 kph (68mph) back to earth!

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Uppswinget is one of several Screamin' Swing rides around the world, but where this one stands out is its location, teetering on the edge of a cliff high above much of the park below. This setting really enhances an already brilliant ride, that's ultra smooth and like a seriously giant version of traditional playground swings.

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Spökhotellet Gasten (Gasten Ghost Hotel) is a year-round live action haunted house. There are impressive sets throughout but it is lacking in actual scares or gore due to the young age limit, some of the most dramatic scenes included a flooded vessel and a cavern inhabited by giant spiders. It's creepy and spooky fun.

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For superb views of the theme park and Gothenburg, take time out of the day to ride Lisebergshjulet (The Liseberg Wheel) which stands 60m (196ft) tall. The only shame is the tinted and scratched windows that prevent better photo opportunities.

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There are two main water rides at Liseberg, a log flume and a river rapids. FlumeRide and Kållerado both delight passengers with scenic trips through wooded areas and a high probability of getting wet. With the scorching hot temperatures and sunshine on our visit both were proving very popular.

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Other popular rides include Hanghai (a standard Disk'O) and the well themed JukeBox (a modern take on a classic Octopus). For children, there are plenty of delightful attractions all around the park and a whole area called Kaninlandet (The Rabbit Land) dedicated to the younger visitor.

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The only thing that feels missing from Liseberg is an immersive dark ride, in fact there are very few indoor attractions. Some sort of interactive experience that utilises the very latest technology would make a valuable addition to the park.

We thoroughly recommend the additional charge Express-Pass service on busy days. Some of our wait times were reduced from as much as 1 hour and 30 minutes to just 1 minute.

There are a wide variety of places to eat and drink, with something to suit every taste and budget. From high end table service restaurants, family buffet and self service options to relaxed bars, coffee shops and ice cream parlours, it really seems to offer something for everyone.

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Another aspect of Liseberg is the large open air concert area, where there are live shows most weekends from well known acts (to the Swedish).

A low cost admission ticket provides access to the park and then rides can be enjoyed with either tokens or an all-day wristband. It's a great system, with non riders able to enjoy the atmosphere of the park without paying over the odds.

Liseberg is currently the seventh most visited theme park in Europe, and we can certainly see why. The impressive roller coasters, huge thrill rides and a generous selection of children's attractions combined with a beautiful setting, charming theming and a touch of nostalgia, make this an absolute must visit in Europe.

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