June 2, 2026, 8:44 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Fabian Pusch (33) from Cologne lives for the thrill of the rails. The photographer has checked off nearly 500 roller coasters worldwide and aims to hit that mark this summer. He just returned from a trip to Sweden. In an interview, he reveals how demanding such trips really are, which parks excite him the most, and his top 10 roller coasters in Europe.
TRAVELBOOK: You just returned from a roller coaster tour through Sweden. How demanding is it to plan such trips?
Fabian Pusch: “It can get quite demanding. Many parks are only open on certain days, so you plan these trips heavily around opening times and wait times. You try to go outside of holidays and weekends to keep the parks as empty as possible and ride as much as you can. This time, it was a total of eight parks in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.”
»I Can’t Remember a Time When This Passion Wasn’t There
TRAVELBOOK: You’re approaching 500 roller coasters ridden. How did this become such a big passion?
Fabian Pusch: “I can’t remember a time when this passion wasn’t there. Even in kindergarten, I was totally hyped about roller coasters. On trips to Fort Fun, I was even nervous on the little ladybug ride because it was so thrilling. My parents sometimes had to hold my stomach.
Vacations at Legoland Billund or later trips to Movie Park were absolute highlights. Today, a large part of my life revolves around roller coasters: I have tattoos, wear themed T-shirts, and my apartment is full of accessories. And even though 500 roller coasters ridden isn’t that much for fans, I’m proud of the number. The 1,000 will definitely be reached someday.”
»Atmosphere Is More Important to Me Than Extreme Records
TRAVELBOOK: Which is the best amusement park in the world for you? And what do you look for in a really good park?
Fabian Pusch: “For me, it’s still Phantasialand. I’ve visited more than 50 amusement parks, but hardly any other park integrates its attractions into the themed world so consistently. Despite its small area, the park is constantly evolving and takes risks with new or unusual attractions. Then there’s the theming, music, and food—for me, the overall package fits. Atmosphere is more important to me than extreme records. I’d rather have a less spectacular ride with a good story and music than a pure thrill coaster on a concrete surface.”
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These are his top 10 coasters in Europe
1. The Ride to Happiness, Plopsaland Belgium, Belgium
2. Batman – Gotham City Escape, Parque Warner Madrid, Spain
3. Hyperia, Thorpe Park, England
4. Wildfire, Kolmården, Sweden
5. Untamed, Walibi Holland, Netherlands
6. Hyperion, Energylandia, Poland
7. Der Schwur des Kärnan, Hansa Park, Germany
8. Voltron Nevera, Europa Park, Germany
9. Toutatis, Parc Astérix, France
10. Zadra, Energyland, Poland
TRAVELBOOK: What were the craziest or most beautiful moments you’ve experienced through your hobby?
Fabian Pusch: “One of the most beautiful moments was proposing to my girlfriend in an amusement park. The whole thing was planned for months without her knowing. I had to time exactly when to say what so her reaction would perfectly match the photo taken automatically during the ride.
Another special moment was recently in Sweden at Kolmården Park. There, I got to do a ‘lift walk’ with the chief technician before the park opened on one of Europe’s most spectacular wooden roller coasters. You walk secured next to the track up to the lift—with a view over the entire park. Later, he took us behind the scenes and gave me a used roller coaster wheel. For fans, that’s practically the holy grail.”
»Better to Plan Well Than Spend Half the Day in Lines
TRAVELBOOK: How do you best avoid long lines?
Fabian Pusch: “The most important point is planning. If possible, you should go to the parks outside of holidays, public holidays, and weekends and be there right at opening. Many visitors head to the first roller coaster they see after entering. That’s why it’s often worth working your way through the park from back to front. It also helps to check beforehand where the attractions are located. Better to plan well than spend half the day in lines.”
TRAVELBOOK: Have you discovered travel destinations through your hobby that surprised you, independent of the amusement parks?
Fabian Pusch: “Scenically, Saudi Arabia outside of Riyadh totally surprised me. When you drive out of the city, it’s an incredibly impressive landscape—almost like Roadrunner in the old cartoons. I also found the mountains in the Emirates incredibly beautiful. In Europe, York in England particularly impressed me. We actually only went there because of a smaller amusement park, but the city itself was beautiful. Without amusement parks, I would never have come to Madrid—and that city also totally captivated me. And lastly, of course, Sweden. My girlfriend and I completely fell in love with the country. It’s nice when you can combine travel and amusement parks like that.”
TRAVELBOOK: Which park or roller coaster is still at the top of your bucket list?
Fabian Pusch: “Honestly, there are quite a few. At the top is Cedar Point in Ohio–for roller coaster fans, it’s like Mecca. The park has several roller coasters I definitely want to ride. I’d also like to visit California’s Great America in the U.S. And Japan and China are also high on my list. They are said to have not only spectacular amusement parks but also incredibly exciting travel destinations in general.”