The Winter Efteling entrance arch lit up at night, in December 2009. Photo: Eliedion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized).
This page is for you if you want to visit Efteling at Christmas or in January and need to pick a day. For areas, rides and accommodation, read our complete Efteling guide.
Efteling Christmas 2026: dates and opening hours
Efteling is open 365 days a year, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day included. Opening hours from the official calendar as of 3 November 2026:
| Period | Opening hours | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 16 November to 18 December, weekdays | 10:00–18:00 | Maintenance on some rides; Raveleijn reopens on 3 December |
| 16 November to 18 December, weekends | 10:00–19:00 | One hour longer than on weekdays |
| 19 to 30 December, including 24 and 25 December | 10:00–20:00 | Afternoon ticket from 21 December |
| 31 December | 10:00–18:00 | New Year's Eve party sold out; no afternoon ticket |
| 1 to 31 January 2027 | Not yet published | Afternoon ticket until 3 January |
For now, dated tickets are only on sale up to 31 December.
What's on at Christmas
The heart of it all is the revamped Warme Winter Weide, the winter garden in Reizenrijk. This is where you will find De Gladde Piste, a new, partly covered ice rink with no published price, with the Luville miniatures of the Efteling Winter Village inside. Add to that the Cirque Papillon caterpillar ride, a campfire and a 9-metre tree. The mirror tent hosts the premiere of Cirque Miragio, a daily 20-minute acrobatic show about the Evil Queen from Snow White. Other shows:
- De Man met de Toverlantaarn, a puppet musical in the Carrouseltheater, until 3 January.
- Fairytale Tree Winter Show, in the open-air theatre of the snowy Fairytale Forest.
- Carolling Carousel on the Anton Pieckplein, and Pardoes with the Symbolica musicians in the Hartenhof.
- Aquanura, with fountains, music and light at nightfall.
On 3 December the revamped Raveleijn reopens, with the Ravenring ride and the Strijd om de stad show (on 1 December, for Premium season pass holders only).
The outdoor roller coasters open if the weather allows. Maintenance closures: Droomvlucht until 4 December, De Oude Tufferbaan from 16 to 27 November, Joris en de Draak from 30 November to 18 December, Baron 1898 on 8 December and Pagode from 15 to 17 December. To warm up, there are oliebollen and hot drinks.
Christmas ticket prices
| Ticket | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day, dated | €40–€56 depending on the day | Everyone aged 4 and over |
| Flexible, undated | €56 | If you do not know the day yet; valid for one year |
| Afternoon, from 16:00 (21 December to 3 January, except 31 December) | €33 | If you are staying nearby |
| Parking | €15; €10 with the afternoon ticket | Per car |
| New Year's Eve party in the park | Sold out | — |
There is no child rate: from age 4 everyone pays the same, and children up to age 3 go free. Prices for January 2027 have not been published yet.
The resort hotels (Grand Hotel, Wonder Hotel, Bosrijk) have Christmas packages with arrival on 24, 25 or 26 December, including breakfast and a 3-course dinner, and there are 2-night stays in holiday homes at Bosrijk and Loonsche Land. No prices are published. New Year's Eve is already fully booked.
Which day to go and how to plan it
From 19 to 24 December you get opening hours until 20:00, Raveleijn open and no maintenance closures. Our pick: this is the best window, even though the holidays begin and it will be busier. If you prefer a quieter visit, go on a weekday in December before the 18th, with closing at 18:00 and without Joris en de Draak. Compare dates with our tool for deciding when to visit Efteling.
A full day is enough for the winter shows and the main rides. Arrive at 10:00 and save Aquanura for the end, after dark. Bring a coat, hat, gloves and waterproof shoes: almost the whole park is outdoors.
If you are staying nearby, the €33 afternoon ticket gives you four hours in the illuminated park between 21 and 30 December, with parking at €10. Resort guests get in half an hour early on every day of their stay. Add up nights, tickets and meals with our Efteling budget calculator.
Official website or GetYourGuide?
The official Efteling website is the price benchmark: between €40 and €56 depending on the day. On GetYourGuide you pay in your own language and currency, and see the cancellation terms before paying.
Before you go
- On 31 December the park closes at 18:00, the New Year's Eve party is sold out and there is no resort accommodation left for that night.
- Opening hours for January 2027 have not been published yet, and dated tickets are only on sale up to 31 December.
- Joris en de Draak is closed for maintenance from 30 November to 18 December, and Droomvlucht until 4 December.
- Raveleijn does not open to all visitors until 3 December.
Frequently asked questions
Winter Efteling starts on Monday 16 November 2026 and runs until 31 January 2027.
Yes. On 24 and 25 December it is open from 10:00 to 20:00. On 31 December it is open from 10:00 to 18:00; the New Year's Eve party with fireworks is already sold out.
A 1-day ticket costs between €40 and €56 per person depending on the day, the same price for adults and children aged 4 and over. From 21 December to 3 January, except 31 December, there is an afternoon ticket from 16:00 for €33.
The revamped Warme Winter Weide with the De Gladde Piste rink and the Cirque Miragio show, campfires, the snowy Fairytale Forest, Aquanura and, from 3 December, the new Raveleijn.
Yes, if you wrap up warm and accept that the outdoor roller coasters depend on the weather. The park is open every day, tickets cost the same as the rest of 2026, and this winter brings a new ice rink, a new show and the new Raveleijn.
Official sources checked on 3 November 2026: what's new at Winter Efteling, Winter Efteling, press release, opening hours, tickets, New Year's Eve, Christmas packages, New Year's Eve packages.
