Jun 23, 2021 BY Paul McWilliams
With more than 550 dropzones it is tough to decide where to skydive in Europe. But with many beautiful, historic destinations that ooze culture and throb with nightlife, skydiving European style is about much more than the freefall experience. So, we’ve compiled this list of the top 10 dropzones in Europe. (Updated June 2021)
Before we start, we should say that there are many factors that make a good skydive destination. Some are simply beautiful locations, others are blessed by perfect conditions or excellent facilities. However, some dropzones are great simply because they are conveniently located near to popular destinations.
All of this makes it hard to directly compare dropzones. So instead of this being a countdown, consider it a more a guide to ten of the best dropzones in Europe. If you have any favourite places to skydive in Europe then be sure to let us know in the comments section at the end.
Please note this guide to the top 10 dropzones in Europe was first published in 2009. With the goal of keeping our readers ‘skydiving European style’ it was updated in 2013, and has since been updated again in February 2017. Over time some dropzones have been dropped from the list, you will find them at the bottom.
Ever wanted to skydive between snowy mountains and blue lakes and get the ultimate feeling of freefalling from a helicopter? Then Skydive Interlaken is the place for you. Tucked in between two alpine lakes, a glacier and some huge mountains, this exquisite drop zone is an amazing place for skydiving.
The flat valley floor makes it safe for landing and with some spectacular countryside all around for trekking and biking in the summer and skiing and snowboarding and many other adventure activities. If you fancy a tandem skydive in Interlaken, or booking a jump from a helicopter check out Skydive Interlaken: www.skydiveinterlaken.ch
With a full-time skydiving centre since 1985 and host to several skydiving world championships, Skydive Empuriabrava was a shoe-in for a spot in the top 10 dropzones in Europe. Found in the north east corner of Spain near the French border, jump here and you’ll get some views of the Mediterranean on one side and the Pyrenees.
At the other end of Spain, you will find Skydive Spain. Located just twenty minutes from the centre of Seville, a stylish and flamboyant city, it takes skydiving European style to another level. Offering jumps from 15,000 feet it’s the highest altitude skydive in Europe. Even in winter the temperature rarely drops below 15 degrees, so year round it offers top conditions.
Another one of the best dropzones in Europe for a winter jump, Skydive Algarve operate from the Aerodromo Municipal de Portimão near Alvor. It is an excellent dropzone in the west of Algarve blessed with 300-plus sunny days a year, meaning the weather rarely cancels jumps.
Skydive Balaton in Siofok, Hungary has been recommended to us by a number skydivers. Prices are reasonable, facilities are very good and the location is stunning. They run two M18 helicopters offering a different experience. Siofok was described to me by one skydiver as ‘if Carlsberg made dropzones….’.
Located roughly equidistant between Frankfurt and Nuremburg, this little town is something of a hotspot for skydiving in Germany and is fully deserving of its place in the top 10 dropzones in Europe. Take off from a small airport just outside the town and enjoy freefalling over the picturesque hills and villages of Bavaria, one of the most beautiful parts of Germany.
Skytandem are the company operating the Unterschüpf dropzone and it is open all year round. Jumps are from a large engine Cessna, which reaches 13,500 feet (4100 m). The dropzone is relaxed and friendly with an onsite restaurant. It is all nice and compact, with landing, take off and packing all within 50m of each other.
Skytandem offer tandem skydives from €199, and offer a video and photo skydive package for €309. They also provide AFF accredited courses and can take you from complete beginner to qualified skydiver. Throughout the year they run workshops for accuracy, canopy control, freefall formation and FreeFly. To find out more visit: www.skytandem.de
Rammed full of history Rome is one of the most popular destinations in Europe. Lucky enough there is a dropzone just outside the city in Nettuno, so you can combine a cultural break with skydiving European style at one of the top 10 dropzones in Europe.
Located close to the coast good views are guaranteed as is friendly and relaxing staff to help calm the nerves of first timers. Once you are finished you can head back to the city and the adrenaline buzz will help you party into the early hours Italian style. Find out more at: www.paracadutismonettuno.it
It’s hard to pick just one French destination to go in the top places to skydive in Europe. For obvious reasons, skydiving near Paris, in Peronne, is hard to beat. However, with two dropzones to choose from – at Castelnau Magnoac and Pamiers – Toulouse just edges it. Added bonuses are it’s a beautiful part of the world and centre of the European aerospace industry.
With nearly 30 dropzones to choose from, there had to be one UK destination in the top 10 dropzones in Europe. Choosing one was a tough job so we opted for Langar near Nottingham, which is the biggest and most popular in the UK.
OK, so there might be more beautiful spots, but every serious skydiver in the UK will have jumped here at least once. Its handy position in the middle of the country also gives it an edge over some of the harder to reach dropzones.
You cannot skydive in Amsterdam, however with a few DZs within striking distance it’s a great example of a city from which to do a skydiving day trip. The closest, at under 50km from central Amsterdam, is PCMN at Hilversum, unfortunately exits are limited to 6000 ft.
Better options are Teuge, 100 km east of Amsterdam, which runs three Supervans and is the biggest dropzone in the Netherlands. Or Texel, on an island 100 km north of Amsterdam, which is another big full time dropzone with a great view and is an excellent place to skydive in Europe.
Over time opinions change, places close down and new ones open. With that in mind below are a few locations that were in the top 10 dropzones in Europe but have fallen at the wayside.
Malta has been a traditional island retreat for centuries, with beautiful landscapes and a relaxed way of life offering a welcome break from the mainland. However, in recent years, the laid-back lifestyle has had an injection of adrenaline.
After a couple of days ground training and top instruction, take to the skies above the island and enjoy some world-class freefalling accompanied by spectacular views. The island’s close ties with the UK also make it a great place to hang out.
**UPDATE: Please note that the Malta dropzone is currently not operating. The skydive centre is operating out of Pozzallo on Sicily which is a 1:45 ferry ride away. However there are plenty of other activities to try during Malta adventure holidays such as kitesurfing (below).**
You might associate the island with clubbing and nightlife but during the day there’s plenty to do too. Including a dropzone in the south east corner of the island not too far from the airport. Again, this being an island in the Med, there are some stunning views and after you’ve jumped you can take all that adrenaline with you onto the dance floor.
**UPDATE** It seems the Ibiza dropzone is either no longer operating or was an optimistic rumour as we have been unable to find any evidence of a company offering skydiving there. Please drop us a line if you know different.**
At about 200 kilometres from the city of Amsterdam, Blauwestad is a dropzone where you can tandem skydive and then a couple of hours later be celebrating in one of Europe’s liveliest night time destinations.
**Update. This dropzone has closed down.**
So, there you have it – the top 10 dropzones in Europe. Like we said at the start, everybody has there own favourite and for different reasons. If you think we have made some glaring omissions that are great for skydiving European style then please let us know.
We hope you found this guide of where to skydive in Europe useful. Wherever you are live or are visiting top quality European skydiving is never far away. Need more inspiration? Check out these Europe skydiving experiences.
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6 responses to “Top 10 dropzones in Europe: Skydiving European style”
GRYTTJOM, Sweden!
In the middle of Sweden the Stockholm Skydiving Club operates from 1st of may to the last of october. June through August every day the rest weekends. Jumps 4000m: 180 SEK/20€, 1500m: 120 SEK/13,5€
A training- and fun DZ. A non profit organization driven by the 350+ club members.
Camps of all kinds of jumping featuring top world coaches, PD Factory team, Full Patate VFS, Sarah Smith, Joey Jones, Peter Nilsson, Pete Allum, Petter PJ Jonsson, Mike Michigan, Edward Bushman Anderson, Solly Williams, Gary Smith, Marco Arrigo, Jack Jefferies, Mattias Nord, Craig Girard, Nadjo Lonnrot, Marko Teivanen, Doug Park – to name a few (or a lot) 🙂
A Twinotter 300 hauls jumpers to 13500 ft/4000m in 15 min, The AN28 comes for the busy june-august and some weekends in sept. 22 jumpers in 13 min, tailgate and fun.
120 bunkbeds, huge sauna, small café, big kitchen, huge grasslanding area, high speed landing area, in and outdoor packing, team rooms, creeper pad, mockup etc.
The latest improvement is the 85×25 meter swooping pond. Swosch!
Welcome!
Peter Törnestam, chairman of the club
Such a tough call to pick just 10 and you have done a great job in choosing some great locations. Facilities aside, if it is location, location, location then look no further than Slovenia. There are several really good drop zones to visit and th local skydiving scene in this small country is exceptional. Choose Bovec as you first port of call- the extreme capital of Slovenia- white water rafting or canyoning in the morning and then skydive amongst magnificent alpine peaks towering all round the drop zone in the afternoon.
i am on a tour of europe from 26th oct to 13 nov, in which i will be visiting swizerland,
pl send me detail of place and fees.
Great list there and some really obscure places to fall out of planes.
Please check also skydiving tandem in Poland. We have two beautiful places, one is very famous because is near Cracow and second is Bielsko Biala. Beautiful landscapes and very good place to check for all tourists in Poland.
Great to hear! You can register your skydiving centre with us for free here: https://awe365.com/advertise-for-free/