The fastest roller coasters in the world, on Achtbaan
Achtbaan published a guide to the fastest roller coasters in the world and in Europe, with their top speeds and why the record holders are all launched.
Achtbaan has published a guide to the fastest roller coasters in the world and in Europe, the question coaster fans ask more than any other.
The guide names Falcons Flight at Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia, opened on 31 December 2025, as the reported record holder at about 250 kilometres per hour, and Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi, which held the record from 2010 at 240 kilometres per hour. A table lists the ten fastest operating coasters in Achtbaan's catalogue and whether each one gets its speed from a launch or a drop.
It explains why gravity sets a limit: a 99-metre drop can give a train at most about 158 kilometres per hour, which is why the tallest lift-hill coasters finish around 150 and every coaster above about 160 is launched. For Europe, Red Force at Ferrari Land in Spain leads at 180 kilometres per hour, and three of the continent's fastest rides share one resort on the Costa Daurada.
The guide also links to the explorer sorted by top speed. Read it in the Guides section at achtbaan.com.
