Helix is a steel multi-launch roller coaster at Liseberg amusement park in Gothenburg, Sweden. Built by Mack Rides and opened on April 26, 2014, the ride weaves through and over the rocky hillside terrain that gives Liseberg much of its distinctive character, with two linear synchronous motor launches propelling riders to a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).
Spanning 1,381 meters (4,531 feet) of track and packing in seven inversions, Helix delivers one of Europe’s most varied inversion sequences — including a pretzel knot, a zero-g roll, two corkscrews, a top hat, and a rare Norwegian loop. The full circuit lasts around 2 minutes 10 seconds and pulls a maximum of 4.3g, and Liseberg markets it as the longest and fastest roller coaster in Scandinavia.
Quick Answer
Helix at Liseberg reaches a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) and pulls a maximum force of 4.3g across its two launches and seven inversions. It’s the longest and fastest roller coaster in Scandinavia, covering 1,381 m (4,531 ft) of track in about 2 minutes 10 seconds.
How Fast Does Helix Go?
Helix hits its top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) using two separate linear synchronous motor (LSM) launches rather than a single chain lift. The first launch fires the train into the hillside terrain, and a second boost launch part-way through the layout brings it up to full speed for the second half of the ride.
That dual-launch setup is what makes Helix feel faster than its top-speed number suggests — riders hit maximum velocity twice, with a mid-course dip in pacing between the two pushes rather than one long build-up followed by a slow fade. At 100 km/h, Helix is faster than most European launch coasters of its era and remains Liseberg’s fastest ride.
How Many G’s Does Helix Pull?
Helix reaches a maximum of 4.3g, among the higher sustained forces found on any launch coaster in Europe. Rather than a single peak moment, the 4.3g figure is hit at multiple points across the seven inversions, so the intensity is spread through the ride instead of concentrated in one element.
Liseberg’s official ride data also lists three distinct moments of weightlessness (airtime/zero-g sensations) across the layout, on top of the sustained lateral and positive g-forces generated through the corkscrews, the pretzel knot, and the Norwegian loop.
Inversions and Ride Layout
After the opening launch, Helix snakes through seven inversions in quick succession: two corkscrews, a pretzel knot, a zero-g roll, a top hat, and the headline element — a Norwegian loop, a rare inversion type found on very few coasters worldwide. The altitude drops as much as 52 meters (171 ft) from the ride’s highest point to its lowest, on a structure that peaks at 41 m (135 ft).
Throughout, the track hugs Liseberg’s natural rock formations, diving close to the ground and threading past existing park structures in ways that keep the layout feeling unpredictable. The terrain-integrated design required blasting through existing rock on site, a construction challenge that ultimately shaped the coaster’s unusually organic path. Riders in all 20 seats across each five-car train experience roughly the same intensity, since the launches and forces are distributed through the whole layout rather than concentrated at the front or back.
Design, Construction and Cost
Helix was designed by Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH and cost approximately 239 million Swedish kronor to build, including around 40 million kronor for the rock-blasting work alone. That investment produced a layout unlike anything Mack Rides had built before — a terrain coaster with the pacing of a launched ride and an inversion count more typical of a looping coaster.
Since opening, the ride’s design philosophy — marrying terrain interaction with multi-launch intensity — has been echoed in subsequent Mack Rides installations at parks around the world, and Helix is widely credited with helping establish the manufacturer as a serious force in the launch-coaster market.
Rider Requirements and Visiting Tips
Helix has a minimum height requirement of 130 cm (about 51 in) and a minimum age of 7. Riders need functioning legs and enough upper-body and leg strength to hold themselves securely through the launches and inversions; a test seat is available at the ride entrance for anyone unsure whether they’ll fit the restraints. The ride runs three trains of five cars each, seating 20 riders per train, with an hourly capacity of roughly 1,350 guests.
Helix is included with a standard Liseberg ride pass or ride coupons and typically runs during the park’s Summer and Halloween seasons, with virtual queuing available through the park’s app on busy days. Because opening dates, hours, and current pricing change by season, check the official Liseberg Helix page before you visit.
Awards and Legacy
Helix has repeatedly placed in Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards Top 50 Steel Roller Coasters, an annual global enthusiast ranking, peaking at 18th place in 2023. It’s consistently cited by coaster enthusiasts and trade press as one of the best steel coasters in Europe, and remains the marquee attraction at Liseberg more than a decade after opening.
Helix roller coaster speed and g-force FAQs
How fast does Helix at Liseberg go?
Helix reaches a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), powered by two separate linear synchronous motor launches.
What is the g-force on Helix?
Helix pulls a maximum of 4.3g, reached at multiple points across its seven inversions, plus three separate moments of weightlessness.
Where is Helix located?
Helix is located at Liseberg amusement park in Gothenburg, Sweden.
How many inversions does Helix have?
Helix has 7 inversions, including two corkscrews, a pretzel knot, a zero-g roll, a top hat, and a rare Norwegian loop.
Who built Helix and when did it open?
Helix was built by German manufacturer Mack Rides and opened on April 26, 2014, as part of Liseberg’s 2014 season.
How tall do you have to be to ride Helix?
Riders must be at least 130 cm (about 51 in) tall and a minimum of 7 years old to ride Helix.
How long is the Helix ride?
The full circuit takes about 2 minutes 10 seconds, covering 1,381 m (4,531 ft) of track.
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