The best amusement parks in France

Thrills, immersion in worlds as varied as they are exciting, big shows and emotions to share with friends or family, that’s what amusement parks and theme parks promise. But which one should you choose? In this article, I put together a selection of the best amusement parks in France, along with a few criteria to help you decide!

Check out our selection of the best amusement parks in the Paris region in this article, and a selection of the best water parks in France here. A great mix of good moods and good times ahead!

Disneyland Paris, the No. 1 park in Europe

It’s Europe’s top tourist destination, and a fortiori France’s, it’s certainly the best known park of them all, Disneyland Paris, of course. But what distinguishes it is not only the number of visitors it has had since opening, but the very nature of the experience it offers.

Unlike most French parks, which can be visited in a single day, Disneyland Paris is experienced as a genuine holiday destination. The complex brings together two Parks, Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World, several themed hotels, a village with restaurants and shops, as well as numerous shows and encounters with Disney Characters. Enough to spend two to four days there, mixing up experiences and worlds without ever feeling like you’re doing the same thing twice! Information and booking here.

This “full getaway” dimension makes it a particularly good option for visitors coming from other regions of France or from abroad, looking for a single destination where everything, from the hotel to the meals, is taken care of. And if you don’t have as much time to give Disneyland Paris as you’d like, don’t worry, you can still enjoy it with just a day there!

Not a fan of princesses and worried Disney might be too childish for you? Think again! Disneyland Paris is a park suited both to anyone who’s kept their inner child alive and to anyone who loves thrill rides or immersive environments! Of course, Disney Characters are part of the adventure: Mickey and Minnie first and foremost, but also the Avengers, Frozen’s Elsa, Darth Vader, and Moana too. In short, the Disney universe speaks to every generation! So you’ll find something for you as a couple, with friends, or with your children.

Been to Disneyland Paris a few years ago and worried it’ll feel like a repeat? No need to worry, there’s something new every year, whether it’s attractions or shows. Your experience will be different and unique each time.

Finally, Disneyland Paris is also the most accessible theme park in the country, with its own TGV and RER station (Marne-la-Vallée Chessy) connecting it directly to Paris, the rest of France, and several European countries.

Puy du Fou, shows above all

Located in Les Épesses in the Vendée, Puy du Fou is one of my favourites, and not just because it’s close to home! I’m giving it a special place in this article even though it isn’t strictly an amusement park. In fact, you won’t find thrill rides at Puy du Fou, but shows that will take you travelling through time. Named best park in the world a few years back, Puy du Fou hasn’t rested on its laurels and keeps adding something new every year. It’s been three years since we last went, we really need to fix that soon!

What kind of shows does Puy du Fou put on? Big, live productions with stunt performers, horse riders, special effects, and historical reenactments. Each story takes us to a different period of history. And while you shouldn’t focus too much on historical accuracy, it’s easy to just let yourself be carried away by the music and staging.

At Puy du Fou, it’s simple, every generation is amazed together in front of the different shows, and that’s exactly why we love going back. Last time, we were there with our kids and grandma, and we all came away with wonderful memories.

Puy du Fou is a good choice for families with children from about age 5 to 6, old enough to follow shows that last around thirty minutes, and for anyone looking for a cultural experience as much as an entertaining one. To see all the shows, you’ll need to spend two days on site.

With slightly older children, from around age 8, you could also consider attending the Cinéscénie, an extraordinary nighttime show performed by 2,000 volunteers.

You can find my complete guide to visiting Puy du Fou in this article.

Futuroscope, science and thrills

Here we come back to what most people picture as an amusement park. Futuristic theme, welcome to Futuroscope! Located near Poitiers, in the Vienne, about 1 hour 25 minutes by direct TGV from Paris (with its own dedicated TGV station on site) or around 3 hours by car, Futuroscope focuses on immersive technology: dynamic cinema, virtual reality, 360 degree projections. It’s a good option all year round, including on rainy days, since most attractions are indoors.

We’ve been to Futuroscope twice in recent years (it’s not far from us), and we noticed a real improvement between the two visits! There are attractions for every age, a well balanced dose of thrills, and a genuine ability to make dreams come true for kids and adults alike.

Suitable from around age 4 to 5 (1.05m) for most attractions, Futuroscope is a park that particularly suits families looking for a human-scale park, with generally shorter wait times than the big Paris region parks. And recently, you can now combine the amusement park with a water park too. We haven’t tried it yet, but Aquascope, with its 4 distinct themed worlds and 8 XXL slides, is already earning its place among the best water parks in France.

You can find my complete guide to planning your stay at Futuroscope in this article.

Parc Astérix, the thrill-seeking option close to Paris

Located 35 km north of Paris, Parc Astérix rounds out this list nicely for families with older children (from around age 6 to 7) after roller coasters. The park spans 6 themed worlds (Gaul, the Roman Empire, Ancient Greece, Egypt, the Vikings, and Through Time) with about fifty attractions and shows in total, including some of the most highly rated roller coasters in Europe, such as Osiris Convolvulis and Thunder 2 Zeus.

While Parc Astérix has a name and is organised around worlds taken directly from the comic strip created by Goscinny and Uderzo, the experience is still less immersive than Disneyland Paris, for example. You go to Parc Astérix for the rides! From age 3 to 4, around fifteen small attractions already let the youngest visitors enjoy the park. But it’s really from age 6 to 7 that Parc Astérix comes into its own, with access to more intense rides. For teens, it’s a real playground.

That said, real effort has been put in over the past few years to improve the sets, which used to feel a bit dated. The shows have also been refreshed, and the park adapts to the season with unique adventures for Halloween or Christmas, for example. In short, Parc Astérix remains a safe bet for a great family day out!

Other regional parks worth knowing

We’ve now covered the 4 biggest parks in France. They’re the best known, the most visited, and almost certainly the best amusement parks in France. That said, several smaller parks also deserve a mention in this selection, depending on where you’re starting from and your budget. Amusement parks or theme parks, they all promise a great day out.

• Walibi is above all a concept shared by several parks across Europe, all born from the same “family thrills” spirit and the Wallaby mascot. In France, the name is now carried by a single park, Walibi Rhône-Alpes, in Les Avenières in the Isère, an hour’s drive from Lyon. Its flagship attractions, like the inverted roller coaster Mystic or the drop tower Le Totem, are mainly aimed at children from age 7 to 8, with around thirty gentler rides rounding out the offer for younger visitors.

• Nigloland, in the Aube, less than 3 hours by road from Paris, is the archetypal human-scale family park. Its wooden roller coasters sit alongside gentler rides designed for little ones, in an atmosphere noticeably less crowded than the big parks around Paris. A good option for a holiday in the Great-East region.

• OK Corral, in Cuges-les-Pins in the Bouches-du-Rhône, 30 minutes from Marseille, is the largest amusement park in the south of France and one of the oldest in the country. Its western theme, with more than 35 attractions and cowboy shows, suits the whole family from a young age, with an area specially designed for the very young.

• Parc Bagatelle, on the Côte d’Opale in Merlimont, is the oldest amusement park still operating in France, with more than 35 attractions blending family fun and thrills. A good day trip to plan during a holiday on the Côte d’Opale.

• Parc des Combes, in Le Creusot in Burgundy, is a human-scale park tucked into a wooded setting, with around twenty attractions including several roller coasters suitable from a young age. We discovered it in May with the boys and we all loved that day! The park isn’t very big, but it’s not too crowded either, so we could go on our favourite rides again and again. Our kids loved it! You can find my full article on Parc des Combes right here.

• Terra Botanica, in Angers, is the first park in Europe entirely dedicated to the plant world, with nearly 50 activities spread across 5 areas: greenhouses, boat rides, 4D projections, a mini farm. I’ll admit that at first I didn’t really understand the concept of a “plant” park. The scenery is built around trees, bushes, and plants. It’s a very green, wooded park that doesn’t overstimulate children. You’ll find a mix of rides, nature trails, and gardens.

• Vulcania, in the Puy-de-Dôme about fifteen kilometres from Clermont-Ferrand, is a park unique in France, dedicated to volcanoes and earth sciences, combining immersive films, interactive experiences, and a planetarium. It’s suitable from age 3 for the gentler activities, with a genuine educational side that older children particularly enjoy.

• Parc du Petit Prince, in Ungersheim in Alsace, between Mulhouse and Colmar, is the world’s first aerial park, inspired by Saint-Exupéry’s work: a tethered balloon 150 metres high, flying chairs, a giant maze. A good choice for a family holiday in Alsace, suitable from a young age thanks to a majority of gentle attractions.

Choosing your next amusement park, FAQ

As you can see, France offers a wonderful variety of amusement parks, designed for families but also for adults looking to have fun as a couple or with friends. Whether you’re after immersion in a world, thrill rides, or live shows, there’s bound to be an amusement park or theme park that suits you!

To help you decide, here are answers to a few common questions.

♥♥♥ Flo & co ♥♥♥

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This article on the best amusement parks in France was written as part of a partnership.