The best amusement parks in Paris and the surrounding area

Looking for an amusement park or theme park in the Paris region? You’re in the right place! In this article, we present the best amusement parks in Paris and its surroundings. Whether you’re travelling as a family with young children or teens, as a couple, or with friends, you’ll find something to make for great moments together! We break down each option to help you choose what suits you best depending on your group (family, children’s ages, adults only…), your budget, and the time you have available.

Do you love theme parks and amusement parks? Check out our favorite parks on our dedicated page and the best amusement parks in France in this article.

Disneyland Paris, the No. 1 park for a family, friends, or couple outing

Naturally, we have to start this article on the best amusement parks in Paris and the surrounding area with Disneyland Paris. Why? Simply because Disneyland Paris is Europe’s top tourist destination. Located in Marne-la-Vallée, just 40 minutes from central Paris by RER A, it’s also the most accessible of all the region’s major parks without a car.

The first time I went to Disneyland Paris, I was 19 and we spent New Year’s Eve there with friends. I remember it like it was yesterday! You don’t need to have kids to enjoy the Disney magic, and you don’t need to be a princess fan either. The park appeals to everyone, young and old, whether they’re after thrills or magic.

Two parks, two atmospheres

Disneyland Paris is made up of two separate parks:

• The Disneyland Park, opened in 1992, is the historic park. It brings together five worlds around the famous Sleeping Beauty Castle: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Discoveryland. It’s the park with the most attractions for young children, with Fantasyland designed entirely for little ones.

• The second park is Disney Adventure World. Its recent transformation has doubled its size and introduced new immersive worlds: World of Frozen, Adventure Way, Worlds of Pixar, and Marvel Avengers Campus, arranged around a central lake, Adventure Bay. This park suits young adults and families with slightly older children better, with more emphasis on thrill rides.

Each park has its own nighttime show: Disney Tales of Magic in front of the castle at Disneyland Park, and Disney Cascade of Lights on Adventure Bay lake.

From what age should you take your children to Disneyland Paris?

Of the roughly 50 attractions across both Disney parks, only 10 have minimum height requirements. Three of them require a minimum height of 1.20m, and only one requires 1.40m. That leaves a very wide range of attractions to enjoy with your children, whatever their age!

Of course, in terms of atmosphere, little ones will probably feel more at ease in Fantasyland than at Marvel Avengers Campus. But that’s also what we love about Disney: the chance to go from the wonderful world of the princesses of our childhood to that of our today’s heroes!

If you’re bringing young children to Disneyland Paris, keep in mind that the parks are large and there’s a lot to discover. A day there means quite a bit of walking and can be pretty full, between the rides, the shows, and meeting their favourite characters. To make the most of your time, you can also opt for Disney Premier Access, a paid option that lets you skip most of the line. And with all these discoveries and emotions, a day at Disneyland with little ones is magical, but tiring too! So remember to pace things to suit their age and plan in a few breaks in quiet spots, watching a show, or grabbing a bite at one of the many restaurants, for example.

Tickets and budget

Prices vary considerably depending on the visit date and the number of parks chosen. As a rough guide, a 1-day / 1-park ticket starts at £48 per adult during off-peak periods and can exceed £100 during peak season. A 1-day / 2-park ticket starts at £78.

There are several ways to keep costs down:

• Choose less crowded periods, i.e., outside of school holidays.
• Go during the week rather than on weekends.
• Book several weeks in advance, keeping in mind that some tickets can be cancelled up to 3 days before the visit date.

As prices are constantly changing, we encourage you to always check the current price list on the official website.

How much time to allow and where to stay?

Even in just one day, you can enjoy the magic of Disneyland Paris and its must-see attractions, and even more by choosing a 1-day/2-park ticket to have fun in both Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World. If you have the time, stay 2 to 4 days for an even more complete Disney experience. It’s also the perfect opportunity to stay in a Disney hotel to extend the magic! This option has several advantages: maximum comfort with young children, staying immersed in the atmosphere, and unique benefits such as access to the Parks before their official opening.

Another accommodation option is to choose a hotel near Marne-la-Vallée. Several hotels partner with the park and offer free shuttle access. Family rooms, themed hotels, studios with kitchenettes… there’s sure to be one that meets your needs and budget. You can check all the options here.

Parc Astérix, the thrill-seeker’s alternative

Second stop on this list, and no small one: Parc Astérix. Here we leave the Disney universe behind for a very different kind of folklore, that of Astérix, Obélix, and their indomitable Gaulish village. Located 35 km north of Paris, the park focuses on roller coasters and big thrill rides rather than Disney-style immersion, with a distinctly more thrill-oriented atmosphere.

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.

It’s best to visit Parc Astérix on a sunny day, since most attractions are outdoors. There are even 9 water rides where the chance of getting wet is very real! That’s the downside though: the sunny holiday days are naturally the busiest. On those days, the Filotomatix skip-the-line service can come in very handy.

From what age should you take your children to Parc Astérix?

From age 3 to 4, around fifteen small attractions already let the youngest visitors enjoy the park, mostly around the Gaulish village. But it’s really from age 6 to 7 (and 1.20m on the height chart) that Parc Astérix comes into its own, with access to more intense rides like Osiris Convolvulis or Thunder 2 Zeus. For teens, it’s basically the ultimate playground.

Tickets and budget

Expect prices starting at £48 per adult and £45 per child with a dated ticket booked at least a week in advance, up to £58 for a flexible-date ticket (£50 for under 12s). As with Disneyland Paris, it’s best to book ahead and avoid busy periods to keep costs (and queues) down.

How to get there

Without a car, access is via RER B to Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 1, followed by an official shuttle of about twenty minutes that drops you directly at the park entrance. Plan for around 1.5 to 2 hours of total travel time from central Paris. By car, the route via the A1 takes about 35 to 40 minutes.

Three themed hotels on site also allow you to spend the night, right in the middle of the Ermenonville forest.

Human-scale, themed parks

For an “easier” outing that doesn’t require much planning ahead, several smaller parks are worth a visit and nicely round out the amusement park options around Paris.

• Jardin d’Acclimatation, in the Bois de Boulogne, is the oldest amusement park within Paris itself. It combines gentle rides, animals, and green spaces, making it ideal for families with young children who want to stay in the city. You can buy simple entry and then pay per ride, or get an unlimited pass to enjoy all the attractions. Information and booking here. Accessible via metro line A, stop at Les Sablons.

• France Miniature, in the Yvelines, specifically in Élancourt, offers a walk through 1:30 scale models of French landmarks, in a half-day visit format. It’s not strictly an amusement park, though it does have a few rides, including an immersive Koh Lanta themed zone. Either way, it’s a really lovely theme park. We visited the equivalent in Belgium when our kids were very young and have great memories of it! Information and booking here. Accessible by train from Paris (lines N and U to La Verrière) then by bus (lines 5120, 5122, or 5125, stop at France Miniature).

• La Mer de Sable, in Ermenonville in the department of Oise, 45 minutes’ drive from Paris and just 15 km from Parc Astérix, immerses families in three exotic worlds: the desert, the Wild West, and the jungle. With about thirty attractions, two-thirds of them accessible from 90 cm tall, it’s a solid choice for children aged 3 to 11. We tried it, and loved it, with our boys when they were 6 and 8. It really was a great day out. Information and booking here. Accessible by car, free parking.

Summary of the best amusement parks in Paris and the surrounding area

Let’s recap. Here’s a quick comparison table to help you find your way among the best amusement parks in Paris and the surrounding area.

Park	Recommended age	Distance from Paris	Approximate budget (adult)	Visit length	Ideal if you’re looking for…
Disneyland Paris	For everyone! Great with toddlers, children, teens, or friends	40 min by RER A	From 50€ (£48) (1 day / 1 park)	1 day per park, ideally 2 days. If you only have one day, opt for the 2 Parks ticket.	An immersive experience and/or thrills
Parc Astérix	For everyone from age 6 to 7. Great with teens or friends too	35 km, 35 to 40 min by car	Around 45 to 55€ (£40-£50)	1 day	Thrills
Jardin d’Acclimatation	For families, children from age 1 to 2	Within Paris	Entry + per-ride tickets, or unlimited pass from 15€ off-season (£13), around 40€ otherwise (£34)	Half a day	A fun family day with little ones
France Miniature	For families, children from age 3 to 4	About 25 km	Around 20 to 25€ (£17-£22)	Half a day	An entertaining visit for the whole family
Mer de Sable	For families, children from age 3 up to 13 to 14	45 km, 45 min by car	Around 30€ (£26)	Half a day to a full day	A fun family day with children of all ages

How to choose based on your children’s ages

As a parent, you often wait for the right moment to take your kids to an amusement park. You know they’ll love it, but you worry about the frustration of not being able to go on many rides. Here’s a quick summary by age:

• With children under 3, the Jardin d’Acclimatation and France Miniature offer a family outing with a pace easily adaptable to little ones. Disneyland Paris is also an option, thanks to all the facilities designed to make life easier with toddlers. And you’re never too young to feel all the magic of Disney!
• From age 3, most of the parks in this selection are suitable. At Disneyland Paris, both parks are well-suited as very few attractions have height restrictions.
• From age 6 to 7, Parc Astérix starts to become a great option as well. With children aged 6 to 10, Disneyland Paris (both parks) and Parc Astérix offer the best balance between immersion and thrills.
• With teens, Disneyland Paris and Parc Astérix offer plenty of experiences they’ll enjoy, from thrill rides to immersive worlds and things to discover together with friends. It’s also an age where you can give them more independence, letting them do the rides of their choice with a family meeting point at a set time, for example!

Best amusement parks in Paris – Frequently Asked Questions

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