Theme Parks near Paris

People who search for theme parks near Paris usually have Disneyland in mind, but the honest answer comes in two rings. The inner ring is three parks you can reach from a Paris hotel and get back from by bedtime: Disneyland Paris, Parc Astérix and the Aquaboulevard water park. The outer ring is France’s other famous parks, ZooParc de Beauval, Futuroscope and Puy du Fou, which are 1.5 to 4 hours away. Some guides still sell them as “near Paris”. They’re worth the trip, but plan a night away.

The inner ring: day trips

Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris is two parks on one site. Disneyland Park has Sleeping Beauty Castle, Big Thunder Mountain, Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Caribbean and Hyperspace Mountain. Disney Adventure World, renamed from Walt Disney Studios Park in March 2026, has World of Frozen, Avengers Campus and Ratatouille. Tickets are priced by date, and the same ticket can cost €40 more on a peak Saturday than on a quiet weekday.

Parc Astérix

Parc Astérix is run by Compagnie des Alpes and themed on the comics. It has the strongest thrill rides near Paris: Toutatis (France’s fastest ride at around 110 km/h), OzIris, Tonnerre 2 Zeus and Goudurix. The Forest of Idéfix covers toddlers. It’s a seasonal park that closes on many off-season weekdays, so check the calendar.

Aquaboulevard

Aquaboulevard is the city’s big water park, by the Balard metro terminus. It has a heated tropical pool under a glass roof, slides, a wave pool and outdoor pools in summer. It’s a half-day plan, and the best answer to a wet day in Paris. Check the minimum-age rule before bringing toddlers.

The outer ring: worth a night away

• ZooParc de Beauval, at Saint-Aignan in the Loire Valley, is about 2h15 by car via the A10, A71 and A85. It has more than 10,000 animals across 24 territories, including giant pandas, and opens every day of the year. It’s possible as a long day trip by car, much harder by train (Blois station plus a seasonal shuttle). The zoo has its own themed hotels nearby.
• Futuroscope is the easiest long trip thanks to its own TGV station, 1h15–1h30 from Montparnasse. Mission Bermuda, The Extraordinary Voyage and Objectif Mars headline, and the night-time lagoon show closes the day, so an overnight stay beats rushing back.
• Puy du Fou, in the Vendée, is a park of huge live shows with no rides. It’s at least three hours from Paris with a change, so it needs two days, especially if you want the Cinéscénie night show.

A one-day plan

For a first visit with children, from a central Paris hotel:

1. 08:30: RER A from Châtelet–Les Halles to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy.
2. Morning: be at Disneyland Park’s gates for opening. Ride Peter Pan’s Flight and Big Thunder Mountain before the queues build.
3. Midday: Fantasyland for the little ones, or Hyperspace Mountain for older kids. Catch the afternoon parade on Main Street.
4. Evening: stay for the night show over the castle, then take the RER back.

For teens, swap the whole plan for Parc Astérix: Toutatis and OzIris first, then shows and water rides through the midday queues.

If you only have time for one

• Children under 10, or a first trip to Europe: Disneyland Paris.
• Teens and thrill-seekers: Parc Astérix, which has more coasters and costs less.
• Rain, winter, or only an afternoon free: Aquaboulevard.

Seasons and timing

• Disneyland Paris opens all year. Mid-January to March and November weekdays outside French school holidays are the quietest and cheapest dates.
• Parc Astérix runs from spring to early January, with Halloween and Christmas seasons, and closes on many off-season weekdays. May, June and September weekdays have the shortest queues.
• Futuroscope and Puy du Fou are at their best in June and September, with long evenings, full programmes and fewer crowds than in August. Puy du Fou’s Cinéscénie runs on selected evenings and sells out weeks ahead.
• French school holidays fill every park on this list. Check the calendar for the Paris zone before you choose a date.

Compare every French park on the France destination hub, or Europe-wide on the theme parks hub.

Guide last updated: October 2026.