Best Amusement Parks in France

It’s official, France has some of the best theme parks in Europe and Disneyland Paris is just one of them. These parks that make it to the lists of the best ones vary very much in terms of size and themes. Whether you are older or younger, there are amusement parks for the adrenaline or maybe you prefer history, space or learning about Earth – you name it. These parks besides the roller coasters and spinning rides have amazing shows with actors and real animals, show movies and, most importantly, specialize in catching the attention of the visitors.

Here are the top 10 best theme parks in France, information about tickets and transportation.

Futuroscope

Situated in Chasseneuil-du-Poitou, Futuroscope is a high-tech park that specializes in rides based on science and technology. Many of them are based on 4D experience and special effects. For instance, go on a trip around the world without touching the ground in Extraordinary Journey or hop on a similar award-winning ride called Arthur, 4D Adventure. Whereas, some of the classic ones can give you even more thrill, for example, an upside-down in Dances with the Robots. Besides, adults could especially enjoy the aquatic fantasy show La Forge aux Étoiles while Futuropolis specialized for little children to enjoy.

Tickets cost around 38€.

Getting to Futuroscope

Futuroscope is situated in Chasseneuil-du-Poitou, which is around 10 kilometres away from Poitiers. The options to get there are the following:

• By car: Exit 28 on the A10 motorway (Paris-Bordeaux) is 2 minutes away from the park’s main entrance.
• By plane: Airport Poitiers-Biard is 15 minutes away from Futuroscope that can be reached in a 10-minute taxi ride.
• By train: Futuroscope can be reached from Poitiers and many other cities by a TGV train.
• By bus: There are bus lines 1 and 21 from Poitiers going to Futuroscope.

Puy du Fou

Puy du Fou is a theme park that has 2 million visitors each year. Not only that but it is very popular among the French. Namely, it has a historical theme that was created thanks to Philippe de Villiers who found the ruins of a medieval castle and created a show. Almost all of the shows are held outside in beautiful surrounding that takes you back to sword fights, musketeers, damsels and Vikings. Besides talented actors and thousands of costumes, the shows have special effects, from water to fireworks. The main show is The Cinéscénie, the biggest nighttime show you must make a reservation for. Other than that, there are The Secret of the Lance where a shepherdess defends her home from English knights and Richelieu’s Musketeers which is the only indoor one. Besides the shows, there are themed restaurants and a hotel inside the park.

Tickets range from 64 to 52 €.

Getting to Puy du Fou

This theme park is located in Les Epesses in the heart of the western region of Vendée. Here’s how to get there.

• By plane: The theme park is located 1 hour from Nantes Atlantique Airport and has transfers three times a day (must be booked in advance).
• By train: Frequent TGV trains are coming from Paris to Angers. From their TGV station, there is a shuttle bus to Puy du Fou which operates three times a day and must be booked in advance.
• By car: By car, this theme park can be reached via the A87 motorway (exit no. 28). There’s a spacious parking lot at the main gate, while the hotels have their car parking for the guests.

Parc Astérix

Parc Astérix is a theme park based on René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo’s comic book series The Adventures of Astérix. With 2 million visitors each year, it is the second most-visited one after Disneyland. It’s no surprise since it doesn’t fall behind on decorated attractions that are inspired by Roman and Gallic but also Greek and Egyptian culture. The main attractions include roller coasters such as Goudurix in the Vikings area, the inverted one Oziris and the aquatic one – Menhir Express. There are many rides suited for the younger ones, like the Romus et Rapidus raft trip and the Asterix parade. There are also shows “Gaulois-Romains: Le Match” and “Du Rififi dans la basse-cour”, however in French.

Tickets vary from about 55 to 47 €.

Getting to Parc Astérix

The park is situated in Plailly, which is only 1 hour away from Paris. Here are the options to reach it.

• By plane: The closest airport to Parc Astérix is Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport from where you can reach the park by bus or taxi.
• By bus: Buses from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Parc Astérix run every 30 minutes, starting 1 hour before the park opens and 1 hour after the closure.
• By car: Parc Astérix can be reached from Paris by the A1 motorway, and there it does not apply tolls.

Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris is the most attended amusement park in Europe and also the most visited spot in France – 10 million people come each year. It is a huge complex that shares many of the amusement rides with its LA version. It consists of two theme parks, resort hotels, nature parks and a whole lot of dining, shopping and entertainment experiences. The most popular one is certainly the impressive Pirates of the Caribbean water ride, followed by Main Street USA and the cheerful “it’s a small world” ride. Some of its unique elements include Alice’s Curious Labyrinth, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

Tickets cost about 62 €.

Getting to Disneyland Paris

As the most popular theme park in the country, Disneyland is easily accessible by multiple means of transport.

• By plane: Since it is located in Marne-la-Vallée, 32 km away from Paris, it can be easily accessed from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
• By train: From the Paris city center, line A4 of the Paris RER train ends at Marne-la-Vallée station which is only 2 minutes away from the Disneyland gates. This ride lasts 40 minutes, whereas there is a high-speed TGV train from the CDG Airport that reaches it in only 9 minutes! TGV has direct lines to Disneyland from all the bigger cities in France.
• By bus: The Magical Shuttle bus service offers transport from both of Paris’ airports which lasts around 1 h.

Vulcania

Vulcania theme park focuses on the screen experience of Earth’s phenomena, so the main attractions are animated as well as non-animated films. For example, learn about the Earth in The Earth Revealed or mysterious underwater volcanoes in Abbys Explorer. Then, the film Sacred volcanoes use special effects and a special vehicle to re-enact gliding down a lava flow. However, one of the more popular ones is Awakening of the Auvergne Giants, a film showing volcanic eruptions, accompanied by 4D effects like water splashes and air blasts. Besides, the younger ones can enjoy an animated film Rescue operation with special effects and an outside route called Dragon‘s forest with animatronics. In addition to this, the park has interactive displays, workshops, grassy areas and shops! 

Tickets vary between 20 and 25 €.

Getting to Vulcania

Vulcania is situated in Saint-Ours-Les Roches, half an hour’s drive from Clermont-Ferrand. Here is how to get there.

• By train: You can reach Clermont-Ferrand by train and then continue by bus or taxi to Vulcania.
• By plane: The closest airport to Vulcania is Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne International Airport.
• By bus: There is a shuttle between Clermont-Ferrand station and Vulcania on the days the park is open.

Le Pal

Le Pal may be the most versatile park on the list. It is a zoological theme park, special because it combines animals with attractions. Namely, there are 1000 animals in the park, including the zoo and animal shows, as well as 30 attractions! Regarding the animals, there are elephant, sea lion and Canadian wolves presentations. What’s even more interesting is that the park offers attractions such as a Louisiana swamp with alligators in Alligator Bay and a log raft on the “Canadian” lake in The Goldhunters Lake. Among other attractions and thrills, there are roller coasters Azteka and Twist, the one 22 meters high with spinning seats. Of course, there are thrills for the younger ones, alongside the Lion River playground where the smallest can use the trampoline, the slides, climb the walls of the lion, etc.

Tickets vary around 32 and 28€.

Getting to Le Pal

Unfortunately, reaching the park is most convenient if travelling by car. Le Pal can be reached from the south by A6 at exits 26 and 29.

Festyland 

Festyland is a smaller amusement park with a historical theme situated in Caen. The various areas it is divided into representing different eras of Normandy history including pirates, Vikings and the middle ages with William the Conqueror. The various rides offer fun to all ages, like a very exciting 1066 and Drakkar Express roller coasters, Cascade and other water slides, but also a castle and two cinemas. For a bigger adrenaline kick, there are spinning rides such as Eretic, The Great Tournament and a 360° Mionlyr spinning ride.  However, there is also Vikland, a Viking village especially designed for the youngest where they can enjoy the Troll-Roll train, Pirates Lair playground and Frogs spinning ride. In addition, the park has two restaurants.

The tickets cost about 22 and 19 €.

Getting to Festyland

The park is situated in Bretteville-sur-Odon, within the Caen ring road. The options to reach it are the following:

• By train: You can reach Caen by train and then continue by bus to Festyland.
• By plane: Caen’s Carpiquet Airport is only a 7-minute ride by bus from Festyland. Bus line 3 by Twisto departs from the airport and stops at Festyland along the way.
• By bus: Bus line 3 by Twisto can get you from the city centre to the stop “Festyland”.

Nigloland

One of the most visited parks in France, situated only 2 hours from Paris, offers fun rides for the whole family. Certainly, the most exciting ride is a roller coaster that takes you through a waterfall and ends up in Krampus‘ cave. Besides, the park features the largest rotating free-fall in the world and the Alpina Blitz roller coaster that will surely give you a high adrenaline kick rushing down the slopes. In Eden Palais, you’ll find a carousel, a tea room and more, all in a 19th-century setting. However, there are 27 rides suitable for smaller children like a gentler free-fall and Noisette Express roller coaster, as well as the Niglo Show.

Tickets cost around 37 and 34 €.

Getting to Nigloland

Nigloland is situated in the smaller commune Dolancourt. Here is how to reach it.

• By train: Train stations Vendeuvre-sur-Barse and Bar-sur-Aube are only 10 minutes away from the theme park.
• By plane: The closest airport to Nigloland is Troyes-Barberey Airport.
• By bus: During the summer season, there are shuttle buses by Keolis from the Troyes station.
• By car: Bigger cities close to Nigloland are Troyes and Chaumont. You can access it via the A5 motorway: exits 22 and 23.

Terra Botanica

Terra Botanica is a botanical theme park in Angers created as an homage to nature – different species and over 275,000 plants and trees grow here. Moreover, one of the two greenhouses hosts 2000 orchids and the other one cacti, while the kitchen garden is filled with vegetables from all around the world. Therefore it’s a perfect peaceful alternative for adults and children. Both can enjoy the various attractions such as Botanical Odyssey – a trip down the Loire in a wooden boat or a journey through the trees in a literal nutshell. Moreover, you can get a view of the Anjou valleys and a part of the Maine et Loire region in a tethered balloon. They also show 4D movies, one from a perspective of a drop of water and another one about dinosaurs.

Tickets cost around 21 and 15 €.

Getting to Terra Botanica

Located in Angers, Terra Botanica is easily accessible, here are all the options.

• By tram: Tram line A goes from the Angers station to the Terra Botanica stop, from where you need to walk for another 10 minutes to reach the park.
• By plane: The closest airport to Terra Botanica is Angers – Loire Airport.
• By bus: Bus lines 5a and 8 go to the stop Auriol from where you need to walk for 15 minutes in a naturalized area to get to the park.

Cite de L’Espace

Cite de L’Espace is a theme park, but also an interactive exhibition for anyone seeking knowledge and experience on the topic of space. Although only available in French, the park’s gardens host presentations where visitors can learn about the moon and Mars. Besides the full-on replicas of the Martian Rovers, MIR station and Ariane V payload rocket, there is also the lifesize reproduction of the Lunar Module that first landed on the moon 50 years ago. An even more popular attraction results to be the walking on the moon simulator and IMAX cinema. Namely, it broadcasts Asteroid Hunters 3D, a film on tracking and preventing these natural disasters. In addition, the park is adapted to people with disabilities and has a restaurant, 2 snack bars and many hotels in the vicinity.

Tickets currently cost around 17 €.

Getting to Cite de L’Espace

Thanks to its position, the park is easily accessible by public transport.

• By metro: Another way is, after arriving at the bus stop Jolimont with metro line A or to the metro line Ramonville with bus line B, taking the bus line 37.
• By plane: Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport is the closest airport to Cite de L’Espace.
• By bus: Bus line 1 can get you to the Collège Vernant stop, which is 20 minutes away from the theme park.