Parc Astérix opened on April 30, 1989, in Plailly, roughly 35 kilometers northeast of Paris, built around the beloved Asterix comic book universe created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. Spanning about 34 hectares (83 acres) and operated by Compagnie des Alpes, the park blends Gallic, Roman, Greek, and Egyptian theming across its lands, making it one of France’s most distinctive family destinations.
Now home to 44 attractions, including nine roller coasters and seven water rides, Parc Astérix has steadily built a reputation among enthusiasts for aggressive, record-chasing steel coasters alongside classic wooden thrills. It ranks as France’s second most-visited entertainment resort behind only Disneyland Paris, drawing a record 2.84 million visitors in 2024. This guide covers everything you need to actually plan a trip: hours, tickets, transportation, height requirements, and the full ride lineup.
Quick Answer
Parc Astérix is a 34-hectare theme park in Plailly, France, built around the Asterix comic universe, open seasonally from roughly April through early January with extended hours in summer. Tickets range from around €42 for online-only weekday deals up to about €68 at the gate, and the easiest way in from central Paris is the official CDG airport shuttle or the RER B train plus a local park shuttle from Survilliers-Fosses station.
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Tickets & Parking
Parc Astérix operates on a seasonal calendar, generally running from early April through the first days of January and closing for the winter months from mid-January through March. During the “Gallic Summer” stretch from mid-July to early September, the park extends its hours into the evening, staying open as late as 10pm to accommodate its nighttime drone and light shows; most of the rest of the season it closes earlier, typically around 6-7pm. Because these dates and hours shift year to year, always confirm the current calendar before you go.
Ticket pricing works in tiers: booking online in advance unlocks the cheapest rates, often starting in the low €40s for weekday dates, while full-price gate admission for adults runs closer to €68, with reduced pricing for children (3-11), seniors, and large families. The park also sells half-day afternoon tickets, two-day passes, and season passes for frequent visitors. Parking costs roughly €20 per vehicle per day. For current dated prices, calendar, and online-only discounts, check the official Parc Astérix ticket page.
Getting to Parc Astérix from Paris
The park’s official shuttle connects from Charles de Gaulle Airport: take the RER B to the “Charles de Gaulle Airport 1” stop, then follow signs to the Roissypôle coach station, where dedicated Parc Astérix shuttles run every 15-30 minutes from an hour before opening until an hour after closing. Round-trip tickets cost about €14 and must be booked in advance.
A second common route is RER B to the Survilliers-Fosses station, followed by a short local shuttle bus specific to park visitors, taking roughly 15-20 minutes total. Drivers can reach the park directly via the A1 motorway (exit for Parc Astérix) in about 35-45 minutes from central Paris, with on-site parking available for a daily fee. Full current schedules and booking links are on the official Parc Astérix transportation page.
Height Requirements and Ride Guide
Parc Astérix’s headline coasters carry real height restrictions worth checking before you build a day around them. Toutatis, the park’s tallest and fastest ride, requires riders between 130 cm and 200 cm. OzIris, the inverted B&M coaster, has a 130 cm minimum, and Goudurix, the park’s original steel multi-looper, requires at least 140 cm. Riders below those thresholds are steered toward the park’s family-friendly zones, including Cétautomatix and the gentler attractions clustered around the Kingdom of Idefix area, which are built for younger and shorter guests.
The Full Roller Coaster Lineup
The park’s coaster lineup spans decades of design evolution. Goudurix, a steel multi-looper by Vekoma, has thrilled riders since the park’s 1989 opening, while Tonnerre 2 Zeus, a wooden coaster built by Custom Coasters International, arrived in 1997. More recent additions push the park into modern coaster territory: OzIris, a Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster, debuted in 2012, followed by the launched Gerstlauer coaster Pégase Express in 2017.
The park’s biggest statement came in 2023 with Toutatis, an Intamin launched coaster reaching about 51 meters tall and 107 km/h across roughly 1,075 meters of track, with seven LSM launches and 23 airtime moments. It currently holds the title of tallest and fastest roller coaster in France. Most recently, Cétautomatix arrived as a spinning Gerstlauer coaster billed as one of Europe’s first family-friendly spinning roller coasters, adding a gentler but still novel ride to the park’s nine-coaster roster.
How Many Days Do You Need, and When to Go
One day is enough to hit the marquee coasters and shows if you arrive at opening and use the park’s app or posted wait times to route around crowds. Two days give a more relaxed pace, especially during French school holidays, weekends, and the peak Gallic Summer stretch when the park stays open late for its nighttime show. Visiting on a weekday outside French school holidays, especially in spring or fall shoulder season, is the most reliable way to avoid long queues on Toutatis and OzIris.
Parc Astérix vs. Disneyland Paris
Parc Astérix is smaller and more tightly focused than Disneyland Paris, trading multiple themed parks and Disney IP for a single park built almost entirely around French and Gaulish culture, with a coaster lineup that leans harder into genuine thrill rides. It’s France’s second most-visited entertainment resort, well behind Disneyland Paris in overall attendance, but among coaster enthusiasts it’s often rated the stronger of the two for ride intensity, thanks to Toutatis, OzIris, and Goudurix. Families chasing character meet-and-greets and multi-day itineraries tend to prefer Disneyland Paris, while thrill-seekers and those short on time often prefer Parc Astérix’s more compact, coaster-dense footprint.
History and Growth
Parc Astérix was conceived as a French answer to the growing wave of American-style theme parks and has expanded steadily since 1989, adding new coasters and themed lands roughly every few years. Its continued investment in headline attractions, most recently the spinning Gerstlauer coaster Cétautomatix, has helped it climb into the ranks of Europe’s most-visited parks.
Parc Astérix visitor guide FAQs
Where is Parc Astérix located?
Parc Astérix is in Plailly, in the Oise department of France, about 35 kilometers northeast of Paris.
What is Parc Astérix’s fastest roller coaster?
Toutatis, an Intamin launched coaster that opened in 2023, is the park’s fastest ride at about 107 km/h and also holds the record for tallest and fastest coaster in France.
How many roller coasters does Parc Astérix have?
As of 2025, Parc Astérix operates nine roller coasters among its 44 total attractions.
How much do Parc Astérix tickets cost?
Prices vary by date and how far in advance you book. Online weekday tickets can start in the low €40s, while full-price gate admission for adults runs closer to €68, with lower rates for children, seniors, and large families. Check the official Parc Astérix ticket page for current dated pricing.
How do you get to Parc Astérix from Paris without a car?
The official option is the CDG airport shuttle, reached via RER B to Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 1, or RER B to Survilliers-Fosses station followed by a short local park shuttle bus.
What is the minimum height to ride Toutatis?
Toutatis requires riders to be between 130 cm and 200 cm tall.
Is one day enough at Parc Astérix?
Yes, one day is generally enough to experience the park’s main coasters and shows, though two days allow a more relaxed pace, especially during peak season.
When is Parc Astérix open?
The park runs seasonally, roughly from early April through early January, closing for winter from mid-January to March, with extended evening hours during its mid-July to early-September Gallic Summer period.
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