How to spend a fabulous family weekend at Parc Asterix

Katja Gaskell

Astérix and Obelix might not be as famous as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, but to the millions of fans who grew up following the adventures of the plucky Gaul and his oversized best friend holding out against Roman conquest, they're every bit as iconic.

Written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, the first Astérix book was published in 1961. Since then, the comic books have sold more than 380 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 111 languages.

They're still well-loved today: within a month of a new edition being published in October 2025, over 1.6 million copies had been sold in France alone.

Given the popularity of the pint-size moustachioed comic book hero, it's not surprising that there's a theme park dedicated to the adventures of Astérix and his pals. Located in Plailly, just two-and-a-half hours from Calais, Parc Astérix^* is not only an easy weekend getaway but, just like the books themselves, it's clever, funny and wonderfully homegrown.

Rides & shows

You don't need to know your Getafix from your Geriatrix to enjoy your time at the park, but if you are familiar with the stories, then you will love the set-up. Spread across six themed zones, much of Parc Astérix recreates scenes and stories from the comics.

There are attractions for all ages with slower rides, boat trips and costumed characters roaming the grounds to entertain younger children, and thrilling rides guaranteed to please an older crowd.

Among the most popular rides, there's the Pegasus Express rollercoaster set in Ancient Greece that changes direction halfway through, the white-knuckle OzIris ride set among Egyptian temples, and, in the Gaulish zone, there's Toutatis, the fastest attraction in France, reaching speeds up to 68mph (110km/ph).

There are also plenty of opportunities to get wet (I mean really wet), particularly on the Menhir Express log flume. The final drop on La Revanche des Pirates (Grand Splatch), meanwhile, will leave you soaked.

Fortunately, family-size coin-operated "sechez-vous" machines are positioned alongside both rides to help you dry off.

Parc Astérix also performs themed shows throughout the day, but they tend to be lost on non-French speakers. The exception is Les Plongeons de l'Olympe, the Olympic Divers, where four Roman and four Greek athletes perform ever more impressive feats from high diving boards in the hope of winning Poseidon's Trident.

The 4D adventure ride, Attention Menhir, is another show where the action outweighs the storyline.

The Filotomatix

Parc Astérix might not be as renowned as its neighbour Disneyland Paris^*, but that doesn't mean that it's quiet. The park is officially the second most popular theme park in France and was voted Europe's best in 2023.

In short, the site can get crowded, and lines for some of the most in-demand attractions can stretch up to an hour in peak season. Fortunately, you can beat the queue.

The Filotomatix^* is the park's official fast pass system where you can pay extra to jump to the front of the line. At the top end, the unlimited pass gives you instant fast-track access to up to 14 attractions, but there's also a budget-friendly version that puts you in a virtual queue, freeing you up to explore until your slot comes around.

You can even pay-as-you-go on the Parc Astérix app if you are desperate for one last ride on, say, the hair-raising wooden Tonnerre 2 Zeus rollercoaster and don't want to wait in line.

Please note: Parc Astérix is open from spring to autumn with special seasonal opening hours over periods such as Halloween and Christmas. Be sure to check the park's calendar^* before booking.

The food

Good food and theme parks don't typically go hand in hand, but the dining options at Parc Astérix are surprisingly tasty thanks to the park's commitment to sourcing its produce locally. In addition to crêpe stands, sandwich shops and burger bars, there are a couple of sit-down restaurants too.

Of these, Restaurant du Lac is probably the best and where you can order a wild boar burger, a nod to Obelix's famous appetite and favourite food. Book and pay for restaurants via the park's app and you'll get a small discount.

If you stay overnight, then the buffet restaurants in the park's hotels are also very good, with everything from seafood and salads to traditional French dishes and kid-friendly fare.

The hotels

If you arrive as the gates open and stay until closing, then you can probably do Parc Astérix in a day, but it will be exhausting. It's much better to spend a night or two, and the park has three themed hotels to choose from, with another due to open in 2027.

Les Trois Hiboux and La Cité' Suspendue are the park's original hotels, both three-star properties that feel far more sophisticated than their price tags suggest.

Opened in 2021, the four-star Les Quais de Lutèce is a fantastic reimagining of Paris in Roman times when the city was known as Lutetia.

Set along a winding canal, you feel like you have stepped into the pages of one of Astérix's adventures. Guests at all three hotels get to enter the park thirty minutes early, meaning you can be hurtling around Goudurix's seven loops before the gates have even opened to the general public.

Plan to visit soon

I've been visiting Parc Astérix for years, and there's always something new to experience, but the next couple of years look like the most exciting yet.

In addition to the new 300-room, four-star Mesopotamia-themed hotel, inspired by the 1981 comic, Astérix and the Black Gold, work has already started on a new zone, Londinium.

Inspired by Astérix in Britain, when Astérix and Obelix travel to Roman-occupied Britain to help deliver a barrel of magic potion to a rebel village, this area will feature the park's first indoor rollercoaster. For these reasons and more, it's definitely time to start planning a trip.

Climate at Parc Astérix

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	6	7	11	14	18	21	24	23	20	16	10	7
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	3	4	6	7	7	8	7	6	4	3	2
Days with some rainfall	17	14	16	15	15	13	11	12	12	14	15	16

The above guide shows the climate in Paris, which best reflects what conditions will be like in the park, which is located around 25 miles north of the French capital.

Ready to experience the park? Find the latest offers on tickets online^*. Book in advance to save and get the very best deal on your weekend escape.