Theme parks in Europe from the UK: which to visit and how to get there

This guide covers five parks in four countries: Disneyland Paris and Parc Astérix in France, Europa-Park in Germany, PortAventura in Spain and Efteling in the Netherlands. All four countries are in the Schengen area, so a British passport needs no visa for a short visit. Each park sets its own dates, so read its calendar before you fix a day.

The guide draws on each park's own pages for its season and its directions, and on GOV.UK for the entry rules. It names no ticket price, because this site is a guide, not a seller of tickets, hotels or packages. Where a park's page gives no date or no journey time, the guide gives none either.

The five parks sit in four countries and keep different calendars. Efteling says it is open all year round. Europa-Park and Parc Astérix publish dated seasons that run into January. The table gives what each park says on its own pages.

The park pages give no UK journey times, so this section covers only the last part of each trip, as the park describes it, and leaves the flight or train to you. For Disneyland Paris, our Disneyland Paris guide sets out Eurostar, LeShuttle and the connections. If you drive from the UK, our ferry to France guide and our guide to driving in Europe from the UK cover the crossing and the documents.

• Parc Astérix
  The park says to take the RER B towards Charles de Gaulle Airport and get off at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1, then take its Roissy shuttle, which it puts at about 25 minutes with departures every 15 to 30 minutes. By car it gives the A1 towards Lille, between exits 7 and 8. Read Parc Astérix, getting to the park.
• Europa-Park
  The park lists these airports with distances: Black Forest Airport Lahr 20 km, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden 64 km, Strasbourg 64 km, EuroAirport Basel 90 km. It says it takes just over one hour to get to the park, and that by road you leave the A5 at exit 57b Rust. Read Europa-Park, arrival.
• PortAventura World
  The resort says you can reach it in 1 hour from any terminal at El Prat Airport in Barcelona or in 15 minutes from Reus Airport. It has a stop on the R-17 and RT2 lines of Rodalies de Catalunya, and by car you join it directly from the A-7. Read PortAventura World, how to get to PortAventura.
• Efteling
  From Schiphol, the park's public transport page says to take the train to 's-Hertogenbosch, then bus line 300, 301, 136 or 800 to the Efteling stop. It names Tilburg as the other train stop for the bus. Read Efteling, coming by public transport.

GOV.UK says you can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must have a date of issue less than 10 years before you arrive and an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. Read the page for the country you fly into: France, Germany, Spain or the Netherlands, and see our entry requirements guide and UK passport guide if yours is near a limit.

A November or December visit is possible at several of the parks, but the programme changes. Europa-Park warns that during HALLOWinter and the winter season attractions may not run or may close at short notice in ice, snow, wind or low temperatures.

• Europa-Park
  HALLOWinter runs from 2 to 27 November 2026 and the winter season from 28 November 2026 to 9 January 2027, daily from 11am until at least 7pm, closed on 24 and 25 December 2026. Source: Europa-Park, opening hours and seasons, checked on 6 November 2026.
• Parc Astérix
  The Terror in the Park night events ran from 3 October to 8 November 2026, and the Christmas ticket is valid from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. Source: Parc Astérix, home page, checked on 6 November 2026.
• PortAventura World
  The Halloween season runs from 19 September to 15 November 2026. Source: PortAventura World, home page, checked on 6 November 2026.
• Efteling
  The park says it is open all year round and that its calendar shows the opening times for each day. Source: Efteling, opening hours, checked on 6 November 2026.

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  The park's calendar: Opening days and hours are the park's to set, so check the dates you want on its own site.
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  Passport dates: Issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave the Schengen area.
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  The last leg: Which airport, station or bus stop the park names, and whether it needs booking ahead.
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  Winter closures: Short-notice closures of rides in cold weather, as Europa-Park warns for its winter season.

• Do British citizens need a visa for a theme park in Europe?

  Not for a short visit to France, Germany, Spain or the Netherlands. GOV.UK says you can travel without a visa to the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Checked on 6 November 2026.

• Is Efteling open all year?

  Efteling’s opening hours page says: “Efteling is open all year round.” It tells you to select a date in its calendar to see that day’s opening times. Checked on 6 November 2026.

• When is Europa-Park open this winter?

  Its winter season runs from 28 November 2026 to 9 January 2027, daily from 11am until at least 7pm, and it is closed on 24 and 25 December 2026. HALLOWinter runs from 2 to 27 November 2026. Checked on 6 November 2026.

• How do I get to Parc Astérix from Paris Charles de Gaulle?

  The park says to take the RER B towards Charles de Gaulle Airport, get off at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 and take its Roissy shuttle, which it puts at about 25 minutes. Checked on 6 November 2026.

• How far is PortAventura from Barcelona airport?

  The resort says you can get to PortAventura World in 1 hour from any terminal at El Prat Airport, or in 15 minutes from Reus Airport. Checked on 6 November 2026.

• Which airports are near Europa-Park?

  The park lists Black Forest Airport Lahr at 20 km, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden at 64 km, Strasbourg at 64 km and EuroAirport Basel at 90 km. It says it takes just over one hour to get to the park. Checked on 6 November 2026.

• How do I get to Efteling from Schiphol?

  The park’s public transport page says to take the train to 's-Hertogenbosch and then bus line 300, 301, 136 or 800 to the Efteling stop. Checked on 6 November 2026.