Motion sickness at Parc Asterix: what's rough and how to cope

Photo: Chabe01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized and converted.

Plailly, Oise, France · Compagnie des Alpes · ~2.842M visitors (2024, industry estimate)

Yes. Parc Asterix is France's force-first park, and it makes no apologies: Toutatis launches repeatedly into beyond-vertical spikes at up to 110 km/h, OzIris hangs you under the track through five inversions, Tonnerre 2 Zeus remains a forceful wooden ride even after retracking, and Goudurix pushes seven inversions with a rough reputation it has earned. There are almost no simulators here, so unlike at screen-heavy parks your nausea risk maps directly onto the coaster lineup, which makes it easy to plan around. The gentle side is thinner but real: the Epidemais Croisieres boat cruise idles along at walking pace, the Gaulish village is a proper walkthrough, and the Foret d'Idefix area covers small kids. Respect the big four and the park is very doable.

The rides most likely to set you off

• Toutatis: multi-launch coaster with beyond-vertical spikes and 110 km/h top speed.

• OzIris: inverted coaster with five inversions.

• Goudurix: seven-inversion coaster with a rough reputation.

• Tonnerre 2 Zeus: large wooden coaster, retracked but still forceful.

Goudurix is the one that hurts: seven inversions delivered with the rough transitions that built its reputation, a combination that leaves even hardened coaster fans dizzy.

Where to reset between rides

When your stomach needs a break, head for Epidemais Croisieres (slow boat cruise), Foret d'Idefix kids' area or Gaulish village walkthrough. Slow visuals, a fixed horizon and a seat that is not spinning give your inner ear time to settle before the next big ride.

Feeling queasy at Parc Asterix right now?

Stop the nausea

Open Dizzout, plug in any headphones, tap play. Drug-free sound therapy, and most people feel better in about 90 seconds. No pills, no drowsiness, no waiting for a tablet to kick in.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

On a computer? Dizzout installs on your phone — scan the code, or open dizzout.com/get on your phone and it'll take you straight to the right store.

Your survival plan for Parc Asterix

1. 1

   Ride Toutatis at opening while you are fresh; repeated launches and beyond-vertical spikes are hardest late in a tired day.

2. 2

   Decide on Goudurix early and honestly; seven rough inversions is the single biggest queasiness bet in the park, so skip it if you are borderline.

3. 3

   Put OzIris and Tonnerre 2 Zeus in separate halves of the day rather than chaining inversions onto wooden roughness.

4. 4

   Reset on the Epidemais Croisieres slow boat cruise, the park's one truly still-water break.

5. 5

   Walk the Gaulish village between rides; ten minutes of level ground with a fixed horizon settles the inner ear.

6. 6

   Keep meals light until the big four are done; French park food is worth saving for the end anyway.

7. 7

   Carry headphones and start Dizzout's sound therapy at the first hint of nausea; most people feel better in about 90 seconds.

Going with kids

The 2023 Foret d'Idefix land finally gives small kids a proper zone.

Common questions