<p>European theme parks set free entry by age or by height, so a tall two-year-old may pay at one park and a small four-year-old may go free at another. This guide lists the rules we could check, from each park's own information, without ranking them.</p>
Last checked: November 2026, against each park’s own information. Terms can change between seasons, and some parks need proof of age or a free ticket, so confirm on the official site before you travel.
A free ticket for your youngest makes a real difference to the cost of a theme park day. In Europe, parks set this rule in two ways: by age, or by height. A tall two-year-old may have to pay at a park that goes by height, and a small four-year-old may get in free. This guide lists the parks we could check, grouped by rule. It isn’t a ranking, and it lists only what the parks say themselves, so a park you don’t see here may still have a free rate we couldn’t verify.
Quick answer
- Free for under-3s by age: Disneyland Paris, Linnanmäki and Serengeti Park, among others.
- Free up to and including three: Efteling and Phantasialand, and under 4 at PortAventura Park.
- Free by height, usually under 90 cm: Legoland Windsor, Alton Towers and Gardaland.
- The surprise: Legoland Billund and Legoland Deutschland stop at under 2.
Parks that go by age
| Park | Country | Free for | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| PortAventura Park | Spain | Under 4 | The Junior ticket applies from 4 to 10 |
| Efteling | Netherlands | Up to and including 3 | On showing ID |
| Phantasialand | Germany | 0 to 3 | Bring ID or a birth certificate; otherwise the 4 to 11 price applies |
| Attractiepark Slagharen | Netherlands | Up to and including 3 | No ticket needed |
| Belantis | Germany | 0 to 3 | No ticket needed |
| Therme Erding | Germany | Up to and including 3 | On the Therme and VitalOase tariff |
| Tropical Islands | Germany | Under 4 | Don’t book them a ticket in advance |
| Disneyland Paris | France | Under 3 | Child tickets apply from 3 to 11 |
| Linnanmäki | Finland | Under 3 | Into the park area without a ticket |
| Serengeti Park | Germany | Under 3 | Including the bus safari |
| Duinrell | Netherlands | Up to and including 2 | No ticket needed |
| High Chaparral | Sweden | 0 to 2 | – |
| Walibi Holland | Netherlands | Up to 2 | No ticket needed |
Read “under 4” and “up to and including 3” as the same thing: a child is free until their fourth birthday. These parks are more generous for your under-3 than the headline suggests, and your child stays free for an extra year.
Parks that go by height
| Park | Country | Free if under | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thorpe Park | UK | 1.2 m | With any pre-booked online ticket. Pre-book it, then visit the Ticket Sales building to be measured. |
| Fraispertuis City | France | 1 m | Measured with shoes on |
| Skara Sommarland | Sweden | 1 m | No booking needed |
| Canevaworld | Italy | 100 cm | Movieland Park and Caneva Aquapark |
| Legoland Windsor | UK | 90 cm | – |
| Alton Towers | UK | 90 cm | – |
| Lightwater Valley | UK | 90 cm | – |
| Gardaland | Italy | 90 cm | – |
| Magicland | Italy | 90 cm | Online and at the gate |
| Leolandia | Italy | Up to 89 cm | Measured with shoes on |
| La Mer de Sable | France | 90 cm | – |
| Hunderfossen Familiepark | Norway | 90 cm | No ticket for the main park or registration |
| Plopsaland Deutschland | Germany | 85 cm | – |
Two points are worth checking on these. First, shoes: Fraispertuis City and Leolandia both say they measure with shoes on. Second, booking: many parks still expect you to include or collect a free ticket, as Thorpe Park does.
Parks that stop before age 3
Don’t assume every Legoland works alike. Legoland Billund and Legoland Deutschland both give free entry only to children under 2, while Legoland Windsor goes by height at under 90 cm. If your child is two, check which ticket applies before you compare prices. At Brighton Pier, children under 2 enter free as well.
At Energylandia in Poland, children up to 3 pay 1 zł rather than going entirely free.
Free doesn’t always mean ride-ready
- Rides can have their own limits. Free entry doesn’t mean your child can use every ride. Check our charts for Disneyland Paris, Legoland and Efteling and Europa-Park.
- Adults usually have to pay. A free child doesn’t remove the need for a paying adult. At Disneyland Paris, for example, children under 12 must be accompanied by someone aged 15 or over or a responsible adult.
- Add-ons can be charged. Parking, food and some extras often aren’t covered by a child’s free entry. Check the park’s page for what’s included.
- Bring ID. Efteling and Phantasialand both ask for proof of age. Carry a passport or birth certificate.
Parks we couldn’t confirm
We couldn’t confirm the current free-entry rule from an official source for some popular parks, including Europa-Park, Parc Astérix, Liseberg and Tivoli, so they aren’t in the tables. Check their ticket pages directly.
Next steps
Going with a toddler? Read theme parks with a toddler and our theme park day bag list. Two adults sharing a small child can use rider switch and parent swap. For a shortlist of parks, see 10 best theme parks in Europe for kids.
Tickets & tours for these places
Bookable tours via GetYourGuide. Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Final thoughts
<p>Check whether your park goes by age or height, measure your child, carry proof of age and confirm whether a free ticket is needed. Then check the ride limits, because free entry doesn't open every ride.</p>
Frequently asked questions
Do under-3s go free at Disneyland Paris?
Yes. Disneyland Paris says children under 3 go free, and child tickets apply from 3 to 11.
Do under-3s go free at Legoland?
It depends on the park. Legoland Billund and Legoland Deutschland are free for under-2s only. Legoland Windsor is free for children under 90 cm.
Is Efteling free for toddlers?
Yes. Children up to and including 3 enter free on showing ID.
Is PortAventura free for under-3s?
Yes. Children under 4 enter free, and the Junior ticket applies from 4 to 10.
Why do some parks use height?
Parks set this rule themselves. In practice, height-based pricing means a tall toddler can pay and a small older child can enter free, so measure your child before comparing prices.
