The Paris Zoo

There are actually 2 zoos in Paris. The Paris Zoo, also known as the Vincennes Zoo, and the Jardin des Plantes Zoo (smaller but also very charming).

Entrance fees to the Paris Zoological Park are as follows: € 20 for adults (from 13 years old), € 15 for children (from 3 to 12 years old). The zoo is free for babies. A reduced rate of € 17 is available directly at the counters upon presentation of proof for job seekers and holders of an education pass. Free admission is also granted on presentation of proof to disabled people and their companion, journalists and beneficiaries of social minima. For aficionados, an annual pass is sold for unlimited access all year round at € 60 for adults, € 45 for children.

The Paris Zoo is open all year from 9:30 am between April and October and 10 am from November to March. The closing time depends on the season. 5 p.m. in low season (November to March) and until 8:30 p.m. in high season (May to August). In mid-season, the Park closes at 6 p.m. on weekdays and 7:30 p.m. on weekends, holidays and public holidays.

The famous animal park is not located in Vincennes as its other name suggests (Vincennes zoo) but in Paris at the intersection between Avenue Daumesnil and the Route de la Ceinture du Lac Daumesnil.

The Paris Zoological Park is easily accessible by public transport and in particular by bus to the "Parc Zoologique" stop served by lines 46, 86, 201 and 325. By metro, Porte Dorée station of line 8 is at 750 meters, or less than 10 minutes on foot. Saint-Mandé station on line 1 is two kilometers away, or about 25 minutes on foot. If you are coming from the Château de Vincennes, allow a 29-minute walk. A vélib station is located in front of the entrance to the Park. It is also possible to come to the Vincennes Zoo by car, but the proximity of the Bois de Vincennes makes parking in the area difficult, especially during school holidays, weekends and public holidays.

The Paris Zoological Park does not have its own parking lot. It is possible to park around the Bois de Vincennes or in the small streets of Saint-Mandé in front of the zoo. Please note that parking on Avenue Daumesnil and Avenue Saint-Mandé is systematically paid. Parking is free on the Lac Daumesnil belt road, but it is closed to traffic on Sundays and public holidays. However, the wisest thing to do during peak periods is the option of parking in a paid covered car park such as Parking Garage Poniatowski located at 57 Boulevard Poniatowski, 75012 Paris. Allow around 5 euros per hour of parking if you reserve in advance online. The Valmy Liberté car park located at 139 rue de Paris, 94220 Charenton-le-Pont is also an excellent option because you can walk through the Bois de Vincennes around Lac Daumesnil to access the entrance to the zoo (about 20 minutes on foot ).

The Paris Zoological Park offers a route around the main biozones of the planet: Amazonia, Madagascar, Africa, Europe or even Patagonia, the most emblematic animals of these regions are represented there. We admire vicuñas, ostriches, oryx but also vipers, sloths, lemur catta, dwarf caimans and boas, a tomato frog and some toucans. The zoo obviously gives pride of place to jaguars, rhinos, giraffes, puma and African lion. The Paris Zoological Park presents a world exclusive blob, this fluorescent yellow unicellular organism that is neither quite plant nor quite animal.

The time you will spend for the visit to the Paris Zoological Park depends on you! You can spend an entire day there, including a picnic or lunch at one of the zoo's restaurants. If the visit to the zoo is part of a family day in the Bois de Vincennes, allow at least two long hours to survey its 14.5 hectares of fauna and flora.

The Parc Zoologique de Paris hosts 6 dining areas including two restaurants, Siam and Zarafa, which allow you to order a quick snack or a full lunch. Eat in or take away, there is something for everyone: pizza, pasta, soup, plancha or sandwiches. In the summer, the lines are long at the ice cream stands. If you have planned a picnic, two areas with tables and benches are dedicated for this purpose and perfectly indicated in the park.

The Zoological Park of Paris is located at the entrance to the Bois de Vincennes. We can only recommend a walk around Lake Daumesnil and its beautiful Île de Bercy. Discover the majestic Grande Pagode de Paris. Renting a boat to stroll there in fine weather is a must not to be missed with the family. The 5 to 10 minute pony rides will delight the little ones. For older children, the Palais de la Porte Dorée houses the Immigration Museum and the Tropical Aquarium. Continuing further east from Avenue Daumesnil, you will come to the Esplanade Saint-Louis where the Château de Vincennes stands majestically. In spring, the famous Foire du Trône welcomes all fans of funfair on the lawn of Reuilly.