Parc zoologique de Paris, the capital's zoo, in the 12th arrondissement

In the 12th arrondissement, just west of Paris, lies the city's Parc Zoologique (also known as the Zoo de Vincennes), a huge zoo covering more than 14.5 hectares. With over 3,000 animals living in their natural environment, the park offers an immersive stroll through the different continents of our planet, taking you on a real world tour without even leaving Paris.

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During your visit, you'll follow the zoo's 4-kilometer circuit, which allows you to discover all the protected species housed at Vincennes Zoo. In all, you'll pass through five biozones: Africa, Patagonia, Europe, Amazonia-Guyana and Madagascar, and encounter birds, reptiles, big cats, savannah animals, marine mammals... There's also the Grande Volière, where you can admire free-ranging birds, and the Grande serre tropicale, where you can get up close and personal with amphibians, manatees and birds living in humid tropical conditions.

The Parc Zoologique de Paris was inaugurated in 1934, during the 1931 Colonial Exhibition, to introduce visitors to exotic animals. The zoo was a great success, and it was decided to keep it under the management of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. It soon became known as the "Vincennes Zoo", due to its location in the eponymous wood, with its emblem being the huge artificial rock 65 metres above the zoo.

The Vincennes Zoo is also a shared history and a desire to involve everyone in the preservation of endangered species and animal welfare. In addition to collaborating on numerous international species conservation programs, the Museum has launched an animal sponsorship program. Through the website, you can choose an animal and contribute to its conservation and well-being by making a donation of €20 or more. Depending on the amount of the donation, you can become a sponsor or patron, and obtain an entrance ticket, an annual subscription or exclusive invitations.

When is the zoo open? How much does admission cost?

The Paris Zoo is open all year round, except in January, when the park closes for the year. Opening times vary according to the season, so visitors are advised to consult the zoo 's website for the latest information. Admission is €20 per adult, €15 per child, and under-3s are free. The zoo is wheelchair-accessible, and there are floor markings all along the route for the visually impaired, as well as tours for the mentally handicapped.

How do I get there?

To get to the Zoological Park, several competing parking lot operators have agreed to work together to offer visitors reduced-rate parking, on the sole condition of reserving a space in advance on the Internet. By public transport, the zoo entrance is a 7-minute walk from Porte Dorée station (line 8) or Château de Vincennes station (line 1).

Alternatively, you can leave your car at the Grands Moulins or Tolbiac-Bibliothèque parking lots, then take the Avenue de France for 500 m to the Avenue de France tramway station. Take the Tramway T3a towards Porte de Vincennes, and in 3 stations you'll arrive at Porte Dorée: a 5-minute walk from the Zoo entrance.

You'll also find the Vincent Auriol-Bibliothèque and Quai d'Austerlitz parking lots just a few minutes' walk from the Quai de la Gare station: take metro line 6 (towards Nation) to Daumesnil, then line 8 (towards Créteil) to Porte Dorée. On the other side of the Seine, you'll also find the Bercy parking lot, a 5-minute walk from the Bercy metro station: take line 6 (towards Nation) to Daumesnil, then line 8 (towards Créteil) to Porte Dorée.

You can also use the Erard-2 parking lot or the Garage du Faubourg, which are right next to the Metro station and the Reuilly-Diderot bus stop: take Metro line 8 towards Créteil to the Porte Dorée station (a 5-minute walk from the Zoo entrance) or Bus 46 towards Château de Vincennes to the Parc Zoologique stop.

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