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

The Parc Zoologique de Paris, also known as the Zoo de Vincennes, is the most emblematic zoo in Paris, with its immense 65-metre-high rock, which can be seen from certain Parisian viewpoints. The zoo is home to many different species of animal, and is the perfect place to take the kids on an outing!

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, for a real world tour without even leaving Paris.

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-roaming 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 also tells a shared story and invites everyone to participate in the preservation of endangered species and the welfare of animals. Beyond its collaboration on numerous international conservation programs, the Paris Zoological Park has launched an animal sponsorship program. Thus, through the dedicated website, you can select an animal and contribute to its conservation and welfare by making a donation to sponsor an animal. Depending on the size of the donation, you can become a sponsor or a patron, and you may receive an admission, an annual pass, or exclusive invitations.

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

The Paris Zoological Park is open year-round, except in January when the park closes for its annual maintenance. Hours vary with the seasons, so visitors are encouraged to check the zoo’s website for up-to-date information. Expect €20 per adult, €15 per child, with entry for children under 3 years old being free. The zoo is accessible to wheelchair users; there are ground-level markings along the route to aid visitors with visual impairments, and guided tours are also offered for people with mental disabilities.

How do I get there?

To get to the Zoological Park, several competing parking lot operators have agreed to work together to offer visitors discounted 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, 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 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 Vincent Auriol-Bibliothèque and Quai d'Austerlitz parking lots just a few minutes' walk from 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 Porte Dorée station (a 5-minute walk from the Zoo entrance) or Bus 46 towards Château de Vincennes to Parc Zoologique stop.

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