Ménagerie du Jardin des plantes
TicketLens lets you:
Search multiple websites at onceand find the best offers.
Find tickets, last minuteon many sites, with one search.
Book at the lowest price!Save time & money by comparing rates.
Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes, also called the Jardin des Plantes Zoo, is a historic wildlife pocket in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, where red pandas, orangutans, snow leopards, and 19th-century animal houses sit beside the leafy paths of the Jardin des Plantes. Opened in 1794, it feels more intimate than a modern safari park and more atmospheric than a simple animal checklist.
For a first visit, book a skip-the-line entry ticket in advance, because weekends and school holidays can make the small Rue Cuvier entrance feel busy fast.
For a first visit, book a skip-the-line entry ticket in advance, because weekends and school holidays can make the small Rue Cuvier entrance feel busy fast.
Select a date to find available tickets, tours & activities:
Skip-the-line tickets
Choose advance entry if you want a smoother start at the Rue Cuvier ticket desk and more time for the historic animal houses.Ménagerie, Zoo of the Jardin des Plantes: Skip The Line
4.3(950)
tiqets.com
Go to offer
6 tips for visiting the Ménagerie du Jardin des plantes
1
Book before busy days
If you are visiting on a weekend, a public holiday, or during French school breaks, buy your entry before you reach Rue Cuvier. The zoo is compact, so a short ticket-desk delay can feel bigger at the start. Booking ahead keeps the first minutes calm.
2
Start near 10 am
If you want quieter paths and better viewing at small enclosures, arrive close to 10 am, especially with children. Later afternoon can work for keeper talks, but the route around the flamingos, red pandas, and tapirs feels calmer early. That way you see more before energy dips.
3
Keep the visit compact
Plan about 1.5 to 2 hours for a normal loop, then decide whether to add the free garden paths or Grand Gallery of Evolution. If you try to turn the Ménagerie into a full zoo day, the small scale works against you. Treat it as a vivid Left Bank stop instead.
4
Use the family web app
If you are visiting with children aged 4 to 12, open the free smartphone game before the first enclosure. It turns species such as red pandas, tapirs, and Przewalski's horses into a simple trail of challenges. That little mission can rescue focus when small legs get bored.
5
Pack light for checks
Security checks are part of the visit, and large items over 55 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm (22 in x 14 in x 8 in) are not accepted. If you are coming from Gare d'Austerlitz or Gare de Lyon with luggage, sort storage before you arrive. That keeps the zoo stop from becoming a bag problem.
6
Pair it gently nearby
After the Ménagerie, keep the next stop close: wander Jardin des Plantes, go indoors at Grand Gallery of Evolution, or cross to Grand Mosque of Paris for a quieter change of mood. This avoids dragging tired children across the Latin Quarter.
Ticket types at Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes
The ticket choice is refreshingly simple, but the timing matters. Use the Ménagerie as a paid, compact anchor inside a wider free-garden visit.
Advance entry for an easier start
Best for first-time visitors, families, and anyone arriving around school holidays. A skip-the-line ticket helps you move past the Rue Cuvier ticket friction and get straight to the animal houses, where the route is more charming than the queue. Book now.
Family pass when the ages fit
Choose the family pass if your group matches the 2-adult and 2-young-visitor format. It makes the most sense when you are planning the Ménagerie as the main paid stop of a Jardin des Plantes morning, with picnic tables or the Manège du Dodo as pressure valves nearby. Book now.
Discovery-rate logic for nearby sites
Great when you are also visiting another paid Jardin des Plantes site, such as Grand Gallery of Evolution. A recent full-price ticket from an eligible site can unlock the reduced Ménagerie rate, so keep tickets handy instead of treating each counter as a fresh start. Book now.
Animals and historic houses
The charm here is not scale. It is the strange, very Parisian mix of living animals, scientific history, and architectural fragments from two centuries of zoo design.
One of the world's oldest zoos
The Ménagerie opened in 1794, after animals from Versailles and other collections were moved into the Jardin des Plantes. That origin story still colors the visit: you are walking through a place built for scientific curiosity, not a theme-park spectacle. It is best enjoyed slowly, with an eye for old walls as well as quick-moving animals.
Architecture hiding in plain sight
Do not rush past the buildings between enclosures. The Bear Pits date from 1805, the Rotunda took shape between 1802 and 1812, the Reptile House belongs to 1870, and the Great Aviary to 1888. Since 1993, the ensemble has been protected as historic heritage, so the setting is part of the attraction.
A conservation collection, not a trophy zoo
The collection is now built around about 150 species, and nearly 40% are threatened. Red pandas, snow leopards, golden lion tamarins, and Seychelles tortoises are more than photogenic stops; they sit inside breeding and conservation work that gives the compact zoo its modern purpose.
Look for the small stars
This is not the place to chase giant spectacle. The better moments are often smaller: a red panda changing branches, a kea investigating its space, a tapir appearing after you almost walked on, or an orangutan drawing a quiet crowd. Give each enclosure a minute before deciding nothing is happening.
How to plan a Ménagerie stop in Paris' 5th arrondissement
Think of the Ménagerie as a compact Left Bank chapter. It works best when you know where to enter, how long to stay, and which nearby stop should follow.
Arrive from Gare d'Austerlitz or Jussieu
For most visitors, Gare d'Austerlitz is the cleanest public-transport anchor: metro lines 5 and 10, RER C, the Seine-side garden entrance, and Place Valhubert all make the route easy to read. Jussieu works well if you are already in the Latin Quarter. Either way, avoid arriving with large bags; the security limits are strict.
Use keeper talks as your afternoon anchor
If you want more than a self-guided animal loop, check the day's keeper talks before you choose your entry time. Many encounters take place on Wednesdays, weekends, holidays, and school-break days, often around animal enclosures in the afternoon. That structure gives families a reason to pause instead of marching through every path.
Make the family trail do some work
With younger children, the free smartphone game is more than a cute extra. It gives the route a mission, connects animals such as red pandas and tapirs to simple challenges, and can stretch the visit toward the 90-minute mark without anyone feeling lectured. That is useful in a zoo where the biggest win is attention, not distance.
Choose one nearby follow-up
The smartest route is not always the fullest one. After the Ménagerie, stay close with Jardin des Plantes for free greenery, Grand Gallery of Evolution for a museum-style animal sequel, or Grand Mosque of Paris for architecture and a quieter break. Save Panthéon for a day when the group still has legs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I plan for Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes?
Most visitors do well with about 1.5 to 2 hours. Add time if you want keeper talks, the family web app, a picnic pause, or a second Jardin des Plantes site.
Read more.Is the Ménagerie good for children?
Yes. The compact route, red pandas, flamingos, orangutans, and free smartphone game make it a strong family stop, especially for children who still have energy for a short animal trail rather than a huge zoo day.
Read more.Do I need a separate ticket from the Jardin des Plantes?
Yes. The garden paths are free, but the Ménagerie has its own paid ticket. There is no single ticket that covers every Jardin des Plantes gallery, greenhouse, and zoo site.
Read more.What animals can I see there?
The collection includes about 500 animals across roughly 150 species, with many threatened species. Highlights can include red pandas, snow leopards, orangutans, Przewalski's horses, flamingos, Seychelles tortoises, Malayan tapirs, and golden lion tamarins.
Read more.When is the best time to visit?
Weekday mornings are usually the easiest. If keeper talks matter more than quiet paths, check the same-day program and plan for the afternoon, when several talks often cluster around the enclosures.
Read more.Is the Ménagerie wheelchair accessible?
Partly. About 80% of the route is accessible, but uneven paths, a slope, and steps into some animal houses mean an accompanying person is useful. Some animals in stepped buildings can still be viewed from outside.
Read more.Can I bring luggage or big bags?
Avoid it. Items larger than 55 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm (22 in x 14 in x 8 in) are not accepted in reception, locker, and exhibition areas, so it is better to store luggage before arriving from a station.
Read more.Are food breaks possible inside or nearby?
Yes. Picnic tables are available in the Ménagerie and on the Gare d'Austerlitz side of the garden, and the wider Jardin des Plantes has food outlets. Keep picnics to the permitted areas rather than the protected lawns.
Read more.Are keeper talks included with the ticket?
Many keeper talks and short animal animations are included with Ménagerie entry on selected days. Check the same-day program if this is a priority, because weather, school holidays, and animal care can change the schedule.
Read more.General information
opening hours
Visitor hours are:
- Until October 25, 2026: daily from 10 am to 6 pm
- October 26, 2026 to February 28, 2027: daily from 10 am to 5 pm
The Ménagerie is open every day of the year, including public holidays, except December 25. Last admission is 1 hour before closing.
- Until October 25, 2026: daily from 10 am to 6 pm
- October 26, 2026 to February 28, 2027: daily from 10 am to 5 pm
The Ménagerie is open every day of the year, including public holidays, except December 25. Last admission is 1 hour before closing.
tickets
Admission prices are:
- Full price: €13
- Reduced rate: €10
- Family pass: €40 for 2 adults over 25 and 2 young people aged 3 to 25; one additional young person can be added for €5
- Children under 3: free
There is no single all-sites ticket for the Jardin des Plantes. A full-price ticket from another eligible Jardin des Plantes or museum site less than 3 months old can qualify you for the reduced rate.
- Full price: €13
- Reduced rate: €10
- Family pass: €40 for 2 adults over 25 and 2 young people aged 3 to 25; one additional young person can be added for €5
- Children under 3: free
There is no single all-sites ticket for the Jardin des Plantes. A full-price ticket from another eligible Jardin des Plantes or museum site less than 3 months old can qualify you for the reduced rate.
address
Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes
57 rue Cuvier
75005 Paris
France
57 rue Cuvier
75005 Paris
France
website
how to get there
The easiest public-transport approach is via Gare d'Austerlitz on metro line 5, line 10, or RER C, then a short walk into the Jardin des Plantes. You can also use line 7 to Censier-Daubenton, line 10 to Jussieu, buses 24, 57, 61, 63, 67, 89, or 91, or the Batobus stop Jardin des Plantes. Gare de Lyon is also within walking range for many visitors.
accessibility
About 80% of the Ménagerie route is accessible to wheelchair users, but an accompanying person is recommended because some paths are uneven and one section has a slight slope. Accessible toilets are in the garden to the right of the main Ménagerie entrance. The Fauverie animals can be seen from outside on an accessible path, but the Vivarium and Reptile Gallery include steps. Wheelchairs can be borrowed by calling +33 1 40 79 56 01.
security
Security checks apply at Jardin des Plantes visitor sites. Items larger than 55 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm (22 in x 14 in x 8 in) are not accepted in reception areas, lockers, or exhibition rooms, so avoid arriving with suitcases or oversized backpacks.
How useful was this page?
Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0.
Compare prices for more top sights in Paris:
Language
English
Currency© 2020-2026 TicketLens GmbH. All rights reserved. Made with love in Vienna.