Beauval Zoo on a rainy day

🌧️ The upside of rain: fewer people

Many visitors postpone as soon as the weather turns. The result: calmer paths and more time at the most popular territories.

Good news for the giant pandas too: they are often more active in cool, cloudy weather than in strong heat. There is no organised queue in front of their territory, rain or shine.

The indoor territories

The ZooParc has 4 tropical greenhouses and the Equatorial Dome, kept between 25 and 30 °C all year round. Enough to wait out a shower in the dry and the warm:

• The Equatorial Dome: 1 hectare under glass, around 200 species (manatees, giant otters, pygmy hippos, Komodo dragons)
• The Gorilla Greenhouse: Asato's family, pools with fish and rays, a vivarium
• The Orangutan and Chimpanzee Greenhouse, with small primates
• The Bird Tropical Greenhouse: hornbills, Victoria crowned pigeons, a pair of sloths
• The Koala Greenhouse: koalas, tree kangaroos, a coral reef
• The Vivariums and Aquariums: alligators, poison dart frogs, chameleons

Our rainy-day route

• During showers: go from greenhouse to greenhouse and the Equatorial Dome, taking your time inside
• During dry spells: head for the big outdoor territories (the African Savannah, the Elephant Plains, the Heights of China)
• At lunchtime: a restaurant with an indoor dining room, like Le Canard Toqué in Bucolia (dishes from €12.50). Restaurant opening days vary with the season: check them in the ZooParc app. See where to eat at the ZooParc

To find the greenhouses on the map and build your route: the ZooParc map and our suggested itinerary.

❄️ Rain in winter: what changes this year

• From 16 November 2026 to 5 February 2027, the South entrance is closed: entry is via the North entrance only, right next to the Equatorial Dome. Handy to start in the warm
• Until 8 March 2027, MonstroZoo places 6 creatures in 6 territories, included in the ticket
• From mid-November to late March, no shows

All the details: Beauval in winter and the North entrance.

What to wear?

• A waterproof or poncho for each member of the family: bring your own
• Waterproof shoes: paths can be slippery
• A waterproof cover for your phone or camera
• A change of clothes in the car for the children
• A rain cover for the pushchair

Also bring a layer that is easy to take off: it is 25 to 30 °C in the greenhouses. Code lockers are available at the entrance.

Our verdict: Beauval in the rain, should you go?

Yes, especially in light rain or showers: you will enjoy the greenhouses and quieter territories. Let's be honest: after a British summer, a bit of Loire Valley drizzle will not put you off.

If the forecast is for a whole day of heavy rain and you are flexible, shift by a day: the big outdoor territories are much less pleasant in a downpour. Before you go, check Beauval's weather month by month.

Find out more: best times to visit Beauval | one day or two? | our practical tips