Beauval Zoo in winter: is it worth it?

❄️ What changes this winter 2026-2027

While the South entrance is closed, set the North entrance in your sat nav. Even if you are staying at Les Jardins or Les Pagodes de Beauval, the ZooParc recommends driving. All the details: the ZooParc North entrance.

Opening times and practical info

• Open every day from 9am, bank holidays included (25 December and 1 January too)
• Closing at around 7.30pm in winter, against 9pm in summer
• The last entry time is shown every day on zoobeauval.com: check it before you leave
• Some areas close earlier than the park, and the animals go back to their indoor quarters at the end of the day

Details and the full calendar: ZooParc de Beauval opening times.

The real advantages of winter

Few people on weekdays

Outside the school holidays, January is the quietest time of the year. The paths empty out and you can take your time at each territory. Our crowd calendar helps you pick the right day.

Animals visible outdoors

As the ZooParc points out, you can see all the animals in winter. Cold-adapted species live their lives outdoors, and the others remain visible in their indoor quarters or in the greenhouses.

MonstroZoo for the children

Hunting for the six MonstroZoo creatures gives the walk a theme. Handy for keeping children motivated in the cold.

Low-season hotel prices

Outside the Christmas holidays, winter is low season: that is when Beauval packages are closest to their "from" prices. Compare them in our holiday packages guide.

🌿 The greenhouses and the Dome: keeping warm

The ZooParc has 4 tropical greenhouses and the Equatorial Dome, kept between 25 and 30 °C all year round depending on the species. Perfect for warming up between two outdoor territories.

• The Equatorial Dome: 1 hectare, 38 m high, around 200 species (manatees, giant otters, pygmy hippos, Komodo dragons, douc langurs)
• The Gorilla Greenhouse: Asato's family, pools and a vivarium
• The Orangutan and Chimpanzee Greenhouse, with small primates
• The Bird Tropical Greenhouse: rhinoceros hornbills, Victoria crowned pigeons and a pair of sloths
• The Koala Greenhouse: koalas, tree kangaroos, a coral reef

This winter, the North entrance leads straight to the Equatorial Dome: a good way to start the visit in the warm. Our suggested itinerary includes a route from the North entrance.

🐾 Which animals to see in winter

• Giant pandas: often active in cool weather, in the Heights of China. The twins Huanlili and Yuandudu are at Beauval until at least January 2027
• Snow leopards, brown bears, Arctic wolves: in their element when it is cold
• Red pandas: look for them in the branches, in the Heights of China
• Great apes: visible in their heated greenhouses
• Manatees, giant otters: in the Equatorial Dome, at 26 °C

To see who lives where: all the ZooParc animals, territory by territory.

🎄 December, Christmas and New Year

The ZooParc stays open throughout the festive season, including 25 December and 1 January. The French Christmas holidays run from 19 December 2026 to 4 January 2027: expect more people than the rest of the winter.

Several Beauval hotels offer festive meals (Christmas Eve buffets, Christmas Day and New Year's Day lunches, New Year's Eve parties). Programme and prices: Christmas and New Year at the Beauval hotels.

End-of-year illuminations and evening openings for 2026 had not been announced by the ZooParc on 8 October 2026. Keep an eye on zoobeauval.com: we will update this page as soon as they are.

What to plan for

Short days

With earlier closing and last entry in the late afternoon, arrive at 9am. Do not linger over lunch if you want to see everything.

No shows

Les Maîtres des Airs and L'Odyssée des Lions de Mer only run from about late March to mid-November. If your children are set on them, spring is a better choice.

Access via the North entrance

From 16 November to 5 February, everyone goes through the North entrance. Park in the North car park: our parking guide.

It is cold

You walk a lot over 46 hectares. Several hours outdoors at 5 °C is a different visit from April: the right clothing matters, especially for children. Winter driving in France: see driving from the UK.

What to wear at Beauval in winter

• A warm coat or puffer jacket
• Hats, gloves and scarves for the whole family
• Waterproof shoes (paths can be wet)
• A blanket or footmuff in the pushchair for babies
• Layers that are easy to take off: it is 25 to 30 °C in the greenhouses

With a toddler: Beauval zoo with a baby.

Who is Beauval in winter for?

For a first visit with children who want to see the shows, spring is more complete. But winter is ideal for:

• Families avoiding the crowds (weekdays outside the holidays)
• Children who love MonstroZoo, until 8 March 2027
• Anyone wanting to see the panda twins in early winter
• Wildlife photographers, with no crowd in front of the lens
• Budget-conscious families, with low-season package prices (outside Christmas)

To compare every period: when to visit ZooParc de Beauval. And if it rains: Beauval on a rainy day.

Information checked on zoobeauval.com on 7 October 2026.