Zoo de Lille (Lille Zoo)

Zoo de Lille (Lille Zoo), in Parc de la Citadelle, is a compact yet engaging zoo. Opened in 1950, the zoo is home to around 80 different species, from mammals to birds and reptiles. With its modest size and affordable entry fee, Lille Zoo is an accessible and family-friendly experience, featuring well-maintained enclosures and an emphasis on creating habitats designed to mimic the animals’ natural environment.

What to see at Zoo de Lille

The zoo is organised into six different thematic zones, each designed to replicate a different natural habitat. However, two of these: Terres d’Afrique (African lands) and Voyage exotique (Exotic travel) are currently closed for maintenance work.

The four zones open to the public are Autour du monde (around the world), D’île en île (island to island), Excursion sud-américaine (South American excursion) and Sous les tropiques (in the tropics).

Autour du monde (around the world) has a variety of animals from around the world with a focus on smaller mammals, birds and reptiles. This zone includes meerkats, mongoose, lemurs, otters, wallabies and red panda.

D’île en île (island to island) is made up of four islands that are home to both monkeys and aquatic birds, including white-handed gibbons, brown capuchins as well as pelicans, geese and Florida tortoises.

The Excursion sud-américaine (South American excursion) zone is home to wildlife from South America including two maned wolves and a terrestrial tapir.

Opened in 2017, Sous les tropiques (in the tropics) is the zoo’s newest area. This zone features a massive 10m-tall aviary that is home to a variety of tropical species.

Visiting Zoo de Lille

The zoo is in Parc de la Citadelle between the Citadel and Canal de la Moyenne-Deûle. You can walk here from the city centre in around 20 minutes. Alternatively, bus routes L1 and L5 stop nearby at Champs de Mars.

It’s an ideal spot for families with young children as it’s affordable, especially when compared with zoos elsewhere in Europe, and reasonably close to the city centre.

Zoo de Lille was free of charge until 2016, making it one of the most-visited zoos in France, and entry remains free for residents of Lille and it is reasonably priced for everyone else. It is open from late-February to mid-November but is closed on Tuesdays.

Visitor facilities include a gift shop and la Cabane Gourmande where you can have a snack and something to drink.

Allow 2–3 hours for your visit.

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Allée Arlette Gruss, 59000 Lille
Bus L1, L5 (stop: Champs de Mars)
Website www.lille.fr/Zoo-de-Lille
Admission €6, seniors (over 65 years) €3, children (5–17) €3, children (under 5) free, free for residents of Lille
Open 24 Feb–29 Mar Mon 10am–5pm, Wed–Sun 10am–5pm; 30 Mar–29 Sep Mon 10am–6pm, Wed–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat–Sun 10am–7pm; 30 Sep–25 Oct Mon 10am–5pm, Wed–Fri 10am–5pm, Sat–Sun 10am–6pm; 26 Oct–11 Nov Mon 10am–5pm, Wed–Sun 10am–5pm