Pairi Daiza
A large zoo and garden in Hainaut built in the grounds of a Cistercian abbey, arranged as world regions.
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Pairi Daiza occupies about a hundred hectares in the grounds of the ruined Cistercian abbey of Cambron, and it is organised as a series of world regions with substantial architecture built for each: a Chinese garden with imported buildings and a large panda enclosure, an Indonesian kampong, an African section with a walk-through aviary and elephants, an Australian area, and a Nordic region with polar bears and marine mammals in a large complex. The abbey ruins, a twelfth-century crypt, a Gothic tower and mature parkland are woven through it. It has expanded steadily since 1994 and now has on-site accommodation. It is the most visited paying attraction in Belgium and gets extremely busy.
What you actually see
- Giant pandas - the Chinese section built around the enclosure.
- Regional architecture - buildings imported and built for each world area.
- The Cambron abbey ruins - crypt, tower and park woven through the zoo.
- A walk-through African aviary - one of the larger enclosures on the site.
When to go
April to October for the full site; it closes for part of the winter and reopens for a Christmas season. A full day, and that is not enough to see everything. Belgian, Dutch and French holidays are extremely busy.
Honest expectations
It is very crowded in season, with queues for the panda house and restaurants. Ticket prices are high and extras add up. There is a great deal of walking. Animal welfare in zoos is a legitimate question and visitors should form their own view.
Nearby
Beloeil Castle is south-west; Ath lies north.
What to pack for Pairi Daiza
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
