The best day out at Belgium’s finest attraction

Looking for a day out in Belgium that beats a museum-and-chocolate run through Brussels? Skip the city for a day. Drive an hour south, and you arrive at Pairi Daiza: voted Best Zoo in Europe multiple times, home to giant pandas, polar bears and the new Edenya tropical glasshouse — Guinness World Records included.

A day out in Belgium can take many forms — a city break in Brussels, the canals of Bruges, the medieval streets of Ghent, beer tasting in Antwerp. Pairi Daiza is the only one of these that offers a full-day immersive experience designed to feel like a trip around the world.

Why is Pairi Daiza the best day out in Belgium ?

Themed worlds

7,000+

animals

Guinness World Records — held by the new Edenya glasshouse (2026 opening)

2.65 million

visitors a year

What to do on a day out at Pairi Daiza ?

Pairi Daiza is built as a journey through ten themed worlds. Each one has its own architecture, plants, food and animal collection. You can easily spend a full day here without retracing your steps.

Drag

Rare animal species

10 immersive worlds

Family activities

Edenya — the new world for 2026

Animal encounters

Dinosaur Experience

How to get to Pairi Daiza for a day out ?

Pairi Daiza is located in Brugelette, in Belgium’s Hainaut province. It sits roughly halfway between Brussels and Lille.

By car

Distance from key points:

Calais: 2 ¼ hours
Brussels: 1 hour
Lille: 1 hour

Parking on site costs 13€ per day. Buy your parking ticket at the entrance or online.

By train

Pairi Daiza is near Cambron-Casteau station, on the Mons-Ath railway line. There is no direct train from Brussels.

Brussels Central or Brussels Midi → Jurbise (IC train, ~44 min, every 20-30 min)
Change at Jurbise → Cambron-Casteau (L train)
Total journey: roughly 1 hour 20

From the station, a marked pedestrian path leads to the park entrance in 20 minutes (1.2 km).

If you buy your day ticket on the Pairi Daiza website, you get a SNCB Discovery Code worth 40% off your round-trip train fare. Children under 12 ride free with SNCB (up to 4 per paying adult).

Drag

The world’s largest indoor tropical garden

by the Guinness World Records

Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice 2025

Voted Best Zoo in Europe 2023, 2024, 2025

By Parkscout.de

Michelin Guide 2025

Worth a special journey

Voted Best Belgian holiday Park

by Parkvakantie.nl

The world’s largest indoor zoological ecosystem

by Guinness World Records

Voted Europe's Best Holiday Park 2025

by Parkscout.de

The largest number of plant species cultivated in an indoor tropical garden

by Guinness World Records

FAQ - Day out in Belgium

For families, couples and animal lovers, Pairi Daiza is the most complete day out in Belgium. It combines a world-class zoo, themed gardens, immersive architecture and the new Edenya tropical glasshouse — all in a single park 1 hour from Brussels.

Technically yes, but you will be rushing. The park covers 75 hectares with ten themed worlds, 7,000+ animals, and dozens of feeding shows spread across the day. We recommend two days to truly experience Pairi Daiza. Two days lets you take your time in each world, catch the best animal feedings, eat properly inside the park, and explore Edenya without watching the clock. The easiest way to do this is to combine your day ticket with [an overnight stay at Pairi Daiza Resort — you get exclusive evening access to two worlds after day visitors have left.

The best day out at Belgium’s finest attraction

Why is Pairi Daiza the best day out in Belgium ?