Our Worlds
Stay at the park
Animal Encounters
Activities not to be missed
Inspirations and discoveries
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The best day out with kids in Belgium
Travel the world in one day at Pairi Daiza
Planning a day out with kids in Belgium and not sure where to start? You are in the right place. Belgium is full of family-friendly options — from medieval castles in the Ardennes to chocolate workshops in Bruges — but one attraction stands above the rest for an unforgettable family day: Pairi Daiza.
Pairi Daiza is Belgium’s #1 visitor attraction. It welcomed nearly 2.87 million visitors in 2025 and has been voted Best Zoo in Europe multiple times. And it is built, every square metre of it, with children in mind.
Why is Pairi Daiza the best family day out in Belgium ?
Pairi Daiza is not a typical zoo. It is a 80-hectare park of ten themed worlds, 7,000+ animals and immersive gardens that take children straight into Asia, Africa, North America, the polar regions and now a giant tropical glasshouse.
Why families love it:
- Pandas, polar bears, walruses, manatees, jaguars — animals you cannot see in any UK zoo
- 10 themed worlds — every corner of the park feels like a new country
- Edenya — the new tropical glasshouse for 2026, where every day is fine weather
- Wide, smooth paths — pushchair-friendly throughout
- More than 20 restaurants and food stalls inside the park, so no need to leave for lunch
- Playgrounds spread across each world
- Daily animal feedings and encounters
- Free entry for children under 3
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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).
FAQ - Day out with kids in Belgium
For an unforgettable family day, Pairi Daiza in Brugelette is hard to beat — it is Belgium’s most visited paid attraction and offers ten themed worlds, 7,000+ animals and the new Edenya tropical glasshouse. Other excellent family destinations: Bruges for canals and chocolate, Brussels for the Atomium and museums, Durbuy and Dinant for the Ardennes outdoors.
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