
Natural History Day in Paris
Paris • One-Day City Plan
Spend a full day exploring the scientific collections of the Jardin des Plantes, Paris's historic natural history campus in the 5th arrondissement. Begin at the Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy, where nearly 1,000 vertebrate skeletons and 2,000 fossils trace 460 million years of life on Earth, then step into the Gallery of Mineralogy and Geology to see giant crystals, meteorites, and gems from the French Crown Jewels. The centerpiece of the day is the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution, home to over 7,000 specimens including a southern right whale skeleton and the iconic African animal caravan. End your visit at La Ménagerie, one of the world's oldest zoos, where 500 animals from 150 species inhabit Art Deco pavilions dating to the 1930s. Note that all museums are closed on Tuesdays; the Paleontology Gallery is currently closed for renovation until summer 2027, and timed-entry tickets for the Grande Galerie should be booked online in advance.
Overview
Planning a day in Paris? This step-by-step itinerary covers the best of Paris in one day — 4 attractions with exact walking times between each stop, entrance fees per person, and transport alternatives.
Plan around 7h 10min to visit 4 attractions along the way. Budget roughly €92: about €47 on entrance tickets, and roughly €45 for 3 meals. You can adjust these numbers and see a full breakdown below.
Your Day Timeline — Natural History Day in Paris
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Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy Gallery
The Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy is part of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, located at the eastern edge of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris's 5th arrondissement. Designed b…
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Gallery of Mineralogy and Geology
The Gallery of Mineralogy and Geology sits within the Jardin des Plantes complex in Paris's 5th arrondissement, part of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. Housed in a neoclassical building desi…
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Lunch Break
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National Museum of Natural History
The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, founded in 1793 during the French Revolution, occupies several buildings within the Jardin des Plantes in Paris's 5th arrondissement. Its centerpiece, the Gra…
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La Ménagerie: The Zoo of the Botanical Garden
La Ménagerie is the zoo within Paris's Jardin des Plantes, established in 1794 during the French Revolution, making it the second oldest zoo in the world after Vienna's Schönbrunn. The zoo covers 5.5…
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