Make the most of Kolkata winters: A guide to outdoor spots for family adventures

Winter in Kolkata has a characteristic charm — crisp mornings, mellow afternoons and the comforting ritual of pulling out jackets that hold memories of last year’s holidays. It is a season when badminton manages to edge past all-time favourites — cricket and football across playgrounds and housing societies. In the evenings, even as ubiquitous monkey caps and shawls take over the city’s landscape, adda sessions stretch into hours over endless steaming cups of tea.

Basically, it gently prods you to step out and enjoy yourself. 

It is especially perfect if you have children eager to explore the great beyond — because from sprawling greens and nature cafes to amusement parks Kolkata has it all. Come winter and the city transforms into a playground full of possibilities. 

Here’s a ready-reckoner to entice your kids to look beyond digital devices and school routines while the weather is perfect. Ready to head out?

Location: Queen’s Way/Maidan area
Timings (Galleries): Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–6pm; closed on Mondays and designated national holidays; the gardens are open every day.
Entry: Rs 50 (Gallery), Rs 30 (Garden), Rs 100 (Light and sound show); free admission for school students in uniform with school identity cards

Few winter experiences match an afternoon in and around the Maidan area. Endless greens for picnicking, clear blue skies with crispy sunshine, roasted peanuts or jhaal muri, football, frisbee games, pony and horse-drawn buggy rides — all circling the iconic white-marbled Victoria Memorial. The best part is after picnicking you can take your kids to also view the galleries inside the Victoria Memorial which house special artefacts including the Sword of Tipu Sultan, a walking stick used by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and cannons among other displays. As evening sets in, there is even a light and sound show that takes place at the gardens.

Location: Shibpur, Howrah
Timings: 9am–4pm; closed on Mondays
Entry: Rs 30

A favourite among birders, the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanical Garden is spread over 270 acres on the other side of the Hooghly. Perfect for family outings, children can learn about the trees here simply by scanning the QR codes affixed on boards next to them that also list their species and where they are generally found. From Red Sanders to a mini tea garden, this botanical garden has it all. However, the star attraction happens to be the Great Banyan Tree, whose aerial roots span nearly 4 acres and is estimated to be more than 250 years old — older than Kolkata itself. Plan a winter escape here with your family for a calm yet enriching experience away from the cacophony of the city.

Location: Alipore Road, Kolkata
Timings: 9am–5.30pm (Ticket counters shut one hour earlier)
Entry: Rs 20 (Up to 5 years), Rs 50 (5+ years) 

A childhood staple for generations, Alipore Zoo still tops the list of lively winter attractions in Calcutta. From majestic Royal Bengal Tigers to giraffes, elephants and chimpanzees, the animals here captivate visitors, while migratory birds also make a stop here during winters. Ideal for picnics, families are often spotted having picnic lunches while children run about or play badminton or throw frisbees.

Location: New Town, Action Area IIE, Newtown, Kolkata, WB–700156 (opposite Eco Park Gate Number 6)
Timings: 9.30am–5.30pm, closed on Thursdays
Entry: Free up to 5 years, Rs 50 (5+ years)

Spread over 12.5 acres, this is a modern zoo and has enclosures that are built to resemble the habitat of the animals kept inside. The zoo now has a hippopotamus, zebras, giraffes, crocodiles and a variety of deer. The aviary section has a couple of black swans, endemic to Australia and New Zealand, an Abdim’s stork from Africa, a magpie goose, flocks of barnacle geese and Chinese geese, several blue and yellow macaws, and greater and lesser cockatoos. The enclosures for the big cats including Royal Bengal Tiger and lion are also complete.

Location: Action Area II, New Town
Timings: Tuesday–Sunday 11am–7.30pm
                 Closed on Monday
Tickets: Rs 30 (entry only; rides and activities extra)

Spread over 480 acres with a 113-acre waterbody in the middle, Eco Park is a must-visit for all this winter. Lush gardens, expansive greens and a host of water-based activities and rides including speed-boat rides, zorbing make this irresistible for people of all age groups. Children here are spoilt for choice as they can hop into a toy train that circumnavigates the park or take bicycle rides or simply jump into multiple boat rides at the park. They can also view miniatures of some of the greatest monuments in the world. A picnic lunch is a must here, and the park itself houses several restaurants and eateries.

Location: Jheel Meel, Sector IV, Salt Lake
Park: 10.30am–6.45pm    Rides: 10.45am–7.30pm
Entry: Around Rs 500 for full package

Nicco Park remains one of Calcutta’s year-round old favourites. From roller coasters and water rides to toy trains and paddle boats, it offers something for every age group. It also hosts a winter carnival where special shows take place every two hours.

Location: J.B.S. Haldane Avenue, Topsia / EM Bypass
Timings: Daily, 10am–7pm (ticket counter open till 6pm); closed on Holi
Entry: Rs 70 (Tickets for rides and shows are extra); package tickets range from Rs 213–Rs 330 for entry fee along with rides and other attractions.

Science City blends education, entertainment and spectacle. Families can explore the Evolution Park, experience immersive shows at the Space Theatre, take a ropeway ride and wander through outdoor science installations, picnic on the greens or enjoy a meal at any of the eateries present. With plenty of hands-on exhibits and open-air attractions, one can easily spend a day here, and it remains among Calcutta’s old favourites for visitors and residents alike.

Location: Near New Town police station, opposite NKDA Building
Timings: 11am–7.30pm (Tuesday to Saturday),10.30am–7.30pm (Sundays and holidays); closed on Monday
Entry: Rs 30 per person, free for school students

Opened in 2022, this museum on aviation history houses a decommissioned Tupolev Tu-142M maritime aircraft. The massive aircraft, codenamed “Bear” in NATO parlance, the Tupolev Tu-142M is also known as the “Albatross” due to its sheer size and wingspan. The plane was operated by the Indian Navy’s air wing for reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare till 2017 before it was decommissioned. The museum allows visitors to climb into the fuselage of the aircraft and have a look at the cockpit, weapons bays and controls. It also has a children’s park and various rides that will leave kids thrilled.
 

Sportsplex for Paintball and Turf

Location: SportsPlex, 63/1, 46, Christopher Rd, opposite Altius Project, Brindaban Garden, Seal Lane, Tangra, Kolkata, West Bengal 700046
Timings: 24×7
Entry: Varied; Rs 600 per person for an hour-long game of paintball

Perfect for older kids and teenagers looking to expend some of their energy. This complex offers various turfs for games like football and cricket. It also has other team and paintball games for the kids to enjoy. 

Location: Dhakuria (on Southern Avenue), Kolkata–700029
Timings: 5:00–9.30am & 3pm to sunset (Safari Park); 5am–7pm (Lake)
Entry: Free for all at both spots

Perfect for families and children, this 190-acre green refuge is tucked a stone’s throw away from the residential pockets of South Calcutta. The lake glints between winding paths, where joggers share space with birdwatchers hoping to spot a Rose-ringed Parakeet or the occasional winter migrant touching down for the season.

A short walk from Gate No. 10 leads to Lion’s Safari Park, a 9.5-acre retreat nested inside the larger Sarovar greens. Its zones unfold one after another, each designed with a different rhythm of leisure in mind. Children are spoilt for choice as see-saws, monkey bars and swings dot the area. Adults too have their own space in the form of an open air gymnasium and a separate workout zone for women. 

The musical fountain inside gives the park a character of its own.

Beyond the activity hubs lie small pockets of quiet—the Herbal and Rose Garden, and the Nakshatra Vatika—where flowering plants, medicinal herbs and fruit trees thrive.

Children can explore these and try and identify the trees and plants while also keeping an eye out for birds here.