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Best zoo destinations in Europe

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London
A Tapestry of History and Modernity
9.2
This zoo lies on the northern edge of Regent's Park beside Regent's Canal. It opened in 1828 for scientists and welcomed the public in 1847. Land of the Lions has Asiatic lions and a model of an Indian village. Berthold Lubetkin's curved concrete penguin pool from 1934 is a landmark of modern design.
Highlights:
  • 🎖️ Watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
  • 🎡 Ride the London Eye for sweeping Thames views
  • 👑 See the Crown Jewels inside the Tower of London
Amsterdam
Canals, culture and a vibrant spirit
9.3
Artis opened in 1838 and is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands. The grounds have 19th century buildings, a planetarium and an aquarium. Micropia next door is a museum of microbes seen under microscopes. Trams from Central Station reach the zoo gate in about ten minutes.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Explore Van Gogh Museum’s masterpieces up close
  • 🏠 Visit the Anne Frank House for a moving experience
  • 🚤 Cruise the scenic canals and pass under arched bridges
Copenhagen
Scandi-cool vibes and world-class food
9.2
Warm air and elephant calls fill the glass domes of the Elephant House. The house opened in 2008 with a design by a London architecture firm. A panda house shaped like a yin and yang symbol opened in 2019. Frederiksberg Gardens next door has lakes and shady paths for a walk after.
Highlights:
  • 👑 Explore Rosenborg Castle and its royal crown jewels
  • 🧜‍♀️ See the famous Little Mermaid statue by the waterfront
  • 🌈 Visit the colorful Nyhavn harbor and enjoy a waterside drink
Paris
The city of love, art and history
9.3
Mornings and weekdays are quietest at the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes, a small zoo opened in 1794. It is inside a botanical garden near the Seine. Red pandas and a reptile house are among the highlights. In Vincennes the Paris Zoological Park reopened in 2014 around a 65 metre artificial rock.
Highlights:
  • 🖼️ Explore the masterpieces at the Louvre Museum
  • 🌆 Stroll along the romantic Seine River at sunset
  • 🗼 Climb the Eiffel Tower and admire the city skyline
Rotterdam
A modern city with a creative soul
8.1
Locals call the zoo Blijdorp, after the neighbourhood where it moved in 1940. The Oceanium has a glass tunnel where sharks and rays swim overhead. Amazonica is a warm indoor hall of South American rainforest. Blijdorp station on metro line E is a short walk from the gate.
Highlights:
  • 🌉 Walk along the Erasmus Bridge, Rotterdam’s modern landmark
  • 🌆 Ride the Euromast elevator for sweeping skyline views
  • 🏠 Admire the bold architecture of the Cube Houses
Zurich Zoo
A Sanctuary for Wildlife and Conservation
The Masoala Rainforest hall is an indoor forest of about 11,000 square metres with lemurs roaming free. The Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park opened in 2014 and is named for a Thai national park. The zoo is on the wooded Zürichberg hill and tram 6 stops at the gate.
Highlights:
  • 📚 Learn about conservation at the interactive education center
  • 🐘 Watch elephants roam in the spacious Kaeng Krachan habitat
  • 🌿 Walk through the lush Masoala Rainforest filled with exotic wildlife
Berlin Zoological Garden
Germany's oldest zoo with giant pandas
Opened in 1844, this zoo is the oldest in Germany and older than the German Empire. The Elephant Gate on Budapester Strasse has stone elephants and a pagoda roof. Giant pandas Meng Meng and Jiao Qing arrived from China in 2017. The Aquarium on the zoo grounds has fish, reptiles and a crocodile hall.
Highlights:
  • 🌺 Stroll through the lush Greenhouse Garden for tropical birds
  • 🦒 Visit the iconic Elephant House and feed giraffes
  • 🐘 Explore the historic Tiergarten zoo's diverse animal exhibits
Prague Zoo
Vibrant wildlife sanctuary amid historic cityscape
The Indonesian Jungle pavilion is a warm indoor forest with tropical birds and primates. A chairlift carries visitors up the hillside above the Vltava River. Prague Zoo has flown Przewalski's horses back to Mongolia since 2011. The zoo opened in 1931 and covers about 58 hectares of hillside.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Take a sunset stroll through the zoo’s botanical gardens
  • 🐼 Visit the giant panda enclosure during feeding time
  • 🐾 Explore Europe's oldest zoo, home to diverse species
Chester Zoo
Family adventures amid diverse wildlife wonders
George Mottershead opened the zoo in 1931 on an idea of moats instead of bars. It is run by a charity that funds wildlife work in dozens of countries. Realm of the Red Ape has orangutans in a tall indoor forest. The zoo is just north of Chester with regular buses from the city.
Highlights:
  • 🌙 Watch the nocturnal animal show after sunset
  • 🦒 Feed giraffes during the scheduled feeding session
  • 🦓 Stroll through the expansive African savannah exhibit
Vienna Zoo
A world of wildlife amid historic gardens
Sunlight warms the yellow Baroque pavilion where emperors once ate breakfast among the animal houses. The zoo began in 1752 as a royal menagerie and is the oldest in the world. The zoo lies in the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace, a UNESCO site. Metro line U4 stops at Schönbrunn near the entrance.
Highlights:
  • 🌿 Stroll through botanical gardens adjacent to the zoo
  • 🦒 Feed giraffes during Vienna Zoo's morning session
  • 🐘 Explore the historic Schönbrunn Zoo's diverse exhibits
Pairi Daiza
Wildlife wonders unfold beneath Belgian skies
This park lies in the village of Brugelette in Wallonia about an hour from Brussels. It fills the grounds of Cambron Abbey, a monastery founded in 1148. The name Pairi Daiza is an old Persian word for a walled garden. The Panda Garden, built for giant pandas, has Chinese style halls and a lake.
Highlights:
  • 🗿 Explore Manneken Pis statue, capture playful street vibe
  • 🧇 Wander through Grand Place, taste authentic Belgian waffles
  • 🏛️ Visit Atomium, photograph its unique spheres
Loro Parque
Enchanting wildlife encounters await you
The park is pleasant all year with highs in the 70s Fahrenheit. Loro Parque began in 1972 as a parrot park and still has hundreds of parrots. Planet Penguin has a snowy cold room with penguins swimming behind glass. The park is in Puerto de la Cruz on the north coast of the island.
Highlights:
  • 🌸 Stroll through the botanical gardens, photo‑worthy orchids
  • 🐬 Witness the dazzling dolphin and sea lion shows
  • 🐧 Explore Loro Parque's giant penguin exhibit
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