Discover the greatest zoos and animal parks in and around Vienna
Despite its modern city flair, Vienna offers a wealth of natural beauty and is home to fascinating animals. Whether in the nature parks around Vienna or the zoos within Austria’s capital, a visit to the most beautiful zoos and animal parks are definitely a must while on holiday in Vienna!
Wildpark Ernstbrunn – home to wildlife
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The game park in Ernstbrunn lives up to its name. In addition to native animal species such as goats, donkeys, chamois, ibex and others, the park is also home to highland cattle, sika deer and mouflons. Especially for children, the excursion is an unforgettable experience, because the sociable animals can also be fed. So if you want to experience animals up close, but want to avoid the crowds of tourists that you may encounter in the Schönbrunn Zoo, this is the right place for you.
The park also offers special highlights for those with a thirst for knowledge. For example, the Wolf Science Centre is located there, where wolves are raised by hand and studied. The guided tours offered last about 90 minutes and provide a great insight into the life of the noble creatures.
In addition, special activities can also be booked. For example, you can watch wolves being trained or get to know the fascinating animals up close on a walk with others.
Our Tip: You can reach this destination easily and conveniently by public transport. The best way is to take the Postbus line 857 from Floridsdorf or Korneuburg
Wildpark Ernstbrunn
Address: Dörfles, 2115 Ernstbrunn
Website: http://www.wildpark-ernstbrunn.at/
Opening hours: http://www.wildpark-ernstbrunn.at/besuchen/
Naturpark Sparbach – Relaxation and a change of scenery in the Vienna Woods
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The Vienna Woods is not only a popular recreational area for the Viennese, but is also home to the wonderful Sparbach Nature Park in its south. This is the oldest nature park in Austria and as such it offers unique flora and fauna as well as a special landscape with meadows, giant trees and ruins.
Animals also feel at home here, so while walking through the park, keep your eyes open and discover wild boars, mouflons and fallow deer roaming freely. The small animal enclosure with rabbits, donkeys, goats and sheep or the huge adventure playground, including an extensive sand and water area as well as a tree house, are sure to delight even the youngest visitors.
Take part in one of the guided tours on offer to perfectly round off a day in the Sparbach Nature Park. You can, for example, book not only a journey back in time to the Biedermeier era, but also an educational forest adventure hike for children.
Sports enthusiasts will also get their money’s worth on one of the four hiking trails in the park, ranging from 2km to 8km. A perfect way to discover all the highlights of the nature park.
Our Tip: The nature park is also easily and quickly reached by public transport from Vienna – simply take the train to Mödling and from there a bus (line 364) will take you to the park.
Sparbach Nature Park
Address: Sparbach 6, 2393 Sparbach
Website: https://www.naturpark-sparbach.at/
Opening hours: https://www.naturpark-sparbach.at/opening-hours
Haus des Meeres, Aqua Terra Zoo – tropical and marine oasis in the heart of Vienna
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Fascinating creatures from tropical and marine regions can be discovered in the heart of Austria’s capital, in Vienna’s 6th district, not far from the Neubaugasse U3 underground station. The Aqua Terra Zoo is home to more than 10,000 animals, from crocodiles and sharks to a wide variety of fish and bird species.
The Aqua Terra Zoo has been captivating its guests since 1957. In particular, the guided tours and the special attractions, such as shark diving or snake feeding, are a real magnet for visitors.
One of the biggest eye-catchers, however, is the monkeys and birds that fly freely around the complex. In addition, tropical plants and exotic aquatic organisms can be studied and admired.
Haus des Meeres
Address: Fritz-Grünbaum-Platz 1, 1060 Vienna
Website: https://www.haus-des-meeres.at/
Opening hours: https://www.haus-des-meeres.at/opening-hours
Schönbrunn Zoo – the best zoo in Europe
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Of course, the historic Schönbrunn Zoo should not be missing from such a list. It is not only the oldest zoo in the world, but has also been named the best zoo in Europe on three occasions.
As a destination for a day trip, Schönbrunn Zoo is one of the must-sees when you are on holiday in Vienna. You can observe and marvel at the more than 730 species of animals that call the zoo home. In particular, the monkey and elephant house, the flamingo meadow, the crocodile pavilion and the penguin enclosures are very popular with visitors
Here, however, visitors are not only offered beauty to admire, but also the opportunity to learn through the numerous guided tours and workshops on offer. The topics range from horse whispering and a workshop for animal keepers to combating one’s personal fear of spiders.
Tiergarten Schönbrunn
Address: Schönbrunn, 1130 Vienna
Website: https://www.zoovienna.at/
Opening hours: https://www.zoovienna.at/opening-hours
Lainzer Tiergarten – Nature in the biosphere park
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Every year, around 500,000 people visit the Lainzer Wildlife Park – and you don’t even notice this huge number of visitors due to the vast area of the park with its approximately 2.5 hectares of woodland and numerous paths in this large nature reserve. Here, on the outskirts of Vienna, nature, a variety of plants and animals in their natural habitat co-exist in total harmony.
Although animal enclosures and separate little petting zoos do not await you, as the name “Lainzer Tiergarten” would suggest, you are permanently surrounded by numerous different species of animals. Insects, salamanders, frogs, bats, aurochs, beetles and birds can be observed just as closely as the many wild boars, deer, roe deer and mouflons.
It is also possible to book a wide variety of guided tours at the park’s Visitor Centre, focussing for example, on wild herbs, bats or birdcalls.
All four gates of the Lainzer Tiergarten – the Lainzer Gate, the Nikolai Gate, the Gütenbach Gate and the Laaber Gate – are also easily accessible by public transport.
Lainzer Tiergarten
Addresses: Hermesstraße, 1130 Vienna; Gütenbachstraße, 1230 Vienna; Nikolausgasse, 1130 Vienna: Tiergartenstraße, 2381 Laab im Walde
Website: https://www.lainzer-tiergarten.at/
Opening hours: https://www.lainzer-tiergarten.at/oeffnungszeiten