The Barcelona Zoo is one of the prime attractions of the city loved by kids and adults alike. It is one of the oldest zoos in the world and has been flocking with visitors since 1892. A legendary part of Barcelona and ranked amongst the top zoos in the country, it was home to the world's first albino Gorilla named Snowflake for 40 years and had the first dolphinarium in Europe.
It prides itself with not just hundreds of species of animals, birds, insects, reptiles, mammals and fish but also excellent humane facilities. Love for nature comes alive here with about 5,500 animals from 400 different species and more than 1300 trees and other flora from 330 botanical species! Committed to conservation of flora and fauna of the country, Barcelona Zoo is a safe and happy habitat for these creatures.
Barcelona Zoo in a Nutshell
Barcelona with its lovely weather conditions, attractive beaches, surrounding mountains, monuments, culture and history is also home to the world famous Zoo. When in Barcelona you cannot skip visiting this popular Zoo packed with variety of fun activities and adventure for the whole family. Established in 1892, this zoo has been the home for numerous rare species of animals like babirusas, giant anteaters, anoas, red pandas, African wild dogs, snow panthers, Hawaiian geese, bongos and many others. Besides an awe-inspiring peek while freely roaming around the habitat of these animals, this Zoo has loads of fun experiences on offer. This well kept and picturesque zoo is dotted with beautiful sculptures, walking trails, restaurants, bars, pony rides, miniature railway, electric cars, shops, picnic area and more. With a nominal entry fee, Barcelona Zoo is surely an ideal place to spend a great day.
Barcelona Zoo Tickets
Barcelona Zoo Tickets | Skip the Line ✪
Quick Jumplinks to Navigate the Guide
- Avoiding the Crowd at Barcelona Zoo
- Barcelona Zoo Tickets
- The Barcelona Zoo Zones
- Barcelona Zoo Reviews
- Top 5 Experiences at the Barcelona Zoo
- Dining at Barcelona Zoo
- Practical Information & Insider Tips
Avoiding the Crowd at Barcelona Zoo
Be it a school trip or an outing with family and friends or those visiting the city, Barcelona Zoo is always flocked by tourists as well as locals in large numbers. While it may not be possible to avoid crowds completely but a few tips can make the experience more enjoyable.
- Weekdays obviously turn out to be a better choice of day to visit the Zoo as weekends and public holidays attract far bigger crowds.
- The long queues for buying the entry tickets can again waste your precious time and drain you off the energy. It is a good idea to go for skip the line, Fast track tickets to have more time inside the Zoo. This way you can conserve your energy for loads of walking to explore this amazing wildlife park, go for pony rides, pet the animals, watch shows, have a picnic and have a relaxed time in the vast greens.
- Morning hours are relatively cooler and better compatible for a visit.
Barcelona Zoo Tickets
Barcelona Zoo: Fast Track Skip The Line Tickets
- Take advantage of skip the line access to the zoo which will take you past the long ticketing lines
- Enjoy witnessing 4,000 animals of 400 species
- Let the children have the time of their lives on a pony ride or by petting animals in the children’s play area
- Relax and have a picnic with your family in the vast greens
Barcelona Card: 20% discount on Barcelona Zoo Tickets
- Avail 20% discount on Barcelona Tickets with your Barcelona Express Card
- Enjoy other massive discounts for Barcelona attractions for two days with the ultimate Barcelona Express Card
- Unlimited transport on the public networks including Barcelona metro, city buses, Catalan Railways (FGC), suburban trains, trams, Barcelona airport metro and train and Renfe suburban trains in Zone 1 for 48 hours
- Get a free guide in six languages which has curated experiences, deals and discounts for you to offer along with maps of the city, its attractions and metro
The Barcelona Zoo Zones
The huge Zoo of Barcelona inhabited by hundreds of species of animals is divided into 11 spaces. Natural habitats of different groups of animals using modern, zoo-immersion techniques have been created. The vegetation is peculiar to different habitats and different observation points have been created with panoramic views for the visitors.
Land of Dragons
Named after Komodo dragons, this space has five exotic species of native animals of Asia Pacific region. The natural habitat of these animals recreated using modern techniques makes these animals feel at home and gives an immersive experience to the visitors. Muntjac deer, Lyle's flying foxes,Nicobar pigeon and the Java sparrow are other unique species seen here.
Terrarium
This is the reptile house of Barcelona Zoo. It has best collections of amphibians and reptiles in the whole of Europe ranging from small dragons, bay tortoise, poison dart frogs and iguanas, to large spectacled caimans. A wooden footbridge connects several ponds with an enormous Siamese crocodile as the star attraction.
Aviarium
This aviary representing different ecosystems of American, African and Asian jungles has over 70 species of birds. White pheasant pigeon, Blacksmith lapwing, Green- backed heron, little bittern and many other rare birds can be spotted here.
Farm
This space is most popular with children. It houses goats, cows, ponies, sheep, pigs, horses, asses and other farm animals. Children can pet the animals and interact with them. Catalan donkey, a species on the verge of extinction is the key attraction here.
Gorillas area
This area dedicated to the gorillas makes you experience the behaviour of these primates closest to humans in mental and physical features and feelings. You come to know about the famous white gorilla, Snowflake, that became a symbol of Barcelona zoo and city.
Primates gallery
This area has a covered passage with glass walls which enables visitors to see a variety of monkeys. The Brazza monkey, the white nosed monkey, the red monkey, the Barbary macaque and many others climb up and slide down ropes playfully gnawing fruits.
Marmosets gallery
This area houses the smallest primates called the South American Titi Monkeys. There are about seven species of these monkeys here which are most admired by the visitors.
Palmeral
This has a beautiful garden to stroll around right at the zoo entrance. Consisting of thirteen aviaries with varied species of birds like Triton cockatoos, red fronted macaw, hyacinth macaw, blue, red and green macaw, golden parrot etc., this area is sheer delight.
Aquarama
This exhibit carries one of the star attractions of the park, the sea lions. It also has aquariums with fish from the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.
Flight dome
This is an oval dome with water zones, grasslands and varied vegetation where different bird species inhabiting swamp areas can be observed.
Garden of biodiversity
This is an exclusive, quiet place for the local animals of Barcelona. This also has a beautiful small lake surrounded with natural vegetation.
Barcelona Zoo Reviews
It's worth visiting. The zoo is very big. There are many animals. The habitats of the animals are very large and beautifully arranged. At the entrance, they give you a map of the zoo. It takes about 2 to 3 hours to see all the animals.
Had a great time at the zoo while I was visiting Barcelona! They had a great variety of animals and the zoo itself is hugeeee! It took us all day to walk around the whole thing and some parts were even closed for construction. There are so many different types of monkeys, birds and reptiles. They had lions, tigers and leopards! The big cats are always my favorites!!! They also had giraffes, elephants, and hippos! I really enjoyed this zoo and the price was worth it since they had so many different animals to see!
Top 5 Experiences at the Barcelona Zoo
The Barcelona Zoo has many unique, exotic animals and experiences to offer. Every weekend, public holidays and during school vacations there are exciting activities planned for the visitors for no additional cost. Some of these fun activities are on year long while some keep changing from week to week. One must go through the weekly schedule to check out these activities.
Spectacular Invertebrates
This informative and fun activity is on from 01 January 2018 to 14 October 2018. You learn many interesting facts about centipedes, spiders, ladybugs, butterflies and many other invertebrates through this workshop and exhibition. The explanatory panels, viewing and live encounters make this activity exciting and engaging!
Feeding the Penguins
This is one of the favourite activities of this Zoo which takes place all year long. At a specified time the bird keepers feed buckets full of fish to these short stepped, hoppy, flipper creatures. Seagulls, cattle egrets, little egrets and other birds nesting the Zoo trees join the feast!
Training of Elephants
There are very interesting elephant training sessions held every weekend and holidays from 01 January 2017 to 31 December 2018.Through a special training fence, you can witness the keepers taking care of the elephants, making them exercise and follow instructions. Its a treat to watch these pachyderms enjoy these sessions!
Dolphin Observation
Loved by all visitors alike, the Zoo Delphinarium holds sessions every day between 11:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 17:00, to acquaint you with the life of Dolphins. With information on what these aquatic mammals eat, their features and other facts, these sessions are thoroughly entertaining. Besides being a fun activity, it also educates on how their habitat can be protected and these loveable animals be preserved.
Dining at Barcelona Zoo
Spread over 32 acres the Barcelona Zoo involves quite a bit of walking to explore the place. It is indeed a pleasurable experience to stop by and grab a tasty bite to replenish your energy and take a break. There are a number of delightful options to choose from to satiate your appetite.
- Savannah An outdoor terrace restaurant, ideal for a quick bite of burgers, sandwiches or hotdogs.
- The Cabins The three cabins-The Tigers Cabin , the Parliament House and the Lady of the Umbrella spread over the park see cold snacks , drinks, hot dogs and more.
- The Eagles An exclusive restaurant serving local delicacies of Spain like paella or fideuá.
- Al Natural This kiosk serves varied selection of cold sandwiches, fresh hot dogs, cold and hot drinks, fruit salads and snacks.
- The Terrarium This is an all time popular Italian joint serving your favourite spaghetti, macaroni, carbonara, pizza, cold and hot sandwiches and a lot more.
- Self-service La Granja Self serviced , Multi cuisine place with something for everyone.
- La Granja (farm) café Located at the Zoo Farm, next to the children’s playground famous for its rotisserie chicken, pizzas, sandwiches,salads as well as other options.
Practical Information & Insider Tips
Barcelona Zoo Timings
- January 1st to March 29th, daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- March 30th to May 15th, daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- May 16th to September 15th, daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- September 16th to October 25th, daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- October 26th to December 31st, daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- December 25th, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Reaching Barcelona Zoo
To reach Barcelona Zoo, look out for modes of transport heading towards Parc de la Ciutadella. From here, the Barcelona Zoo is a mere 2 minute walk.
By Bus
You can take any of the following buses to reach Barcelona Zoo - 36, 39, 40, 51, 92, B20, B25, H14, H16, V21, V27.
By Metro
Get down at L4-Ciutadella Vila Olímpica and walk to the Barcelona Zoo.
By Tram
Get down at T4-Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica and walk to the Barcelona Zoo.
Facilities available at Barcelona Zoo
- Barcelona Zoo has released a mobile application which allows visitors to navigate about the zoo, locate and identify what they have around them, receive information about the daily agenda and directions to restaurants, lockers, toilets, etc.
- The Barcelona Zoo has paid locker facilities.
- The Zoo, its exhibits and facilities are all conducive to people with reduced mobility.
- There is an in-house medical facility for emergencies.
- There are two souvenir shops at the exit
Insider Tips
- Knowing the enormity of the Zoo and the fact that certain activities and shows have specific timings, it always helps to plan out your day. Spend some time to decide what all you want to do in advance.
- Lot of activities are planned on weekends and holidays but they are also high rush days. Make an informed decision.
- Getting around the Zoo becomes much easier with The Barcelona Zoo app on your phone. It gives you information on all the main attractions of the Zoo and also allows you to know the location and route to your points of interest.
- If you are carrying your own food, there are many picnic areas dotted around the zoo where you can relax and enjoy your meal.
- While a sunny day is ideal to visit the Zoo you must carry a hat and protect your skin with sunscreens to avoid getting bogged down by the sun.
- Wearing a comfortable pair of shoes would definitely be helpful in enjoying the walk in the Zoo.
- Carry a water bottle to hydrate yourself frequently.
More Barcelona Guides
There's so much more to do in Barcelona! Here are a few detailed visitor guides on other exciting things you can do in Barcelona.
FAQs: Barcelona Zoo
Yes! The Barcelona Zoo is completely worth the hype! They have a great range of animals —Sumatran tigers, giant tortoises, Rothschild's giraffes, a Komodo dragon. It is well-maintained and great value for money.
It takes about 2-3 hours to walk around the Barcelona Zoo
Yes! The Barcelona Zoo Toccupies over 14 hectares inside the Parc de la Ciutadella. It was founded in 1892 and is one of the top things to do in Barcelona with kids.
Unfortunately, there are no dolphins in the Barcelona Zoo as of today. The three remaining bottlenose dolphins held at Barcelona Zoo have been moved to Attica Zoological Park in Greece.
The approximately 13-hectare Parque Zoológico de Barcelona houses about 5,500 animals, featuring over 400 species. The zoo area is part of the Parc de la Ciutadella; to the opening of the zoo in September 1892 the area was used prior for the Universal Exhibition of 1888.
