Barcelona Zoo

The Barcelona Zoo is located in the Ciutadella Park, in the heart of the city centre and within walking distance of the Born district. This zoo was opened in 1892 on the site that had become vacant after the 1888 Universal Exhibition in Barcelona. The Barcelona Zoo covers an area of 13 hectares and houses around 7500 animals, including several specimens rarely seen in the wild.

The origins of the Barcelona Zoo date back to the private animal collection of banker Lluís Martí i Codolar, who decided to donate the animals to the Barcelona City Council in 1892. This site has become famous over time for having very special animals as guests. These include the elephant ‘Avi’, the orca ‘Ulisses’ and ‘Snowflake’, an albino gorilla who was the city’s mascot for a long time, as he lived in the zoo from 1966 to 2003 when he died of skin cancer.

The Zoo also aims to play an active role in conservation, scientific research and the dissemination of wildlife and its natural habitats. These activities are carried out in collaboration with other European zoos and research centres.

Things to do at the Barcelona Zoo

At the Barcelona Zoo you can discover a truly comprehensive collection of animals that are among the most important in Europe. In addition to large mammals (such as hippos, gazelles, giraffes, elephants, rhinos) and reptiles, there are also crocodiles and giant snakes. Some are animals usually found in exotic environments, such as lions, Komodo dragons or orangutans, while others are typical of European habitats, such as the wolf, European bison or Corsican mouflon.

Within the site, ten different areas have been recreated that reproduce the natural environments in which different animal species live. Among the most important sections is certainly the one known as the ‘Land of Dragons’ where rare species from Asia and the Pacific such as Komodo dragons or Muntjac deer can be found. The tour continues with a visit to the aviary where more than 70 species of birds from different areas of the planet can be found, including some endangered species.

For children, there is an area called the ‘Farm’ where you can find goats, cows, ponies, sheep, pigs, horses and donkeys. To admire aquatic animals, one must visit the Aquarama area where a splendid stretch of water is the ideal home for dolphins that love to do acrobatics, but also for numerous sea lions. Finally, a visit to the Primate Gallery is not to be missed, where you can meet several primate specimens such as the Brazza monkey, red monkey, talapoin and South American titis.

Visitors who want to carve out some time for a relaxing walk are advised to visit the Palmeral area, which is a garden surrounded by a palm grove with various species of birds such as numerous parrots and parakeets. Besides the animals, the Barcelona Zoo is also famous for its 1,300 trees, plants and flowers, as it boasts more than 330 different botanical varieties.

Tickets for the Barcelona Zoo

You can buy tickets online or at the on-site ticket offices. The ticket costs to access the Zoo are as follows:

• Adults: € 21.40
• Reduced (children from 3 to 12 years old): € 12.95
• Children under 3 years: free
• Disabled: € 5.65
• Over 65 years: € 10.50

Skip-the-line ticket for the Barcelona Zoo

If you want to avoid unnecessary queues at ticket offices, especially at weekends, we recommend that you buy your ticket directly online.

Combined tickets

If you want to visit the Barcelona Aquarium in addition to the zoo, choose a combination ticket: you could save money compared to buying individual tickets for each attraction.

Opening hours

The opening hours of the Barcelona Zoo vary according to the season. In particular, the site is open

• from 1 January to 18 March and from 30 October to 31 December: from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m;
• from 19 March to 15 May and from 16 September to 29 October: from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m;
• 16 May to 15 September: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The ticket office closes two hours before the zoo’s closing time.

How to get to the Barcelona Zoo

Given its central location, you can reach the Barcelona Zoo comfortably on foot or by public transport. Walking from the districts of Barceloneta, Barri Gótic and La Ribera, the Zoo is no more than a 15-minute walk away.

Those travelling by metro can use the L4 line and get off at Barceloneta or Ciutadella – Olympic Village or you can use the L1 line and get off at Marina and Arc de Triomphe. Alternatively, you can reach the site by bus lines D20, H14, H16, V21, V27. Those travelling by tram, on the other hand, should take line T4 and get off at Ciutadella – Olympic Village.

Those travelling by car can take the Ronda Litoral and travel as far as exit number 22. There are several pay car parks near the Zoo.