Schoenbrunn Zoo

Besides visiting the sumptuous Habsburg palaces, there is another, more entertaining way to feel like an emperor and prince: a visit to Schönbrunn Zoo (Tiergarden Schönbrunn in German), one of Europe’s top 5 zoos.

Set in the gigantic park of the Habsburg summer residence, the Schönbrunn Zoo is the oldest zoo in the world.

As was the fashion among the nobility of the time, in 1752 Franz I Stephan of Lorraine, the consort of the more famous Maria Theresa of Austria, had a ménagerie built to house exotic and rare animals around what is now the zoo’s central pavilion. Initially only accessible to the emperor’s family and guests, the ménagerie was opened to the public as early as 1778, only on Sundays and only for people dressed with decorum.

Today, Schönbrunn Zoo is one of the most modern zoos in the world, with spacious enclosures that recreate the natural environment, it is open daily and you can even visit it in jeans and a T-shirt!

Perfect for a day of family fun, Schönbrunn Zoo is also the ideal attraction for couples on a romantic holiday or for wildlife photography enthusiasts.

For unforgettable moments or breathtaking photographs, don’t miss the animal meals: posters inside the park will tell you who is eating and at what time, so you can plan in advance which meal to attend!

The zoo today

The shape of Schoenbrunn Zoo is vaguely reminiscent of a bicycle wheel, with avenues as spokes and an octagonal pavilion in the centre of the wheel. The park occupies 17 hectares within the grounds of Schoenbrunn Palace, the total area of which is 160 hectares.

There are more than 8,500 animals living in the zoo, belonging to 700 different species and cared for by 70 people; in total more than 200 people work at the zoo, 190 of them full-time.

Among the animals that can be admired are some very different species such as Siberian tigers, koalas, rhinoceroses, orangutans, polar bears (you can even see them swimming underwater!), dwarf mongooses…

The big stars of the zoo, however, are the friendly giant pandas: Schoenbrunn Zoo is famous because it was here, in 2007, that the first panda in captivity was born, followed by others in subsequent years.

Tips for seeing the animals

The animals at Schönbrunn Zoo maintain their natural behaviour and in order to recreate it, places are provided for shelter, exactly as in nature. For this reason, it can happen that some animals cannot be seen.

It is good to know this in advance, especially if you are travelling with children, to avoid disappointment. There is no best time to see the animals, but morning is recommended because many species wake up early and are very active in the early hours of the day.

Another way to see more animals is to watch live feeding: the daily programme is posted inside the park.

The zoo’s panoramic train

The zoo is one of the nine stations of the Schönbrunn panorama train, which travels at a speed of 10 to 15 km/h in about 50 minutes along a scenic route through the palace park. It is possible to get off and on several times.

If you are not interested in the full tour, you can hop on another, cheaper train, which takes a tour inside the zoo, between the Emperor’s Frühstückspavillon, the elephant house and the Tirolerhof. The Schönbrunn Zoo panorama train runs from 10am to 6pm (times may vary depending on the season) and departs every 45 minutes.

Where to eat at Schönbrunn Zoo

For an original meal, surrounded by greenery and animals from all over the world, stop for lunch at Schoenbrunn Zoo: there are several options including bars, restaurants and cafés that can satisfy both those who want a quick snack and those who want to indulge in a more refined meal.

You could choose a rustic inn with a beautiful, shady garden serving traditional Tyrolean dishes or the baroque elegance of the Imperial Pavilion, where you can enjoy Austrian and international dishes while observing some of the zoo’s most friendly animals such as giant pandas, giraffes, hippos and antelopes from the terrace.

For a sweet snack of cake and coffee, the small café-bar at the entrance is perfect, while adults will love the convivial atmosphere of the biergarten.

If you don’t want to pay the zoo entrance fee, you can be content to watch the rhinos from Landtmann’s Parkcafé, outside the garden.

Admission tickets for Schönbrunn Zoo

The ticket for Schoenbrunn Palace is not valid for admission to the zoo: you will have to purchase a separate ticket. You can choose between a single ticket and several combination tickets that allow you to visit several attractions at a discounted price: for example, with a single ticket you can visit the zoo and ride the Prater Ferris Wheel, even on two separate days.

If you are travelling in winter (November to the beginning of March), you could buy the Winter Pass: valid for one month, it allows access to the zoo and Schönbrunn Palace at a very attractive price.

How to save on admission

Schönbrunn Zoo is one of the attractions included in the Vienna Card: buy the official Vienna City Card and you’ll receive a discount on zoo admission.

More than 200 attractions, unlimited use of public transport and discounts in shops, bars and restaurants are included in the card.

How to get to Schönbrunn Zoo

The zoo is located in the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace, in a suburb of Vienna that is well connected to the centre by tram, bus and underground. If you choose the latter, we recommend getting off at Hietzing instead of Schönbrun.

To reach the zoo’s main entrance, enter the park through the Hietzinger Tor gate.