The complete guide to Prague ZOO, including practical information, how to get there, ticket prices, map and what to see in 2023.
Prague ZOO is based in the beautiful and rugged terrain of the Troja Basin, outside the centre of Prague. It is open daily (including weekends and holidays) from 9 am until late (depending on the season). Prague ZOO is the 5th most popular ZOO in the whole world (TripAdvisor 2018) and has been the 7th most popular in the world since 2008 (Forbes).
Zoo Prague covers an impressive area of 60 hectares, of which 50 hectares are animal exhibits. The Prague Zoological Garden was first opened in 1931 with 200 animals and it currently has over 670 different types of species and almost 5,000 individual animals.
There is so much to see – you will find 10 large pavilions, 150 different exhibition areas, 5 restaurants, 7-10 refreshment stands, a cableway, a children’s tram, and other attractions for both children and adults.
Is Prague Zoo worth visiting?
I think it depends. I always enjoy visiting the ZOO, but the recently increased ticket cost might be too much for some, especially if you have a large family and your children are over 15 years old. You need to factor in how long you’ll be able to spend in the ZOO. It’s probably not worth visiting if you are limited for time.
Walking around the ZOO is quite energetic (lots of paths up and down), so if you have very young children or have mobility issues, you might like to see a smaller part of the ZOO, rather than the whole thing.
I would also say that the Prague ZOO is the perfect choice if you are staying in Prague for more than 5-6 days, because you’ll probably run out of ‘big’ things to see in the centre of Prague.
I also think the ZOO is great if you are travelling with children, because there is a dedicated children’s ZOO and a specially made children’s playground.
Who is Prague ZOO best for?
If you are travelling with children they will love Prague Zoo, I promise! Plus there are plenty of child-friendly displays, boards, children’s playground, a special ZOO for children (with cute bunnies and a mini red Prague tram) and other children’s areas, so they will never get bored. The little cable car is pretty cool too!
Whilst it might sound like the Prague ZOO is mainly for children, I always enjoy visiting too. There is just something mesmerising about watching the animals, learning about new species and finding out what’s new. I used to go often as a child, but recently re-visited the ZOO and had as much fun as when I visited for the first time.
The zoo also offers various programs and activities for visitors, such as guided tours, animal feedings, and experiences where you can become a ZOO keeper for a day!
Is it a good idea to visit ZOO when it’s raining, bad or cold weather?
The ZOO is open all year round, but that doesn’t mean that you will see all the animals at all times. When it’s colder or it’s raining, some animals might be in their hiding places and might not be visible.
The good thing is that there are 12 large indoor pavilions, where you can see animals no matter what the weather is.
You might be limited on what day you can visit whilst you are in Prague, but if you can visit on a nice summer day, you are likely to see more animals than out of season. Saying that, if it’s really cold in the winter in Prague, you can spend a nice 1/2 day walking in the ZOO from one warm pavilion to another and keep yourself nicely warm!
What to expect about your visit to Prague ZOO
During peak times (and offers for children to go in for 1 CZK in June, September and December) the queues can be up to 1 hr long, so it’s worth getting a ticket online. (You can still do this when you get there and see there is a long queue, as the online tickets have separate ticket offices and there is normally not a queue).
The signs at the enclosures and animal areas are in both the Czech language and English language, but no other language, I’m afraid.
There is no smoking or vaping anywhere in the ZOO area and there are no smoking areas provided.
You might not see all the animals – they might be asleep, hiding or just in the distance in their enclosures, but there are always some animals to see in the enclosures and of course in the pavilions the animals are visible.
The enclosures are quite far apart and the best ones are up the hill (Elephants, Gorillas, Giraphes), so be prepared to walk and wear comfortable shoes. It’s worth taking the chair lift up to the top of the hill.
The suggested time of 2 hrs visit is practically impossible to fit into if you want to see everything. Even if you don’t, it takes time to walk around and wait for the animals to appear.
It’s worth planning your visit in advance, based on what you like to see first and head over there first, just in case you run out of time or energy.
If you want to see everything I recommend walking up to the top first to the giraffe, gorilla and elephant enclosures, which are the furthest away way and up a steep hill (or take the chairlift). After that, follow the paths back down to get to the lower part of the ZOO where you get all the lions, birds and monkey enclosures.
The cable chair is safe enough, but it takes one person per chair, so your child won’t be able to ride with you – they have to be old enough and brave to ride on their own. The chair lift also doesn’t stop, so you’ll need to be quick to jump on.
Can I do this independently or do I need a guided tour to visit
You can totally visit Prague ZOO independently. The ZOO is about 40 minutes by public transport from the centre of Prague (see my notes below) and once you are there it’s very easy to get around.
What is new in Prague ZOO
In January 2023, beautiful collared agamas were added to the Pavilion of Predators and Reptiles, which Zoo Prague is breeding for the first time in history.
Zoo Prague opened the Dja Reserve on September 28, 2022, on the occasion of its 91st anniversary. It’s very nicely done and you are almost transported to an African landscape full of vegetation and sounds of local nature. A grown tropical rainforest, a village on its edge with a school classroom, or a retired Wanderer bus that transported children between the Dja rainforests and the metropolis of Yaoundé as part of an educational program – all of this enhances the illusion of Cameroonian countryside and the environment that gorillas inhabit in their homeland.
Inside the pavilion (and outside too) you can see the colobus monkeys, guerezas, calonges, and also lowland gorillas.
In 2021, a new exhibit of Czech snakes was opened in the Snake Terrarium, showcasing four species of snakes commonly found in the Czech Republic: the collar snake, the smooth snake, the dice snake, and the common adder.
The Darwin’s Crater display area was also opened fairly recently in 2020. The name and concept of the new exhibit of Tasmanian and Australian fauna at Zoo Prague were inspired by the crater of the same name, located in Tasmania and formed by a meteorite impact roughly 700-800 thousand years ago. The exhibit showcases more than twenty species of animals, with the most significant being the endangered Tasmanian devils. Right next to Darwin’s Crater is also a new walkthrough exhibit of kangaroos grazing on lawns right next to you as you walk by.
What else you can see in the ZOO
The Valley of Elephants
You definitely don’t want to miss the largest exhibit in Zoo Prague, which is the Valley of the Elephants. The enclosures covering an area of 7,500 square meters provide an excellent environment for Indian elephants and there are quite a lot of them there, including young ones (the youngest girl elephant Lacuna is only 3 years old and super cute! I saw her when she was 6 months old and that was very special – now she is much bigger, but still very playful and cheeky). The elephants have access to swimming lakes, sandy, clayey, and grassy terrain in their enclosures and you can usually see them quite close.
If it’s raining or cold weather, you can see the elephants in their elephant house, which is also accessible.
The Giraffe Enclosure
This is another large enclosure, which is the furthest away from the main entrance to the ZOO. There are some amazing views of the Troja valley and hills from there.
The Rakos Pavilion – Parrots Pavillion
The Rákos Pavilion, opened in 2019, has parrots from mountains, lowlands, semi-deserts, and tropical rainforests. The pavilion has eight individual exhibits, including two walk-through exhibits, where birds are kept in the context of their native landscapes and you can see them walking around you.
The Bird Marshes is another bird area in the zoo, where you can find wetland birds such as cranes, spoonbills, and ibises.
In 2008, the Prague Zoo imported Indian gharials, one of the rarest animals on the planet, making it the only European zoo to breed them. Globally, there are only 10 zoos in 4 countries (USA, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka) that have gharials, with a total population of only 19 individuals. The Prague group of three male and four female gharials is a record in terms of numbers.
Giant Salamander Pavilion (opened in 2014).
This new pavilion presents giant salamanders in unexpected views and in an environment that copies the Chinese mountains where the salamanders are from naturally. At the same time, the pavilion is a nod to the famous Czech writer Karel Capek and the book that inspired the theme of the pavilion “War with the Newts”.
Bororo Reserve – this is a playground for children created in the old enclosure for elephants.
Old Cave with a replica of an anti-aircraft shelter
Water World
Pavilion of Felines
Turtle Pavilion
Indonesian Jungle Pavilions (Komodo dragons are bred here, as well as sea lion exhibits)
Monkey Island & wetland bird area – this is a large area at the lower part of the ZOO with various displays of birds, and monkeys.
Make sure you don’t miss
The Prague Zoo has the shortest cable car in the Czech Republic. It is only 110 meters long and was built in 1970. The cable car connects the pavilion of lowland gorillas and Przewalski’s horses. The capacity is 720 people per hour, and the ride takes two minutes. You have to buy a separate ticket, but it’s only 40 CZK (one way). It’s best to have some coins for this, as the self-service ticket booth is operated using cash only. Although the cable car is operated by the public transport for Prague, regular tickets are not valid here.
The best thing to do is to use the cable car to take you to the top of the ZOO and then make your way down walking past all the different exhibition areas.
Address Location
U Trojského zámku 120/3, 171 00 Prague 7 – Troja
How to get to Prague ZOO from the centre of PRague
By public transport – underground + bus
The quickest way to get to the Prague ZOO from the centre of Prague is to take the underground line A from Staromestka (the closest station to the Old Town Square) or Mustek and then change to line C at Museum and go another 4 stops to Nadrazi Holesovice.
From Nadrazi Holesovice take the 112 or 234 bus and get off at ZOO Troja bus stop (it will be the terminal for 112 bus). The journey takes about 10-15 minutes and the bus also leaves regularly (every 10-15 minutes at peak times).
By public transport – tram + bus
You can also take tram number 17 (from Staromestska tram stop) to the stop Trojska, but then it’s at least 20 minute’s walk or it’s better to catch the same bus 112 or 234 from the same stop and ride the last few stops.
By boat trip from the centre of Prague
Another fun way to get to Prague ZOO (and one I’ve done myself) is to take the boat trip from the Naplavka at Palackeho Namesti (Rasinovo Nabrezi). The journey takes a good 75 minutes. One one-way ticket is 250 CZK (children 150CZK) or a return ticket is 390 CZK (children 200 CZK). Family tickets are also available. You can also buy a reduced ticket to the ZOO with your boat ticket, which is actually a good value (at this year’s ZOO prices, the one-way boat trip would only cost 70 CZK).
The only thing is that you need to play your day to make sure you have enough time to see the ZOO. I took the 12 o’clock boat and bought only one-way ticket, knowing that I wanted to go back after ZOO closing time by the local bus. But there were also people on the boat who had the return tickets for 5 o’clock and that definitely wasn’t enough time to see the ZOO properly. There is at least a 20-25-minute walk (one way) from where the boat stops, as you need to walk across one island and cross the Vltava river, so you need to factor that all in. The path to the ZOO is well-signposted, so you don’t need to worry about getting lost.
The boats leave at 9, 12 and 15.30 pm from Prague and return at 10.30, 13.30 and 17,15 back to Prague. The boats are running only during the main tourist season from the beginning of April till the end of October.
By car
If you are travelling by car, there is a large parking area in very close proximity to the ZOO, but the daily ticket is 300 CZK. Unless you are not staying in Prague, I’d really not recommend travelling to ZOO by car, the public transport is much easier and cheaper. Alternatively, you can also take the local taxi, Uber or Liftago, which from the centre of Prague will be still cheaper than the whole day of parking at the ZOO.
Opening Times Opening Hours
The Prague ZOO is open every day, all year round, including Czech national holidays. The ticket offices and entry gates usually close 30-1 hr before the whole area closes. In the summer the ticket office closes at 7 pm, but you can stay inside the ZOO until 9 pm.
- January, February: 9 – 4 pm
- March – 9-5 pm
- April, May – 9-6 pm
- June, July, August – 9-9pm
- September, October 9-6 pm
- November, December 9-4 pm
Entrance Fee
- Adults 330 CZK
- Children (3-15 years old) 250 CZK
- Students 250 CZK
- Senior Citizens 150 CZK
- Senior Citizens over 70 years old 1 CZK
- Family ticket (2 adults and up to 4 children) 1000 CZK
- Children under the age of 3 – FREE
You can get a bit of a discount (30-50 CZK), if you buy your ticket online (via the ZOO own website). To make sure that you get a discount as a student or senior citizen, take an ID document with you (with a photo) – e.g. official student card, passport or driving licence etc.
If you are visiting Prague in June, September or December, you might like to remember that on 1 June (International Children’s day), 1 September (first school day) and 24 December (the traditional Czech Christmas Day) all children (up to the age 15) pay only 1 CZK (the rest of the ticket prices remain the same). Again, it’s a good idea to take an ID or passport to prove your child’s age if they are closer to 15 years old. On these days, the children’s tickets can be only purchased at the ticket office, not online.
How to buy your tickets
You can buy your tickets directly at the ZOO ticket office as you arrive (no need to pre-book) or you can buy e-tickets via ZOO official website (and save 30-50 CZK per ticket).
You can buy the online tickets anytime, so I think it’s worth waiting until you know that the weather is good and buying your ticket on the same day (or even as you arrive at the ZOO). You only need to show a confirmation e-mail with the QR code, so you’ll need to have enough data on your phone and have access to your e-mails.
Best time to visit Prague ZOO
The ZOO is very large, so even when it’s busy, people tend to disperse around the ZOO area quite easily. If you want to avoid very busy times, then weekdays are better than weekends, although you might see Czech school children visiting as it’s a popular attraction for school trips.
When I visited the last time, I arrived just after lunch and stayed until closing time at 6 pm. This was at the end of October, on Monday (no school holiday or special day, just a regular working Monday). There is an automatic people counter that was showing just under 3000 people, and it didn’t feel busy or rushed and there were no queues at the refreshments, toilets or any of the indoor pavilions.
Few rules when you visit
Obviously, please don’t feed the animals, they get their own food and whatever you give them, might make them feel ill.
In the pavilions, you are also asked not to tap on the glass to attract the animals (this is likely to scare them) or put your hands or fingers into the animal’s enclosures.
If you are taking photos, please don’t use flash as it might frighten the animals too.
How much time to allow for your visit
The official recommendation of around 2 hrs will be only enough to see a few displays, but not to walk around the whole ZOO and stay a while to watch the animals or have a break for lunch or refreshments.
Last time I visited, I spent most of the day there and didn’t even get the chance to see the penguins as we were ushered out of the ZOO at closing time!
Also, to travel from the centre of Prague (and to get back) will take about 2 hrs of your day ( up to 40-60 min each way), so I’d recommend allocating a whole day for the ZOO. If you do have some time left, you can always visit the Botanical Garden and the Troja Chateau (now art gallery) which just a short walk from the ZOO entrance.
As you arrive, check the daily program for feeding animals or special talks to make sure that you are at the right place at the right time.
What to take with you
You are welcome to bring a picnic, sandwiches, soft drinks or a packed lunch with you if you want to save money on food at the ZOO. There are plenty of benches and also picnic areas.
It’s also worth bringing an umbrella if it looks like it’s going to rain, so that you can carry on walking around. Saying that you can also explore the large pavilions when it’s raining.
Refreshments
There are 5 large restaurants in the ZOO, including one with Indian food specialities (next to the elephant enclosure). There are also further 10 seasonal refreshment booths, which are open during the main tourist season (April – October) and during nice weather when it’s off-season.
The food and drink prices are reasonable – coffee from 50 CZK, soups from 60 CZK and main dishes from 95-295 CZK. The large restaurants also offer smaller children’s portions at reduced prices.
I always check how much is the ‘Parek v Rohliku’ (Sausage – hot dog in a roll), because if the price is OK I know the rest of the prices are fine too. And since the price is 40 CZK (it costs at least 60-80 CZK in the Old Town Square) you can be reassured that you won’t spend more than in the centre of Prague.
There are also many self-service machines with hot drinks, soft drinks and snacks. All hot drinks are 25 CZK, but you’ll need some change for these too. The soft drinks and snack machines take card payments too. It’s quite civilised to walk around, admiring the animals and drinking coffee!
Facilities
There are plenty of toilets around, including family toilets and baby changing facilities (all free)
Shops
There are souvenir shops at the largest pavilions with mainly kids’ stuff, but also t-shirts, mugs and other animal-themed souvenirs. There is also a large animal toys shop (close to the exits) and one large shop with precious stones and fossils.
Special Events at the ZOO
Most days there are public feeding times at different enclosures and often there are also talks about the different animals. As you walk through the entrance, check the daily events board for anything that’s happening during your visit.
What else you can see and do nearby
- Troja Botanical Garden & the Fata Morgana Greenhouse
- Troja Chateau Gardens (free)
- Troja Chateau Art Gallery (inside the chateau)
- Walk along the Vltava river – either direction has lovely walks
- Walk across the island and Vltava River to Stromovka – the largest Prague Park and the Exhibition Ground and then take the tram back to the centre (60 min – but can be longer if you want to walk around the park)
This blog post was originally written on 31 October 2023 and last updated on 31 October 2023
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