Prague Zoo: history, the hillside layout and how to visit in a day

A good zoo is more than a day out. It is a breeding programme, a research station and a schoolroom. Prague Zoo, in the Troja district beside the Vltava, has made a name in all three, with a hillside layout that gives visitors a workout alongside the lions and gorillas.

Its history, its work, how to organise a visit and how to get there follow.

A short history

Prague Zoo opened on 28 September 1931, in the Troja district of Prague 7, on the day of the feast of St Wenceslas. The idea of a Czech zoo dates back to the early twentieth century, and it was first realised with a modest site. The founding director, Jiří Janda, was a biologist who shaped the early collection. The site was chosen for its sunny south-facing slopes, its room to expand, and its view of the river. In the first decades the zoo grew slowly, and wartime and communism limited resources, but the collection survived.

After 1989 the zoo expanded and modernised, building large new enclosures and pavilions. In August 2002 the Vltava flooded the lower parts of the zoo, which forced the evacuation of animals, killed some of them and caused enormous damage. Recovery and rebuilding became a defining part of the zoo's recent history; the flood and the defences built since are described in Prague's floods: what 2002 broke, what 2013 proved.

What it does

The zoo is a member of international zoo associations and takes part in coordinated European breeding programmes for endangered species. Its best-known contribution is to the conservation of the Przewalski's horse, the last truly wild horse, which became extinct in the wild in the twentieth century and survived only in zoos. Prague has kept the international studbook, which records every known individual, since 1959. In recent years horses bred in Prague and other zoos have been transported to Mongolia for reintroduction into protected areas. The zoo runs conservation and education projects, including work with local communities in the countries where the animals live.

Other animals of note include gorillas, which the zoo has housed and bred in a purpose-built pavilion, and an Indonesian jungle pavilion that recreates a rainforest, with animals from Southeast Asia. Other collections include big cats, elephants, giraffes, penguins, reptiles, birds and a range of animals from Africa, Asia and the Americas. Numbers vary with births, deaths and transfers, so the zoo's own website gives the current count.

The zoo also takes part in research, breeding and animal welfare, and runs educational programmes for schools. Arrivals of rare animals, white lions among them, usually come through exchanges between zoos, which are coordinated to avoid inbreeding.

Planning a visit

The zoo is open every day of the year, with opening hours that change between seasons: longer in summer, shorter in winter. Check the website for the current hours and last admission. Tickets can be bought at the entrances or online, often with a discount for online purchase; family and group tickets exist, as do concessions for children, students and seniors, and young children enter free or at a reduced rate. Prices change, so check the zoo's price list.

The site is large and steep. The zoo is built on a slope, and the walk from the lower entrance to the upper parts is uphill. A chairlift runs across part of the grounds, and a small train and shuttle services operate in season; check the website for what is running. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water in summer and allow at least half a day, or a full day for a leisurely visit with children. Pushchairs and wheelchairs can be used on the main paths, though some are steep, and the zoo publishes information on accessibility.

Feeding times and keeper talks are scheduled through the day and listed on the website or at the entrance. Photography is permitted without flash, and visitors are asked not to feed the animals.

Getting there

By public transport, the usual route is metro line C to Nádraží Holešovice, then bus 112 to the Zoologická zahrada stop at the entrance, a ride of around fifteen minutes. The general system is explained in Prague public transport system explained and tickets in how to buy tickets for Prague public transport. In the warm season, a river boat service from the centre of Prague runs to Troja, a scenic alternative that takes longer but is a trip in itself; check the operators' timetables. Cycling is possible along the river path, as covered in Prague cycling infrastructure.

If you drive, parking is available near the zoo but fills up on busy weekends; see Prague parking zones explained.

Conservation beyond the gates

Modern zoos justify their existence by their conservation work, and Prague's has several strands. The first is breeding for reintroduction: the Przewalski's horse project is the best known, with transports of horses to Mongolia, supported by the zoo's staff and partners. The second is field conservation, in which the zoo supports projects in the wild, including projects in Central Africa and Indonesia. The third is research, from veterinary science to behaviour, carried out with universities.

The zoo is also a place of education. School groups visit for lessons linked to the curriculum, and the zoo runs summer camps and events for children. Debates about zoos continue, with some critics arguing that wild animals should not be kept in captivity at all and others that well-run zoos play a necessary role in saving species. The zoo publishes its own account of its policies on animal welfare, breeding and the transfer of animals.

Seasons at the zoo

The experience changes with the season. In spring, young animals are born and the grounds are green. In summer the zoo is busiest, with long queues at the entrances and in the cafés, and the shade of the trees is welcome. In autumn the crowds thin and the light is good for photography. In winter, some outdoor enclosures are closed to visitors, but the indoor pavilions stay open and warm, and the animals that like the cold, such as those from cold climates, are at their liveliest. Special events, such as night visits or themed days, are announced on the website.

Nearby

Troja Château, a seventeenth-century Baroque palace with painted ceilings and formal gardens, is close to the zoo, as is the Botanical Garden of Prague, with greenhouses and a vineyard on the hillside. The two can be combined with the zoo in a day for a longer excursion. Check the opening hours of each separately. Two other family stops are across the river in Holešovice: the spring funfair described in Matějská pouť and, in Dejvice, the puppet theatre of Spejbl and Hurvínek.

Frequently asked questions

When did Prague Zoo open?

On 28 September 1931 in the Troja district.

Is the zoo open all year?

Yes, every day, with opening hours that vary by season.

How do I get there by public transport?

Take metro line C to Nádraží Holešovice and then bus 112 to the zoo. In season there are also river boats from the city centre.

What is the zoo known for?

Conservation work, in particular for the Przewalski's horse, whose international studbook it has kept since 1959.

Check the zoo's website for current opening hours and ticket prices before you set out.