Barcelona Zoo

Ciutadella Park, or Parc de la Ciutadella, in Barcelona is a very popular holiday destination. On its territory, there are several interesting museums, as well as the Barcelona Zoo. If the children are tired of Barcelona buildings' phantasmagoria, you can relax here and enjoy communicating with animals. Read our article about what animals you will see at the Barcelona Zoo, what exciting things the park has prepared for children and how best to plan a walk.

The first permanent exhibition of exotic animals appeared in Barcelona in 1892 when local magnate Luis Martí Coodolar donated several animals from his private collection to the city. Well, a place for the zoo was found right away. After the closing of the World Exhibition in Parc de la Ciutadella (the former residence of the Monarch Philip V), a lot of space was left that was most suitable for accommodating animals.

During the construction of the Barcelona Zoo, the innovative idea was to abandon the standard conditions for keeping animals. Instead of standard cages and enclosures, ditches with water and ravines were used, and fences were left only to protect animals from visitors. Thus, conditions that were as close to the animals' natural habitat were created.

A veterinarian, doctor and famous animal lover Francesc Darder was appointed as director of the new city zoo and caring for the animals. On September 24, 1892, as part of the Mercé Festival, the patron saint of Barcelona, ​​the Barcelona Zoo, was opened to visitors.

An interesting fact: only in 1927 the entrance to the zoo became paid.

For the first time in its history, the zoo began charging admission fees, a new source of funding that allowed it to improve the grounds and living conditions of the animals and increase its animal collection. With an admission price of 25 cents, the income generated at the box office soon exceeded all expectations. This marked the beginning of a great era that allowed the zoo to be renewed: the collection was expanded to include new animals, such as a pair of tigers, a tapir and a group of camels.

In 1962, a unique area called 'The Great African Fauna' was created in the zoo. Covering almost 8000 m2 and consisting of a series of peninsula-shaped platforms entirely surrounded by water, the African Animal Zone introduced a large number of species typical of the African savannah to the public. Elephants, buffalo, hippos, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, kudu and various bird species inhabit the area. The viewing of the complex, which could be done from ground level or a raised walkway surrounding the entire perimeter, was innovative as it gave the visitor the impression that there was no separation between the different zones.

In September 1992, when the Olympic Games came to Barcelona, ​​the zoo celebrated its centenary with a commemorative event presided over by Mayor Pascual Maragal. Today, the zoo covers an area of ​​13.5 hectares and houses 325 species of animals.

Tip: Take a map of the Barcelona Zoo at the entrance; it will help you find your way around and ensure you'll see all the animals.

The zoo's collection includes about 7,500 animals that live on about 14 hectares. Posing for photos will be bears and wolves, lions and hippos, kangaroos, lemurs and anteaters, eagles and peacocks. At the time when the animals have offspring, the young stock begins to work. This zoological kindergarten does not differ from the usual human one: the animals do not sit still, play, fight, squeal, or even climb where they should not.

Barcelona Zoo has created unique habitats for some animals. Giant Komodo varans inhabit the mini-island of Komodo. By the way, the zoo has one of the largest collections of primates. The little monkeys have their own space to play and romp around. The gorillas, one of the largest primates, live separately.

For a long time, the zoo in Barcelona was home to a unique gorilla that became famous worldwide. Snowball was an albino, hence its special appearance. He even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the rarest gorilla in the world. Although the unique white ape is no longer alive, it is still remembered here. The souvenir shop has gorillas with white fur, among other toys, in memory of Snowflake.

Lizards, turtles, snakes and crocodiles are collected in the Reptile House. Here you can see freshly hatched turtles and crocodiles. Also, this pavilion has several pools with various types of fish. It is interesting that this pavilion also has a playground for young animals.

No less affluent in the zoo and the collection of birds. Flamingos, colourful parrots, pelicans, and birds of prey will allow you to understand the wonderful world of birds better.

With small children, it is worth visiting the Farm. Firstly, rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters live in cosy pens next to goats, donkeys and ponies. In this part of the zoo, children are allowed to pet goats and Scottish ponies, and pony rides are organized for younger guests on weekends and holidays. Secondly, there is a nice playground.

On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the Barcelona Zoo hosts an educational program called Knowing the Sea Lions, during which you will get to know the habits of these animals and, at the same time, will watch them feeding. There is also a small lake on the farm, and the frogs living there are full-fledged inhabitants of the Barcelona Zoo. To avoid getting tired during an excursion with a child, you can look at the animals from the mini train car that runs through the territory or rent a family velomobile.

Tips for visitors

• Before you go to the zoo, download an online map to help you get your bearings and plan your route. You can also get a printed map when you enter the zoo.
• Make sure you plan to visit the animals at feeding time. There are several feeding times each day, so it's a good idea to check the schedule on the zoo's website and pick an animal of interest.
• Bring water and a light snack. During high season or at weekends, there may be queues at the cafe.
• On warm summer days, we recommend using sunscreen and wearing hats.
• The highest number of visitors is, of course, during the holidays, warm season and weekends. The lowest numbers are in the middle of the week.
• Allocate at least 2 hours to visit the zoo.
• If you are tired or have children, you can explore the entire park with the train running through the area.

The Barcelona Zoo grounds are designed as much as possible for adults and children. Additional services available to visitors:

1. La Dama Restaurant.
2. Wheelchair hire service.
3. |Ergonomic child seats in toilets.
4. El Xaloc cafe.
5. La Morera Cafeteria.
6. Breastfeeding room (close to La Morera restaurant).
7. Complimentary lockers at the entrance.
8. Health centre.
9. Info point.
10. Picnic areas.
11. Souvenir shops.
12. Lifts for wheelchairs for less mobile visitor groups.