Cologne Zoo

Situated in Riehl along the Rhine in the north of the city, Cologne Zoo is home to over 700 species of animal from across the globe. Originally built in 1860, Cologne Zoo is one of Germany's oldest animal enclosures.

With exhibits such as the Rainforest Hall, Asian Elephant Park, Great Ape section and the Meerkat Paddock there is lots to see and do for all the family. Marvel at the large predatory cats as they prowl in their glass-fronted enclosure. Take a trip over to the Elephant Park where you can see Maha Kumari, Marlar and Ming Jung, three baby Asian elephant siblings. This park opened in 2004 and is the most spacious in Northern Europe to date.

Over in the Jungle House area, primates roam along with reptiles and exotic birds. Be sure to visit the Eulenkloster enclosure where you can see owls nesting and some species like peacocks wander around freely.

Check out the aquarium beside the zoo with access included in the ticket price. Here you can observe a variety of marine life including star fish, sea horses and tropical fish to name but a few. There is also a terrarium and insectarium for you to peruse.

Cologne Zoo spans a huge 20 hectares but there is no problem getting around as it is has a clear layout and is very well sign-posted. A vast majority of the attractions are indoors so weather is never a hindrance when visiting.

There is so much to see and do at the zoo and aquarium that time will fly by. Be sure to set aside a full day so you don't miss out on any of the attractions and consult the official website to confirm current opening hours and ticket prices. You’ll find feeding times and details of any special events on the site too.

To get to Cologne Zoo from the central station take the U-Bahn line 18. Alternatively, if you are visiting during the summer months, take the Zoo Express mini-train, which leaves from Cologne Cathedral – opposite the tourist office –every 30 minutes.