Salzburg vs Munich

T

Terp

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
Hi everyone -

Been following along awhile, really enjoy the site - just don't post much.

Question for anyone who might have been to both, assuming I have time to visit only one of the zoos in Munich or Salzburg on a trip I'm planning because of limited time. Any thoughts on one being clearly better than the other?

My preference is to unique species holdings, and modern, innovative exhibits - which I suppose is the same thing everyone on here looks for.

My impression is that Munich pops up on "best of" lists, while Salzburg is very scenic.

Thanks!
 
Hi Terp924

I've been in both zoos. It is more or less like you have presumed. Salzburg (Hellbrunn) is very scenic, has recently built a new Lion exhibit and has a nice African Savanna and (as the biggest attraction in my opinion) free flying Griffon Vultures, that came in or are leaving the zoo from time to time. Also, there is a beautiful palace (Schloss Hellbrunn) nearby. On the other hand, there are just a handful reptile, fish and invertebrate species at Zoo Salzburg and no Elephants and - beside Gibbons - no Apes.

Munich Zoo (Tierpark HellAbrunn) lays in a meadow park with a lots of shadow giving trees. It could be easy reached by subway/underground (its just a five minute walk from the subway station to the zoo entrance). There is a new Polar Bear exhibit, a nice Elephant Herd (with a powerful adult bull), Indian One-horned Rhinos, a beautiful African Section (the park is divided more or less in in geografical zones), a house with African Apes, Coral fishes and Reptiles. You can also find Tigers, Lions and many Ungulates. And not to forget: There is a very nice Biergarten (German Beer, Brezels and other good food) adjected to the Childrens Zoo area.

So although Salzburg Zoo is absolutely worth to visit, my recommendation is Munich.
 
Terp924 said:
My preference is to unique species holdings, and modern, innovative exhibits - which I suppose is the same thing everyone on here looks for.
Click to expand...

Then neither will probably satisfy you 100%...;)

Salzburg Zoo does indeed sport a nice scenery (probably the only place on earth where you can see zebras and rhinos and the alps directly behind them) and the unique feature of free-flying griffon vultures landing in the zoo for lunch. European forest reindeer, chamois, European river otter, a bachelor Grevy zebra group and "Wiener Gansel";) are not so commonly seen, at least not in American zoos.

Tierpark Hellabrunn has some nice species (Apennine chamois, coconut crab, drill [currently off-show], silvery gibbon, wood bison, screaming piha, gaur, bornean bearded pig...) and "reconstructions" of extinct species (Heck cattle, "Tarpan"), as well as a few nice exhibits (the aviary, the giant tortoise house, the new polar bear exhibit), embedded in a pleasant scenery connected to the Isar river. Some of the buildings are of zoo-historical interest (Elephant House, part of the primate house, aquarium). However, some of the newer buildings built in the Wiesner "era" are not that remarkable (Jungle tent, rhino "ufo", "House of Evolution"/Great Apes House); in fact, one can only hope that the new director will change/rebuilt/demolish them over time.

Judging from the criteria you mentioned, you might be better off at Tierpark Hellabrunn-although I can nevertheless recommend Salzburg Zoo. It should also be mentioned that Salzburg offers another interesting facility displaying live animals: the Haus der Natur.
http://www.hausdernatur.at/en_home.html
You can visit both zoo and Haus der Natur on the same day.
 
I visited both in 2006 - I would say they're of similar overall quality of exhibits - though Munich is more diverse in exhibit style. Salzburg is much more scenic (the African savannah with the Alps behind is something to behold) but if you've only time for one Munich is about two (or three?) times the size of Salzburg and with more in the way of unusual species, so Munich'd be my pick. Salzburg is also very good, though. :)
 
Correct about the Elephant bull. As "professionals" should know, there is allways an exchange of specimens between zoos. So there is no guarantee that they are there at the time of a later visit. (BTW: Terp924 did not mention WHEN he has planed to visit one of these zoos. So the bull COULD be back then or COULD be replaced by another powerful adult bull). Also there is no guarantee that not suddenly a "rare" specie could be seen at Salzburg Zoo (as for example the European Forest Reindeer already are)...
 
Thanks to all for the input, it's quite helpful.... certainly, would love to do both if I had the time, but I don't think that's likely.

Though the thought of seeing African animals with an alpine backdrop is quite compelling, I think Munich seems the clear cut choice.

If for no other reason, any zoo that puts a biergarten within striking distance of the children's zoo is a zoo after my own heart. This reminds me that it has been far too long since I was last in Germany (10 years).

Sort of lost me on the elephant strain there, but I'll be there in a few weeks so I guess we'll miss out this time.

Thanks again to all, much appreciated!
 
Terp924 said:
Thanks to all for the input, it's quite helpful.... certainly, would love to do both if I had the time, but I don't think that's likely.
Click to expand...

When are you going? My father and I will be in Münich and Salzburg in September (Berlin and Walsrode first!). If you go before that, let me know about the zoo you chose to visit. Technically I could go to both, but if the bird collections are lacking, then I'd rather do sight-seeing/historical tours/hiking.
 
Will do, will be in the region in a couple weeks.

But, in the end I think we may focus on the sights, and then devote more time in Vienna and Berlin so we'll have time to get to the zoos there which are more remarkable.

By all accounts Munich zoo is a great one, but I dont think we'll stay an extra day in the city to squeeze it in. we'll see, figuring it out as we go!
 
Just thought I'd take a moment and answer my own question (sort of). I chose not to squeeze in the Munich Zoo with limited time in the city. However, I did go to the Salzburg Zoo. It was a no-brainer because it is adjacent to the Schloss Hellbrun palace and it's fantastic trick fountains, well worth a visit.

Salzburg Zoo is a small to medium sized zoo, so very easy to combine with a visit to the palace and it was well worth the time. Because the exhibits are built right into the beautiful alpine mountainside it's a really pleasant place to spend 2-3 hours. I was surprised that most of the exhibits were very large and cleverly designed, some were brilliant. Notably, a fantastic exhibit for diana monkeys/red river hogs, huge alpine cliff exhibits for chamois, sheep, and large cats species - with a highlight at the moment snow leopard cubs. Will try and post some photos at some point.
 
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