Top 10 European Zoos you want to visit
- Thread starter ShonenJake13
- Start date
Neva
Well-Known Member
I feel a big conflict inside my heart, because I love to revisiting zoos, however I love also to see a new places.
So, there it is my top 10(5)...
To visit:
1. Parc des Felins
2. Hamerton (combined with Chester and Howletts and Yorkshire Wildlife Park)
3. Belfast (combined with Fota)
4. Beauval
5. Rhenen (combined with Pairi Daiza, it's not so, so, so far away...)
And to revisit:
1. Magdeburg
2. Wuppertal (combined with Cologne)
3. Mulhouse
4. Prague (I could revisit each month) (combined with Plzen)
5. Walsrode
There are lots more, however I soon will (re)visiting some and I don't see any sense to mention them in this thread as I wanted to dream a little
PS: It's nice to see that so many Zoochatters want to (re)visit Wrocław
So, there it is my top 10(5)...
To visit:
1. Parc des Felins
2. Hamerton (combined with Chester and Howletts and Yorkshire Wildlife Park)
3. Belfast (combined with Fota)
4. Beauval
5. Rhenen (combined with Pairi Daiza, it's not so, so, so far away...)
And to revisit:
1. Magdeburg
2. Wuppertal (combined with Cologne)
3. Mulhouse
4. Prague (I could revisit each month) (combined with Plzen)
5. Walsrode
There are lots more, however I soon will (re)visiting some and I don't see any sense to mention them in this thread as I wanted to dream a little
PS: It's nice to see that so many Zoochatters want to (re)visit Wrocław
I've split my top 10 lists in zoos that I've visited so far and those I've not yet been at:
Zoos visited:
Zoos visited:
- Pairi Daiza
- Tierpark Berlin
- Zoo Berlin
- Leipzig
- Zurich
- Munich
- Stuttgart
- Basel
- Cologne
- Nurnberg
- Beauval
- Vienna
- Chester
- Arnheim
- Prague
- Appenheul
- Valencia
- Gelsenkirchen
- Wroclaw
- Budapest
Thought I would give an update to my list from a few years ago 
As it stands, since writing the above in September 2017 I have managed to get an almost perfect run of the target collections listed; I've still not visited Vienna, and not managed to revisit Walsrode as yet, but the other eight targets have been met.
As such, here's my new 10, again with revisits in bold - although I suspect the list could change a bit on any given day I am asked
Vienna
Budapest
Zagreb
Innsbruck
Walsrode
Copenhagen
Zurich
Tierfreigelände I des Nationalparks Bayerischer Wald
Prague
Wroclaw
To be honest, there are a good few of the above which I actually am planning to visit sometime this year along with one which I would be visiting if it wasn't nigh impossible to reach in winter.
As it stands, since writing the above in September 2017 I have managed to get an almost perfect run of the target collections listed; I've still not visited Vienna, and not managed to revisit Walsrode as yet, but the other eight targets have been met.
As such, here's my new 10, again with revisits in bold - although I suspect the list could change a bit on any given day I am asked
Vienna
Budapest
Zagreb
Innsbruck
Walsrode
Copenhagen
Zurich
Tierfreigelände I des Nationalparks Bayerischer Wald
Prague
Wroclaw
To be honest, there are a good few of the above which I actually am planning to visit sometime this year
along with one which I would be visiting if it wasn't nigh impossible to reach in winter.
I am not very good long term planner, unfortunately. This is more 2020 wish list, than solid plan, because contains some zoos, which are hard to reach with public transport, but I really want to see in a near future:
Doué-la-Fontaine
Parc Des Félins
Beauval
Nuremberg
Wilhelma
Jilhava
Dvur Kralove
Hamerton
Exmoor
Cabárceno
I will most likely revisit Berlin and Prague and hopefully Pairi Daiza and Zurich
Doué-la-Fontaine
Parc Des Félins
Beauval
Nuremberg
Wilhelma
Jilhava
Dvur Kralove
Hamerton
Exmoor
Cabárceno
I will most likely revisit Berlin and Prague and hopefully Pairi Daiza and Zurich
Well having visited six of my old list, here’s my updated list of zoos I want to visit for the first time (I haven’t included zoos I know I’m visiting this year):
Zurich
Beauval
Doue la Fontaine
Dublin
Vienna
Highland Wildlife Park
Cabarceno
Parc des Felins
Parco Natura Viva
Zagreb
And zoos I would like to revisit:
Berlin Zoo
Berlin Tierpark
Magdeburg
Frankfurt
Plzen
Walsrode
Vallee des Singes
Loro Parque
Madrid Zoo
Wilhelma
FunkyGibbon
Well-Known Member
Those I have now visited are in bold.
I'm relatively happy with my progress. As can be seen, all that happened is that an Eastern Europe trip didn't happen and a Bavarian one did.
A new list:
Budapest
Vienna
Zlin
Wroclaw
Magdeburg
Beauval
Doue La Fontaine
Jardin des Plants
Valencia Oceanographic
Lisbon Oceanarium
Extras:
Apenheul
Harderwijk
Besancon
Carbaceno
Highland WP
Durrell
Ostrava
Rheine
Dresden
Goerlitz
Chemnitz
New Zoos (sorted by likelyhood of visit if they were equally easy to reach:
1. Chester
2. Beauval
3. Burgers
4. Cologne
5. Frankfurt
6. Magdeburg
7. Duisburg
8. Walsrode
9. Plzen
10. Hodenhagen
Honorable mentions to Praha, Wroclaw, Wilhelma, Wuppertal, Antwerpen
Revisits
1. Nürnberg (last visited in 2008, so much new cool stuff)
2. Leipzig (last visited in 2006, so mainly for Gondwana)
3. Zürich (mainly for Lewa and other stuff I didn't see last time)
4. Berlin TP (when ABH reopens)
5. Berlin Zoo (when the carnivore house reopens)
6. Hellabrunn (a lot of new stuff since 2010, but I still want to wait for some new developments)
7. Westküstenpark St. Peter-Ording (mainly for nostalgic reasons)
8. Hagenbeck (Eismeer looks kinda nice I guess)
9. Schönbrunn (always good to be back)
10. Dortmund (I just visited, but I need to get my list full...)
1. Chester
2. Beauval
3. Burgers
4. Cologne
5. Frankfurt
6. Magdeburg
7. Duisburg
8. Walsrode
9. Plzen
10. Hodenhagen
Honorable mentions to Praha, Wroclaw, Wilhelma, Wuppertal, Antwerpen
Revisits
1. Nürnberg (last visited in 2008, so much new cool stuff)
2. Leipzig (last visited in 2006, so mainly for Gondwana)
3. Zürich (mainly for Lewa and other stuff I didn't see last time)
4. Berlin TP (when ABH reopens)
5. Berlin Zoo (when the carnivore house reopens)
6. Hellabrunn (a lot of new stuff since 2010, but I still want to wait for some new developments)
7. Westküstenpark St. Peter-Ording (mainly for nostalgic reasons)
8. Hagenbeck (Eismeer looks kinda nice I guess)
9. Schönbrunn (always good to be back)
10. Dortmund (I just visited, but I need to get my list full...)
Last edited:
That excited you want to visit it twice as bad as the rest of your list?
That excited you want to visit it twice as bad as the rest of your list?
FIxed it, I had some shuffling of positions and apparently Magdeburg fell through...
Just noticed this thread for the first time - I figured I would put down the ten zoos I am most interested in, noted in alphabetical order and with a brief explanation why I chose it:
1. Alpenzoo Innsbruck - I really enjoy collections that specialise on the European region and this seems to be one of the best.
2. Berlin Tierpark - Once the Alfred-Brehm house reopens (and if they do end up keeping all the species listed in the plans), this will be one of my preferred options.
3. GaiaZOO Kerkade - Having visited several Netherlands collections in the past I am keen on seeing this one, which seems to build very impressive and interesting-looking exhibits.
4. Le Parc des Felins - Just looking through the species list makes for an excellent reason to visit; then looking through the gallery and seeing lots of good exhibits adds another reason.
5. Magdeburg Zoo - One of those zoos that combines interesting exhibitry with an excellent collection of animals - on-show Grandidier's vontsira are reason enough.
6. Nürnberg Tiergarten - Another German zoo that does both exhibitry and collection very well; I would love to be able to see their amazing-looking yellow-throated marten exhibit.
7. Ostrava Zoo - Would love to be able to see the 'Chitwan' exhibit in the flesh; I remember seeing a video of it and thinking how impressive it looked.
8. Otterzentrum - Probably the least-known of my collections, this German park focuses almost entirely on local mustelids; the pine marten enclosure on Zoolex is sufficient to tempt me.
9. Tierpark Dählhölzli - As Alpenzoo Innsbruck, except with a broader (largely) Palearctic focus; it also looks to have some amazing-looking enclosures, such as the ones along the river.
10. Zurich Zoo - Having heard so many great things about Masoala, I would love to see it myself and compare it with what I remember of Burgers Bush.
1. Alpenzoo Innsbruck - I really enjoy collections that specialise on the European region and this seems to be one of the best.
2. Berlin Tierpark - Once the Alfred-Brehm house reopens (and if they do end up keeping all the species listed in the plans), this will be one of my preferred options.
3. GaiaZOO Kerkade - Having visited several Netherlands collections in the past I am keen on seeing this one, which seems to build very impressive and interesting-looking exhibits.
4. Le Parc des Felins - Just looking through the species list makes for an excellent reason to visit; then looking through the gallery and seeing lots of good exhibits adds another reason.
5. Magdeburg Zoo - One of those zoos that combines interesting exhibitry with an excellent collection of animals - on-show Grandidier's vontsira are reason enough.
6. Nürnberg Tiergarten - Another German zoo that does both exhibitry and collection very well; I would love to be able to see their amazing-looking yellow-throated marten exhibit.
7. Ostrava Zoo - Would love to be able to see the 'Chitwan' exhibit in the flesh; I remember seeing a video of it and thinking how impressive it looked.
8. Otterzentrum - Probably the least-known of my collections, this German park focuses almost entirely on local mustelids; the pine marten enclosure on Zoolex is sufficient to tempt me.
9. Tierpark Dählhölzli - As Alpenzoo Innsbruck, except with a broader (largely) Palearctic focus; it also looks to have some amazing-looking enclosures, such as the ones along the river.
10. Zurich Zoo - Having heard so many great things about Masoala, I would love to see it myself and compare it with what I remember of Burgers Bush.
Luca Bronzi
Well-Known Member
Chester, Zurich, Walsrode and Burgers, Doue (They are less than 10 but ok)
Having now been to Duisburg and Cologne in 2018, my list of new zoos to visit would be:
Prague
Vienna
Budapest
Wroclaw
Leipzig
Beauval
Parc de Felins
Antwerp
Pairi Daiza
Burgers
I hope to visit at least 2 of these this year!
Other new ones would possibly be
Magdeburg/Halle/ Chemnitz /Cottbus
Plsen
Planckendal
Rhenen /Rotterdam
All depends which of the first list I manage
Last edited:
To be fair, I've reached all of the highlighted collections by public transport
I am not sure, when will try to reach them, but will highly appreciate advices, especially for the two English ones
Last edited:
I am not sure, when will try to reach them, but will highly appreciate advices, especially for the two English ones
Will give more detailed advice as and when required - but broadly speaking there is a bus to within about 500 metres of Exmoor, and then it's just a short walk down a farm track to get there, whilst for Hamerton the nearest bus stop is 4 miles away but the walk is a very pleasant one along a country lane. So if you are reasonably fit and okay with walking, neither will be a problem for you.
Thank you ! Sounds pretty doable. I have no problem walking long distances, but actually thought that Exmoor will be the difficult one
1. Berlin Zoo
2. Leipzig
3. Praha
4. Rotterdam
5. Schönbrunn(revisit)
6. Arnhem
7. München-Hellabrunn
8. Dvúr Králove
9. Tierpark Berlin
10. Szeged(revisit)
2. Leipzig
3. Praha
4. Rotterdam
5. Schönbrunn(revisit)
6. Arnhem
7. München-Hellabrunn
8. Dvúr Králove
9. Tierpark Berlin
10. Szeged(revisit)