Zoo Basel
Zoo · St. Margarethen ·

Zoo Basel

Zoo · St. Margarethen ·

Zoo with diverse animals, vivarium, penguins, and conservation efforts

Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null
Zoo Basel by null

Information

Binningerstrasse 40, 4054 Basel, Switzerland Get directions

Information

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Binningerstrasse 40, 4054 Basel, Switzerland Get directions

+41 61 295 35 35
zoobasel.ch
@zoobasel

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Last updated

Dec 6, 2025

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25 Best Zoos in the World

"Set on more than 27 acres and home to over 5,000 animals, this zoo runs a comprehensive breeding initiative as part of the European Endangered Species Programme to help save species such as squirrel monkeys, Indian rhinoceroses, pygmy hippopotamuses, and honeycreepers. A portion of ticket sales directly supports these coordinated conservation and breeding efforts." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-zoos-in-the-world-6826018
Zoo Basel

Karen D.

Google
Love love this place- I went pretty late (4-6pm). Although I skipped the crowds, some of the animals were already in their enclosures (not in exhibit), but it didn’t detract from my joy of being there. Loved the vivarium, farm animals, snow leopard, flamingos, meerkats, and penguins. I would have loved to be able to see the new hippo baby though :(.

Simon

Google
This zoo is great with kids. The surroundings are made with so many details in mind, and everything is green when you walk around. My kids and I loved it. There is a great food station too, and many animals. Especially the aquarium part is super big and nice too. The only downside, its in the middle of the city of Basel, a little hard to get to by car.

B D

Google
A compact zoo by size but full of animals. It's way easier to get through this than the one in Zurich if you're with small kids. The aquarium is gorgeous!

Fran B.

Google
Zoo was good for a city zoo. I don't want to spoil it so only posted a miniscule amount of photos. I loved going into the bird house. It had some levels to it so find the elevator or stairs. Spent from just after 9am until 4pm.

M K

Google
It's a very strange and beautiful place. They let the penguins walk freely in the zoo. However, the path was very clean. The staff there were very kind. Everything was good. I was there for 6 hours and I didn't want to leave at all. It was very enjoyable to be with the animals. I wish they were free in the wild, but the animals are having fun there too. The animals are definitely happy there. I recommend you to go there to enjoy being with nature.

Lika B.

Google
A very nice zoo – not too big, not too small. There’s a great variety of animals, and even on rainy days you can enjoy several indoor areas. We always love coming here!

Kim D.

Google
What a lovely zoo- lots to see with a variety of animals. I particularly liked the giraffe enclosure. There was also a lovely coffee shop and gift shop near the entrance.

Diana D.

Google
It is very convenient. With stroller we could go through the whole Zoo. We were lucky we could see all the animals. They have huge space in the restaurant & also banks everywhere to sit.
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Sofie M.

Yelp
Zoo Basel is really fun! Such cute animals there. It is the oldest zoo in Switzerland, so there are some old beautiful buildings where the animals still live in. For instance I noticed the owls live in this old gothic-style castle thing. Reminded me of Hogwarts! The Zoo itself is a bit hard to navigate. We were given this map that was very confusing, since the trails all loop into one another. It took us forever to find the penguins too because they had been moved (I think) and the map hadn't been updated. The food there was also pretty good. They have fun animal-shaped rolls and good vegetarian options. 10/10 would recommend this Zoo.
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Ricardo M.

Yelp
One of the nicest zoos I have ever been to. Not too large, but withs lots of "cool" animals and exhibits. Very well kept. There are at least two play areas for the little ones. Also a large restaurant and ample sitting area for picnic. The Vivarium was really nice, where they have the penguins and lots of tanks with different fishes and sea creatures. My 3 and 8 yrs old loved the experience.
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Mark M.

Yelp
A beautiful zoo with all the animals you close. My favorite, the Penguins, are inside a building at the main entrance, but the Penguins near the rear entrance are a better experience as they are outside and super close. The place can be walked through in just a few hours. The restaurant is pricey but really nice with a cafeteria and a more intimate dining room.

J. K.

Yelp
Good zoo, with a combination of newer areas and older (old school zoo) enclosures. The elephant area is newer, and it seems to me they have some good wandering space. The giraffe house has got to be close to 100 years old, in a beautiful wooden giraffe barn. Confusing layout, easy to get turned around even if you have a map - especially the link tunnel that crosses under the tram tracks.
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Valerie K.

Yelp
Great for a day out with kids to run around and get energy out. If you have been to any major zoos they won't be impressed with the animals. However, the enclosures are spacious and well kept. Make sure you use your Basel card otherwise I would suggest a free park to run off energy.
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Jeani K.

Yelp
Nice little zoo not too far from the Basel train station. It's a bit old and not as easy to navigate since there aren't many signs telling you what's where. However, my favorite part about this zoo is that there are so many different kinds of baby animals. My 21 months old daughter especially enjoyed seeing the babies. All in all, I'd say 3 hours should cover the entire zoo well. Great for a sunny afternoon.
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Joshua V.

Yelp
A rather small zoo with many fantastic animals. The restaurant is fairly good, but a bit on the expensive side. Parking can be a problem, so I would suggest taking the tram if possible
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Mark B.

Yelp
Don't miss the March of the Penguins! 11 AM on cold enough days.
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Daniel K.

Yelp
Not a bad compact zoo. It has clearly been around for a long time, but does not come across as run down. Has all the greatest hits (lions, tigers, bears, etc.). The primate house rivals some of the best I have seen in the world (e.g., Lincoln Park Zoo). Admission is ~20CHF for adults, and my 1 year old boy was free. It is within easy walking distance of the main train station in Basel. One critique: To get the restroom, you have to walk down stairs. Would have been nice to push the stroller to restroom vs. having to park and then walk.
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Eme L.

Yelp
Small city zoo with well laid-out paths, clean environment for the animals, and a very kid-friendly petting zoo (including pony rides). Unfortunately for us, our visit was late in the season and many of the warm-weather animals (giraffes, elephants, rhinos, etc.) were inside. Pretty stinky and not as much fun. The highlight (as always) was the ape house. Always interesting to observe the animals. Also, I noticed that the zoo is in the middle of constructing a large outdoor ape area. Should be interesting to see when it's all done. This as a pretty large (land-wise) city zoo, so if you're here in the summer, it's worth a visit.
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Qype User (.

Yelp
This is really a nice zoo, and I'm not one for zoos. (Don't get me wrong, I love animals, but for some reason mention a zoo and I start making other plans.) The Swiss in general love their animals, so it makes sense that the animals here are all looked after well. (A friend who worked with the horses said all the animals were very loved.) My favourite were the penguins -- very nice enclosure for them, and quite honestly I just think penguins are fun to watch. Decent facilities, several places to buy water and ice cream. Perfect for children, and a great place to visit if you're in Basel.

Alexandre G.

Yelp
It really doesn't matter if the weather is nice or it's raining. There is always something new to discover and that little detail you missed the last time you went to the zoo. Zoo Basel is constantly improving the way it interacts with its public and offers valuable information. If you are teaching your children or students to become a better person animals can help you achieving that. If you and your family are fans you may get special season tickets, and you may even become a member of the 'Friends of Basel Zoo'. Just a small hint... try checking the feeding times in advance so you might have the opportunity to watch something extra.
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G S.

Yelp
Nice surprise to find in Basel. We went on a private group tour. The tour guides were very knowledgable about the animals. You could hear how much they cared for the animals. The zoo is under construction and we did not get to see all the animals, but the ones we did were fun. Nice lanterns light the walkway at night. Our tour was followed by a wonderful dinner at the restaurant. Food & service were excellent. During construction the restaurant is temporarily located in a luxury tent enclosure.
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Qype User (.

Yelp
Lovely zoo in the heart of Basel. Good facilities for toilets and baby changing. The animals are cared for well and have nice enclosures. There are regular feeding and talk shows. It's easy to find your way around and there are lots of maps available if you need them. The gift shop and enterance prices are reasonable. A must see if you go to Basel!
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Qype User (.

Yelp
biggest zoo park of switzerland!

Qype User (.

Yelp
The Zolli Basel is a beautiful zoo, like an oasis in the center of Basel, large, but not too large. Our kids were as fascinated as ourselves to see the large crocodile swimming just inches before our noses (separated through a glass wall...). There are many beautiful creatures, we loved to see the lions taking their afternoon siesta, the large hippopotamus swimming in the water, the giraffes and the elephants and and and...