Dublin Zoo was founded in 1831 and sits inside the Phoenix Park, west of the city centre; the nearest train station, Heuston, is a twenty minute walk away. Day tickets are tied to the date you pick when booking, while Flexi tickets cover one visit at any point within two months of purchase, which is worth knowing if your dates are still loose. Either way, tickets are non-refundable and cannot be transferred to someone else. Inside, several outlets serve hot and cold meals and snacks, luggage lockers at the entrance take bags off your shoulders for a small fee, and toilets are spread across the grounds. Dogs and other domestic pets are not allowed in, although the zoo provides temporary accommodation for a guide dog while its owner visits. The trade-off is timing: weekends, bank holidays, school holidays and the summer months are the busiest periods, so the days that suit a school calendar are also the crowded ones, while early mornings and the last two hours before closing are the quieter windows.
Family FAQ
Do you need to book Dublin Zoo in advance?
You can buy tickets at the gate on arrival, but booking online in advance guarantees entry and saves up to 15%.
Is there baby changing at Dublin Zoo?
There is a baby changing and feeding area by the Meerkat Restaurant, and changing facilities elsewhere in the zoo.
Can you bring your own food to Dublin Zoo?
You may bring your own picnic; there are lawns and picnic tables around the zoo.
Is there parking at Dublin Zoo?
The zoo has no customer car park of its own; Lord's Walk car park, a two-minute walk away, holds 260 cars and includes disabled spaces.
