Zoo/Aquarium

Karlsruhe Zoo

A city-centre zoo founded in 1865, set in Karlsruhe's Stadtgarten right by the main station, with a petting zoo, an Exotenhaus and Gondoletta boats.

Typical visit
Ages
Booking
Family tickets
2 adults + up to 4 paying children: €39.50 at the gate or €38.50 online; 1 adult + up to 4 paying children: €26.50 at the gate or €25.50 online.
Evening entry
From one hour before the ticket offices close, entry costs half the regular day-ticket price.
Extra costs
Day tickets bought at the entrance ticket offices carry a €1 service fee each; the Gondoletta boat ride needs a separate ticket.
Petting zoo hours
The petting zoo is open 9:00–16:30 in winter and 9:00–17:30 in summer.
Handcarts
Handcarts (Bollerwagen) can be borrowed at the south ticket office; they can't be reserved.
Picnics
Bringing your own picnic is allowed, with benches and tables throughout the Stadtgarten.
Getting there
Take the tram or light rail to Kongresszentrum or Hauptbahnhof; from Hauptbahnhof the zoo is only a few metres away.
Parking
The zoo has no car park of its own; use the Kongresszentrum garages (near the north entrance) or P1 at the Hauptbahnhof (near the south entrance, bookable).
OUR FAMILY ASSESSMENT

Family Intelligence

Karlsruhe Zoo was founded in 1865 and sits inside the Stadtgarten, a park with benches and tables throughout where you are welcome to unpack your own picnic. The zoo is a listed cultural monument.

For children, the fixed points are the petting zoo and the Exotenhaus, which has a lift to every level. The Gondoletta boat ride is an add-on with its own ticket, bought at the entrance or from machines near the boarding points. If little legs give out, handcarts can be borrowed at the south ticket office, though they can’t be reserved. Card and mobile payment are accepted on site.

The zoo describes itself as largely barrier-free, and the south entrance by the main station and the north entrance by the congress centre both work with a stroller or wheelchair. The one to avoid with wheels is the east entrance, which is currently not barrier-free, so plan your approach around the other two.

Family FAQ

How much does Karlsruhe Zoo cost?

2 adults + up to 4 paying children: €39.50 at the gate or €38.50 online; 1 adult + up to 4 paying children: €26.50 at the gate or €25.50 online.

Can you bring your own food to Karlsruhe Zoo?

Bringing your own picnic is allowed, with benches and tables throughout the Stadtgarten.

Is there parking at Karlsruhe Zoo?

The zoo has no car park of its own; use the Kongresszentrum garages (near the north entrance) or P1 at the Hauptbahnhof (near the south entrance, bookable).

Why kids will love it

You can step off the train at Karlsruhe’s main station and be at the zoo within a few metres, with a petting zoo, a boat ride and room for a picnic in the same park.

Plan your visit

Also compare: Karlsruhe Zoo tickets on Tiqets (affiliate link)

EXPLORE

More things to do nearby

SLEEP

Family hotels nearby

PLAN

Guides that mention this

Tuileries Garden in Paris, France
Free parks, puppet shows and sailboats, plus big museums where children go free1 day
The Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disneyland
Paris, California, Florida, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai side by side for families with small children1 day
London Eye in London, United Kingdom
Free museums, the river and a palace with a maze: a three-day London plan built around children3 days

We use cookies to measure how the site is used and to track bookings made through our partners, such as GetYourGuide. Accept Cookie policy