Looking for an awesome adventure? These are the must-visit zoos around the globe!
For most Americans, the National Wildlife Refuges and National Parks are probably the best places to witness the beauty of wilderness. But since not many people have a car or the availability to go to these places, there is always a zoo visit that makes both kids and adults happy.
We know that opinions about zoos are divided, but the right (and legit) kind of zoos give people a chance to learn about the world’s environment and the efforts being made to protect important species (especially the endangered ones) for future generations.
To be sure the zoo of your choice is as morally upright as you are, it’s better to check a list before scheduling your trip. The must-visit zoos provide educational programs, use the money from tickets to pay for the food of the animals, contribute financially to research to save endangered species, or have release initiatives to help return animals to the wild.
An excellent starting point to do your research is to check the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ list of accredited institutions, which focuses on locations in the United States and Canada but also includes a few foreign locations that are worth taking a look at.
Can you guess which are the must-visit zoos around the globe? Continue reading our article. It will be fun!
Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
Of course, the first place is taken by an American zoo, a great one located in Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. The biggest perk for this zoo is that the entrance is free (yep, you’ve heard me well!), and it has more than 163 acres to roam around and witness all sorts of wild animals.
In addition to offering a wide variety of animals, from the humble naked mole rat to the powerful lions, tigers, and bears, this zoological park in Washington, D.C., is a world leader in conservation. With the resources to genuinely benefit the animal kingdom, it is a part of the Smithsonian Institution, the largest museum and research complex in the world.
Another reason why the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is among the must-visit zoos in the world is due to the giant pandas’ recent return. They’re so cute!
Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna
Moving on to another continent this time around, to one of the must-visit zoos located in Vienna, Austria. Also known as the Tiergarten or the Vienna Zoo, founded by Emperor Franz I in 1752, Schönbrunn holds the honor of being the oldest zoo in the world, having opened to the public for the first time in 1778. Its extensive conservation efforts and rare animal exhibits also make it one of the best.
Most significantly, its species protection initiatives help animals like polar bears and giant pandas in the wild, and its captive breeding program is saving dozens of endangered species.
The price for an adult ticket is € 27, but if you plan on coming with a group larger than 10 people, it is € 25. For children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years old, the price for a ticket is € 15.50. You can buy your tickets online in advance so you can skip the queue, which can be pretty long, especially during the peak season.
Basel Zoo in Switzerland
With more than 5,000 animals spread across more than 27 acres, Basel Zoo’s extensive breeding program, known as the European Endangered Species Programme, makes it difficult to keep track of that number. The zoo’s website lists the pygmy hippopotamus, honeycreeper, Indian rhinoceros, and squirrel monkey as some of the species it works to prevent from going extinct.
These initiatives are made possible in part by each entry ticket, which costs €23.38 for adults and €17 for children. Don’t forget to also drop by their shop before leaving! They have a lot of cute stuff.
Since it is one of the must-visit zoos in the world, they have a ton of followers on social media too. You should be one of them!
Berlin Zoological Garden in Germany
The Berlin Zoological Garden, which has been open since 1844, has the most diverse collection of animals of any zoo worldwide. More than 26,000 animals from more than 1,500 species call it home, including Germany’s only giant panda and multiple polar bears.
If you’re paying extra, you can enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes tours and animal encounters with sloths, giraffes, and aardvarks, among other animals. From rhinos in India to okapi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the zoo’s species conservation efforts help save rare and endangered animals all over the world.
To visit the zoo, only the price of a ticket for an adult is €16.00 if you buy it online, and the combined ticket for the zoo and the aquarium is €24.00.
Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii
Now we’re back to our continent, in Hawaii at one of the must-visit zoos from all over the world, the Honolulu Zoo! Komodo dragons and African penguins are among the approximately 900 animals housed at Honolulu Zoo, which is located close to the southern tip of Waikiki Beach.
Visitors can explore the zoo outside of regular business hours with its guided morning safari and evening twilight tours, and it’s a fun place to spend the day if you need a break from the beach.
As part of the zoo’s conservation efforts, several endangered species live here, including Asian elephants, black rhinos, Sumatran tigers, and Galápagos tortoises. Have you ever been to the Honolulu Zoo?
Thinking about visiting one of these must-visit zoos? Then you have to be protected! Besides the sunscreen protection, don’t forget to also pack a nice sun hat! You can choose any option you prefer, but I highly recommend one of my favorites. It is unisex and available on Amazon for just $9.99.
Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri
If you’re looking for a zoo that also has a free pass, you’re more than welcome to the Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri. The 1,300-acre Forest Park is home to this zoo, which was founded in 1910 and currently has over 16,000 animals.
They take care of a wide variety of animals, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, and invertebrates. To ensure that every animal receives the best care possible, there is a Reproductive Management Center, an Animal Food and Nutrition Center, an Endangered Species Research Center, and a Veterinary Hospital on the property.
If you want to be part of the behind-the-scenes experience and see how it feels to be an animal caretaker, for an additional cost you can feed, pet, and watch all the wild animals. Of course under the surveillance of the staff.
Wellington Zoo in New Zealand
We’re taking off to the next continent to check off the list of another one of the must-visit zoos around the globe, the Wellington Zoo. Wellington Zoo was the first in New Zealand when it opened in 1906 and is situated in the suburbs south of the city center. It also has the oldest conservation program in the region.
Here you will be able to see everything from giraffes and kangaroos to chimpanzees and capybara. (Ohh, capybara! Capybara, capybara, capybara! Don’t mind us; that song is super catchy!)
Furthermore, depending on the zoo’s rescue efforts, you can even see native kiwi birds (they’re so tiny!). Additionally, same as the Saint Louis Zoo, as a visitor, you can participate in a variety of educational activities and, for an extra charge, get up close and personal with a variety of animals, including snow leopards, red pandas, and sun bears.
Australia Zoo in Beerwah
Last but not least, we’re jumping off to Australia for one of the must-visit zoos, the Australia Zoo. Take a pilgrimage to the cherished Australia Zoo, the home of the late conservationist Steve Irwin, if you have happy memories of seeing him save crocs with his bare hands in The Crocodile Hunter.
Originally a small two-acre wildlife park in 1970, the property now covers over 700 acres in Beerwah, Queensland, approximately an hour’s drive north of Brisbane. It includes a zoo, a wildlife hospital, and The Crocodile Hunter Lodge, which opened in 2022.
Take some time to feed the kangaroos by hand, observe the workings of the on-site animal shelter, and watch the renowned saltwater crocodile show in the “Crocoseum.”
The Irwin family still lives and works on-site, so it might be worth keeping an eye out for Terri, Bindi, Robert, and others.
Did you visit one or more of these zoos? Tell us in the comments.
You may also want to take a look at: 7 Animals You Can’t Have as Pets in the US.
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