Barcelona Zoo Tickets

Barcelona Zoo is one of the best things to do in the city if you’re looking for a fun family afternoon. Home to animals from all corners of the globe and endangered species, the lively, cheerful atmosphere here is unrivalled anywhere else in the city.

Below, I’ll tell you everything you need to know to get your tickets and plan your visit, but make sure you read the information right to the end. Have a great trip!

Like so many other attractions in Barcelona, tickets to the Zoo are divided into categories. Whilst an adult will need to pay around €22 to enter the grounds, other groups are eligible for offers that I recommend you take into account when planning your budget: an adult ticket costs approximately €22; children aged 3 to 12 pay around €13; free entry for children under 3; people with disabilities pay around €6; and adults over 65 pay around €11.

If you’re visiting Barcelona with children, the Zoo is a great option, as are some excellent day trips outside Barcelona.

At the moment, there are no exclusive guided tours of Barcelona Zoo, neither provided by tour operators nor by the zoo’s own management. Although you can find guided tours of Barcelona, the zoo is almost never included due to the time it takes to explore it and how easy it is for tourists to find their way around the complex.

In the absence of a guide, there are additional resources that can help you have the best experience on your next visit to the zoo; I’ll tell you about them below.

Barcelona Zoo mobile app

To find your way around the complex, the official Barcelona Zoo app is the best option. This app offers visitors numerous features, such as real-time location tracking on the Zoo Map and the ability to navigate to the most popular points of interest within the complex. This allows you to plan and personalise your own route based on the areas or enclosures that most appeal to you.

If you didn’t have time to buy your tickets online for Barcelona Zoo, please note that you can purchase them directly at the ticket office located at the zoo entrance. However, I wouldn’t recommend this to fellow travellers visiting Barcelona for just a few days, as you may encounter long queues and waste a lot of time. Bear in mind that the Zoo ticket office always closes 30 minutes before closing time (6 pm or 5 pm depending on the season).

Generally speaking, buying zoo tickets online is an option mainly used by tourists looking to save time on their trip and avoid queues; residents of Barcelona and nearby towns who visit the zoo frequently for a pleasant family day out prefer to buy tickets directly at the ticket office, which is why there is always a queue to enter this attraction. This queue can be avoided by purchasing tickets in advance.

Yes; visiting the Zoo is one of the best things to do in Barcelona if you have a few days to explore the city; this is well known to tour operators, who have included the Zoo in the Barcelona Pass, a pass that allows travellers to save money on their visits to the main attractions.

As well as the Zoo, this special pass, valid for two or three days, gives you free access to other major city attractions such as the Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, Park Güell, the Aquarium and many more. The pass can be purchased together with a ticket for the city’s tourist bus.

Thanks to its strategic location, getting to Barcelona Zoo is really easy. The zoo is situated in Barcelona’s Ciutadella Park and has two separate entrances: the first via the Ciutadella Park itself and the second via Wellington Street, near the famous Paseo de Circunvalación. Below, I’ll share the most recommended options for getting to this part of the city.

Public Transport

You can reach this part of the city using Barcelona’s public transport, such as:

• Barcelona Tram: with this option, take the T4 route to the Ciutadella - Vila Olímpica stop, located 5 minutes from the entrance.

• Barcelona Metro: take line L4 to Ciutadella - Vila Olímpica station, located about 5 minutes from the Zoo.

• Barcelona Bus: routes 59, D20 and H16 have stops just a few minutes’ walk from the entrances.

Barcelona Tourist Bus

If you need help getting to this part of Barcelona, the Barcelona tourist bus is an excellent option. This transport service will take you past the city’s main attractions, and you can hop on and off at the stops as often as you like.

In Barcelona there are two tourist buses with two routes; to visit the Zoo you should take the West Route bus. The stop located right in front of the zoo is El Born - Ciutadella - Zoo, and a new bus passes by approximately every 30 minutes.

If you’re visiting Barcelona with children, the Zoo is a must-see attraction, as the little ones are undoubtedly the ones who enjoy this place the most. The best part of the experience is their innate ability to marvel at the new, whether it’s a tiny amphibian or a huge kangaroo.

Additionally, it’s important to bear in mind that the collection of species at Barcelona Zoo is one of the most diverse, meaning that both children and adults can admire creatures here that they’d be unlikely to see outside the pages of books or on digital screens.

As this is one of the favourite activities for families in Barcelona and the surrounding area, the zoo’s management puts a lot of effort into creating themed workshops and educational activities aimed at children, which your little one can easily join in with. Do some research a few days before your visit or ask at the information desk as soon as you arrive at the zoo.

Barcelona Zoo is situated on a large site and, although it opened in 1892 with just a few species thanks to the donation of a private collection of animals, over the years the number of creatures housed here has grown to over 7,000, representing an average of 400 different species. Naturally, everything is organised by area, so below I list the most impressive ones.

The Farm

This is one of the favourite attractions for local children and visitors to Barcelona; here you can meet and even play with various farm animals such as cows, chickens, pigs, sheep, donkeys and horses. Extremely interactive!

The Aquarama

A gigantic pool where beautiful dolphins live and interact. Come closer to see them greet the public with pirouettes and all sorts of amusing acrobatics. If you like marine life, you should also visit the Barcelona Aquarium.

The Primate Gallery

Possibly one of the best sections of the Barcelona museum. You can observe these fantastic creatures and their social behaviour in a habitat very similar to their natural environment. Both children and adults really enjoy this area.

The Palm Grove

Simulating the lush vegetation of the rainforest, in the Palm Grove you’ll find the most fabulous specimens, including a variety of cockatoos, vibrant macaws and parrots in striking colours.

The tribute to Copito

For decades, Barcelona Zoo enjoyed the unique distinction of being home to the only albino gorilla, the world-famous Copito de Nieve. This special and affectionate creature lived practically his entire life at the Zoo and passed away in 2003 at the age of 36, due to old age and skin cancer.

Visiting Barcelona Zoo is no short trip; the minimum time needed to really see a bit of everything this place has to offer is at least 4 hours. For this reason, I don’t recommend it to those visiting Barcelona for just a day, as you run the risk of missing out on other more iconic attractions.

If you’re spending several days in the city on a family holiday, I recommend spending a day out at the Zoo. The reason is simple: there is plenty to see, do and enjoy here, especially if you’re visiting with children.

Barcelona Zoo currently covers an area of approximately 8,000 square metres – it’s quite large! Furthermore, the diversity of creatures that call this place home is equally impressive; a total of 7,000 animals across 400 different species live together in various habitats

One of the most important things to bear in mind when planning a visit to this attraction is the Barcelona Zoo’s opening hours, as these vary throughout the year depending on the season. The Zoo is open every day all year round but follows the following schedule.

• Between 30 October and 18 March, opening hours are from 10.00 to 17.30, with reduced hours during thewinter monthsin Barcelona.
• Between 19 March and 15 May, opening hours are from 10.00 to 19.00, with the arrival of spring.
• Between 16 May and 15 September, opening hours are from 10.00 to 20.00, extended opening hours forthe summer in Barcelona.
• Between 16 September and 29 October, opening hours are from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm.
• On Christmas Day, 25 December, the zoo is only open from 10am to 12pm.

In the following section, I’ll share some recommendations that could be very helpful on your adventure at the Zoo.

Find out what is and isn’t allowed.

• Food: You can bring food into the zoo and even have a family picnic. You’ll find several food stalls within the grounds.
• Vehicles: Scooters, Segways and skateboards are prohibited, but you may bring a pushchair if you are visiting with young children.
• Pets: With the exception of guide dogs, pets and animals are prohibited within the zoo grounds.
• Dress code: It is prohibited to walk around with a bare chest within the zoo grounds.
• Smoking: Only in designated areas.

You must not touch or feed the animals

This is particularly important if you are travelling with young children; make sure they understand that feeding and touching the animals is not allowed. The animals at the zoo follow a strict diet and eating something unsuitable could cause them discomfort or illness.

Wear comfortable footwear and protect yourself from the sun

You’ll be walking or standing for longer than you might imagine, so make sure you wear comfortable shoes that allow you to move freely. Also, apply sun cream throughout the day; a hat or cap is an excellent accessory.

Arrive early

If you want to make the most of your day, try to arrive at the Zoo when it opens and head straight to the most popular areas to enjoy them to the full. Around midday, the crowds increase considerably, especially during the peak tourist season in Barcelona.

Find out about the activities

As well as its wonderful collection of species, Barcelona Zoo is known for offering numerous educational activities throughout the year; some are camps lasting several weeks, whilst others are short activities lasting just a few hours, aimed at children and their families. Finding out about these activities before you travel can make the experience even more memorable for your children.

Professional photos and videos require a special permit

It may not apply to you, but it’s worth bearing in mind that a special permit is required to produce audiovisual material or take professional photographs within the zoo grounds. Find out more on the official website.