Barcelona Zoo Tickets

The 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 world and endangered species, the lively and cheerful atmosphere here is unmatched anywhere else in the city.

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

Like so many other attractions in Barcelona, tickets to the Zoo are divided into categories. While an adult will need to pay around €22 to enter the facilities, other groups have special offers that I recommend considering when budgeting: an adult ticket costs approximately €22; children ages 3 to 12 pay about €13; free admission for children under 3; people with disabilities pay approximately €6; and seniors over 65 pay approximately €11.

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

At the moment, there are no exclusive guided tours of the Barcelona Zoo, neither provided by tour operators nor by the zoo’s own administration. 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 your best bet. 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 way, you can create and customize your own route based on the areas or exhibits that interest you most.

If you didn’t have time to buy your tickets online for the Barcelona Zoo, know that you can purchase them directly at the ticket office located at the zoo entrance. However, I don’t recommend this to my fellow travelers visiting Barcelona for just a few days, as you may encounter long lines and waste a lot of time. Keep in mind that the Zoo ticket office always closes 30 minutes before closing time (6:00 PM or 5:00 PM depending on the season).

In general, buying zoo tickets online is an option mostly used by tourists looking to save time on their trip and avoid lines; residents of Barcelona and nearby cities who visit the zoo frequently for a pleasant family day out prefer to buy tickets directly at the ticket office, which is why there’s always a line to enter this attraction. This line 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 fact is well known by tour operators, who have included the Zoo in the Barcelona Pass, a pass that allows travelers to save money on their visits to the main attractions.

In addition to the Zoo, this special pass—valid for two or three days—will give 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 in conjunction with access to the city’s tourist bus.

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

Public Transportation

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

• Barcelona Tram: Take the T4 line to the Ciutadella - Vila Olímpica stop, located 5 minutes from the entrance.

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

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

Barcelona Tourist Bus

If you need help getting to this area of Barcelona, the Barcelona Tourist Bus is an excellent option. This mode of transportation 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’ll need to 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 youngest visitors are undoubtedly the ones who enjoy this place the most. The best part of the experience is their innate ability to marvel at new things, whether it’s a tiny amphibian or a huge kangaroo.

Additionally, it’s important to note that the Barcelona Zoo’s collection of species is one of the most diverse, meaning that both children and adults can admire creatures here that they’d rarely see outside of books or digital screens.

Since this is one of the favorite 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 geared toward children, which your little one can easily join. Do some research a few days before your trip or ask at the information desk as soon as you arrive at the zoo.

Barcelona Zoo is located on a large site. 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 animals housed here has grown to over 7,000, representing an average of 400 different species. Naturally, everything is organized by area, so below I’ll list the most impressive ones.

The Farm

This is one of the favorite attractions for local children and tourists visiting Barcelona. Here, you can encounter 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. Get up close to watch them greet the public with pirouettes and all kinds of fun acrobatics. If you love 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 lives in a habitat very similar to their natural environment. Both children and adults really enjoy this space.

The Palm Grove

Simulating the lush vegetation of the rainforest, the Palm Grove is home to some of the most fabulous birds, including a variety of cockatoos, vibrant macaws, and parrots in striking colors.

The Tribute to Copito

For decades, the 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 the Barcelona Zoo is not a 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 one 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 vacation, I recommend spending a day on an excursion to the Zoo. The reason is simple: there is so much to see, do, and enjoy here, especially if you’re visiting with children.

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

One of the most important things to keep in mind when planning a visit to this attraction is the Barcelona Zoo’s schedule, as it changes throughout the year depending on the season. The Zoo is open every day year-round but follows the schedule below.

• Between October 30 and March 18, hours are from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with reduced hours during thewinter monthsin Barcelona.
• From March 19 to May 15, the hours are from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with the arrival of spring.
• From May 16 to September 15, the hours are from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, extended hours forthe summer in Barcelona.
• From September 16 to October 29, the hours are from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
• On Christmas Day, December 25, the zoo is only open from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

In the following section, I’ll share some recommendations that can be very helpful during your visit to the Zoo.

Find out what is and isn’t allowed.

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

You may not touch or feed the animals

This is especially important if you’re traveling 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 ingesting something inappropriate could cause illness or discomfort.

Wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun

You’ll be walking or standing for more hours than you might imagine, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes that allow you to move freely. Also, apply sunscreen throughout the day, and 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 more. Around noon, the crowd increases considerably, especially during the peak tourist season in Barcelona.

Find out about the activities

In addition to its wonderful collection of species, the Barcelona Zoo is known for offering numerous educational activities throughout the year; some are camps lasting several weeks, while others are short-term activities focused on children and their families. Finding out about these activities before your trip can make the experience even more memorable for your children.

Professional photos and videos require a special permit

This may not apply to you, but it’s good to keep 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.