Plan your visit to Schonbrunn Zoo | Opening hours, best routes, tips, & more

Vienna Schönbrunn ZooPlan Your Visit

Established in 1752 as an imperial menagerie, the Schonbrunn Zoo had humble beginnings. It focused on creating naturalistic environments to ensure the well-being of the animals. Over the years, it has emerged as a pioneer in ethical breeding and animal conversation programs. Read our comprehensive guide to plan your visit and explore the Schonbrunn Zoo premises comfortably.

Schonbrunn Zoo | Visitor information at a glance

What are the zoo’s opening hours?
The Vienna Zoo opening hours are between 9am and 4:30pm daily throughout the year. The zoo has extended hours and remains open until 6:30pm during the summer months when the days are comparatively longer.
Where is the Vienna Zoo located?
The Schonbrunn Zoo is situated on Maxingstraße 13b, 1130 Wien, Austria, amidst the Hietzing district, known for its lush green spaces and historic streets.
How many entrances does the zoo have?
There are three Vienna Zoo entrances- the Tyrolean entrance and Neptune Fountain entrance, closer to the Schonbrunn Palace Grounds, and the Hietzing entrance, near the Schonbrunn and Hietzing metro stations.
How many visitors does the zoo see in a year?
The Schonbrunn Vienna Zoo welcomes about 2 million visitors in a year. The warmer months of June, July, and August are most crowded with tourists.
What’s so special about the Schonbrunn Zoo?
The Vienna Schonbrunn Zoo houses over 700 animal species, spread over 17 hectares. The zoo is known for mimicking the animals’ natural habitats to provide a safe space for them. These naturalistic environments stimulate the animals to act as they would in the wild.

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Vienna Schonbrunn Zoo opening hours

January: 9am to 4:30pm
February: 9am to 5 pm
March: 9am to 5:30pm
April to September: 9am to 6:30pm
October (until daylight saving time ends): 9am to 5:30pm
October to December: 9am to 4:30pm

Last entry: 30 minutes before the closing hours

Open: Throughout the year, even on public holidays

Duration of visit: 3 to 4 hours

Note:

The Aquarium-Terrarium House and the Tyrolean Farm Houses close at the end of visiting hours. The Bird House closes an hour before, and all other animal houses close half an hour before the closing time.
Children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult guardian.

Vienna Zoo feeding times

Best time to visit the Vienna Zoo

Peak season vs off-season

June to August attracts the most visitors to the Vienna Zoo. With most schools and colleges on summer break, hundreds of families visit the zoo around this time. Most enclosures are crowded nearly every hour of the day. Start your tour early in the morning to lessen your wait time outside the exhibits. March to May, September, and October are comparatively cooler with milder temperatures and manageable crowds.

Inside Schonbrunn Zoo Vienna

Weekend vs weekday

Weekdays are less crowded than weekends. On weekends, expect longer wait lines outside the enclosures. Invest in skip-the-line tickets to avoid standing in long lines outside the Vienna Zoo entrance. If you plan a visit during the summer months, you may find weekdays equally swamped with tourists. The best way to ensure a quieter visit is to arrive early in the morning. A majority of the big felines also prowl about in the morning, when the temperatures are slightly cooler.

Vienna Zoo restaurant details

Where is the zoo located?

Address: Maxingstraße 13b, 1130 Wien, Austria
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The Schonbrunn Zoo is situated in the Hietzing district, known for its scenic green spaces and historic buildings. The zoo is situated near the Gloriette and Neptune Fountain within the Palace Grounds. The main zoo premises are only a kilometer away from the Royal Apartments of the palace, making it convenient for visitors to walk over to the zoo.

Closest landmarks: Schonbrunn Palace, Chocolate Museum, St. Charles’ Church, Museums Quartier Vienna, and others

Vienna Zoo parking information

How to get to the Schonbrunn Zoo?

By bus: Bus line 10A passes through the city center as well as Vienna Westbahnhof, including stops like Johnstraße and Niederhofstraße. Get down at Schloss Schonbrunn, a few meters away from the Vienna Zoo’s main entrance.
By metro: Take the U4 line going towards Hutteldorf and get down at Hietzing, a short, 10-minute walk from the zoo’s primary entrance. The U1 services the Vienna Hauptbahnhof. Upon reaching Karlsplatz, you have to transfer to the U4 line. If you are coming straight from the Vienna International Airport, take the S7 S-Bahn to Wien-Mitte-Landstraße. Then, take the U4 line to Hutteldorf.
By tram: Tram lines 60 and 58 travel through various areas in and around the Vienna City Center and Vienna Westbahnhof. Hietzing is the nearest tram station to the Schonbrunn Zoo.

Driving route: The distance between the Vienna International Airport and the Schonbrunn Vienna Zoo is around 26.5km. Drive along the A4 highway. Exit Landstraße from A23. Follow along Landstraßer Gurtel on B221. Turn towards B1 and head to Maxingstraße, a few minutes away from the Schonbrunn Zoo premises.
Nearest parking:

Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg: This public car park is situated 1.2km away from the Vienna Zoo premises. You can enter this parking spot via Elisabeth-Allee. Here, you will find exclusive parking spots for disabled visitors as well as a charging port for electric vehicles.
Parkgarage Hietzing: Closest to the main entrance of the Schonbrunn Zoo, this spot is ideal for visitors. However, it is most often crowded. You need to arrive early in the morning to get a spot here.
Tiergarage Steinbauerpark: Slightly farther from the Vienna Zoo, this zone offers more affordable rates and ample parking space.

Which entrance to use to enter the zoo?

The Schonbrunn Vienna Zoo has three entrances, two providing direct access to the nearby Palace Grounds, and another close to the Hietzing station. While the Hietzing entrance offers direct access to the most popular enclosures, it is more crowded than the other gates.

Tyrolean Garden entrance: This entrance directly leads to the Tyrolean Garden Tavern, the Insectarium, and the foxes and gray wolves enclosure. This Vienna Zoo entrance is close to the Gloriette statue inside the Schonbrunn Palace grounds, making it ideal for visitors, who are walking towards the zoo from the Palace Park. However, there are steep pathways leading from the entrance to the zoo, making it difficult for visitors in wheelchairs to navigate.
Neptune Fountain entrance: The Neptune Fountain gate is situated close to the deer, bison, and rhinoceros zones. As its name suggests, it is near the Neptune statue at the Schonbrunn Palace Grounds. You can follow the signs and walk over to the zoo through this gate.
Hietzing entrance: This is the main entrance to the Vienna Schonbrunn Zoo, situated a few meters away from the Hietzing and Schonbrunn metro stations. The gate directly leads to the Panda World, Big Cat House, and Giraffe Park. This entrance is ideal for visitors, arriving by public transport. Since this is the most popular Vienna Zoo entrance, expect longer lines here.

More about Vienna Zoo entrance gates

Know before you go

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Free Wi-Fi: There are free Wi-Fi facilities in information centers and dining outlets inside the Schonbrunn Zoo.
Information desk: You will find a visitor information center near every Vienna Zoo entrance, offering details on animal feeding shows, special events, restaurants, and more.
Toilets: You can use restroom facilities at any Vienna Zoo restaurant, the Children’s Farm Zoo, near the Big Cat House, and at the information desks near the entrances.
Water fountain: There are drinking water fountains near the Insectarium, Crocodile Pavillion, and Children’s Petting Zoo to ensure that you stay hydrated throughout your tour.
First-aid station: In case of an emergency, you can reach out to the visitor information centers for first-aid.
Lockers: You can store your belongings at the Hietzing visitor center to have a hassle-free tour of the Vienna Zoo.
Public telephone: There is a public telephone near the Hietzing entrance for emergencies.

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Wheelchair available: You can borrow a wheelchair free of charge from any of the three Vienna Zoo entrances. Note that you have to inform the zoo authorities a few days before your visit if you want a wheelchair upon your arrival. You have to submit an identification card to avail of this service.
Barrier-free areas: A majority of the Schonbrunn Zoo premises are barrier-free to ensure visitors in wheelchairs can easily navigate around the premises. The pathways towards the Tyrolean Garden entrance are slightly more steep than the other two entrances. We recommend all visitors with limited mobility to use the Hietzing entrance to enter the zoo.
Accessible restrooms: There are barrier-free and spacious toilets at the ORANG. erie, Elephant Park, Rainforest House, and the visitor information center near the Tyrolean Garden for your convenience.
Guide dogs: Only trained guide dogs are allowed inside the Vienna Zoo. You need to submit an identification card and have the dogs on a recognition vest to enter the premises.

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Stroller accessibility: The Schonbrunn Zoo is an ideal destination for families with children, for you can bring a stroller, and easily roam around the premises. The pathways inside the zoo are wide and largely barrier-free.
Baby changing stations: You will find baby-changing stations at most of the dining outlets and all the visitor information centers near the Vienna Zoo entrance gates.
Adult supervision required: All children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Please do not leave your children unsupervised at the zoo.

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No pets inside: Pets are not allowed inside the Schonbrunn Zoo. Only trained, well-behaved guide dogs, with recognition vests are allowed within the premises.
Avoid reaching over the barriers: Do not climb over the installed barriers. It may put you at risk of bites, scratches, or even being trampled by an animal. Even wild animals, who appear to be calm, can be unpredictable.
Children under 14 to be accompanied by an adult: All young visitors under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult guardian. If you are supervising a group of children on a school excursion, ensure that your wards do not stray out of sight.
Do not feed the animals: You are not allowed to feed the animals in Vienna Zoo. Snacks that may seem harmless to you may be life-threatening for the animals. Also, reaching too close to the animals puts you at risk of being scratched or mauled.
Avoid skateboards and scooters: Do not bring skateboards and scooters to the Schonbrunn Zoo. The walking paths are wide and spacious, however, they are always teeming with visitors. You will run into other visitors and may even cause accidents.

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Check feeding show hours: As soon as you arrive at the Vienna Zoo, enquire about the animal feeding shows at the visitor centers near the entrances. Align your visit with the feeding shows to learn more about the animals, their habitat challenges, and feeding behavior.
Pick up a Zoo map: Get a physical copy of the Vienna Zoo map or download the Zoo app on your smartphone to better navigate the premises. The map will help you chalk out an effective route and avoid backtracking.
Pack essentials: The outdoor enclosures do not offer much shade, so bring a hat and sunscreen. You can also pack a lunch box and have a picnic in the seating areas.
Wear comfortable footwear: The Vienna Zoo has over 1780 animals spread across 17 hectares. Exploring all its exhibits will take you 3 to 4 hours at the very least. Wear your most comfortable, closed shoes to roam around comfortably.
Ride the Zoo train: The Schonbrunn Zoo train runs every 45 minutes and passes through the Kaiser Pavillion and Elephant Park, offering a different view of the animals. Catch a break from all the walking and rest your legs on the zoo train.

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Wild Republic Shop
Address: Maxingstraße 13B, 1130 Wien, Austria
Find on maps
Opening hours: 9:30am to 6:45pm

The Vienna Zoo shop offers a wide selection of plush toys in various sizes, featuring animals from all the enclosures. The red panda and capybara plush toys are a few of the bestseller items. The store also sells small keepsakes like T-shirts, hats, keychains, stickers, and water bottles.
The shop has accessible pathways to ensure visitors in wheelchairs can enter the premises.
The Vienna Zoo shop also offers online delivery services.
All card and cash payments are accepted here.

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Kaiser Pavillion (19m away): Situated close to the Hietzing entrance, this restaurant offers classic dishes such as Wiener Schnitzel, Tafelspitz (boiled beef), and Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) along with a selection of fine wines.
Gasthaus Tirolergarten (1.7km away): Slightly away from the main enclosures, this restaurant specializes in Alpine dishes such as Tiroler Grostl (fried potatoes with bacon and onions) and Kasspatzln (cheese noodles).
Cafe Restaurant ORANG.erie (130m away): The nearby orangutans and tropical birds add an exotic thrill to your ORANG. Erie dining experience. Check out their grilled fish, traditional pastries, and coffee specialties.
Cafe Hietzing (120m away): Featuring elegant furnishings, this cafe is perfect for a light snack. Sachertorte, Linzer Torte, and Kaiserschmarrn are some classic savories you can try here.
Jumbo Grill Garden (50m away): The Grill Garden is known for its meat dishes like grilled chicken, bratwurst, and assorted skewers. Their outdoor seating area is particularly popular, as visitors can catch glimpses of the nearby African Bush elephants while enjoying their meals.

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Budget stays:
HB1 Design and Budget Hotel Wien Schonbrunn (2km away)
Iyf Schonbrunn Vienna (3.3km away)
Kyriad Vienna Altmannsdorf (4.7km away)
Mid-range hotels:
Austria Trend Parkhotel Schonbrunn (550m away)
Hotel Viktoria Schonbrunn (1km away)
Austria Trend Hotel Maximillian (450m away)
Luxury hotels:
Hotel Inn Vienna- South, an IHG Hotel (4.5km away)
Leonardo Hotel Vienna Schonbrunn (2.9km away)
Hotel Brauhof Wien (3km away)

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Schonbrunn Palace (1km away): This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its Baroque architecture and showcases the opulence of the Habsburg royalty. You can follow the signs along the Palace Gardens and walk over to the zoo.
Imperial Carriage Museum Vienna (900m away): This museum showcases sleighs, carriages, and automobiles, used by the Habsburg royal family. Head towards the Desert House. Cross the Brandauer Schlossbrau restaurant and Hietzing station to reach the Carriage Museum.
Hofburg Palace (7.3km away): Once the winter residence of the imperial family, this palace, houses the Sisi Museum, dedicated to the life of Empress Elisabeth, the Spanish Riding School, and the Imperial Chapel. Take the U4 subway line from Hietzing station to Karlsplatz. Then, transfer to the U2 line towards Schottenring and get off at Museumsquartier to reach the Hofburg Palace.
Albertina Museum (7.1km away): This museum is famous for its curation of works by Durer, Michelangelo, and Picasso. They also showcase modern art and photography exhibitions. It is a short walk from the Karlsplatz station.

Frequently asked questions about planning your visit to the Schonbrunn Zoo

What to see at the Vienna Zoo?

The Schonbrunn Vienna Zoo houses a wide selection of animal species, numbering around 700, spread across 17 hectares. You can see giant pandas, rock-hopper penguins, polar bears, Siberian tigers, African Bush elephants, orangutans, anteaters, capybaras, and several other mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The zoo provides a closer look at the incredible biodiversity of our planet.

Is the zoo inside the Schonbrunn Palace?

The Vienna Zoo is situated within the Schonbrunn Palace Grounds, around a kilometer away from the Main Royal Apartments of the palace. The zoo was founded in 1752, initially as an imperial menagerie, and has now emerged as a leader in animal conservation.

What is the cheapest way to reach the zoo?

If you are traveling from Vienna Hauptbahnhof (main train station), take the U1 subway line in the direction of Leopoldau and transfer at Karlsplatz to the U4 line towards Hutteldorf. Get off at Hietzing, the nearest metro station to the Schonbrunn Zoo. A single ticket costs around €2.40 for adults.

Do I need separate tickets to enter the zoo?

The Schonbrunn Zoo skip-the-line tickets offer access to all the animal enclosures, including the Panda World, Rainforest House, Elephant Park, Insectarium, Polar Bear World, and others. You need separate tickets to explore the nearby palace. The Schonbrunn Zoo combo tickets allow you to explore the Palace Grounds as well as its interiors, providing a comprehensive view of the Habsburg opulence.

Can I enter the zoo with the same ticket once I exit?

Yes, you can exit the Schonbrunn Zoo and enter again with the same ticket, provided you get it stamped from any of the visitor information centers near the three entrances. Remember that if you are planning to eat at Gasthaus Tirolergarten or Landtmann’s Park cafe, you have to get your tickets stamped, as these outlets are outside the zoo’s perimeter.

Is the zoo wheelchair accessible?

The Schonbrunn Vienna Zoo is largely barrier-free and easily accessible. Visitors in wheelchairs can navigate the premises comfortably. You can rent wheelchairs for your visit free of charge. There are accessible restrooms at the Cafe ORANG. erie and near the Tyrolean garden.

Are there restaurants inside the zoo?

There are a variety of dining options inside the Schonbrunn Zoo. Head to the Kaiser Pavillion or Gasthaus Tirolergarten for a heart, traditional, Austrian feast. Try Kasspatzin (cheese noodles), apple strudel, and Tafelspitz (boiled beef). If you want a light refreshment like a salad or a sandwich, head to Cafe ORANG. erie, close to the orangutans and tropical birds.

How long does it take to tour the zoo?

You can cover the bigger enclosures, like the Elephant Park, Big Cat House, and Rainforest House in around an hour or two. However, we recommend you set aside at least 3 hours for a detailed exploration of the Schonbrunn Vienna Zoo.

Are pets allowed in the zoo?

You are not allowed to bring pets inside the Vienna Zoo premises. Only trained guide dogs with an identity card and recognition vests are allowed in the zoo.