Can we get here by bus from Passau?

Check route 6173 for your exact date. Direct park stops run on selected holiday weekdays; the park's 2026 announcement covers the Whitsun and summer holidays and excludes weekends and public holidays. Do not assume the same direct service runs in autumn. Check the return trip too.

Can we buy a ticket for both local animal parks?

Yes. Combination tickets cover Tierpark Irgenöd and Wildpark Schloss Ortenburg. They are separate places, so allow for a transfer and check current prices and ticket-validity conditions before buying.

Is there somewhere to eat and take a break?

The restaurant and adjoining beer garden serve warm and cold food, ice cream, coffee and cake. A play area is beside the food service. Toilets are marked near the entrance on the park plan.

Will every animal be visible?

Give each enclosure a little time and come back later if you cannot find its residents. Animals may be resting or out of view. Ask at the entrance about any enclosure changes affecting the animals you most want to see.

Illustration

ZooBayern, Germany

Tierpark Irgenöd

Visit Tierpark Irgenöd for a manageable family outing that gives birds as much attention as the bigger zoo animals.

Official website

About

Visit Tierpark Irgenöd for a manageable family outing that gives birds as much attention as the bigger zoo animals. Start with the numbered park plan and let everyone choose a favourite to look for. The paths take you between aviaries, waterbirds and mammal enclosures, with benches where you can stop rather than keeping the whole family moving.

The former Vogelpark still rewards a little curiosity about birds. There are parrots, local woodland birds and large flightless birds; information boards explain their origins and way of life, and some displays include eggs. Children who initially want to head straight for the cheetahs or meerkats may find themselves comparing beaks instead. The animals featured here are in the park's care, so enjoy the opportunity to look closely without treating an enclosure as somewhere to enter.

A restaurant, beer garden and play areas give the visit a useful rhythm: animals, a break, then another stretch of exploring. You can comfortably build the day around Irgenöd alone. Wildpark Schloss Ortenburg is a separate attraction about 3 km away, with combination tickets available if you want to visit both. Don't forget to bring the Snappit nature identification app along to scan local species.

The name changed from Vogelpark Irgenöd to Tierpark Irgenöd in 2023, reflecting a collection that also includes many mammals. In May 2025 the park celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Its bird-park origins are still visible in the variety of aviaries and the attention given to bird identification.

What to do here

Use the park plan to put together a circuit through the waterbird and camel area, the smaller bird aviaries and the flightless birds. Include the cheetah and meerkat enclosures and the zebra and ostrich area if you are making a fuller visit. The primate enclosures and the llama section offer more stops on the way back towards the entrance. This is a suggested order of sights; follow the park's paths and current signs rather than treating it as a separately marked trail.

Give the birds a proper share of your time. Ask each child to choose one beak shape or feather colour, then find a second bird to compare. At an egg display, look at the differences in size and shape without touching. Emus make a good conversation starter: the male incubates the eggs and cares for the chicks. You do not need to see a nest to enjoy that surprising detail.

Try a quiet watching challenge at the meerkats: can you spot digging, resting or an animal standing lookout? At the ring-tailed lemurs, check the ground as well as the climbing spaces. Finish with a play break; the park has climbing equipment, slides and swings, and a play area beside the food service. Keep any animal contact to the designated areas and follow the instructions there.

Seasonal info

Plan for a spring-to-autumn outing, with a winter closure. The 2026 season began on 28 March; late-season visits need a fresh check of the closing date, usually around early November. Bring rain protection for the outdoor paths. In persistent rain, a meal break can help, but it is better to choose a drier day if the children need a long outdoor play session.

Accessibility

Expect natural ground and uneven sections: the park warns of roots, displaced paving and other trip hazards. Wear shoes with grip and allow extra time with a pushchair. For a wheelchair visit, specific step-free routes or accessible toilets, phone +49 8542 7130 before setting out. The map marks toilets near the entrance, and free parking is directly outside the park.

Plan your visit

Suggested duration: Allow around 2–3 hours for animals and a short play break, or 3–4 hours with lunch and plenty of watching time. These are family-planning estimates. With just 60–90 minutes, choose a few favourites from the map instead of trying to see every enclosure.
Best time to visit: Choose a dry morning in the open season so you have time to stop, play and revisit an enclosure. The park's daily admission window is 09:00–17:30, with closing at 19:00. Arriving near last admission leaves much less time for a relaxed family visit. Check the official opening page and latest notices before travelling.
Location: Bayern, Germany
Species in this guide: 10

Best for

Families Who Like An Unhurried Animal WalkChildren Interested In Birds And Animal BehaviourA Half Day Outing From The Ortenburg Or Passau Area

Official website

Don't miss

Birds worth slowing down for

Aviaries, identification boards and egg displays give children plenty to compare.

Big birds on foot

Meet emus and southern cassowaries, then look for the ostrich area.

Mammal watching

Make time for cheetahs, meerkats and ring-tailed lemurs.

Play between animal stops

Climbing, sliding and swinging help turn the walk into an easy family outing.

Walks and routes

A varied animal circuit

Choose a circuit with the entrance-area waterbirds, flightless birds, cheetahs, small primates and llamas. Use the numbered official plan and adjust the stops to your family’s energy.

A varied animal circuit

Things to try

An egg-and-feather detective game

At the bird displays, choose an egg or a bird to draw. Let each child explain one thing they noticed before checking the information board together. Keep the activity observational and leave any feathers on the ground.

A two-minute animal diary

At the meerkats, count how many different behaviours you notice in two minutes: resting, watching, walking or digging. Repeat at a later stop and compare the results. There is no need to make an animal move for the game.

Wildlife and habitats

Pause long enough to notice different jobs: one animal may be digging while another stands upright and watches.

Scan the ground as well as branches. Their raised, ringed tails help other lemurs keep track of them.

Look for the white crest, then watch how these small monkeys move among the climbing branches.

Make this a slower stop. Pick one animal and watch what it does before moving along the enclosure.

Try sketching the outline of the bill. Compare your drawing with a neighbouring bird before reading its label.

Give the smaller birds time too. Let children point out colours and compare notes without tapping on the enclosure.

Search the perches patiently. A quiet minute looking together often works better than repeatedly walking past.

Look for the helmet-like casque and bright bare neck. Compare its outline with the emu nearby.

Look closely at the loose, hair-like feathers. Remember that male emus incubate the eggs and care for chicks.

Pause at the owl enclosure rather than expecting movement straight away. Let a resting bird stay undisturbed.

Stories and discoveries

A tail that helps a group stay together

A ring-tailed lemur’s upright tail is a visual signal to companions. Watching how the group moves gives those striking rings a purpose beyond their appearance.

Getting there and practical advice

The entrance area brings together toilets, food service and a play area. Benches provide pauses around the park. Follow current signs for any changes.

Sources and useful links

Wildlife you might spot

Each card links to a full Explore page with photos, traits, and fun facts.

Meerkat

Llama

Southern Cassowary

Emu

Eurasian Eagle Owl

Snap map for this place

Start with the big picture, then zoom in to explore individual wildlife observations around this place.

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Good to know before you go

Choose the correct destination

Use Irgenöd 3, 94496 Ortenburg; Wildpark Schloss Ortenburg has a separate entrance.

Photos are for your own album

Obtain the park’s written permission before publishing images, including on Snappit, social media or a private website.

Leave dogs at home

Dogs are not admitted to the park.

Feeding has limits

Only use the food supplied at designated feeding places; never bring animal treats from home.

Keep finds in the park

Leave feathers, eggs and plants where they are.

Plan the return journey

Check direct bus availability and your journey home before setting out from Passau.

Frequently asked questions

: Check route 6173 for your exact date. Direct park stops run on selected holiday weekdays; the park's 2026 announcement covers the Whitsun and summer holidays and excludes weekends and public holidays. Do not assume the same direct service runs in autumn. Check the return trip too.
: Yes. Combination tickets cover Tierpark Irgenöd and Wildpark Schloss Ortenburg. They are separate places, so allow for a transfer and check current prices and ticket-validity conditions before buying.
: The restaurant and adjoining beer garden serve warm and cold food, ice cream, coffee and cake. A play area is beside the food service. Toilets are marked near the entrance on the park plan.
: Give each enclosure a little time and come back later if you cannot find its residents. Animals may be resting or out of view. Ask at the entrance about any enclosure changes affecting the animals you most want to see.