IllustrationCome to Tierpark Greifswald for a manageable family outing that combines animal watching with a walk around a leafy pond.
Come to Tierpark Greifswald for a manageable family outing that combines animal watching with a walk around a leafy pond. The zoo occupies just under four hectares beside the Credner-Anlagen, close to the old town. Check the park plan and feeding programme, then let the Schwanenteich circuit set an easy pace.
The appeal is in the small encounters: a capybara at the water’s edge, a cotton-top tamarin moving through its enclosure, or a familiar farm animal. Leave room for the water playground, where pumps, a raft and a bridge can become as absorbing as the animals. This is a predominantly outdoor visit; dress for the weather.
Most animals you meet belong to the zoo’s managed collection. White storks add a different story: the park also receives free-living pairs that return to breed. Watch from public paths and give both resident and visiting birds space. Don't forget to bring the Snappit nature identification app along to scan local species.
The zoo has welcomed visitors for decades. A wild-bird rescue station opened here in 2017, caring for injured birds with the aim of returning recovered animals to the wild. The station is separate from the zoo collection and closed to visitors. Since September 2024, its supporting association has run the zoo through a charitable company.
Use the Rundweg around the Schwanenteich as your main circuit, adding the children’s farm and water playground as breaks. For a shorter outing, choose those family stops and a few favourite enclosures rather than trying to see every animal. The farm includes ponies, small cattle and Kune-Kune pigs; pony riding is no longer offered.
At the meerkats, follow one animal and describe what it does. At the capybaras, compare movement on land with anything you can see in the water. Then look for differences between the small cotton-top tamarins and the larger capuchins. Keep loose belongings away from the capuchin fence.
A keeper feeding is a useful focus for the day. Cotton-top tamarins are scheduled at noon and capuchins just afterwards; the longer afternoon round begins at 15:00. Confirm the programme at entry, as animal care can change the timings. Join a walk-through only when open, follow its signs and let animals decide how close to come.
Opening hours are 09: 00–18:00 from 1 April to 14 October and 10:00–16:00 from 15 October to 31 March. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing; the park closes on 24 and 31 December. Check the dedicated opening-hours page and current notices before travel. In winter, plan an earlier start and expect a quieter outdoor outing.
Broad paths and ramps make most of the park usable with wheelchairs and pushchairs. Contact the zoo about any specific step-free route or toilet requirement. Two free entrance-area parking spaces for visitors with mobility impairments require advance telephone arrangement. Baby-changing facilities are in the Zooschule.
Follow the pond-side Rundweg and take your time at a few favourite enclosures.
Compare the shapes and sounds of ponies, cattle, pigs and goats.
Try the playground’s pumps and raft, then look for the park’s sensory stations.
Build the visit around a monkey feed or part of the afternoon programme.
Follow the pond-side Rundweg, pausing at enclosures that interest your family. Work the children’s farm and water playground into the circuit, or shorten the outing to those stops. Adjust the order around the day’s keeper feeds.
Compare one animal’s outline on land and in the water, if it swims. Wait quietly for a change of activity.
Pick one animal and follow it with your eyes. Is it digging, resting or watching its surroundings?
Watch how an animal chooses its next perch. Try a quick sketch of its posture without calling for attention.
Look through the whole enclosure. Compare how visible animals use their front paws.
Compare this animal with the capybara later in the visit. Which differences can you see for yourself?
Watch a single animal explore. Follow its nose and tail, then describe its movements to someone beside you.
Watch the resident birds from the visitor path. Seasonal wild visitors also use the park; keep clear of nesting birds.
Each card links to a full Explore page with photos, traits, and fun facts.
Start with the big picture, then zoom in to explore individual wildlife observations around this place.
Entrance
Head to Anlagen 3, 17489 Greifswald. Nearby parking options are Bahnhof/Tierpark beside the ZOB and the Dompassage underground garage.
Current buses
From the ZOB, line 20 stops at Tierpark; line 21 serves the return towards ZOB. Use the current Stadtwerke timetable: the network changed on 4 October 2026.
Tickets
Check the family-ticket option if travelling with children. The listed conservation contribution is voluntary and can be declined before paying; children aged two and under enter free.
Food break
The kiosk beside the Zooschule sells snacks and drinks. Its hours vary by season, so check before relying on it for lunch.
Animal care
Keep your own food away from animals and follow staff instructions about any permitted zoo feed. Stay on visitor paths and keep hands outside barriers.
Wheels and play
Leave scooters, skateboards and balls at home; bicycles belong in the stands outside the entrance.
Rainy days
Bring waterproofs and shorten the outdoor circuit if needed. Ask which indoor areas are open rather than planning a fully sheltered zoo visit.
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
North Carolina, US
You might spot American Robin and Eastern Gray Squirrel.
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Florida, US
You might spot Anhinga, American Alligator, and Wood Duck.
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New Mexico, US
You might spot Wood Duck, Duck, and Canada Goose.
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Michigan, US
You might spot African Lion, Komodo Dragon, and Brown Bear.
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Take the discovery with you
Identify the wildlife you spot, learn as you go, and keep a collection of the adventure.
