IllustrationCome to Zoo Augsburg for a day that moves between giraffes and rhinos, a walk among lemurs, and quieter discoveries beside the water.
Come to Zoo Augsburg for a day that moves between giraffes and rhinos, a walk among lemurs, and quieter discoveries beside the water. The 21-hectare grounds sit between the city and the Siebentischwald, with mature trees and a playground that deserves its own place in your plans. At the entrance, check the day’s enclosure openings and feeding notices, then let everyone choose one animal they especially want to see.
The three-hectare Afrika-Panorama is a good place to slow down. Giraffes, zebras, ostriches and white rhinos give you several very different animals to watch across the landscape. Elsewhere, the Asian elephants have their own house and outdoor area, while Katta-Land and the walk-through bird aviary bring you into the animals’ enclosure along public visitor paths. Follow the local rules and give any animal crossing the path plenty of space.
Leave room for the smaller exhibits, too. WasSerleben brings together beavers, otters and native fish; the tropical hall and reptile house reward a different, more patient kind of looking. All the animal targets below belong to the zoo’s collection. A place on your wish list never guarantees that an animal will be visible. Planning to visit? Download the Snappit app to identify the wildlife you spot in real-time.
The zoo opened in 1937. Its more recent developments include the swa-Elefantenhaus, inaugurated in February 2020, and the ongoing WB-Himalaya Land project. Conservation work also reaches beyond Augsburg: the zoo established its nature-conservation fund in 2009 and supports projects in animals’ native habitats as well as the surrounding region.
Use the current zoo plan to link a few favourites rather than rushing from enclosure to enclosure. Pair the Afrika-Panorama with the swa-Elefantenhaus, then make Katta-Land a separate, unhurried stop when its visitor gate is open. Ask children to choose one animal and describe what it actually does for a minute: feeding, walking, resting or watching another animal all count.
For a second theme, follow the water: compare the penguins’ movement with the fur seals’, then visit WasSerleben. At the walk-through aviary, stand quietly and look for birds at different heights. In the Tiger- & Nachttierhaus, give your eyes time to adjust before searching the darker displays, and keep the flash switched off.
Build a proper break around Ölmühle Hartmann Spieleland. Its playground sits among domestic-animal exhibits, including miniature donkeys and Dahomey cattle; guinea pigs and rabbits have an enclosure at the playground entrance. The Zoo-Bähnle is an optional extra here when running. Finish by revisiting an enclosure that was quiet earlier. Follow current signs and any diversions between stops.
WB-Himalaya Land is a building project with construction scheduled through April 2027. Snow leopards and red pandas are planned for this area; check the project page for an opening announcement before expecting to see them. Follow any diversions around the works.
In summer, the published programme has fur-seal feeding at 14:00 and pelican feeding at about 14:30, subject to cancellation; ask at the entrance what will happen that day. The Zoo-Bähnle operates April–October, daily during school holidays and at weekends outside them, weather permitting. In wet or cold weather, use the tropical hall, reptile house and other animal houses between outdoor stretches.
The zoo provides a barrier-free circuit connecting its areas. Ask entrance staff about construction diversions and any viewing point important to you. Wheelchairs can be borrowed free against a deposit and reserved on 0821 567149–10. Accessible toilets are listed by the capuchin enclosure, zoo restaurant, adventure playground and Bistro Halbzeit; the Halbzeit toilets close in winter. There are designated disabled parking spaces directly outside. Buggies are also loaned against a deposit; carts cost extra, and buggies and carts cannot be reserved.
Take time to watch giraffes, rhinos, zebras and ostriches across the broad exhibition landscape.
Walk through the lemur enclosure when open, keeping to the visitor path and letting the animals set the distance.
Make a quieter stop for beavers, otters and native fish.
Combine Ölmühle Hartmann Spieleland with the domestic-animal exhibits and, in season, the Zoo-Bähnle.
At the penguins, fur seals and WasSerleben, let each person sketch one animal. Add an arrow showing how it moves when you can observe it, then compare wings, flippers and paws. A resting animal can become a drawing of body shape instead.
At the swa-Elefantenhaus, follow one trunk for a moment: what is the elephant reaching for or investigating? Check both public indoor and outdoor viewpoints when open.
At the Afrika-Panorama, take a wide view before zooming in on a rhino. Compare its outline and way of moving with the other animals across the panorama.
The zoo lists both reticulated and Nubian giraffes. Check the enclosure label before identifying your photograph, then compare the coat patterns you can actually see.
In Katta-Land, wait quietly for an unobstructed view of a ringed tail. The map also names black lemurs here; don’t assume every lemur is the same species.
At the penguin exhibit, try watching the same bird on land and in the water if it moves between them. Keep the public viewing area separate from any booked behind-the-scenes experience.
Find the pool labelled Seebären for the Cape fur seals; the zoo also has separate harbour seals. A summer feeding can be a useful observation stop if confirmed that morning.
Pause at Mähnenwölfe and scan the whole enclosure before moving on. If an animal comes into view, include its legs in your photograph rather than cropping tightly around its face.
Give the meerkats a full minute. Let children describe how many animals they can actually see and what each is doing, without calling or trying to attract their attention.
At WasSerleben, look over both water and land before deciding the otter is out of sight. Leave time to return if it is resting away from the public view.
Make the beaver stop part of your water-animal comparison. If a beaver is visible, look for its tail and compare the body shape with the otter’s; accept a quiet enclosure without tapping.
The zoo’s 2026 conservation programme includes Magellanic penguins at Punta Tombo in Argentina and Asian elephants in Malaysia, alongside meadow-bird and bat projects nearer home. Choose one zoo animal and find its native range on the information panel: the enclosure is only the beginning of its story.
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.
Arriving by bus
Bus 32 serves Zoo/Botanischer Garten from Hauptbahnhof and Königsplatz. Check the current timetable for your date. The entrance address is Brehmplatz 1, 86161 Augsburg.
Parking and cycling
Parking is free, but sunny weekends can fill up. Follow the parking guidance system to an available overflow car park; don’t park on green verges. Bicycle stands are beside the entrance.
Winter ticket choice
Online tickets are sold at summer rates, while the gate has a lower winter tariff. Compare the official prices before buying for November–February. Children under three enter free.
Food stop
The zoo restaurant opens daily with the zoo and offers indoor and outdoor seating. Summer kiosks provide additional options; plan around the restaurant in the colder months.
Photographs
Personal photography is permitted. Turn off flash in animal houses, avoid tapping on glass, and leave space at viewing points for children and wheelchair users.
Animal manners
Keep your own food away from the animals, stay on visitor paths and respect barriers. Leave scooters, tricycles and bicycles outside the zoo.
With a dog
Dogs need a ticket and a short lead. They cannot enter playgrounds, walk-through animal enclosures or the tropical hall, so agree who will wait outside those areas.
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.
