Münster Zoo (Allwetterzoo)

The Allwetterzoo Münster ("all-weather zoo") is a 30-hectare woodland zoo on the edge of Lake Aasee in Münster, the historic university city in northwestern Germany. Its name comes from covered walkways linking many of the animal houses, so it works on rainy days too. With elephants, Siberian tigers, great apes and a striking new tropical hall, it is one of the top things to do in Münster for families.

A short history

Münster's first zoo opened in 1875 near the city center, founded on the initiative of zoologist Hermann Landois. In the 1970s the city swapped that site for a larger forest plot by the lake; most animals were moved across the Aasee by boat, and the new zoo opened on May 2, 1974. More than a million visitors came in its first year. The dolphinarium closed in 2013, and the zoo has since focused strongly on conservation, including a rescue and breeding center it runs in Cambodia.

What to see

The zoo shows animals from about 300 species.

• Meranti Hall (2023): a tropical hall of about 4,400 square meters with red ruffed lemurs, howler monkeys, tapirs, sloths, giant otters and free-flying birds.
• Elephant Park with Asian elephants, white rhinos and meerkats.
• Africa Panorama with zebras, wildebeest and antelopes, plus Dalmatian pelicans.
• Siberian tigers, with four cubs born in 2024.
• Westphalian Horse Museum, located on the zoo grounds and included in your ticket.

Tickets and opening hours

The zoo is open every day (as of October 2026): 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. through October 24, then 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October 25. Last entry is one hour before closing. Adult tickets cost €23.90 online or €27.90 at the gate; children aged 3 to 14 pay €15.90 online. A family ticket for two adults and one child is €60.40 online. A cheaper evening rate starts two hours before closing. Prices are in euros (EUR).

How to get there

Münster is about 1.5 hours from Cologne or Düsseldorf by train, and Münster Osnabrück Airport is around 25 km north of the city. From Münster Hauptbahnhof, take city bus 14 (every 20 minutes, about 30 minutes) to "Zoo/LWL-Naturkundemuseum," right at the entrance; local buses are covered by the Deutschlandticket. Münster is famously bike-friendly, and the ride along the lake from the old town is short and pleasant. Parking at the zoo costs €5 per day, with the first 30 minutes free.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, particularly on a family trip or a day with uncertain weather. All animal houses and enclosures are wheelchair accessible, and dogs are allowed on a short leash (but not inside walk-through areas or the Meranti Hall). Plan three to five hours.

Nearby

• LWL Museum of Natural History with a planetarium, next to the zoo entrance.
• Mühlenhof open-air museum with historic rural buildings.
• Lake Aasee promenade and boat rental.
• Prinzipalmarkt and St. Paul's Cathedral in the old town, a few minutes away by bike.