Cologne Zoo

The Cologne Zoo (Kölner Zoo) in the city's Riehl district is one of Germany's oldest and most popular zoos, welcoming visitors since 1860 and well over a million people a year today. Across about 20 hectares (50 acres), you can see Asian elephants in a large elephant park, hippos and crocodiles, great apes, an aquarium with reptile and insect houses, and a farm with rare livestock breeds. It is one of the best things to do in Cologne with kids.

History

The zoo opened on July 22, 1860, making it the third-oldest zoo in Germany. Several historic animal houses survive, including an 1899 bird house that was restored and reopened in 2021 as the South America House. Recent decades brought major modern exhibits: a roughly 2-hectare (5-acre) elephant park in 2004, the Hippodom African river hall in 2010 and the Clemenshof farm in 2014. In 2019, the zoo counted more than 11,700 animals of over 860 species (aquarium included) and about 1.35 million visitors.

What to See

• Elephant Park: A herd of Asian elephants with a bathing pool; check the website for elephant training times.
• Hippodom: A 3,500-square-meter hall for hippos and Nile crocodiles. The zoo's website reports that the Hippodom and the owl house are currently closed and the bird show is suspended, so check before you go.
• Aquarium, terrarium and insectarium: Near the main entrance, perfect on a rainy day.
• Dragon House: A new tropical house with Komodo dragons and kangaroos.
• Clemenshof: A farm with heritage breeds, popular with young children.
• Plus the sea lion rock, an expanded giraffe enclosure and several playgrounds.

Tickets and Opening Hours

As of October 2026:

• March to October: daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ticket sales end 5:30 p.m.)
• November to February: daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ticket sales end 4:30 p.m.)
• Animal houses and the aquarium close 30 minutes earlier.

The zoo uses dynamic pricing, so booking online early saves money. Adult day tickets start at €22.50 online and cost €29.50 at the gate; children aged 4 to 12 pay from €10.50 online or €15 at the gate. A big bonus: every online day ticket includes free public transit within the VRS network around Cologne (print and personalize it). Cards are accepted at all ticket desks.

How to Get There

From Köln Hauptbahnhof (Cologne Central Station), take light rail line 18 a few stops to Zoo/Flora; the main entrance is at Riehler Straße 173. For a scenic approach, ride the Cologne Cable Car across the Rhine from the Rheinpark on the east bank. Cologne is about an hour from Frankfurt by ICE train and around 15 minutes from Cologne Bonn Airport by S-Bahn, so the zoo makes an easy day trip. Parking is limited, especially on weekends.

Families and Accessibility

Plan four to six hours, or a full day with small kids. Handcarts (Bollerwagen) can be rented for €5 plus deposit, and there is a restaurant plus several snack huts. Paths are wide, with ramps and accessible restrooms; free wheelchairs are available at the main entrance (reservation recommended), though the slope by the elephant park is steep. Dogs are not allowed, except registered assistance dogs.

Is It Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially for families. Combine the zoo with the Flora botanical garden next door, a cable car ride over the Rhine, or a trip back into the center to Cologne Cathedral and the Museum Ludwig, a short ride on line 18.