Opel Zoo

The Opel-Zoo in Kronberg im Taunus, about 20 km northwest of Frankfurt, is a wooded hillside zoo best known as the only place in the state of Hesse where you can see elephants. Around 1,700 animals of some 200 species live on its 27 hectares, from giraffes and zebras on an African savanna to African penguins. Free parking and a short drive from the city make it an easy half-day trip from Frankfurt.

A zoo with a famous name

The zoo grew out of a research enclosure founded in the mid-1950s by Georg von Opel, grandson of Adam Opel, founder of the carmaker. Three African elephants arrived in the very first year. After von Opel's death in 1971, development slowed, but since 2007 the zoo has been run by a non-profit foundation. It receives about 580,000 visitors a year and is funded entirely by admissions and donations.

What to see

• Elephant house and yard: opened in 2013 at a cost of €11.2 million; a calf named Kaja was born here in May 2025.
• African Savanna: more than two hectares with giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and impalas.
• African penguins in a pool opened in 2016.
• Petting zoo and pony rides for younger children.
• The Lodge restaurant, with a terrace overlooking the zoo and the Taunus hills.

Tickets and opening hours

The zoo is open every day of the year (as of October 2026). Ticket desks open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during daylight saving time and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter time (from late October); in June, July and August they stay open until 7 p.m. Once inside, you may stay until dusk and leave through turnstiles.

Day tickets cost €18.50 for adults and €10.50 for children aged 3 to 14; dogs pay €2. Cards are accepted at all ticket desks. Prices are in euros (EUR).

How to get there

From Frankfurt, take S-Bahn line S4 toward Kronberg and change to bus 261 for the "Kronberg Opel-Zoo" stop; express buses X26 and X27 also serve the zoo. Due to construction, the S4 sometimes terminates at Kronberg Süd, so check the RMV journey planner. Local transport is covered by the Deutschlandticket. By car, the zoo sits right on federal road B 455, with more than 1,200 free parking spaces. Frankfurt Airport is roughly a 25-minute drive.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially for families staying in Frankfurt who want a green escape. Plan three to four hours. Be aware that the grounds are hilly and partly steep, and there is no wheelchair or wagon rental. Dogs are welcome on a short leash.

Nearby

• Kronberg old town with its medieval castle and half-timbered lanes.
• Königstein Castle ruins, one of the largest castle sites in the Taunus.
• Großer Feldberg, the highest peak in the Taunus at roughly 880 meters.
• Saalburg Roman Fort, part of the UNESCO-listed Limes frontier.