Hellabrunn Zoo

Hellabrunn Zoo (Tierpark Hellabrunn) in Munich is one of Germany's most popular zoos and a top family day out in the Bavarian capital. Set on about 40 hectares (100 acres) of riverside meadows along the Isar in the south of the city, it is home to elephants, polar bears, lions, gorillas and hundreds of other species. Hellabrunn was the world's first "geo-zoo," grouping animals by continent, and it is open every day of the year.

A Little History

Hellabrunn opened on August 1, 1911, but had to close in 1922 during Germany's hyperinflation. When it reopened in 1928 under director Heinz Heck, it introduced a then-radical idea: animals were arranged by their geographic origin rather than by species family, making it the first geo-zoo anywhere. Damaged by bombing in World War II, it closed in 1944 and reopened in May 1945. A master plan launched in 2016, designed to run for 20 to 25 years at an estimated cost of around €100 million, is gradually renewing the park around the geo-zoo concept, so you may come across construction zones or newly opened areas. Hellabrunn belongs to the world and European zoo associations WAZA and EAZA. In 2025, about 1.76 million people visited.

Highlights

• Elephant House: a domed 1914 building by architect Emanuel von Seidl, now a protected monument.
• Polar World: polar bears, penguins and other cold-climate animals.
• Jungle House (2001): gorillas and chimpanzees indoors – a good rainy-day option.
• Giant aviary (1980): an 18-meter (60 ft) walk-through bird enclosure.
• Giraffe savanna (2013) and the lion enclosure (2022).
• Keeper talks and feedings: penguins, pelicans and great apes, plus talks at the lions, tigers, zebras, elephants and polar bears.

Tickets and Opening Hours

As of October 2026:

• Hours: daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until October 24; from October 25, daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; December 24 and 31 until 4 p.m.
• Prices from October 1, 2026: adults €23 (€24 with the optional conservation euro), children aged 4–14 €9.
• Discounts for students and seniors; family tickets and annual passes available.

Allow three to five hours, or a full day with young kids. Weekends and school holidays are busiest, so arrive early or come on a weekday. Daily feeding times are posted at the entrances and on the zoo's website; some sessions are canceled in bad weather. Public guided tours and private day or night tours are also offered for an extra fee. Visitors with a severe disability (degree 90 or higher) enter free.

How to Get There

Hellabrunn is at Tierparkstraße 30, about 5 km (3 miles) south of Marienplatz. The easiest route is the U3 subway to Thalkirchen (Tierpark), a three-minute walk from the Isar entrance. Note that until November 28, 2026, the U3 is replaced by buses between Sendlinger Tor and Implerstraße. Alternatively, bus 52 runs from the city center to the Flamingo entrance. From Munich Airport, take the S1 or S8 to Marienplatz and change to the U3; the Deutschlandticket covers the whole journey. Parking is limited (€5–8 per day).

Is Hellabrunn Worth Visiting?

If you are traveling with children, definitely – and animal lovers of any age will enjoy the spacious riverside setting. It makes a relaxed contrast to a busy sightseeing day downtown. Afterward, walk along the Isar river meadows next to the zoo, or ride the U3 back to Marienplatz, where St. Peter's Church, the Viktualienmarkt and the Frauenkirche are all within a few minutes' walk.