Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Garden

The Wilhelma in Stuttgart is a rare combination of zoo and botanical garden, and one of the most popular things to do in southwest Germany. Set in the Bad Cannstatt district, it houses around 11,000 animals of about 1,200 species among Moorish-style pavilions, historic glasshouses and a famous water lily pond. It makes an easy half-day or full-day outing from central Stuttgart, in any season.

Where it is and how to get there

The Wilhelma lies on the Neckar River, just north of Stuttgart's city center. Stuttgart itself is roughly 1.5 hours from Frankfurt and a little over two hours from Munich by ICE train. From the city, take Stadtbahn (light rail) line U14, or U13 or U16, to the Wilhelma stop right outside the main entrance on Neckartalstraße. Bad Cannstatt station, served by S-Bahn lines S1, S2 and S3, is about one kilometer away. Local transit is covered by the Deutschlandticket.

Drivers can use the Wilhelma parking garage next to the main entrance, with about 800 spaces: €5 for up to three hours or €8 for the day. It fills quickly on weekends, and the zoo lies inside Stuttgart's low-emission zone.

A royal history

The site began as a private bathhouse and pleasure garden for King Wilhelm I of Württemberg, who gave it his name. Architect Karl Ludwig von Zanth designed it in an exotic Moorish style, and it was built between 1846 and 1866. The gardens opened to the public in 1880, and the Wilhelma has been a zoo since 1953. Today it is owned by the state of Baden-Württemberg, covers about 30 hectares and grows more than 8,500 plant species. It welcomed around 1.8 million visitors in 2023.

What to see

• The Moorish Garden and Moorish Villa, with a large water lily pond that is spectacular in summer
• The great apes house (opened 2013), home to gorillas and bonobos
• The aquarium, terrarium and crocodile hall, perfect on a rainy day
• Terra Australis, opened in July 2023, with animals from Australia
• A petting zoo and farm area that young children love
• Magnolia trees that bloom in spring

The historic Damascene Hall is closed for restoration, and a new elephant world is under construction until about 2030, so the Rosensteinpark entrance is closed.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, according to the official website:

• Open every day of the year from 8:15 a.m.; until 6:30 p.m. through October 24, 2026, and until 4:30 p.m. from October 25 through February. Ticket desks close at 4 p.m. (3:30 p.m. in winter).
• Summer rate (March to October): adults €23, students aged 18 to 28 €15, children 6 to 17 €9.
• Winter and evening rate (winter season, or after 4 p.m.): adults €17, students €11.50, children €6.50.
• Children under 6 enter free. Single summer tickets are cheaper online.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially for families and garden lovers. Plan four to six hours. Paths are only partly accessible because of the hillside setting, though a step-free route is marked on the site map, and dogs are not allowed except assistance dogs. Several restaurants inside the grounds make it easy to stay all day. Combine your visit with a stroll through the adjacent Rosensteinpark, where Rosenstein Palace houses the state natural history museum, or cross the Neckar to explore the small old town of Bad Cannstatt.