Duisburg Zoo

Duisburg Zoo, on the edge of the city forest in Germany's Ruhr region, is famous for animals you will not find anywhere else in North Rhine-Westphalia: koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils and dolphins. The zoo says it keeps more than 5,100 animals of roughly 300 species, spread over grounds split by the A 3 highway and joined by a planted bridge. It makes an easy and rewarding day trip from Düsseldorf or Cologne.

History

Local residents founded the zoo on May 12, 1934. World War II almost wiped it out: only an emu, three flamingos and a few farm animals survived. Rebuilding brought big milestones, including the Äquatorium ape house in 1962 and, in 1965, the first dolphinarium in Central Europe. The wild-capture expeditions of that era are now widely criticized. In 1994 koalas arrived, and for many years Duisburg was the only German zoo keeping them permanently.

What to see

• Koala House, with public koala weigh-ins on Wednesdays and Sundays at 11 a.m.
• Australian animals including wombats, wallaroos and Germany's first Tasmanian devil exhibit.
• Dolphinarium with bottlenose dolphins; check the zoo website for show times.
• Rio Negro tropical hall (2005) with sloths and other Amazon wildlife.
• Gorillas, Amur tigers, spectacled bears and giant otters, plus a lemur island.

Tickets and opening hours

The zoo is open every day (as of October 2026). Through October 30 it is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (ticket desk until 5:30 p.m.); from October 31 it is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ticket desk until 3:30 p.m.).

Day tickets cost €20 for adults and €11.50 for children aged 3 to 17; a family ticket for two adults and one child is €49.50. Prices include an optional €1 conservation donation. Buying at the gate adds a €1 service fee, so book online. On weekdays from 4:30 p.m., a cheaper evening ticket is available. Prices are in euros (EUR).

How to get there

Duisburg is about 20 minutes by train from Düsseldorf and roughly 45 minutes from Cologne; Düsseldorf Airport is around 20 km away. From Duisburg Hauptbahnhof, tram 901 reaches the "Zoo/Uni" stop at the entrance in about four minutes, and local trains and trams are covered by the Deutschlandticket. Drivers take exit Duisburg-Kaiserberg on the A 3; parking costs €5.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you want to see koalas and dolphins, which are rare in German zoos. Plan four to five hours. Dogs are allowed on a short leash with their own €6 ticket but must stay out of the animal houses and the dolphinarium.

Nearby

• Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, a former steelworks turned park with evening light shows.
• Inner Harbor with the Museum Küppersmühle for modern art.
• Tiger & Turtle, a walkable rollercoaster-shaped sculpture in Angerpark.