Frankfurt Zoo

The Frankfurt Zoo (Zoo Frankfurt) in the city's Ostend district is the second-oldest zoo in Germany and one of the most popular family outings in Frankfurt am Main. Right at the eastern end of the Zeil shopping street, you can see gorillas, orangutans and bonobos, okapis, spectacled bears, penguins and rare nocturnal animals. The zoo is closely tied to Bernhard Grzimek, the famous conservationist who rebuilt it after World War II. It makes a rewarding visit in any weather.

Where it is and how to get there

The zoo is on Bernhard-Grzimek-Allee in the Ostend, with ticket desks on Alfred-Brehm-Platz. Take subway lines U6 or U7, or streetcar 14, to the Zoo stop; the S-Bahn stations Konstablerwache and Ostendstrasse are also within walking distance. From Frankfurt Airport, the S-Bahn takes you to Konstablerwache, from where it is a short walk or one subway stop. The Deutschlandticket is valid on all local lines. Street parking is scarce, but several garages are nearby, including Zoopassage and City-Parkhaus Ost.

A short history

Local citizens founded the zoo, which first displayed exotic animals on August 8, 1858 – only Berlin's zoo in Germany is older. In 1874 it moved to its present site, and the grand society house at the entrance was built in 1875–76. Bombs in March 1944 destroyed almost every building and killed about 90 percent of the animals. Bernhard Grzimek, who became internationally known through his work for the Serengeti, reopened the zoo without city funding, raising money with fairground rides, dances and fundraising drives. He oversaw new landmarks such as the Exotarium (1957) and the Grzimek House (1978). The zoo has kept no elephants since the mid-1980s because it lacks space for good welfare.

What to see

• Borgori Forest: the great ape house for bonobos, orangutans and gorillas, with indoor and outdoor areas
• Grzimek House: a day-and-night house where you can watch nocturnal species such as the aye-aye and the aardvark, rarely seen in European zoos
• Exotarium: reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects on two floors
• Ukumari Land: spectacled bears and other South American mammals, plus giant anteaters
• Cat Jungle: big cats and other predators mainly from South Asia, plus fossas from Madagascar
• Okapis, giraffes, Humboldt penguins and a petting zoo

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026:

• Summer time (March 29 to October 24, 2026): daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., last tickets 6:30 p.m.
• Winter time (October 25, 2026, to March 28, 2027): daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last tickets 4:30 p.m.
• Animal houses close 30 minutes before the zoo.

Adults pay €12 (€13 with an optional conservation donation), reduced tickets for ages 6–17 and students cost €6, and children up to 5 go free. A family ticket for up to two adults and four children is €29. In the late afternoon (from 5 p.m. in summer, 3 p.m. in winter), adults pay €9. Online tickets are valid for 90 days and use a separate, faster entrance.

Tips for your visit

• Plan at least three hours, and check feeding times on the zoo's website before you go.
• The zoo is largely accessible for strollers and wheelchairs, with ramps and an elevator in the ape house; only the upper floor of the Exotarium is not step-free. Wheelchairs can be borrowed for a €20 deposit.
• Dogs are not allowed, except guide and assistance dogs.
• Snack stands serve food and coffee; the main zoo restaurant is currently being rebuilt.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially with kids. Walk down the Zeil to Hauptwache (about 20 minutes) and continue to Goethe House, the New Old Town and Frankfurt Cathedral, or take the subway to the Palmengarten and the Senckenberg Natural History Museum for a full family weekend.