Cologne Zoological Garden, Zoo in Riehl district, Cologne, Germany
The Cologne Zoological Garden covers 20 hectares beside the Rhine and holds around 10000 animals representing roughly 850 species in enclosures designed to echo natural habitats. The exhibits are arranged in themed sections that range from tropical halls to walk-through aviaries and dedicated zones for fauna from regions such as Madagascar, Wallacea and Vietnam.
Local citizens established the zoo in 1860 as a shareholding company, making it one of the early zoological gardens in Germany. After the Second World War, the site remained closed for two years because of heavy damage and required extensive rebuilding efforts.
The architectural design of the animal houses draws on different styles, such as the elephant building shaped like a Moorish temple or the bird pavilion inspired by a Russian cathedral. These structures add a decorative layer to the enclosures that catches the eye during a walk and gives the park a varied appearance throughout the grounds.
The grounds open at 9 in the morning and close at 18:00 from March through October, and at 17:00 during the rest of the year. All pathways are accessible for wheelchairs, allowing visitors to reach every section without facing major obstacles.
The aquarium section includes insects so small that visitors can only see them clearly through magnifying glass panels. There is also a nocturnal animal zone where day and night are reversed, allowing people to watch species active after dark.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
