Barcelona Zoo

The visitor who arrives in the city of Barcelona has before him a wide range of possibilities when it comes to visiting places of interest, given the great offer of the city both in terms of its heritage and in terms of leisure and culture.

If we travel with children, the city also has a large number of interesting places for them, so that even the youngest can enjoy the trip and, in most cases, learn new things.

One of these places, and one that children always love, is, without a doubt, the Zoological Park, an enclosure where they will be able to know a great quantity of species of animals, many of which, although they already know of leftovers for books or for television, it will probably be the first time that they see in the reality. During the tour the children will learn where they come from, how they live, what they eat and much more, since the whole park is full of information panels with a complete explanation about each of the species.

In the enclosure, located within the charismatic Ciutadella Park, you can see more than 7,000 specimens of animals, which are part of 400 species. We will be able to see lions, leopards, seals, bears and others, in spaces that have been created recreating their natural habitat, as well as other species that rage around the park, such as the colourful peacocks.

The children will be able to enjoy the moat and the galleries in which the primates are found, which, with their graces, are always the ones that manage to capture the attention of the most visitors.

We are going to find areas destined exclusively for some group of animals, like the Terrarium, where reptiles and amphibians live, and in which we will be able to contemplate crocodiles, lizards, snakes and even frogs. Or as the area dedicated to birds, an explosion of color and songs, some of course more pleasant than others.

In the Aquarium the children will be able to observe a great quantity of fish, forming a scene of great showiness with its striking colors, and, next to him, in the Aquarama, they will enjoy the spectacles offered by the nice dolphins.

One of the favorite places for little ones is known as La Granja, a space where children can touch and play with the animals found there, such as rabbits, chickens, ducks and ponies. There is also a children's playground with swings, and a bar where parents can wait patiently without losing sight of their children, while drinking something, which always makes the waiting time more bearable.

In the enclosure we will find diverse bars and restaurants where it is possible to eat, which is very advisable if you want to see the Zoo in depth, given its extension. In addition, there are picnic areas if we want to take the food ourselves, which are very well equipped, with tables, benches, litter bins, fountains, and everything you need to spend a great day.

Address and contact of the Zoological Park of Barcelona
Parc de la Ciutadella s/n
08003 Barcelona
Telephone: 902 45 75 45

It was inaugurated on a Mercè day, just one hundred years before the 1992 Olympic Games, and was erected in the buildings that became available after the 1888 Universal Exhibition. Located in the Ciutadella Park, very close to the Olympic port, it has one of the largest collections of animals in Europe and is a perfect way to approach wildlife from around the world without leaving Barcelona.

The first specimens of the zoo came from the private collection of Lluís Martí, which until then had been housed in a farm in Horta. Since then, the park has continued to grow and modernise, currently focusing on three basic objectives: conservation, research and education. As is customary in all zoos around the world, the great animators of the park are the children, who behold marvellous species that they did not even know existed or, at best, had seen on television.

Copito de Nieve

Until 2003, the zoo had an undisputed star, Snowflake, an albino gorilla that delighted the little ones. Although it had several descendants, none inherited its white color, similar to that of a polar bear.

Exotic Mammals

The list of animals that live in this zoo is almost endless, but among the most exotic mammals are the red panda, Lyle's flying fox, the Tibetan macaque or the pygmy hippopotamus. Already much better known are the African elephant, the brown bear, the giraffe, the kangaroo, the tiger or the baboon, to name just a few of the tenants.

Birds of all types

As far as birds are concerned, visitors can admire the beauty of the Andean swan or have fun with the expression of the frowning pelican, but they can also wonder why the lorito cacique receives this name or how long the ostrich should be. The truth is that the cages never end and the sounds, whether melodious or borderline with the most unbearable noise, do not end either.

Magnetic Reptiles

For many, one of the most magnetic spaces in the park is the one dedicated to reptiles. From the anaconda and the caiman to the royal python or the bearded dragon, specimens of all sizes welcome visitors with their characteristic coldness. The fearsome boa constrictor stands out from the rest, with its reddish tones on a brown and gold background, perhaps the greatest exponent of the zoo's variety of colours.

Amphibians and urban species

Just a year ago a small lake surrounded by natural vegetation in the area of La Granja was conditioned in the park. Its main function is to ensure the reproduction of the most common amphibians, such as the Iberian frog, the southern frog or the toad. The Barcelona Zoo is also a refuge for some urban animals, which come to a green space with fresh water, salt water and, perhaps most importantly, food. This is the case with hedgehogs and birds such as parrots and herons.

Great variety of trees

The zoo also stands out for the great variety of trees, more than a thousand of a hundred different species. Bananas, poplar, false acacia and tipuana abound, reinforcing the feeling, half fictitious half real, that we are in the middle of nature.