Frankfurt Zoological Garden

The Frankfurt Zoological Garden is a municipal zoo in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, founded in 1858 and among Germany’s oldest city zoos. It occupies roughly 11 hectares inside the city and maintains a large, diverse animal collection.

The grounds present a mix of outdoor enclosures and indoor houses covering mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, with species counts in the hundreds and several thousand individual animals. Walkable routes link visitor facilities, educational displays and feeding/viewing points for larger mammals and birds.

Established in 1858 as a city zoological garden, the site has expanded and modernized its enclosures over time and developed specialized houses for aquatic and primate collections. Management and exhibit design have shifted through the 20th and 21st centuries toward conservation, education and improved animal welfare.

The zoo sits within Frankfurt am Main, west of the main river and within easy public-transport reach of the city centre. It is an urban park attraction surrounded by city districts rather than open countryside.

• Best time to visit: Opens early in the day and is busiest late morning, so arriving at opening gives quieter viewing of large mammals and primates.
• Visiting logistics: Compact footprint of about 11 hectares makes most enclosures accessible on a single 2-3 hour walk through the park.

What to See #

• Exotarium: A purpose-built building holding reptiles, amphibians and aquatic species with aquarium displays and terraria used to present tropical fish and snakes.
• Grzimek House: A zoo building named for Bernhard Grzimek that houses primates and related exhibits and functions as one of the zoo's main animal houses.