Best for
Families, animal lovers, anyone doing a full Schönbrunn day
Time needed
2.5–4 hours
Worth it?
Yes — a genuinely excellent zoo with real historical significance
Skip if
You're not travelling with kids and have limited time for the wider Schönbrunn grounds
About Schönbrunn Zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn)
Tiergarten Schönbrunn was founded in 1752 by Empress Maria Theresa's husband, Francis I, initially as a menagerie for the imperial family's private study of animals, and has operated continuously ever since — making it, by a wide margin, the oldest zoo in the world still in operation. Its historic core preserves the original Baroque layout, centred on the ornate Kaiserpavillon (Emperor's Pavilion), where the imperial family once breakfasted overlooking their animal collection and which now houses the zoo's café.
Modern additions have expanded well beyond that historic footprint: giant pandas (on loan through China's conservation-breeding programme), elephants, a rainforest house, a Polarium for polar species and an aquarium/terrarium complex bring the zoo's collection in line with any major contemporary zoo, while retaining the historic charm the 18th-century layout gives it.
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Because it sits inside the Schönbrunn Palace grounds, it's easy — and popular — to combine with a palace and gardens visit, making Schönbrunn a genuine full-day destination for families rather than a quick palace stop.
What to See: Highlights
- 1The world's oldest continuously operating zoo, founded 1752
- 2Giant pandas on loan through international conservation programmes
- 3The historic Baroque Kaiserpavillon, now a zoo café
- 4Elephants, rainforest house and Polarium
- 5Set within the Schönbrunn Palace UNESCO World Heritage grounds
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Insider Tips
Combine with a Schönbrunn Palace and gardens visit for a full-day out
Consider a combined palace + zoo ticket if visiting both
The Kaiserpavillon café is a lovely rest stop mid-visit
Go early for the best animal activity before midday heat or crowds set in
Excellent for families — budget extra time if children want to linger
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Getting There
Maxingstraße 13b, 1130 Wien
Open in Google Maps →- 1U-Bahn U4 to Schönbrunn or Hietzing, both a short walk to the zoo entrance within the palace grounds.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
Is Schönbrunn Zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn) worth visiting?+−
How long does a visit to Schönbrunn Zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn) take?+−
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You're travelling with children and want a full Schönbrunn day
- You want to see the world's oldest continuously operating zoo
- You're interested in the giant pandas or other headline species
- You appreciate the historic Baroque zoo architecture
Skip if...
- You're not travelling with kids and have limited time at Schönbrunn
- Zoos generally aren't of interest to you
- You're only doing a quick palace visit without the wider grounds
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Vienna
Technisches Museum Wien
Austria's science and technology museum — trains, planes, a hands-on children's science floor and one of Europe's biggest collections of historic machinery.
Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburgs' vast Baroque summer palace — 1,441 rooms, gardens stretching to the Gloriette hilltop monument, and the residence where Maria Theresa raised 16 children and ran an empire.