Salzburg Zoo is an ideal destination for a family outing and home to around 1,500 animals from 150 different species of all sizes – from harvest mice to white rhinos.

All year round – both during summer and winter – Salzburg Zoo is a popular destination for families and other visitors of all ages. Numerous animal species in enclosures, that are closely modeled after their natural habitat, provide interesting and informative insights into the varied flora and fauna of different continents.

Salzburg Zoo is home to animals of all sizes. The smallest are the harvest mice which weigh in at only 0.7 grams at birth. On the opposite end of the scale are the white rhinos that weigh up to 7,900 lbs. (3600 kg).

The fastest animal of the zoo is the cheetah which hunts its prey at up to 68 mph (110 km/h) in the wild. But there are also more unhurried animals at Salzburg Zoo, for example, the sulcata tortoise.

The large variety of species at Zoo Salzburg caters to everyone’s interest: big cats like lions, cheetahs, cougars, jaguars and snow leopards, brown bears, rhinos, flamingos, red pandas, different species of monkey, penguins and many others.

Already in the year 1424, an archbishopric zoological garden existed in the location of today’s Salzburg Zoo. However, at this time what was considered a zoological garden was a noble’s hunting enclosure with deer, birds and fishing ponds. Along with the construction of Hellbrunn Palace came a game hunting park and bird enclosures on the behest of Archbishop Markus Sittikus. The chronicles of Hellbrunn Palace give accounts of numerous species that were kept on the palace grounds including red deer, tortoises, bears, lynxes, wolfs, etc. After the end of the Archbishopric Salzburg in 1816, the zoological garden was disbanded.

On the same grounds, a zoo showing the animals native in Austria’s alpine habitat was opened in 1961.

To this day, Salzburg Zoo is constantly expanded and adapted to provide its residents a habitat as species-appropriate as possible and its visitors a unique experience.

Since 1990, Salzburg Zoo is a so-called “geo zoo”. The zoo grounds are divided into different areas according to continents. Eurasia houses animals native to the European and Asian continent, ranging from common house mice to chamois, reindeer, brown bears, Arctic wolfs and red pandas.

Discover many exotic species in the South America area. Monkeys, flamingos, alpacas and reptiles as well some of the big cats have their enclosures here. The Australia area boasts an accessible aviary and the Africa area impresses with more exotic species such as white rhinos, lions, cheetahs and many more.

Since summer 2020, a new accessible penguin enclosure is ready to be explored by visitors.

Salzburg Zoo offers several different guided tours that enhance a visit even more with additional information and insights.

For children, birthday party services can be provided, including special tours that include the kids’ favorite animals, walks with donkeys and alpacas and much more.

During Christmas time the Hellbrunner Adventzauber takes place right by Salzburg Zoo. This Christmas market with its magical and festive atmosphere is absolutely worth a visit!