The Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden is located next to Heroes’ Square, inside Városliget. It is one of the places we wanted to visit because it is quite different from the other attractions in Budapest.
The Zoo covers around 11 hectares and is home to more than 8,000 animals. There are many different areas to explore, so we decided to take our time and spend several hours inside.
What can you find inside the Zoo?
There is a lot to see. You can find elephants, tigers, giraffes, gorillas, penguins, seals, sharks and many other animals.
There are also many different buildings and areas, such as the Elephant House, the Great Ape House, the Savanna House, the Palm House and Aquarium and the Shark School. There are also areas dedicated to Australia, Madagascar, South America and Southeast Asia.
One thing we liked is that the Zoo does not feel like just one big open space. Every area is quite different, so walking around feels more like discovering different parts of the world.
Getting closer to the animals
One of the things we found most interesting is that there are some areas where you can get closer to animals.
In the Petting Zoo, for example, you can interact with farm animals. There are also special activities where keepers introduce visitors to some animals and explain more about them.
There are also programs such as the “Surprise Animal Encounter” and “Friends from the Farm”, where you can learn more about the animals while seeing them from a closer distance.
Animal shows and feeding times
During the day, there are different feeding times and training sessions.
One of the things we liked the most was watching the penguins during their feeding time. It is really nice to see them up close while they are being fed and moving around together.
Another activity worth seeing is the elephants during their bath time. It was nice to watch them playing with the water and cooling down, which was definitely different from simply seeing them in their area.
Another show we enjoyed was the one with the seals. They are really fun to watch, and during the show you can see them interacting with their keepers.
The program can change depending on the day, so we recommend checking the schedule when you arrive. Some activities can also be cancelled or changed.
How long does it take?
We would recommend spending at least 3 hours inside the Zoo if you want to see the main areas without rushing.
If you want to explore almost everything, stop to watch the animals and attend some of the feeding or training sessions, 4 to 5 hours is probably a better amount of time.
We think it is better to visit in the morning, especially if you want to see some of the activities during the day.
Is it worth visiting?
For us, yes.
The Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden is a nice change from visiting monuments, museums and busy streets. You can walk around slowly, spend time with the animals and discover a completely different side of Budapest.
Its location is also very convenient. After visiting the Zoo, you can easily walk to Heroes’ Square and explore the rest of Városliget.
If you like animals, we definitely recommend adding it to your Budapest itinerary. Just make sure to leave enough time, because there is much more to see than you might expect.
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