Located within the lovely grounds of Parc de la Ciutadella, not far from the historic Palau del Parliament de Catalunya, Museu Picasso, and Moco Museum Barcelona, the Barcelona Zoo is a popular destination among visiting families. Here you’ll find much-loved animals like elephants, tigers, and giraffes, as well as an acclaimed terrarium, primates gallery, and aviarium. The Barcelona Zoo also has a Farm where your little ones can pet barnyard animals, three different cafeteria-style dining options, and a store that sells zoo-themed souvenirs.
History of the Barcelona Zoo
The Barcelona Zoo can trace its roots all the way back to the late nineteenth century, when the Parc de la Ciutadella hosted the Universal Exhibition in 1888. Looking for a civic-minded use of the park in the wake of this successful event, the city’s mayor authorized the purchase of a selection of animals that he then housed within Ciutadella. Thus, Barcelona’s first public zoo was born, an attraction that was entirely free until the year 1927, when admission was first charged.
The zoo fell on hard times during World War II; it wasn’t until the 1960s that the facility’s finances truly stabilized and the attraction saw the construction of several new buildings and habitats—an initiative which culminated in 1972, when the zoo’s famous terrarium (and its aviarium) opened its doors. In 1989, the Barcelona Zoo underwent an extensive renovation, and in the intervening years it has continued to invest in its educational programs and conservation efforts.
Barcelona Zoo Highlights
The Barcelona Zoo is divided up into several different zones. While some animal-loving visitors make a point of trying to experience every single area of the zoo during their visit, if you’re on a tight schedule you’ll want to prioritize depending on what type of wildlife most interests you. The terrarium here is widely considered one of the nicest in all of Europe; for over 50 years now it has been home to a fascinating array of tortoises, snakes, iguanas, and crocodiles, just to name a few of the reptiles and amphibians on display here. The Land of Dragons is one of the zoo’s most recently updated habitats, and it’s where you’ll encounter Komodo dragons, muntjacs, and flying foxes.
The Primates Gallery has Brazza monkeys, red monkeys, white-naped mangabeys, and Barbary macaques, while the aviarium is home to approximately six-dozen different species of birds from across Africa, Asia, and South America. If you want even more birds in your life, check out the Barcelona Zoo’s Flying Dome. This special facility contains a host of bird species native to swamps, including a number of endangered species.
Other popular animals found at the Barcelona Zoo include tigers, giraffes, elephants, and hippos. Families visiting the attraction with small children will definitely want to make time for the Farm, Barcelona Zoo’s kid-centric petting zoo. Here your little ones can come face to face with beloved barnyard critters like sheep, goats, pigs, cows, and rabbits.
More to See and Do at the Barcelona Zoo
Keep reading for a few more things to see, do, and know during your visit to the Barcelona Zoo.
*Barcelona Zoo’s in-house restaurant, La Dama, serves seasonal Mediterranean cuisine in a casual outdoor setting. In addition to local specialties like the Catalan cheeseboard, farm-fresh beetroot salad, and oven-cooked salmon steak, the menu features an assortment of classic sandwiches, salads, and hamburgers. There’s also a kid’s menu for those visitors under the age of 12 years old.
*There are two other dining establishments at the Barcelona Zoo, both of them offering guests a variety of to-go food options. La Morera Cafeteria is located near the Children’s Farm, and it sells a small selection of bowls, salads, and sandwiches. El Xaloc features a similar menu, but is located near the zoo’s dedicated Sahel area.
*The Barcelona Zoo app is a free app you can download straight to your phone. With the zoo app at your disposal, you’ll have easy access to handy resources like maps, directions, calendars of daily activities, and more. The Barcelona Zoo app even provides suggested tours specially designed for however long you plan to spend at the zoo during your visit.
*For those guests who might be visiting with extra bags in tow, the Barcelona Zoo is happy to offer complimentary locker storage. These free luggage lockers can be found near the zoo’s Wellington Street entrance.
*The Barcelona Zoo’s gift shop is open every day of the week. There you’ll find a nice selection of zoo-themed souvenirs, accessories, t-shirts, and more.
Why the Barcelona Zoo Should Be on Your Must-See List
Families traveling with small children won’t want to miss the Barcelona Zoo, as it makes for a terrific half-day destination for those little animal lovers who might have already had their fill of art museums and historic architecture. What’s even better is that the Barcelona Zoo permits outside food and drink; consider bringing a sack lunch with you and throwing the family a picnic at one of the attraction’s two designated picnic areas.
