Korkeasaari Zoo

Korkeasaari Zoo occupies an island of the same name at Mustikkamaanpolku 12, east of central Helsinki, Finland, and is one of the oldest zoos in the world, founded in 1889. The island setting gives the zoo a landscaped, park-like character, with paths that wind through forest, along the shore and past enclosures built on natural terrain. The collection includes Amur tigers, snow leopards, lions, giraffes, lemurs and a large selection of primates, along with a Finnish forest area showing native species such as brown bears, lynx, wolverines, wolves and owls. The island also has an indoor tropical house, a rainforest-themed section, playgrounds and cafes, and the shoreline provides views back toward the Helsinki skyline. A typical visit takes 3 to 4 hours, and families often spend most of a day. Adult tickets cost about €26 online and €29 at the gate, with lower prices for children, so korkeasaari.fi should be checked for the latest rates and for opening hours, which change with the season. The zoo is open daily, with shorter hours in the colder months. Getting there is straightforward: bus 16 runs from Helsinki Central Station in about 20 minutes, and the ticket must be bought before boarding, while a summer ferry leaves from Market Square (Kauppatori) and takes about 15 minutes, giving a scenic arrival. Weekday mornings are the quietest time, and weekends and school holidays bring families in large numbers. Sturdy shoes are helpful because the terrain is hilly in places. The best photo spots are the shore viewpoints toward the city, the big cat enclosures in the early morning when the animals are most active, and the forest trails in autumn colour.