Kölner Zoo

The Kölner Zoo is one of Germany's oldest zoological gardens, located at Riehler Straße 173 in the Riehl district, north of Cologne's centre, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It opened in 1860 and today is home to thousands of animals from many regions of the world. Highlights include the large elephant park with its outdoor yard and pool, the Regenwaldhaus (rainforest house), where visitors walk among tropical plants, birds and free-ranging small animals, and the hippo house with underwater viewing. Big cats, primates, penguins and Asian and African savannah species are spread across themed areas connected by shaded paths, and the neighbouring Flora and Botanical Garden is a short walk away. A full visit takes three to five hours, so many visitors arrive at opening, tour the houses first, and leave the outdoor paths for the afternoon. Feeding and keeper-talk times vary by season, and the zoo posts a daily schedule at the entrance and online. The best photo angles are from the glass of the hippo house and the raised path above the elephant yard. The zoo is reached by Stadtbahn line 18 to Zoo/Flora in about 15 minutes from the Dom and Hauptbahnhof, and the Rheinseilbahn cable car lands close to the grounds on the Riehl side. Crowds peak on weekends, during school holidays and on warm days from April to October, while weekday mornings are calmest. In winter, opening hours are shorter, with closing around 5:00PM, and some outdoor enclosures may be less active. Adult admission at the gate is about EUR 23, with cheaper online and evening options.