The Lisbon Zoo

The Portuguese capital Lisbon offers numerous possibilities for all travelers to make the free time interesting. For travelers who are traveling with children, for example, a visit to the zoo of Lisbon (Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa) is an absolute must, so that the children also get their money's worth during their stay in the Portuguese metropolis. The zoo in Lisbon is not only one of the largest in Europe, but also offers a wide range of exotic animals with more than 350 species. This diversity of species ensures that both young and old children are guaranteed not to get bored. Among the special features of the Lisbon Zoo are the mini train that runs inside the complex and the in-house cable car, which gives you a stunning view of the entire complex.

The history of the Lisbon Zoo

The Lisbon Zoo opened its doors to the public back in 1884. Some of the most famous animal researchers of the country secured the support of the Portuguese King Fernando II for this project. At first, a location was chosen for the zoo close to the park São Sebastião da Pedreira, where the complex was also located until the beginning of the 20th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, however, it was relocated to its current site in the Sete Rios area.

Numerous exotic animals from the Portuguese colonies

Especially in its early days, the Lisbon Zoo offered its visitors a large number of exotic animals that were largely unknown in Europe. As the Portuguese were enthusiastic seafarers, many unknown animal species from the distant colonies from all over the world could be shown in the Lisbon Zoo. Even today, many of the animal species present come from Africa and South America, where the most famous colonies of the Portuguese were located. It is also worth mentioning that the Lisbon Zoo was the first zoological facility in the Iberian Peninsula to introduce a programme for the study and protection of flora and fauna.

More than 2,000 animals await visitors

After a thorough renovation in the 1990s, Lisbon Zoo is living up to its responsibility towards the animals that live there. During the renovation, great emphasis was placed on keeping the existing animals in a manner appropriate to their species, thus significantly improving their living conditions. Today, the zoo of Lisbon has more than 2,000 animals, about which the visitors receive a lot of interesting information during a guided tour. The facility has extensive enclosures for giraffes, monkeys, elephants and tigers. A separate area is home to numerous species of reptiles. Larger marine animals such as dolphins can also be marvelled at in the zoo's aquarium. A highlight for young children is without a doubt the petting zoo, which allows a particularly intensive contact with the animals.

When visiting Lisbon with children, a visit to the zoo should not be missed.