Copenhagen Zoo

Copenhagen Zoo opened in 1859 on the edge of Frederiksberg Gardens and is among the oldest in Europe, which shows in its layout: a compact site with mature trees, narrow paths and a wooden observation tower from 1905 that still marks it on the skyline. Newer buildings have replaced the worst of the old cages. The elephant house designed by Norman Foster puts the herd under two glass domes with a view straight in, and the Arctic Ring lets you watch polar bears swim past through a glazed tunnel. The rest is a standard large collection of big cats, primates and a children's farm, packed into a site you can walk in a morning.

What you actually see

• The Arctic Ring - polar bears seen underwater through a glazed tunnel.
• The elephant house - a glass-domed building by Norman Foster with the herd inside and out.
• The 1905 tower - a wooden observation tower with a view over the rooftops.
• The children's farm - goats and other domestic animals at close range.

When to go

Open all year, and animals are often more active on cool days than in July heat. Feeding times are posted at the entrance and worth planning around. Weekday mornings outside Danish school holidays are calmest, and the last hours of the afternoon empty out. Most of the site is outdoors, so rain is felt.

Honest expectations

It is expensive for a half-day out, particularly for a family, and the site is small enough that some enclosures feel tight despite the rebuilding. Weekends and school holidays crowd the narrow paths. Plenty of animals will be indoors or asleep. The zoo has drawn public criticism in the past over how it manages surplus animals.

Nearby

Frederiksberg Gardens are next door; central Copenhagen is fifteen minutes by bus.