Odense Zoo

Odense Zoo sits along the river a short way south of the city centre and is one of the better regarded collections in Denmark, laid out to keep sightlines open rather than to cram in species. Its centrepiece is the Oceanium, a South American section where you move from a Chilean coast with penguins and sea lions to Amazon water with manatees behind glass. Elsewhere there are giraffes and zebras sharing a savannah paddock, chimpanzees in a large group enclosure, red pandas and a children's zoo. In summer a small boat runs down the river from the city centre to the gates, which is the pleasant way to arrive.

What you actually see

• The Oceanium - Chilean coast and Amazon river sections with penguins, sea lions and manatees.
• The savannah paddock - giraffes and zebras sharing open ground.
• The chimpanzees - a large group in a glass-walled enclosure.
• The river boat - a summer service running from central Odense to the zoo gate.

When to go

April to September for full opening and for animals to be outside; the zoo stays open in winter with less to see. Weekday mornings are quietest. The river boat runs in the warmer months only. Danish school holidays and sunny weekends bring long queues at the entrance gate.

Honest expectations

It is a small zoo and a couple of hours will do it, which makes the entry price feel high, particularly for a family. Indoor sections get hot and crowded on wet days. Some enclosures are noticeably older than the flagship ones. In winter many animals are inside or out of sight and parts of the site close entirely.

Nearby

Odense's old centre and the Hans Christian Andersen quarter are a walk or short bus ride away.