Attica Zoological Park

Attica Zoological Park opened as a bird park on the plain at Spata, east of Athens near the airport, and birds remain the strongest part of it, with large walk-through aviaries and a wide range of parrots, cranes and raptors. Mammal sections were added later and now include big cats, primates, hoofstock and a reptile house, along with marine mammal presentations that run to a timetable. It is the only zoo of this scale in Greece and it opens every day of the year. The site is flat and easy to walk, laid out on a loop with the aviaries near the entrance, and much of a visit is spent outdoors under whatever the Attic weather is doing that day.

History

The park opened in May 2000 as a bird park, with some 1,100 birds of 300 species and walk-in aviaries for Africa, Asia and the Americas. It grew into a zoo year by year: reptiles in 2001, a Greek forest in 2002, an African savannah in 2003, big cats in 2004, monkeys in 2005, and cheetahs, chimpanzees and a desert area in 2008. A dolphinarium opened in 2010, drawing criticism from institutions and the public, and in 2025 the zoo announced that its five dolphins would move to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida. It is the only zoo in Greece, with more than 1,500 animals of 220 species (Wikipedia, Attica Zoological Park).

What's there

• The walk-through aviaries - the original core of the collection and still the best part.
• The big cat and primate enclosures - the main mammal sections on the outer loop.
• The reptile house - indoor and useful when the sun is at its worst.
• The scheduled presentations - timed talks and feeding sessions posted at the entrance.

When to go

Autumn to spring is far more comfortable than summer, when the Attic plain gets very hot and both animals and visitors retreat to shade. Morning is the active period for most species; by early afternoon in warm weather many are asleep. Weekends and school holidays are busy. Check the presentation timetable on arrival and plan the loop around it.

Before you go

Shade is scarce and summer afternoons are hard going. Some enclosures for large mammals feel small, and opinions on the marine mammal presentations are divided. Food options on site are limited and priced accordingly. Reaching it without a car means a metro ride plus a bus, which turns a half-day visit into most of a day.

Nearby

Athens airport, the coastal suburbs toward Vouliagmeni and the vineyards of Mesogeia.

Key facts