Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden

Opened in 1866, the Budapest zoo is among the oldest still operating in Europe, and its architecture is a large part of why it is worth visiting. The Elephant House and several other pavilions were built in the early twentieth century in an Art Nouveau style with tiled domes, ceramic detail and decorative brickwork, and they have been restored rather than replaced. The Palm House holds tropical planting and an aquarium section, and there is a botanical collection through the grounds, which is where the second half of the name comes from. Newer sections include a large indoor rainforest hall and a hillside area with caves and viewing galleries. It sits in City Park next to the Szechenyi baths.

History

The idea of a zoo dates back to the 1820s and 1830s, but it opened only on 9 August 1866, the initiative of a group that included the geologist József Szabó, the National Museum director Ágoston Kubinyi, the botanical garden director József Gerenday and the zoologist János Xántus. At first it showed mainly Hungarian species with some rarer animals; Franz Joseph and Queen Elisabeth gave a giraffe, the first lion house opened in 1876, and its Art Nouveau buildings were designed by Kornél Neuschloss and Károly Kós (Wikipedia, Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden).

What you'll find

• The Elephant House - an Art Nouveau pavilion with tiled domes and ceramic decoration.
• The Palm House - a glass house with tropical planting and an aquarium and terrarium section.
• Magic Mountain - a constructed hillside with caves, galleries and indoor habitats.
• The botanical planting - mature trees and plant collections through the grounds.

When to go

Spring and early autumn are best: animals are active, and the park is comfortable to walk. Summer afternoons are hot and busy, and many animals retreat out of sight. Weekday mornings are far quieter than weekends and school holidays. Opening hours are shorter in winter, when the outdoor enclosures show little and the indoor houses take all the traffic.

Good to know

Some enclosures are old and small by current standards, and the contrast between restored architecture and cramped animal space is uncomfortable in places. Weekends and school holidays bring heavy crowds and long queues at the indoor houses. Ticket prices have risen sharply. City Park around it has been a construction site in recent years, which affects approach routes and noise.

Nearby

The Szechenyi baths are next door, with Heroes Square and the City Park museums a short walk away.

Key facts