Kolmarden Wildlife Park

Kolmarden, on a wooded hillside above a Baltic bay near Norrkoping, is the largest zoo in Scandinavia, home to big cats, elephants, giraffes and more across sprawling enclosures. It adds a cable-car safari that glides over the animals and Wildfire, a wooden rollercoaster that swoops above the park, blending zoo and theme park.

What's there

• The big animals - lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes and more on the hillside.
• The safari cable car - the gondola gliding over the enclosures.
• Wildfire - the wooden rollercoaster soaring above the park.
• The marine and dolphin section - the sea-life shows and pools.

When to go

The summer season for the full park and rides; it runs largely in the warm months with reduced access outside. Weekends and holidays are busiest.

Good to know

It is a large zoo with the questions that raises, though it gives big animals sprawling enclosures. The theme-park additions divide opinion on mixing rides with a zoo. It is a full day, and hilly, so wear good shoes.

Nearby

Norrkoping and its industrial heritage are close; the Ostergotland coast spreads around.

Key facts