Mac Rating: 5.00 | Votes: 1 | Date: 04/06/2026 16:16:00

Founded in 1859, Copenhagen Zoo is one of the oldest in Europe and has grown from a small collection of birds and farm animals in the Frederiksberg gardens into a leading research and conservation centre that houses thousands of animals on a wooded site on the western edge of the city. The zoo is best known for its Elephant House, designed by the British architect Norman Foster and opened in 2008, where Indian elephants live in spacious paddocks shaded by glass domes that bathe the enclosures in natural light. A separate Arctic Ring, lined with underwater viewing tunnels, lets visitors watch polar bears swimming over their heads. Other highlights include large enclosures for African savannah species, a rainforest hall, a primate house, a children farm and a tall observation tower that has surveyed the grounds since the early twentieth century. The collection runs to more than two hundred species, many of them endangered. The zoo has long been a leader in conservation breeding, with successful programmes for species ranging from rhinos and snow leopards to small amphibians, and partners with field projects around the world. Like many serious zoos, it has at times attracted controversy over its practices, including a publicised culling case that prompted wide debate about modern zoo ethics. Set within the green grounds of a former royal park, the zoo backs onto Frederiksberg Gardens and is easily combined with a walk in the wider green belt of western Copenhagen. The atmosphere is closer to a wooded park than a strict urban zoo. Easily reached by metro and bus, Copenhagen Zoo remains one of the most visited attractions in the country, drawing local families, school groups and tourists alike to its mix of charismatic animals, striking architecture and serious conservation work. A glass-walled observation tower built in 1905 still stands above the grounds and gives a fine view across the western suburbs, and the small terrace at its top remains popular with visitors willing to climb the steps. The zoo also runs an active research programme through its zoological research centre, contributing to studies of animal behaviour, nutrition and disease, and trainee veterinarians from the University of Copenhagen complete clinical placements on site. Seasonal events, evening openings during summer and a popular Christmas illumination of the grounds keep the calendar busy beyond the regular daytime visit.