If you’re like us here at Tripmasters, you absolutely adore animals and you would go out of your way to see them. For us, that would definitely include while we’re on a vacation, and we bet we’re not alone in this either! Below you’ll find 15 of the world’s top zoological gardens and aquariums. Some have protected the world’s animal species for generations, some are the largest zoos in their respective parts of the world, and still others offer such a varied number of experiences that they constantly feature on “world’s best” lists across the globe.
The Aquário Marinho do Rio de Janeiro (AquaRio) is the largest aquarium in South America, holding more than 8,000 different animals in 28 different tanks. Here you can see such species as the sand tiger shark, the nurse shark, and both the whitetip and blacktip reef sharks. Don’t miss exhibits that allow you to get up-close and personal with marine life: Here you can spend the night in a tunnel completely surrounded by fish and water, and it’s even possible to dive into one tank and experience life under the sea just like they do. It’s a great place to visit when you’re in Rio de Janeiro!
The Berlin Zoo has been open since 1844 and it boasts one of the largest collections of animals in the world, with over 20,000 animals across nearly 1,400 different species seen throughout the 86.5-acre park. Once you walk through one of two entrances, either the iconic Elephant Gate (pictured) or the Lion Gate, you will get a chance to see animals in recreated versions of their natural habitats in places like the Carnivore House, where all the big cats and Madagascar mongooses live; and the Bird House, which is where many hornbills and parrots live (and you can walk right through their habitat!). You must stop at the Berlin Zoo when you visit Berlin.
Spread out across 265 acres, The Bronx Zoo in New York City is the largest zoo in the United States. One fun fact about The Bronx Zoo is that there’s a lot you can see here just by obtaining a General Admission ticket for free! Some of the free attractions include visiting with American bison, walking through the sea bird aviary (flamingos pictured), visiting with the giraffes, getting close to the sea lions in their centrally-located pool, and the list goes on and on! Want to see bears, baboons, tigers, gorillas, and reptiles? You can see them all at The Bronx Zoo.
Chester Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the United Kingdom, with over 35,000 animals spread out in habitats across 130 acres. Despite not being the largest zoo in the UK, it has been named its best zoo, and some travel bloggers insist that it is one of the top zoos in the whole world. Chester Zoo is well-known for its red apes, chimpanzees, jaguars, and of course its Asian elephants (pictured). The first elephants born in a British zoo were born here. You can find these beautiful elephants in the “Elephants of the Asian Forest” exhibit. Make time to visit this wonderful zoo the next time you are in Chester.
The Columbus Zoo in Columbus, Ohio has a worldwide reputation and you can thank Jack Hanna for that. Yes, the popular TV host was once the director of the Columbus Zoo and since his affiliation with the zoo began over 40 years ago, it has added not only exhibits but conservation efforts in locales across the globe. Today over 7,000 animals can be seen on the zoo’s 580 acres, divided into eight park zones and grouped by world region. Not only can you see beautiful animals here, you can golf on an 18-hole course and beat the heat at a water park (Zoombezi Park). Sounds like loads of fun! (Pictured: A lioness in the “Heart of Africa” exhibit.)
Since 1988, the Guadalajara Zoo in Mexico has grown from a small collection to become one of Latin America’s most important zoos, not just in the diversity of its collection but also in its ongoing conservation efforts in Mexico and worldwide. Over 360 species are on display at this zoo, and it is particularly well-known for its extensive bird collection. The Guadalajara Zoo has successfully bred the endangered Mexican wolf and has also opened the first jellyfish culture lab in the world. (Pictured: Guadalajara Zoo’s popular squirrel monkeys.)
Welcoming visitors since 1862, Melbourne Zoo is Australia’s oldest zoo, and it prides itself on showcasing the diverse fauna of Australia and worldwide. Over 5,000 animals can be seen across 55 acres of exhibits, and there are major exhibits here for a number of animals such as elephants, orangutans, gorillas, lions, and tigers. All of the animals live in a beautiful habitat dotted by numerous flower gardens. The Butterfly House and the Asian Rainforest are two pavilions that are particularly popular. Stop on in when you’re visiting Melbourne on vacation!
What happens when you want to see beautiful animals from Africa but you don’t have time to go on a safari on your African vacation? The National Zoological Garden of South Africa in Pretoria, an hour north of Johannesburg, has you covered. Over 9,000 animals live on 210 acres of land, making it one of the world’s largest zoos by land and number of animals. Once you walk through the zoo, you enter an aviary, with the most popular area, the “African Savannah” pavilion, situated in the center of the park. (Pictured: A leopard in the African Savannah area.)
TripAdvisor and Forbes Travel Guide have ranked Prague Zoo among the top zoos in the world. Situated in the countryside to the north of the Czech capital, Prague Zoo occupies 143 acres and houses about 4,800 animals from more than 690 species, including 133 species listed as critically endangered. Prague Zoo is particularly well-known for breeding the Mongolian wild horse and saving it from extinction. The showcase pavilion is the “Indonesian Jungle”, where you can see Komodo dragons and western lowland gorillas (pictured).
Many people have named the San Diego Zoo one of the best zoos in the world, and part of that has to do with its role as pioneer in zoological preservation and also in animal conservation on all corners of the globe. It was the first zoo to have its animals live in habitats complete with vegetation normally found in the animals’ native habitats. 650 different species and subspecies are housed across 15 exhibition areas in the 99-acre zoo situated inside Balboa Park. Over four million people visit the San Diego Zoo each year, making it hands-down the most popular zoo in the U.S. (Pictured: The sea lion enclosure.)
SEA Life Sydney Aquarium is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Australia’s largest city, with 1.2 million people passing through the iconic “wave building” each year. Inside the aquarium shaped like a wave, over 700 species of marine life can be seen, with the showcase tank featuring over 6,000 animals at a size of over 530,000 gallons. Did you know that tank (pictured) is the largest aquarium tank in the world? Perhaps the coolest part of the Sydney Aquarium is being able to see the Great Barrier Reef exhibit on a glass-bottomed boat!
With over two million visitors each year, the Singapore Zoo routinely tops “world’s best zoos” lists by travel bloggers in Asia and worldwide. Situated on 69 acres on the Central Water Catchment north of the city, Singapore Zoo is divided into an impressive 16 permanent exhibits, ranging from “Gibbon Island” to “Fragile Forest” (where animals native to South America and Southeast Asia are housed) to “Elephants of Asia” to “Rainforest Fights Back” (featuring lemurs, parrots, and cockatoos). The zoo is a must-see when you make it to Singapore!
Toronto Zoo, the largest zoo in Canada, prides itself on its taxological diversity, with nearly 500 different species living within the zoo’s 710-acre confines. Check out the beautiful animals of Canada in the signature “Canadian Domain” pavilion, which include collections of bison, moose, bald eagles, and grizzly bears. Other pavilions include “Eurasia Wilds”, the oldest part of the zoo, where you can see snow leopards, red pandas, Mongolian camels, and other animals from the steppes of Central Asia. Then there’s the breathtaking Indo-Malaya dual pavilions with Sumatran orangutans and tigers, among others. (Pictured: A white lioness.)
Ueno Zoo is a beautiful 35-acre oasis situated right in the middle of Ueno Park in Tokyo. With over 3,000 animals, Ueno Zoo, Japan’s largest zoo, packs a big punch into such a small area. Noteworthy animals at Ueno Zoo include panda bears, Sumatran tigers, western lowland gorillas, polar bears, Barbary sheep, Asian elephants, American bison, California sea lions, and many more species. If you visit in March, you can visit the animals and then stroll through the gorgeous cherry blossoms on the trees in Ueno Park.
Last but not least we have the world’s oldest zoo, Vienna Zoo (also called the Tiergarten Schönbrunn), situated adjacent to Vienna‘s Schönbrunn Palace. The five-time winner of the Best Zoo in Europe Award from wildlife enthusiast Anthony Sheridan, Vienna Zoo prides itself on its conservation efforts across the world and of course its biodiversity, with over 700 species of animals represented in the park. Vienna Zoo’s most popular attractions include the giant panda enclosure (pandas pictured), which has been a signature sight here for nearly 20 years, and “Franz Josef Land”, where you can plunge into a cold pool and get close with polar bears!
If you’re looking for even more animal adventures, check out some of these experiences in the destinations linked below!
