ZOO Krakow, Krakow

Kraków has a history of housing exotic animals since 1406, starting with lions from Florence. A medieval menagerie on Wawel Hill had creatures like monkeys, lions, and camels. It declined when the capital moved to Warsaw in 1596. Private menageries emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries. The idea of a zoo near Camaldolese Hermit Monastery in Las Wolski was proposed by activists from the Kraków branch of the Polish Copernicus Society of Naturalists – Wincenty Wober, Kazimierz Maślankiewicz, Leon Holcer, and Karol Łukaszewicz.

Opening its doors on July 6, 1929, with President of Poland Ignacy Mościcki in attendance, the ZOO Krakow boasted 94 mammals, 98 birds, and 12 reptiles. Antoni Koziarz served as the inaugural director until 1966. Amidst World War II, the zoo fell under German administration, prompting the transfer of many animals to zoos in Germany. In 1963, City Park and Zoological Garden was founded, sparking an era of extensive reconstruction and modernization.

Today, the zoo spans nearly 17 hectares, accommodating 1,500 animals from 260 species. Visitor numbers annually reach 300,000. Notable breeding successes include the birth of an Andean condor in 2014 and various other animals like maned wolves, snow leopards, jaguars, and chimpanzees.

Why You Should Visit:
It's cheap, it's big, it's got a huge range of gorgeous animals and is also incorporated into a very nicely kept forest which you can walk around.
There's also a small petting zoo & playground, snack bar for when you're peckish and a few ice cream vendors.

Tip:
If the weather is nice and you plan things right you can catch feeding demonstrations of sea lions at 9:30am/2pm, and the penguins at 10am/2:30pm.
Consider taking a picnic as the food on sale is not the best and for Poland it is quite expensive.