A historical reminder of what zoos used to look like is today's freely accessible Zoological Garden in Poznan. It was founded in 1874 by a local restaurateur who received some exotic animals as a gift.
The Old Zoo is part of the Poznań Zoo, which also runs the New Zoo on Lake Malta.
It is more of a park than a zoo. You can find enclosures for wild animals, elephants or monkeys, but they are empty and highlight their past inhabitants with paintings or posters.
Contemporary exhibits
Still, it's worth a visit, and not just if you want to remind yourself of history.
Children have domesticated animals in the form of donkeys, goats or sheep. The garden also includes children's climbing frames or a rope park.
The bird pavilion is also freely accessible, but count on a limited number of birds.
The only major exhibition is the reptile pavilion, which is chargeable. Admission is 8 pln for an adult or 6 pln discounted admission. Children under 3 years of age are admitted free.
How to get there
The easiest way to get to the park is by taking the number 2 tram to the Stare Zoo station.
An alternative is to go to the Rondo Kaponiera stop, which is served by trams 8, 9, 10, 15, 18 or 20 and many bus lines. The zoo can then be reached in 5 minutes on the pavement.
Opening hours
Then is open every day, as follows:
- November - February from 9:00 to 16:00
- March - April from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- May - October from 9:00 to 19:00
Admission to the garden is free.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Poznań.
