Zoologická záhrada Košice
Zoologická záhrada Košice is the largest zoo not only in Slovakia, but in all of Central Europe. It extends over an impressive 289 hectares of the natural environment of Čierna Hora in Košice, in the Kavečany district, with approximately 75 hectares accessible to the public.
At present, more than 240 different animal species live in the zoo, representing the fauna of all continents. It opened its doors to visitors in 1986, following seven years of construction. At that time, visitors could view 23 animal species, mostly consisting of native Carpathian fauna. Over time, both the area open to the public and the number of individual animal species expanded to reach its current size and variety.
Some animal species cannot be found in any other zoo in Slovakia. These include, for example, Humboldt penguins, toco toucans, Andean condors, harbor seals, or Altai wapiti. However, the zoo also houses many very rare captive species. From this large selection, we can mention the North Chinese leopard, scimitar-horned oryx, Bhutan takin, or Tatra chamois. Among the other highlights of the Košice zoo are the largest aviary in Slovakia, as well as the largest brown bear enclosure among all zoos in Central Europe.
As the only zoo in Slovakia, it boasts an established botanical trail, which was gradually expanded to include other sections such as the Bird Trail, Beekeeping Trail, Floodplain Forest, and Geological Trail, which compares the Carpathian and Altai (Central Asia) mountain ranges. One section of the trail is also the Siberian ibex enclosure, which cannot be found anywhere else in Slovakia. You will also find interactive elements with geological and paleontological themes here.
Zoologická záhrada Košice can likewise pride itself on many breeding successes in terms of the number of reared offspring. It even holds an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records from 2002, when breeders achieved a unique milestone—bear quintuplets were born here. Since 2017, the zoo has been a full member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), which unites elite global zoos. In addition, it is an active member of other prominent organizations, including EAZA, UCSZOO, EARATA, IZE, and Species360.
Part of ZOO Košice is also the popular DinoPark, which has been open to visitors since 2013. Across an area of nearly 5 hectares, dozens of life-sized Mesozoic giants of our planet will amaze you. You can also visit a unique 3D cinema, have fun on the paleontological playground, or try the adrenaline swing.
You can reach the zoo from Košice by public transit (the terminal stop is ZOO). However, if you want to treat yourself and your children to a complete experience, we recommend booking accommodation in the area surrounding ZOO Košice and visiting other nearby attractions offered by the historic city of Košice. A selection of the nearest accommodation facilities can also be found on our website under the accommodation Košice-Kavečany and accommodation Košice sections.




















































