Is Ljubljana Zoo Worth Visiting?

Yes, if you're spending a day in Ljubljana and want a break from the old town. Zoo Ljubljana keeps 119 species and around 500 animals across 19.6 hectares of wooded hillside, with 5 kilometres of paths, which makes it a compact, manageable stop rather than a full-day expedition. It's also open every single day of the year, including in winter.

What not to miss

Featured location Ljubljana Zoo Rožnik, Slovenia WAZAWAZA-WP Dating from March 1949, it remains the country's only public zoo. The first animal quarters stood on Kolodvorska street in the centre, near what is now the national broadcaster, and in 1951 the zoo moved to the south-western slope of Rožnik, where it occupies 19.6 hectares. The site lies among natural woodland and meadow inside a protected landscape park.

The zoo dates to 10 March 1949, when Ljubljana's city board established it; it first sat in the Center district before moving to its current hillside site in 1951. It has since built an international reputation to match: it's a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and Species360.

Its collection has grown through some notable arrivals. In 2013 it took in the first pair of cheetahs in its history, and at the end of February 2026 nine male Bolivian squirrel monkeys arrived from Apenheul Zoo in the Netherlands. They're visible in their indoor enclosure for now, ahead of being let out onto islands in an outdoor enclosure. If you're after a hands-on angle rather than just looking, the zoo also runs a "Keeper for a Day" experience where you take on real animal-care tasks, from guinea pigs up to giraffes — working out how to give an alpaca its vitamins is one example the zoo gives.

Best time to visit

The zoo is open all year, but its hours shift with daylight: 9am to 4pm in January and December, 9am to 5pm in February and November, 9am to 6pm in March and October, and 9am to 7pm from April to September. Whatever the season, the last entry is at closing time and the grounds stay open until dusk after that.

Ljubljana's winters are genuinely cold — January temperatures sit mostly around 0°C, and the city gets snow cover on about 48 days a year, mostly between December and February. That doesn't close the zoo, but it does mean shorter hours and fewer animals active outdoors; the reward is a much quieter visit. Summer is the opposite problem: daily highs of 25-30°C in July and August mean shade and water matter more than crowds.

Getting there and accessibility

City bus routes 18 and 18L stop directly at the zoo, which sits at Večna pot 70. If you drive, the zoo's own paved and gravel car parks are free; the roadside parking nearby is metered on weekdays from 7am to 7pm, run by Ljubljanska parkirišča, but free at weekends.

The site is built into a hillside, which matters for accessibility. The lower part of the zoo is flat and manageable for wheelchair users, but the upper area, home to the zoo's native Slovenian species, isn't suitable for wheelchairs. Accessible paths, lifts and adapted toilets are provided where the terrain allows, with accessible restrooms at the entrance and next to the restaurant. There's a large playground for children to use once they've done the rounds of the animals.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome if you buy them a ticket (€3) and keep them on a lead, though they're barred from the Mini Zoo, the Australia enclosure and the play areas.

Tickets and saving money

As of September 2026, a daily ticket costs €11.50 for adults and €7.50 for preschool and school-age children, with a €9.50 reduced rate for students, pupils and pensioners. EU disability card holders pay €3, and may buy a second ticket at that rate for a companion.

If you're staying in Ljubljana for a while or plan to come back, the zoo also sells an annual pass, priced from €33 to €65 depending on category. Family tickets are sold too, alongside the single and annual options, though the zoo's site doesn't break out the family price.