Updated for September 2026
The Best Zoos in Denmark
How this list is ordered: by how complete our listing is — how much we hold on opening hours, ticket prices, accreditation, photographs, animals and facilities. It is a measure of our own coverage, not a judgement of the venue. We hold no visitor scores or conservation assessments, so “best” here means every zoo in Denmark that qualifies for the list, fullest entry first.
Listed alphabetically
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Education program
Aalborg Zoo
Zoo in Aalborg
Inaugurated in April 1935, it holds more than 1,500 animals across roughly 126 species and draws upwards of 400,000 visitors a year. Recent decades have brought a growing emphasis on sustainability and nature conservation, including a role in several international projects.
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Behind-the-scenes tourOn-site diningAccessible toilets
Givskud Zoo
Zoo in Givskud
The park was founded by Jacob Hansen. Richard Østerballe held the post of director from 2002 until May 2024. Animals on show include løver, dværgflodhest, girafferne and berberaberne.
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Keeper talk or showGuided tourEducation program
Randers Regnskov, Tropical Zoo
Zoo in Randers
The zoo opened on 13 June 1996 with two of its domes, followed by a South America dome in 2003 and a saltwater aquarium in 2005. Draws include a manatee, a piranha tank, a 15-metre waterfall in the South America dome, a canopy-level rope bridge and an albino tiger python named Henriette, 4.5 metres long and 56 kilos. It is run by a six-member board with sponsors, and Countess Alexandra is its patron.
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Guided tour
Bornholm Butterfly Park
Zoo in Nexø
A converted hothouse holds more than a thousand butterflies from many countries, while native Danish butterflies occur in the outdoor flower garden.
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Keeper talk or showOvernight stayBehind-the-scenes tour
Glad Zoo
Zoo in Lintrup
The zoo was bought in 2014 by the Glad Fonden, which owns it, and formerly traded as Lintrup Safari Park Zoo. It has been used to deliver an education course for young people with special needs, whose students work on animal care or interpretation. A falconer-led birds of prey display is among the attractions.
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Rides and attractionsOn-site diningDisability admission concession
Knuthenborg Park and Safari
Zoo in Lolland
Over 500 animals of more than 40 species roam loose in zones matching their home ranges. About 300,000 people visited in 2023, making it one of Denmark's busiest attractions and the largest safari park in northern Europe. It is owned and directed by the present count, Christoffer Knuth.
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Animal feeding experienceOvernight stayBehind-the-scenes tour
Odense Zoo
Zoo in Odense
Opened in May 1930 as Odense Dyrehave, it took its present name in 1933; its owner, Christian Jensen, and his family handed it to the municipality in 1980 as a self-governing institution, and it gained state recognition in 1983. The grounds spread along both banks of the Odense Å, linked by three footbridges. They take in land once occupied by Fyns Tivoli.
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Keeper talk or showRides and attractionsBehind-the-scenes tour
Ree Park – Ebeltoft Safari
Zoo in Ebeltoft
The park proper runs to about 70 hectares, and with adjoining land in its ownership the holdings reach roughly 125 hectares. Frans Kilde Hansen started it in 1991 as Ebeltoft Dyrepark. Lars Thye took it over in 1993 and renamed it Ebeltoft Zoo, then intended as a nature park with grounds, play areas and animals to pet.
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Sensory and cognitive support
Copenhagen Zoo
Zoo in Frederiksberg
Some 195 people are employed full time, and the collection holds over 4,000 animals across more than 250 species. Two giant pandas on loan from China arrived in 2019, a species held by few European zoos.
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Animal feeding experienceOvernight stayBehind-the-scenes tour
Skandinavisk Dyrepark
Zoo in Kolind
The park focuses on Scandinavian species. It first opened in 1994 under the name Hjortenes verden and took its present name in 2000. It began the 2005 season with 20 species, covering elk, reindeer, red, sika, fallow and roe deer, red and arctic fox, polecat, wolf, brown bear and wild boar, along with storks, geese, grass snake and adder.
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Keeper talk or showOn-site dining
Crocodile Zoo
Zoo in Eskilstrup
Occupying a former countryside farm, it keeps 24 crocodilian species, a total matched by the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. Part of every admission goes to projects of the IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group.
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Animal encounterPlaygroundOn-site dining
Jyllands Park Zoo
Zoo in Videbæk
More than 500 animals are kept, and the site also runs fairground rides such as a carousel, with children particularly in mind. Two lionesses arrived in June 2014.
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Keeper talk or showBehind-the-scenes tourOn-site dining
Munkholm Zoo
Zoo in Balle
Established in 1994, it keeps roughly 400 animals of 90 species and draws over 30,000 visitors a year. Animals on show include kameler, vaskebjørne, grise, Japan Makak and Berberaber.
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Nordsjællands Fuglepark
Zoo in Græsted
It was the biggest bird park in the Nordic countries and shut when the man behind it retired in autumn 2023. Recognition as a zoo had come in 2008, and being private it drew no state funding, relying on gate money, sponsors and volunteers. Around 200 of its 250 bird species were bred in captivity there.
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ZOOPARK
Zoo in Næstved
The grounds cover nearly nine hectares of hilly ground. Stock includes Bengal tiger, European lynx, camels, kangaroos, alpacas, rheas, monkeys, coatis and reptiles. There is also a large natural playground and a souvenir shop.
Our ranking methodology
This is not a ranking. The 15 venues above are listed alphabetically by name, the same order used throughout this site. We do not collect visitor reviews, star ratings, ticket-sales figures or a conservation-impact score, so none of those exist here to rank by — “best” in this page’s title means every venue that qualifies for this list, not first-to-last by quality. If we ever add a data source robust enough to support an honest ranking, this note and the order above will change together.