Updated for September 2026
The Best Zoos in Hesse
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 Hesse that qualifies for the list, fullest entry first.
Listed alphabetically
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Animal encounterGuided tourKeeper talk or show
Opel-Zoo (Von Opel Hessische Zoostiftung)
Zoo in Kronberg im Taunus
Roughly 1,700 animals of 200 species from nearly every continent are kept. About 580,000 people visit each year, and the zoo is funded solely by ticket income and donations.
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Assistance animal policy
Zoo Frankfurt
Zoo in Frankfurt
Zoo Frankfurt is a zoo in Frankfurt, Germany.
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Education program
Zoo Vivarium Darmstadt
Zoo in Darmstadt
Zoo Vivarium Darmstadt, opened in 1956, is a zoo in Darmstadt, Germany.
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Keeper talk or showRides and attractionsOn-site dining
Tierpark Sababurg
Zoo in Hofgeismar
At about 130 hectares it ranks among Europe's largest and oldest wildlife parks. Long oak avenues cross the grounds, with the Urwald Sababurg bordering to the west. Threatened native species are kept, the aim being appropriate conditions through spacious open enclosures.
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Petting zoo
Wildpark Donsbach
Zoo in Dillenburg
Wildpark Donsbach, opened in 1970, is a zoo in Dillenburg, Germany.
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Guided tourOn-site diningParking
Wildpark Gersfeld
Zoo in Gersfeld (Rhön)
The park opened in July 1972 at roughly 550 metres above sea level, in conifer and mixed woodland. It stretches about a kilometre southeast along a deep valley, with a short circuit and a long one. Around 60,000 people visit each year.
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Guided tourEducation programOn-site dining
Wildpark Tiergarten Weilburg
Zoo in Weilburg
About 111,000 visitors were recorded in 2010. The park is run by the Weilburg forestry office under the Hessen-Forst state enterprise.
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Parking
Tierpark Klosterwald
Zoo in Lich
Opened in 1968, it stands about 500 metres west of Kloster Arnsburg on the old B 488 route and borders the Hardwald Hain forest. It covers over 4 hectares and holds about 200 animals, mainly native species with some foreign ones. It is open all year, weather permitting in winter.
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Tierpark Herborn
Zoo in Herborn
The park belongs to the German wildlife enclosure association and to the DTG, and draws roughly 40,000 to 50,000 visitors a year. Trained keepers staff the collection, and the zoo now runs its own apprenticeships.
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Zoo am Rammelsberg
Zoo in Kassel
Zoo am Rammelsberg is a zoo in Kassel, Germany. Roughly two hectares hold more than 150 animals. Species formerly kept included Eurasian lynx, Siberian chipmunk, grey heron and green iguana.
Our ranking methodology
This is not a ranking. The 11 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.