Updated for September 2026
The Best Zoos in Italy
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 Italy that qualifies for the list, fullest entry first.
Listed alphabetically
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Guided tour
Fondazione Bioparco di Roma
Zoo in Rome
Fondazione Bioparco di Roma, opened in 1911, is a zoo in Italy. Animals on show include Thar dell’Himalaya, Spatola rosa, Testuggine a testa gialla, Iguana di Utila and Testuggine ragno.
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Keeper talk or showGuided tourOn-site dining
Parco Natura Viva, Garda Zoological Park
Zoo in Bussolengo
Parco Natura Viva, Garda Zoological Park, opened in 1969, is a safari park in Bussolengo, Italy. Animals on show include tapiro sudamericano, formichiere gigante, nandù comune, Suricati and Cammelli.
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Keeper talk or showPlaygroundEducation program
Parco Zoo Punta Verde
Zoo in Lignano Sabbiadoro
The zoo occupies about 10 hectares on the left bank of the Tagliamento. A daily enrichment and training scheme is run, involving both the keepers and the animals.
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Keeper talk or showChild friendlyEducation program
Parco Gallorose
Zoo in Cecina
Parco Gallorose is a zoo in Cecina, Italy. Its exhibits include Giardino Botanico and La Fattoria.
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On-site diningNight and evening opening
La Torbiera
Zoo in Gattico-Veruno
La Torbiera, opened in 1977, is a zoo in Gattico-Veruno, Italy. Animals on show include caprioli, volpi, faine and falchi di palude.
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Behind-the-scenes tourParking
Parco Safari delle Langhe
Zoo in Murazzano
At about 70 hectares it is the largest Italian zoo and the second largest amusement park in Italy after Mirabilandia. Roughly 350 animals of about fifty species are seen along a five-kilometre driving circuit, and it is one of only five Italian zoos that can be visited by drive-through safari. Aquatic species and reptiles are shown in an aquarium and a reptile house.
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On-site diningParking
Pombia Safari Park
Zoo in Pombia
Pombia Safari Park, opened in 1976, is a safari park in Pombia, Italy. Animals on show include Leone, Zebra di pianura, Dik_dik, Surricati and Elefante Asiatico.
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Night and evening openingParking
Zoo di Pistoia
Zoo in Pistoia
Zoo di Pistoia, opened in 1970, is a zoo in Pistoia, Italy. Animals on show include pinguini, lontre, leone and lemuri.
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Zoosafari Fasanolandia
Zoo in Fasano
Ranked the second largest zoological garden on the continent, it holds about 3,000 animals of 200 species across thirty hectares, seen from a car route. Groups of giraffe, zebra, lion and Tibetan bear are among the highlights. It keeps the only polar bears, Indian rhinoceroses, gorillas and male African elephant in the country.
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Abruzzo Zoo
Zoo in Rocca San Giovanni
It is the sole surviving zoo in the region, following the permanent closure of the bioparco at Castel di Sangro in 2017.
Our ranking methodology
This is not a ranking. The 10 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.