Hellabrunn Zoo

Tierpark Hellabrunn is the best family day out in Munich, and a pleasant half day even without children. The zoo opened in 1911 in the Isar floodplain south of the city centre, and after closing during hard times it reopened in 1928 as one of the first zoos in the world to arrange its animals by geographical region, a concept it still follows today as the Geozoo of Biodiversity. Walking through the grounds, which spread across a large, green, partly wooded site in the protected Isar landscape, you move from continent to continent: the polar area, with polar bears, seals and penguins; Africa, with giraffes, zebras and lions; Asia, with elephants and rhinos; and the Americas, with flamingos and other species. Highlights include the Elephant House, a listed building from the zoo's early years that has been modernised, the Polarium, where you can watch penguins and seals swim underwater, the Jungle World and Rainforest House, and Primate World with its great apes. The Aquarium and the Venomous Snake House are good for wet weather. For families, the Muehlendorf, a children's zoo with farm animals and goats that children can touch, and several large playgrounds, are major attractions. The zoo opens every day of the year: in winter, from late October 2026 to mid-March 2027, from 9am to 5pm, and in summer from 9am to 6pm, with shorter hours on 24 and 31 December. It is easy to reach by public transport, with the U3 stopping at Thalkirchen (Tierpark), a few minutes from the Isar entrance, and MetroBus 52 running from the city centre to the Flamingo entrance. There are several cafes, restaurants and kiosks, and dogs are allowed on a short leash, one per visitor.

How to plan your visit: allow at least three hours, or a full day with small children. Arrive at opening time to see the animals at their most active and to beat the weekend crowds. Enter at the Isar entrance from the U3, follow the loop through the polar area and Africa, stop for lunch at one of the cafes, and finish at the children's zoo and playgrounds. A map from the entrance or the zoo's app helps you plan, as the grounds are large. Tickets can be bought online or at the gate, and an annual pass is good value if you are staying in Munich for a while or plan to return. Note that at the time of writing, U3 trains do not run between Sendlinger Tor and Implerstrasse until 28 November because of station works, and replacement buses operate, so allow extra time or use MetroBus 52.

When to go: weekday mornings are quietest. Summer weekends and school holidays bring crowds and queues at the entrances. Winter is underrated: the houses are warm, the polar animals are lively, and the paths are quiet, but the outdoor areas are cold, so dress warmly. Hellabrunn's riverside setting is lovely in autumn, and the Isar riverbank path makes a good walk or bike ride to or from the zoo.

Things to know: there is a lot of walking, so bring comfortable shoes and, for small children, a pushchair, or rent a pull-along cart at the entrance. Visitors are not allowed to feed the animals. The car parks near the entrances charge a fee, and public transport is easier. If you are visiting with children and want a second animal fix on a rainy day, SEA LIFE Munich at the Olympic Park is smaller but entirely indoors.