Zoos of Europe: Krakow

There is no perfect time of year to visit the zoo. In summer, animals hide from the heat. In winter, the cold comes and heat-loving animals are transferred to closed winter enclosures. In the spring, many animals have offspring, and they are not very happy with visitors, and in the fall it rains.

No, the weather is not an excuse not to go to the zoo. Just remember that it is unlikely that you will be able to see all the inhabitants of the zoo in one trip, even on a perfect day.

But the Kraków zoo is arranged in such a way that the guests remain satisfied in any case. Whether due to the distance from the center or for another reason, the Krakow Zoo is a surprisingly quiet, peaceful place. Even during the war, he was not particularly harmed, everything is always fine here.

The park is located in the Volsky forest, on top of a mound. This is a real oasis in the middle of a modern city, which is worth a walk. But it is better to set aside a separate day for a walk in the Volsky Forest, otherwise you will not have time for either. For now, just know that thanks to the surrounding forest, there is always good, fresh air in the zoo. You can get to the mound from the center by bus 134, the zoo is its final stop. In 2018, the cost of visiting for adults is 18 zlotys, for children – 10: 4.2 and 2.3 zlotys.

Tip: if you don’t want to stand in line at the cash register, use the ticket machine. It sells only full tickets, without discounts, so there is usually no queue.

The zoo has a main central alley and two parallel alleys. The zoo is constantly being rebuilt and improved, and the short passages between the alleys are often closed. Follow the main roads, don’t get lost. Along the alleys there are enclosures with animals, park sculptures are displayed, and rare and exotic plants grow.

Recently, “hotels for insects” have appeared there. This novelty is found not only in the Krakow Zoo. Pieces of wood with holes of different shapes are intended for wintering and reproduction of insects that are part of the zoo’s ecosystem. There are problems with hotels for insects – for example, they have not yet figured out how to prevent harmful insects from settling together with useful ones. But they look nice and decorate the alley.

But, of course, we go to the zoo not for modern beehives, but for animals. The Krakow Zoo is arranged in such a way that one or more enclosures are always in the visitor’s field of vision. They were recently reconstructed according to a modern scheme: the enclosure is surrounded by a fence, along which a moat was dug from the inside. The inhabitants of the enclosure walk inside at the same level as the eyes of the spectators, but if they get close to the fence, they will not be able to jump out. The maximum is to stick your head out and chew grass from the lawn.

By the way, about food. Visitors are not allowed to feed most of the animals. And this is correct: animals have allergies and food intolerances, finally, many products are simply harmful to them. If you really want to feed an animal, go to the petting zoo, also known as the petting zoo. Domestic animals live there – pigs, sheep, ponies. There is a machine near the entrance that gives out a portion of special edible pellets for money – the animals are delighted with them.

Or wait until noon when the zoo has lunch. Watch how an elephant picks up bright pieces of vegetables with its trunk and shoves them into its mouth. Or how gracefully and easily a heavy sea lion jumps out of the water to take a fish from the hands of the supervisor.

Aquatic enclosures are the pride of Krakow Zoo, especially the new penguin enclosure. It was recently reconstructed with money from local donors. As in all European zoos, in Krakow you can become a sponsor of an animal, bird or fish. On the central avenue, a special stand lists famous zoo guardians, but you can make a donation at least through the website. The cost of the work is not disclosed, but the aviary turned out great. Good for both the penguins and the observers.

By the way, you can watch the animals while sitting on a bench. Shops in Krakow Zoo – at every step. There are a couple of cafes where you can buy water and snacks. And there is a children’s playground with a swing, where you can take a child who has become capricious.

In short, Krakow Zoo is a place where guests can rest their eyes and soul. You can go here at least every day. And if you are stuck in Krakow, you can buy a monthly pass.