I admit I don’t like zoos; but I visited the Zoo in Monaco by accident and it turned out to be a fantastic place. I do not know how such a large zoo fits into such a small space, but Monaco proves once again that it is possible. And by the way, it is guaranteed to be great fun.

Monaco’s zoo (Jardin Animalier de Monaco), which is only small, can be found just below the Rock of Monaco on which Monaco’s Old Town is located. You can easily walk there by going in the direction of the Fontvieille district. There is a huge Carrefour, Decathlon, and McDonald’s nearby. I wrote that the zoo is small, but it’s huge in relation to the size of the area in which it is located.

See also: Monaco travel guide

Monaco’s Zoo – an attraction for children and adults

Opened in 1954 by Prince Rainier III, the zoo occupies a very narrow and steep slope of the Monaco Rock on which the cages, animal runs, and terrariums are arranged in rows. The residents of the Zoo are mostly birds of different types – at least these are the most striking and the loudest. Here you can meet lots of parrots, from small parrots to the largest and most colorful. The pool belongs to the big hippopotamus, and the prairie dogs look upwards from the burrows. There are also snakes, spiders, and monkeys who eagerly take food from you using their hands. In total, about 250 animals belonging to 50 species live in the gardens.

Zoo in Monaco

Zoo in Monaco

The open catwalk for geese (and / or ducks) and ornamental hens is also a fantastic place. You can walk among the birds and feed the ducks, as well as admire, among other animals, the fat rabbits. The paddock is also great fun for children, who run after the ducks, but I’m not sure that the animals share the children’s enthusiasm.

Animal rights advocates will probably be interested in the fact that none of the animals living in this zoo were bought. All come from donors, from circuses, or were abandoned. It is also worth knowing that the zoo also had leopards, but they were freed by Albert II after the efforts of Virginia McKenna, an English nature protector. Monaco’s zoo plans to be a zoo for domesticated animals, not wild animals.

Monaco Zoo – practical information

It should not take more than 1.5 hours to visit Monaco’s Zoo, although you can of course have fun for longer. I would suggest, however, devoting more time to seeing Monaco’s Exotic Garden. The Zoo is open from June to August from 9AM to 12PM, then from 2PM to 7PM; from October to February from 10AM to 12PM and 2PM to 5PM; and from March to May from 10AM to 12PM and 2PM to 6PM.

The admission ticket costs €5 for adults and €2.50 for kids aged 6–14.