The Zoo Aquarium de Madrid is located deep in the Casa de Campo and is an enchanting wildlife park with over 6,000 animals waiting to be discovered! The park is unique in that it is a combination of a conservation driven zoo and an aquarium featuring aquatic animals from over 7 oceanic regions. So. if you’re looking to get out of the city for the day, a trip to the Zoo Aquarium Mardrid is a perfect plan! Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about the park and how to plan your visit.
Looking for other fun day plans? Take a moment to check out our favourite theme parks in Madrid!
Enjoy up to 15% discount on entry tickets to the Madrid Zoo Aquarium!
Availability depends on the time of the season. Our discounts also cannot be used in combination with other discounts. Finally, these discount codes cannot be used 24hr before the intended visit. So send us a WhatsApp and we will let you know what is available.
City Card holders will receive priority access to discount codes
History of the Zoo Aquarium in Madrid
While the Zoo Aquarium Madrid is now the largest wildlife park in the city, it is not the first. The first zoo in Madrid dates back to 1774, when King Carlos III mandated the construction of Casas de Fieras del Retiro (‘House of the Beasts of Retiro’), an animal park to be built in Retiro Park. This was the second zoo ever to be opened in Europe, right after the “Vienna Zoo” in Austria, which today still stands as the oldest zoo in the world.
In June 1972, the Casas de Fieras del Retiro was permanently closed and Madrid’s present-day Zoo Aquarium was inaugurated in Casa de Campo. In 2013, the Madrid City Council opened a new public library inside the old premises of the Casa de Fieras, now called the Eugenio Trias Municipal Public Library. Many of the original structures have been preserved, including cage bars through which people threw food to feed the wild animals. In the park, you can also find the zoo’s original bear caves, bird cage and monkey pit.
When Madrid’s Zoo Aquarium opened in 1972, it comprised of 550 animals from 83 different species transferred from the Casas de Fieras del Retiro. The Zoo Aquarium was home to a moment in history, in 1982 with the birth of the giant panda named Chulín, the first panda ever to be created by artificial insemination outside of China. He was the very first panda in Europe to be born in captivity.
In 1995, the official Aquarium was built, extending around 3,000 m² in size and becoming the first tropical marine aquarium in Spain. In March 2009, Madrid’s Zoo Aquarium became classified as a Heritage of Cultural Interest in the Historical Site category. And finally, in September 2010, the first twin panda cubs known of in the western world were born. The zoo named them Po and De De.
Zoo Aquarium Madrid Today – What to See and Do
The Zoo Aquarium Madrid, situated across a majestic 49-acre property, is one of the largest zoos in Spain and attracts thousands of tourists every week. This Zoo Aquarium offers everything you need for the perfect field trip. It is an official member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
Over the years, it has grown more than ten times its original size, and today serves as home to over 6,000 animals of 500 different species. You will find white tigers, lions, giraffes, zebras, rhinoceroses, koalas, reptiles, sharks, celebrity pandas and everything in between. It is also one of the few zoos in the world to house giant pandas, which are considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The Aquarium holds 35 exhibition tanks with more than 200 different marine species and the 3,000 m² Aviary contains around 60 different species of raptors.
Zoo Aquarium Visiting Information
Visiting Hours
Opening times may depend on the time of year so we recommend that you consult with the official website to get the most up-to-date information.
Ticket Prices
Standard ticket prices range from 18€-24€ depending on the day you choose. There are also reduced price tickets for children and seniors as well as membership deals for those who might want to visit more often.
For more details please visit the official ticket page.
How to get There
By bus: you can take EMT bus line 33, which leaves from Príncipe Pío and drops you off right at the door (no extra walking!).
By metro: you can take Line 10 or Line 5 to the station Casa de Campo, followed by a 15-minute walk to the zoo entrance.
Buy your Tickets Now
Already convinced that you want to visit the Zoo Aquarium Madrid? Head over to their ticketing page now and buy your tickets!
Leah Warner
Leah has been living in and exploring Madrid since 2013 when she moved to the city for a simple summer abroad. She started the Citylife Blog in 2014 with the goal to share everything there is to know about her favourite place on earth!
