Tiergarten Schönbrunn

Tiergarten Schönbrunn began in 1752 as the imperial menagerie of Franz I Stephan and is the oldest zoo still operating. The original Baroque layout survives around the central pavilion, while the animal enclosures extend well beyond that historic circle.

The zoo is inside the Schönbrunn grounds but has its own ticket and needs its own block of time. It is not a quick palace add-on. The collection covers roughly 500 species across about 17 hectares, and the paths between habitats add up. Entering from the Hietzing side is convenient if the zoo is the main reason for coming. If you are combining it with the palace gardens, plan the zoo first and leave the free grounds for afterward.