Zürich Zoo
The only zoo in Europe to breed Galápagos tortoises — and it has been shipping hatchlings to two dozen institutions ever since.
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Open since 1929, Zoo Zurich reorganized itself around whole ecosystems rather than species counts, splitting the grounds into continent-sized zones where animals can retreat from view. The centerpiece dome houses both the Malagasy rainforest and the elephant yard in one sweep.
What to look for
- Masoala Hall: the large dome replicating a Madagascar rainforest. Separately, in 2005 the zoo identified that seven lemurs caught in Andasibe were actually a new species, later named Goodman mouse lemur.
- Galápagos tortoise enclosure: the first successful European breeding program for the species; hatchlings have reached more than two dozen other zoos worldwide
- Asian elephant exhibit, sharing the same dome complex as Masoala Hall
On Zürichbergstrasse in the Fluntern quarter, on the lower slopes of the Zürichberg hill — reachable from central Zurich without a long climb.
Zürich Zoo is one of 17 sights worth the detour in Zurich, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Zurich pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Zurich
- LetzigrundOn this track, on 21 June 1960, Armin Hary became the first person in history to run 100 metres in 10.0 seconds.
- Zürich HauptbahnhofSwitzerland's largest station runs 2,915 trains a day — and a river flows through it in a tunnel, with tracks both above and below.
- GrossmünsterThe church where Zwingli launched the Swiss-German Reformation in 1520 — and then his followers stripped out the organ and every statue to prove the point.
- Zürich Opera HouseThe first electrically lit opera house in Europe — built in 16 months, nearly razed by street riots, and winner of Opera Company of the Year at the 2014 International Opera Awards.
- Cabaret VoltaireHugo Ball borrowed a back room on Spiegelgasse in February 1916 and accidentally invented Dada — Lenin was renting a flat fourteen doors up the same street.
- Kunsthaus ZürichTwo buildings on opposite sides of Heimplatz, linked underground, housing one of Switzerland's most important art collections — the 2021 David Chipperfield sandstone block alone added over 80% more floor space.