Ljubljana ZOO
| Region | Central Slovenia Statistical region |
| Starting point | Zoo Ljubljana, Večna pot 70 1000 Ljubljana |
| Route length | 2 km (1.42 miles) |
| route duration | 1h – several days :) |
| Best time to visit | spring, summer, autumn, winter |
| Appropriate for | Baby Strollers , Baby Carriers , 1-3 years of age , 3-6 years of age , 6+ years of age |
| Level of difficulty | Easy route |
Route Description
What is your favourite animal? Maybe a domestic one like a dog, a cat, a horse. Perhaps you prefer a wild one such as a guanaco, a squirrel monkey or a meerkat. By the time you exit the Ljubljana ZOO, you will definitely have a new favourite animal. We were unable to choose one because every one of these beautiful creatures is special and fascinating. That is why we visit the Ljubljana Zoo several times a year. Prepare to be bombarded by all sorts of questions about the ZOO when you get back home :). Spend a day full of interesting activities with your kids in the center of Ljubljana.
Our country has more and more tourists and the Ljubljana ZOO is becoming one of the most visited attractions alongside the Lake Bled, the Ljubljana Castle and the Postojna Cave. Families love to come here as well.
You can stroll through the ZOO by yourself or you can get a guided tour. Information boards featuring a bunch of fun facts are a great way to learn something new about every animal.
What is special about the Ljubljana ZOO is that visitors and children in particular have an opportunity to take part in several different family-oriented workshops during which they can be in close contact with animals. Apart from taking a guided tour of the ZOO, available both during the daytime and at night, visitors can join zookeepers at feeding time, meet their favourite animal, and become a zookeeper for a day and much, much more (Source: visitljubljana.com website).
It is impossible to get lost in here because you get a map at the entrance and the trail is visibly marked with information boards. All the fascinating animals, the playground, trampolines, etc. are guaranteed to make your kids want to stay there and not go home just yet. Actually, there is a solution for such a situation, and that is camping! Weekend camping at the Ljubljana ZOO is available to families and groups of children aged between 8 and 12 years. During their stay, visitors become intimately acquainted with the animals, learn about the work of a zookeeper, spend a night by the campfire, and see how the creatures wake up and have breakfast in the morning (Source: visitljubljana.com website). However, a prior reservation is necessary.
Since the COVID-19 is still at large, make sure to check the Ljubljana ZOO website for all the relevant information regarding the opening hours and different activities.
There is always something new at the Ljubljana ZOO since the animals change their rhythm of life every season and every time of the day.
Tips for parents:
The Ljubljana ZOO is located in the southern part of the Tivoli City Park. The access points are the Ljubljana ring road, Šiška or the Ljubljana center.
GPS coordinates:
lat = N 46.052029, lon = E 14.472513
Access by car:
Turn off the RING ROAD at the exit number 16 and follow the road signs in the direction of the Ljubljana ZOO.
Access by city bus (LPP):
Take the city bus number 18 or 18L which go in the following direction: Kolodvor (the main bus station) - Živalski vrt ZOO - Tovarna Lek - Center Stožice P+R.
In order to ride the city bus, you need an Urbana card. Buy it at the main bus station.
Slovenian Railways timetable-kids love train rides!
Ljubljana Public Transport (LPP) timetable.
Take the Urban electric train and see the Ljubljana city center from another perspective
Interesting Facts
Do you know the Legend of the Foundation of Ljubljana?
Legend has it that Ljubljana was founded by Jason, the hero of Greek mythology who stole the Golden Fleece from King Aeëtes and then fled aboard the Argo with his comrades, known as the Argonauts, across the Black Sea and up the Danube and the Sava River until they reached the Ljubljanica River. On their way to the coast, they stopped at a large lake in the marshes near the source of the Ljubljanica, where a dragon was said to dwell, whereupon Jason fought, defeated and killed the mighty worm. This is the same dragon that is featured on the Ljubljana City coat of arms and on the Dragon Bridge.
Legend about Ljubljana
Map
Take me to the starting point
Show route in Google mapsRent a car
Nearby Restaurants
The Safari Restaurant is located right next to the ZOO playground. They serve a variety of dishes, ice cream, dessert and drinks. Make a short stop there and gather some strength for the continuation of your adventure :).
The Safari restaurant has the same opening hours as the ZOO (which are different every single season).
Vita, Olja and Juna Recommend
Observe the animals and see how smart they are when taking care of themselves and their offspring. We could learn a thing or two couldn’t we? A respectful attitude towards nature shows what kind of person you really are.
DID YOU KNOW?
All of the ZOOs have an important nature conservation and educational role. The Ljubljana ZOO has the following missions that are very important:
o Conservation breeding inside the zoo.
o Improvement and development of conservation breeding techniques.
o Protection of animal species in the natural environment.
o Cooperation between zoos and nature conservation institutions.
o Promoting conservation programs in the natural environment from which the endangered species originates.
o Raising public awareness about the conservation of endangered species and habitats.
With conservation breeding in ZOOs, the goal is to breed healthy populations that are large enough. However, because they are smaller than in nature, they are more prone to cross mating and an unnatural selection. This can result in impoverishment of the gene pool and an increase in unwanted traits.
It is certainly much better to keep the species in ZOOs than to make them extinct. However, if a certain population is weakened in the natural environment, ZOOs contribute their specimens to help strengthen the wildlife.
The ZOOS thus represent a "time bridge" for the third millennium, in which specialized and highly endangered species survive while the catastrophic destruction of the natural environment takes place.
