Located in the Phoenix park, Dublin Zoo is brilliant for the kids as you can imagine but also great for the adults. Opening its doors in 1830, it’s the second oldest Zoo in the world. Over the last number of years Dublin Zoo has expanded greatly (check out the African Plains) and the quality of enclosures has increased no end. It regularly gets great reviews on TripAdvisor and compared to other significant Zoos, it is priced reasonably.
It is on a large site so between getting around it and stopping off for lunch it will take you most of a day. Watch out for the feeding the seals and the penguins. Our tip is to bring some food with you as the cost of eating out at the Zoo is high and not particularly good value. There are areas with seating and tables that you can eat your own food at. Bring a flask of tea or coffee for extra savings!
There are usually daily activities and talks at the Zoo, perfect for the inquisitive mind. There are some play areas for the kids including slides and climbing frames. If you manage to cover the whole Zoo you’ll have done a lot of walking so we recommend comfortable shoes and plenty of snacks. Watch out for the weather forecast as well – Ireland has a slight reputation for the rain!
Getting there via bus, take the Nos. 25, 26, 46A, 66 / 66A / 66B, 67, 69. Via LUAS it’s a 15-20 minute walk from the Heuston Station stop. Prices are around €17 for an adult and €12 for a child with Family tickets available. Weekends can be busy particularly in the summer so we recommend buying your ticket online first – www.dublinzoo.ie
