Poznań New Zoo

Poznań New Zoo (Nowe Zoo) is a woodland zoo on the eastern edge of central Poznań, opened in 1974 and covering about 120 hectares of hilly forest with six ponds. It is Poland's second-largest zoo by area. Instead of compact cages you get big, spread-out enclosures, an elephant house, a giraffe and rhino pavilion and a bear sanctuary – so plan it as a half-day outing rather than a quick stop.

Poznań (say "POZ-nahn") is in western Poland, about 3 hours by train from Berlin and roughly 2.5–3 hours from Warsaw. The zoo is at Krańcowa 81, around 4 km east of the Old Market Square as the crow flies, beside Lake Malta and its leisure area.

What to see

• Elephant house, opened in 2008, with an outdoor paddock of about 2.5 ha.
• Giraffe and black rhino pavilion, a two-level building completed in 2021.
• Bear sanctuary of about 3 ha, created in 2013–2016 with the animal welfare foundation Four Paws (Vier Pfoten).
• Nocturnal animals pavilion, opened in 1995 as the first of its kind in Poland.
• Birds of prey and owls, one of Europe's richer collections.
• Fort III, a Prussian fort from 1877–1881 inside the zoo grounds, with guided visits from May to September.

Since 2022 the zoo has also cared for lions, tigers and other big cats evacuated from Ukraine.

Opening hours

Open daily (as of October 2026):

• March and October: 9 am–5 pm, ticket desks until 4 pm
• April–September: 9 am–7 pm, desks until 6 pm
• November–February: 9 am–4 pm, desks until 3 pm

Indoor pavilions open later (from 10 am) and close earlier than the grounds.

Tickets and prices

Prices from the official tariff valid since May 21, 2026 (as of October 2026):

• March–October, weekdays: adult PLN 45, reduced PLN 30, family PLN 80
• March–October, weekends and holidays: adult PLN 55, reduced PLN 35, family PLN 115
• November–February: PLN 20 per person, family PLN 35
• Children under 3 enter free.

Tickets are sold online and at the gate. Payment is in Polish złoty (PLN); cards are widely accepted in Poland.

How to visit and how long to stay

Allow 3–4 hours for the main enclosures, longer with children. Paths are long and hilly, so wear comfortable shoes. From April to September an internal train runs around the grounds; visitors with disabilities can book a free electric-cart tour in advance. A paid rope park sits by the entrance.

Getting there and parking

Buses stop at Nowe Zoo (line 184 among others – check the current ZTM Poznań timetable). In summer the Maltanka park railway runs along Lake Malta to the zoo, with separate tickets. Parking by the zoo costs PLN 5 per hour on weekdays and PLN 7 on weekends from April 1 to October 31, and is free from November to March.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you enjoy walking and want animals in large, natural-looking spaces – especially on a dry autumn day when the forest turns gold. Combine it with Lake Malta, or pick the smaller, free Old Zoo near the center if you only have an hour.