Bydgoszcz Zoo

Bydgoszcz Zoo sits in the middle of Myślęcinek Forest Park on the northern edge of Bydgoszcz (say "BID-gosh"), a city in north-central Poland. Founded as a "Garden of Polish Fauna", it still focuses on animals native to Poland, such as European bison, moose, wolves, lynx and brown bears, plus an Amur tiger, zebras and kangaroos. It's a compact, family-friendly zoo and an easy half-day trip if you're looking for things to do in Bydgoszcz with kids.

Where it is

Bydgoszcz lies between Gdańsk and Warsaw, roughly 2 hours by train from Gdańsk and around 3 from Warsaw; the Gothic, UNESCO-listed city of Toruń is about 45 km away. The zoo is at Gdańska 173–175, about 5 km north of downtown.

A short history

The decision to build the zoo was taken in February 1976 and it opened on July 19, 1978, stocked with animals donated by other Polish zoos. The emblem is still a white stork. Highlights of later decades include brown bears (1984), a children's petting zoo (1994), the "Skrawek świata" ("A Patch of the World") section with species from other continents (2004), the arrival of an Amur tiger (2014) and the aquarium-terrarium pavilion, opened in November 2014. The zoo covers about 17 hectares.

What to see

• Large enclosures for Polish mammals: European bison, moose, red and fallow deer, mouflon, wild boar, wolves and brown bears.
• Smaller carnivores: lynx, European wildcat, raccoon dog, badger and marten.
• Birds: owls and raptors (including the white-tailed eagle) and waterfowl on the pond.
• "A Patch of the World": zebras, kangaroos, emus, rheas and Japanese macaques.
• The Amur tiger.
• The aquarium-terrarium, including a "Vistularium" of native fish, amphibians and reptiles, exotic species and a butterfly house.
• A mini zoo with goats, sheep, ponies and tortoises.

Opening hours and tickets

As of October 2026 (official website):

• October and March: Tue–Sun 9 am–5 pm, ticket office until 4:30 pm
• November–February: Tue–Sun 9 am–4 pm, ticket office until 3:30 pm
• April: Tue–Sun 9 am–6 pm; May–August: daily 9 am–7 pm; September: 9 am–6 pm

The zoo is closed on Mondays from October through April. Tickets cost PLN 38 (reduced PLN 28), a family ticket for two adults and two children is PLN 105, and on weekdays there's a discount offer at PLN 20/15. Children under 3 pay a symbolic PLN 2. You can pay by card at the ticket office or buy online.

Practical tips and getting there

Plan 2–3 hours. Paths are paved and stroller-friendly. Dogs, bikes, scooters and skates aren't allowed, and feeding the animals is banned. In winter, save the heated aquarium pavilion for the end of your visit. The website is in Polish only, so a translation app helps.

Take city buses 41, 52, 83, 93 or 94 to the "Myślęcinek" stop. The Las Gdański tram terminus has been under reconstruction since January 2026, with replacement buses, so check the current timetable. Paid parking next to the zoo costs PLN 7 for the first two hours.

Is it worth visiting?

If you're traveling with children or want to see Poland's own wildlife up close, yes. Pair it with the botanical garden next door or the dinosaur trail in the same park.