Occupying the southern half of the Parc de la Ciutadella, the Zoo de Barcelona has been part of the city’s landscape since 1892 — making it one of the oldest urban zoos in Europe. It combines a substantial collection of over 400 species with a location inside one of Barcelona’s most beautiful parks, creating an experience that works as much as a garden visit as a traditional zoo.
A Zoo with History
The zoo occupies land that was previously part of the Ciutadella fortress complex, built by Philip V after 1714 to control the city. The 19th-century conversion of the fortress grounds into a public park — and subsequently a zoo — was part of Barcelona’s civic transformation under the Restoration-era city government. Several of the original ornamental buildings from the 1888 International Exposition that took place in the park survive within the zoo grounds.
The zoo is perhaps best known internationally for once housing Floquet de Neu — Snowflake — the only albino gorilla in captivity, who lived at the Barcelona Zoo from 1966 until his death in 2003 and became one of the city’s most beloved figures. A memorial sculpture in his honour stands in the zoo.
The Collection Today
The zoo holds a wide range of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, with particular strength in its primate collection and its work with endangered Iberian species. The landscaped grounds, with mature trees and ornamental planting, make walking the zoo a pleasant experience in itself.
Getting There
The Zoo is at Parc de la Ciutadella. The nearest metro stations are Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica (L4) and Arc de Triomf (L1). Open daily from 10am; check the website for current hours and prices.