Tierpark Hagenbeck / Hamburg zoo, Germany

Tierpark Hagenbeck in Hamburg-Stellingen was opened in 1907 by the animal dealer Carl Hagenbeck and was the first zoo to show animals in open enclosures without bars, separated from visitors by hidden moats – an idea later copied by zoos around the world. Its historic panorama landscapes, temple gates and the Japanese garden are still the heart of the park, which is run by the Hagenbeck family to this day.

Highlights include the herd of Asian elephants, the orangutan house, the Eismeer (Arctic Ocean) area with walruses, polar bears and penguins that you watch above and below the water, and the separate Tropen-Aquarium, with a shark atoll, crocodiles and free-flying birds in a rainforest hall.

Location and Transport

The zoo is at Lokstedter Grenzstraße 2 in Hamburg; the U2 underground line stops right outside at Hagenbecks Tierpark station.

Ticket Prices and Hours

In 2026 a day ticket costs €29 for adults and €19 for children aged 4–16, and children under 4 enter free. The Tropen-Aquarium costs €25 for adults and €17 for children, and a combined ticket for the zoo and aquarium costs €45 for adults. The zoo is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00, closing at 16:30 in winter.