If you’re looking for the best things to do in Madrid and need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, Zoo Aquarium Madrid might just be the most peaceful place in the Spanish capital. Located in the massive Casa de Campo park, this is one of the few places in Europe where you can see Giant Pandas, dolphins, koalas and sharks all on the same ticket.
We spent over four hours just rambling around the 20-hectare park and we could have easily stayed longer. It’s laid out by continent, taking you from the Siberian tigers to the jungles of South America.
Whether you want to see the Giant Pandas, walk through a shark tunnel or, if you’re like Denis, just spend your entire budget feeding the goats in the petting zoo, here’s our honest guide to visiting Zoo Aquarium Madrid.
How to Get to Zoo Aquarium Madrid
One of the best things about this zoo is how easy it is to reach. Unlike Parque Warner Madrid which we also visited on our trip and which required a bit of a trek, the Zoo is practically in the city centre.
- By Metro: This is by far the easiest way. Take Line 10 or Line 5 to the Casa de Campo station. From there, it’s a short, signposted 10-minute walk to the entrance. You can also get off at Batán (Line 10) which is also close.
- By Bus: Bus line 33 leaves from PrÃncipe PÃo and drops you right at the zoo gate.
- By Car: There’s plenty of free parking at the zoo entrance but given how fast the Metro is, we recommend leaving the car behind.
Since the Metro connection is so fast, we recommend staying centrally on Line 10 rather than trying to find a hotel near the park. You can find great deals in Madrid on Booking.com.
Tickets & Prices
As with most Madrid attractions, buying your tickets at the gate is the most expensive way to do it. You’ll also get stuck in queues, especially on sunny weekends.
We highly recommend booking your tickets online in advance. This usually gets you a discount off the gate price and, more importantly, lets you walk straight in so you have more time to see the animals.
Opening Times & Best Time to Visit
The zoo generally opens every day of the year at 11:00 AM (sometimes 10:30 AM on weekends or during summer). Closing times vary depending on the season, from 6:00 PM in winter to midnight in summer!
Always check the official website for opening times before you travel.
We recommend aiming to arrive right at opening time. As we found, it was a bit chilly in the morning but warmed up later. We were told that the animals (especially the Pandas) tend to be much more active in the morning before the midday Spanish heat kicks in. Plus, you can beat any school groups to the Aquarium!
Top Things to See & Do
The park is huge, so you could easily spend the whole day here. It’s laid out by continent, which makes navigation fairly easy, but having a map, either the PDF one on your phone or a picture of the sign at the entrance, is definitely helpful.
These are the parts of the zoo you absolutely shouldn’t miss.
The Giant Pandas
Zoo Aquarium Madrid is famous for being one of the few zoos in Europe to have Giant Pandas. The panda facility is fantastic, well themed and includes an interactive educational area where you can learn about where they come from.
We were lucky enough to catch them while they were active and rambling around, which isn’t always guaranteed with pandas! They really are beautiful animals and getting to see them this close is a highlight of the trip.
The Aquarium
The Aquarium part of the name isn’t just a gimmick, this is a serious aquarium housed inside a massive glass pyramid. This is the type of attraction other cities would charge €20 just to enter but here it’s included in your zoo ticket.
It’s surprisingly big inside. There’s a coral farm, massive tanks for sea turtles and a mesmerising display of jellyfish (or medusas if you want to practice your Spanish).
The highlight, though, is the shark tunnel. There’s a seated area where you can just relax and watch the sharks and rays swimming right over your head. It’s incredibly tranquil, unless you have Denis’s head blocking your view of the sharks!
The Petting Zoo (La Pequeña Granja)
We didn’t expect this to be the highlight of the day but we had so much fun here. Located in La Pequeña Granja (The Little Farm), this area lets you get up close with goats!
You can buy bags of feed for a small fee, just make sure you put the right food in the right pocket! We had pellets for ducks in one pocket and food for the goats in the other. Denis turned into the Goat Whisperer here. If you have kids (or are just big kids like us), do not skip this.
The Red Pandas & Koalas
While the Giant Pandas get all the headlines, the Red Pandas were actually one of our favourites. They’re incredibly cute and there seemed to be loads of them active in their enclosure.
Nearby, you’ll find the Koala house. They’re kept indoors in a temperature-controlled environment. They were mostly chilling when we visited, which is pretty standard for koalas but it’s still rare to see them in European zoos.
The Animals of Asia & Africa
The zoo has an impressive collection of big cats and African animals. We saw the Siberian tigers and Asiatic lions.
The African Savannah area is great too. There’s a raised viewing platform where you can look out over the giraffes, zebras and wildebeest. It’s a great spot for photos. We also spotted the rhinos, both the Indian Rhinoceros (one horn) and the White Rhinos (two horns).
Food & Drink
One of the pleasant surprises about Zoo Aquarium Madrid is that the food is actually very reasonably priced for a theme park. There’s plenty of snack kiosks and a few main restaurants, like Kibanda in the African zone. We stopped for lunch and sat watching the emus while we ate, which was lovely.
If you buy a drink, it often comes in a reusable souvenir plastic cup. You pay a €1 deposit for it. When you’re finished, you can either return the cup to get your €1 back or keep it as a cheap souvenir (we kept ours!).
You can also bring your own food into the park, which is a massive bonus. Unlike many other attractions, Zoo Madrid has no restrictions on outside food or drink. There’s plenty of picnic areas and benches throughout the park, so if you want to save money, bringing a packed lunch is a great idea.
Practical Tips for Visiting
- Right Next Door: The Zoo is located in the Casa de Campo, immediately next to Parque de Atracciones, Madrid’s city theme park which we loved! They share the same Metro stop.
- Download the Map: The layout of the zoo isn’t linear. It’s full of winding paths and little rabbit holes leading to different exhibits. As we found out, it’s quite hard to see where you are going without a map. There’s a QR code at the entrance to download the PDF map to your phone. Definitely do this!
- Language is no problem: All the signs and information boards are in English as well as Spanish. Even the interactive guides speak English.
- Sun Protection: Madrid gets incredibly hot. While there’s a good amount of shade from the trees, you’ll still be exposed to the sun a lot. Bring hats and sunscreen.
- Don’t Rush: We spent over four hours here and didn’t feel rushed. It has a very tranquil, relaxing vibe. Take your time.
Our Final Verdict
So is Zoo Aquarium Madrid worth visiting?
Absolutely.
We had high hopes visiting (mostly for the Pandas) but the Zoo actually exceeded them. It was a genuinely great day out.
What really sets this place apart is the sheer variety. The fact that your ticket includes entry to a fairly decent Aquarium which would easily cost €20 on its own elsewhere makes it incredible value for money. Seeing Giant Pandas munching on bamboo in the morning and then walking through a shark tunnel in the afternoon is a combination you just don’t get in many other places.
We also loved the pace of the day. Madrid is a high-energy, noisy city and the theme parks can be quite intense. The Zoo felt like a proper escape. It’s leafy, shaded and relaxing. We ended up staying for over four hours, just wandering the paths and watching the animals.
Whether you’re a family with energetic kids or just a couple like us looking for a nice day out (and a chance to hand-feed some very enthusiastic goats), it is 100% worth the Metro ride. It was one of the highlights of our trip to Madrid.