Zurich Zoological Museum

The Zurich Zoological Museum is an easy choice for city kids on a rainy day. It’s free, close, and easily accessible by tram. There are lots of real stuffed animals behind glass, so safe from toddlers, with interactive displays with buttons to push. They show short educational films and occasionally run special activities for kids on weekends. You can even bring a picnic. We love it here and hope you do too.

Getting There

This museum is best accessed by public transport as there is limited short-term metered parking. It is closest to the ETH/Universitätspital tram stop, serviced by lines 5, 6, 9 and 10.

You can easily walk here from the Zurich main train station, riding the short Polybahn funicular up the hill.

Impressions

The whole museum is accessible by strollers, with an elevator in the coat room to access the bottom floor. There is a large self service coat room and toilets. There isn’t a cafe but there is a picnic area and vending machine. There is a small gift shop with very nice animal related books in German.

Over 1500 animals on display with touch screens next to each case with educational information about each animal.

There are phones and buttons on the bird exhibits so you can hear the sounds they make.

Microscopes are provided for the tiniest animals on display.

There’s also a reading corner with picture books.

Fossils as well.

Lots of interactive exhibits. Sometimes mom and dad might need to help out.

The museum has special activities, events and tours, usually on Sundays.

Some exhibits are temporary and often include hands-on activities, like this giant animal puzzle.

A few dinosaur bones.

The museum has some worksheets and coloring pages for a nominal fee available at the front desk.

There is a picnic area in the museum where food is allowed, but not elsewhere in the museum. There is a water fountain here and vending machine.

There is a big plaza outside the university next door with a lovely view of the city.