Dublin Zoo
Ireland’s biggest zoo in Phoenix Park with 400+ animals, keeper talks, Sea Lion Cove and family-friendly facilities.
About
Set within Phoenix Park, Dublin Zoo is Ireland’s flagship wildlife attraction, home to hundreds of animals across expansive, themed habitats including the African Plains savannah, the Kaziranga Forest Trail for Asian elephants, Sea Lion Cove with underwater viewing, and the gentle, hands-on Family Farm. Wide, well-surfaced paths make the zoo very buggy-friendly, and wayfinding is simple with clear signage and a downloadable map to help plan your route between keeper talks and feeding times.
Visitors typically spend 3–5 hours exploring, so it’s worth arriving early—especially at weekends and during school holidays when nearby Phoenix Park parking fills quickly. Picnics are welcome and there are cafés, toilets, and rest areas dotted throughout the grounds, making it easy to pace the day with younger children.
Opening times change seasonally throughout the year, which is important when planning a visit. The zoo opens daily at 9:30am, but closing time varies by month:
Jan & Nov–Dec: closes 4:00pm
February: closes 5:00pm
Mar–Sep: closes 6:00pm
October: closes 5:30pm
Last admission is listed as one hour before closing, and the African Plains area is listed as closing 30 minutes before the zoo (see the monthly schedule on the official site). During winter, the popular Wild Lights event can also affect evening access and visitor flow, so checking the day’s times before travelling is recommended.
For toddlers, the Playforest and Family Farm offer gentle, interactive experiences; ages 4–8 love the sea lions, penguins and primates; and older children get more from the conservation messaging, trail activities and daily talks. The zoo places a strong emphasis on wildlife protection and breeding programmes, helping children connect what they see to real-world conservation efforts in an engaging, memorable way.
At a Glance
About
Set within Phoenix Park, Dublin Zoo is Ireland’s flagship wildlife attraction, home to hundreds of animals across expansive, themed habitats including the African Plains savannah, the Kaziranga Forest Trail for Asian elephants, Sea Lion Cove with underwater viewing, and the gentle, hands-on Family Farm. Wide, well-surfaced paths make the zoo very buggy-friendly, and wayfinding is simple with clear signage and a downloadable map to help plan your route between keeper talks and feeding times.
Visitors typically spend 3–5 hours exploring, so it’s worth arriving early—especially at weekends and during school holidays when nearby Phoenix Park parking fills quickly. Picnics are welcome and there are cafés, toilets, and rest areas dotted throughout the grounds, making it easy to pace the day with younger children.
Opening times change seasonally throughout the year, which is important when planning a visit. The zoo opens daily at 9:30am, but closing time varies by month:
Jan & Nov–Dec: closes 4:00pm
February: closes 5:00pm
Mar–Sep: closes 6:00pm
October: closes 5:30pm
Last admission is listed as one hour before closing, and the African Plains area is listed as closing 30 minutes before the zoo (see the monthly schedule on the official site). During winter, the popular Wild Lights event can also affect evening access and visitor flow, so checking the day’s times before travelling is recommended.
For toddlers, the Playforest and Family Farm offer gentle, interactive experiences; ages 4–8 love the sea lions, penguins and primates; and older children get more from the conservation messaging, trail activities and daily talks. The zoo places a strong emphasis on wildlife protection and breeding programmes, helping children connect what they see to real-world conservation efforts in an engaging, memorable way.