141 years collecting animals in Sete Rios
Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa has existed since 1884, which makes it one of the oldest institutions in the city, and that age shows in the structures, the tree-lined corners and the scale of the space, much larger than most people expect.
There are koalas, chimpanzees (with a recent newborn), dolphins with live shows, and a botanical collection that exists alongside the animals but that almost no one notices. The conservation side isn't marketing: the zoo participates in international programmes for endangered species and has active research underway.
The zoo is right at the mouth of Jardim Zoológico metro station, blue line, and that changes everything logistically for a day out with kids in Lisbon. Half a day is enough to see quite a lot; a full day to see everything at a relaxed pace, including the timed presentations.
what you'll find
- dolphin shows with seating
- chimpanzee newborn (recent arrival)
- koalas, which in Portugal exist only here
- botanical garden integrated in the route, frequently overlooked
- night programme in specific seasons
