HAGENBECK ZOO
A real treat
Simply amazing: Hagenbeck
The traditional Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg has been delighting visitors for over a century with its unique combination of zoological and botanical attractions. From its beginnings as an exotic animal show to a modern zoo with species-appropriate animal husbandry, Hagenbeck has constantly developed.
Hagenbeck is much more than just a zoo. It is a place that combines a fascination for the animal world with the experience of a spacious park. The zoo was founded in 1907 by Carl Hagenbeck, an animal dealer and impresario who became famous throughout Europe for his exotic animal shows. Hagenbeck revolutionised animal husbandry by dispensing with bars and instead creating natural enclosures with moats – a groundbreaking innovation at the time.
Animals from around the world
Today, Hagenbeck Zoo is home to more than 14,000 animals from all over the world. Visitors can observe elephants, lions, tigers and many other fascinating species in spacious enclosures. A special highlight is the tropical aquarium, which opened in 2007. This fascinating underwater world is teeming with sharks, rays, crocodiles and a variety of exotic fish. A stroll through the jungle trail, with its free-flying birds and curious monkeys, completes the tropical experience.
More animal highlights
The Polar Sea is another highlight at Hagenbeck. The 8,000-square-metre facility is home to polar bears, penguins, grey seals and fur seals.
What’s more, walruses can be seen there again for the first time since the death of the NRD mascot ‘Antje’ in 2003. The facility is walk-through: Inside, visitors can watch the animals through glass panorama windows, even underwater as they dive.
The orangutan house at Hagenbeck is also worth seeing.
The great apes live in a spacious enclosure with many climbing opportunities and retreats under a large glass dome. Only a moat, in which several Asian short-clawed otters cavort, separates the orangutans from the visitors. Moreover, the orangutans live just a stone’s throw away from the baboons, which are a real crowd-puller. They romp, quarrel and cavort around their enclosure, so there is always something to see here.
An architectural gem
Hagenbeck is not only known for its animal inhabitants, but also for its architectural features. One of the zoo’s landmarks is the imposing Elephant Gate at the main entrance. This art nouveau gate with its striking elephant and lion sculptures was built in 1907 and is now a listed building. The Elephant Gate is currently undergoing extensive restoration work to preserve it for future generations. During the restoration work, a historic bell was stolen in spring 2023, which fortunately was recovered a short time later.
Conclusion
Hagenbeck’s Zoo is a place to encounter the animal kingdom and a piece of Hamburg’s history. With its diverse attractions, species-appropriate animal husbandry and commitment to nature conservation, Hagenbeck is an experience for the whole family.
Contact / connection
- HVV U-Bahn: U2 Hagenbecks Tierpark
- Address:
- Hagenbeck
- Lokstedter Grenzstraße 2
- 22527 Hamburg
- Phone: +49 40 53 00 33-0
- Mail: info@hagenbeck.de
- Internet:
- Opening hours:
- Zoo: daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Tropical Aquarium: daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.