Alpenzoo, the animals of the Alps

What it is

The Alpenzoo is the zoo of the animals of the Alps. It covers a little over five hectares on the slope of the Nordkette, at 750 m, above Innsbruck's old town, and brings together about 2,000 animals of about 150 species. There are no lions or elephants: everything you see lives, or used to live, in the Alps. It has about 20 of the 80 Alpine mammal species, 60 of the nearly 200 birds, 11 of the 15 reptiles, 6 of the 21 amphibians and almost all the fish of the region, in aquariums.

As well as exhibiting, it breeds endangered species: it has programmes for the citril finch and the northern birch mouse, and takes in injured or orphaned wild birds.

What the visit is like

The zoo is on a slope. Most of the paths are paved, but there are steep stretches and some steps. Allow two to three hours to see it all without rushing. The aquariums are the covered part if it rains. There is a playground and the Animahl Bistro, with simple dishes and drinks, about 70 covered seats and 80 outside.

On the zoo's website you can download the PDF map and check the public themed tours, which cost €5 on top of admission.

Opening hours

It is open every day of the year, including Sundays and public holidays:

• Summer (April to October): from 9 to 18.
• Winter (November to March): from 9 to 17.

The change coincides with the clock change.

Tickets

Individual prices:

• Adults: €16.
• Students and pensioners, with card: €13.
• Children aged 6 to 17: €9.
• Children aged 4 to 5: €4.

In the last hour before closing there is a reduced ticket: €9.60 for adults and €5.40 for children. With the Innsbruck Card admission is free. The season ticket costs €70 for adults.

Getting there

• By funicular. The Hungerburgbahn, which leaves from the Altstadt station, next to the Congress, has its own stop, Alpenzoo. At the Altstadt station ticket office they sell the combined funicular and zoo ticket: €26 adults and €16 children, according to the Nordkette fare in force from 20 November 2026. If you also want to go up the mountain, the Top of Innsbruck Plus ZOO ticket, with the Hafelekar, costs €64.
• By bus. Line W runs direct from the market square (Marktplatz) to the zoo.
• On foot. About 20 minutes from the old town, uphill.
• By car. Pay parking from 9 to 19: €0.50 per half hour for the first three hours and €1 for each following half hour. On some weekends and public holidays it fills up.

It combines well with the Nordkette: go up the mountain and stop at the zoo on the way down. The Hungerburgbahn station is five minutes from the old town.

With children, a pushchair or a wheelchair

It is a visit designed for families with small children. The lower area has wide paths and can be done easily in a wheelchair or with a pushchair; some paths in the upper area are steep and need assistance. There are accessible toilets. The zoo organises visits for people with disabilities, the Bärenmobil ones: they are booked at least a month ahead, from May to October, on +43 512 292323.

Dogs are not admitted, except assistance dogs registered at the ticket office with their vaccination record.