Schönbrunn Zoo

Schönbrunn Zoo occupies the grounds of the imperial Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, making it one of the most architecturally distinguished zoological gardens in the world. Founded in 1752 under Emperor Francis I of Lorraine as a private menagerie for the Habsburg court, it opened to the public in 1779 and holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating zoo on earth. The original Baroque pavilions, including the central imperial breakfast pavilion, still stand among the animal enclosures, giving the site a character that no purpose-built zoo can replicate.

Today the zoo is home to more than 700 species, from giant pandas to Siberian tigers, spread across landscaped grounds that adjoin the UNESCO World Heritage palace gardens. The Desert House, a striking glass pavilion, recreates arid ecosystems from the Sahara to the Sonoran Desert and can be visited with a dedicated skip-the-line ticket. Standard skip-the-line entry is also available, allowing visitors to move directly into the zoo without queuing at the main gate.