Olomouc Zoo at Svatý Kopeček

Olomouc Zoo on Svatý Kopeček is one of the most popular day-trip destinations in the Olomouc region. The zoo covers an area of 42.5 hectares in hilly and wooded terrain on the edge of the Nízký Jeseník range and is home to around 400 species of animals, ranging from giraffes and wolves to sharks in the marine aquarium.

You can make the OREA Hotel Arigone in Olomouc your base for the trip. Before you set off, don’t forget to pack a snack at breakfast. At OREA, you can put together your own snack to suit your taste and pack it into the bags provided.

What can you see at Olomouc Zoo?

The idea of establishing a zoo in Olomouc first emerged in the early 1950s. The Regional National Committee decided to set it up on 31 March 1952 on the grounds of the former Hradišťské Monastery estate on Svatý Kopeček, and the zoo opened to the public on 3 June 1956. The total area of the site has remained virtually unchanged since the beginning and still covers 42.5 hectares; the rugged, hilly terrain continues to allow for the construction of enclosures that resemble the animals’ natural habitats.

One of the most interesting exhibits is the shared enclosure for black bears and Hudson’s wolves, covering an area of roughly one hectare, which opened in June 2010. At the time of its creation, this was a unique solution in the Czech Republic. The two species of carnivores can even encounter one another in part of the enclosure; the wolves also have two separate enclosures at their disposal, complete with artificial dens for rearing their cubs. You can observe the activity in the enclosures from a wooden viewing platform and a footbridge that runs around them.

The tradition of keeping fish and cartilaginous fish at Olomouc Zoo dates back to 1962, when the first aquarium was established in the monkey pavilion. From the second half of the 1990s, the zoo began to focus on marine aquariums and, in 1999, welcomed its first blacktip reef sharks – an endangered species living in the shallow lagoons around coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. In 2003, the largest marine tank, with a capacity of over 40,000 litres, was added. The zoo is currently building a new educational centre, Loděnka, which is set to feature the largest deep-water shark tank in the Czech Republic.

Among the zoo’s rare animals is the Rothschild’s giraffe, a giraffe subspecies which the zoo classifies as a vulnerable species. Olomouc Zoo has been breeding Rothschild’s giraffes since 1976 and is one of Europe’s most successful breeders of this subspecies. According to a zoo report from August 2026, the zoo had already welcomed its 76th calf by that time, whilst, according to the data cited, only around 1,650 individuals survive in the wild.

Right in the zoo’s woodland area, you’ll find the Lanáček rope park, designed for children aged three and over as well as adults. A rope course awaits you, featuring obstacles, a slide and the popular rope cableway, all secured by safety nets at all times. Lanáček is run by an independent company and its operation depends on the current weather conditions; we therefore recommend checking the opening hours on the operator’s social media before your visit.

As well as the rope centre, there are several children’s play areas scattered around the grounds, featuring wooden climbing frames, slides and swings. You’ll find them, for example, near the zoo entrance, by the bear enclosure or near the Pod Věží restaurant.

Children will also enjoy the pygmy goat petting area, where they can feed the goats and give them a scratch with a brush.

A unique feature of the zoo is the observation tower with a metal structure on a triangular ground plan, designed by architect Jan Navrátil. Construction began in 1972, and the first visitors were able to enjoy the view from the tower just two years later. The tower is 32 metres high; 128 steps lead up to the upper viewing platform at a height of 29.3 metres, offering views of Olomouc, the Baroque Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary and, on a clear day, the Jeseníky Mountains with Mount Praděd. The tower is open from March to October; it remains closed out of season, and even during the season the zoo may close it in the event of adverse weather conditions for safety reasons.

Those with an interest in science will appreciate the geological trail, which the zoo constructed between 2016 and 2022. Along the route from the zoo entrance to the Siberian ibex enclosure, there are thirteen stops featuring rock samples that you can examine up close and touch. A short geology quiz awaits you at the final stop.

You can also take a leisurely ride on the safari train, which, in the Safari America section, passes right through the Hudson wolf enclosure. According to the zoo, this is the only wolf safari in the Czech Republic, having opened in June 2020. You can board at the Safari Africa stop, beneath the giraffe pavilion; the journey takes around 25 minutes and you cannot get off the train along the way. The train runs from April to October, depending on the month and the weather, and daily in July and August. Tickets for passengers aged two and over can be purchased from the ticket machine at the stop.

How do you get to Olomouc Zoo?

Svatý Kopeček is situated about 10 kilometres from the centre of Olomouc on the edge of the Nízký Jeseník range, in the direction of Šternberk. If you’re setting off from the OREA Hotel Arigone, follow the signposted access routes by car directly to the car parks at the zoo.

By public transport from the centre of Olomouc, take bus number 11 from the main railway station; it runs every 10 to 15 minutes. The journey takes around 20 minutes; from the ‘Svatý Kopeček, ZOO’ stop, it’s a 5- to 10-minute walk to the zoo entrance.

What to bring and when to go?

The zoo is open daily all year round, although some attractions are only open seasonally. The observation tower is open from March to October, the safari train runs from April to October, and the Lanáček cable car operates subject to current weather conditions.