FAQs

Due to our location within the Phoenix Park, Dublin Zoo has no customer car park. We encourage all visitors to plan their journey ahead of time, including where to park, and below is some advice for local options:

– A small number of disabled parking spaces are located outside the Dublin Zoo entrance and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
– Lord’s Walk car park: located a two-minute walk from Dublin Zoo with capacity for 260 cars, including disabled parking spaces.
– Cricket Grounds car park: located opposite Dublin Zoo with capacity for 120 cars.
– North Road: spaces are available along the length of this road, ranging from a 3 minute walk to a 15 minute walk to the Zoo entrance.
– There are also a number of car parks located in the city centre with nearby transport links to Dublin Zoo.  

For further information on parking within Phoenix Park, see the OPW’s website

Yes, Dublin Zoo only closes on Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day. Occasionally, due to circumstances outside our control (extreme weather, state visits to Phoenix Park) we may be forced to close for safety.

Opening hours vary by season. Open daily from 9.30am. Closing times and last entry depend on the month. The African Plains closes 30 minutes before the Zoo closes. Last entry is 1 hour before closing (see Opening Hours page for full schedule).

Dublin Zoo covers 28 hectares. Visitors typically need at least 3 hours to see all the animal habitats and longer if taking breaks, eating, or with young children. You are welcome to spend the whole day if you like!

No, once you enter, your time is not limited. You can stay until closing time.

Yes, day entry tickets can be purchased at the gate.

All event-based tickets (special events, Wild Lights, workshops) require pre-booking. Dublin Zoo no longer sells open tickets. If you want flexibility / a gift, you can purchase a gift card instead.

Tickets are date-specific: valid only for the chosen date. Dublin Zoo does not provide refunds or cancellations. Tickets are non-transferrable. See our ticket policy below.

Yes, children under 3 are free for day entry visits (you still need to add them on your booking, but no charge applies).

Yes, we have group ticket offers depending on your group type. Check out our group visits page for more information.

Yes, you can book a free carer ticket when purchasing an additional needs ticket both online and at the gate. For further information, see our ticket prices page. 

Day entry tickets are available to book one month in advance.

No, printing is not required. E-tickets (on any mobile device) are accepted for entry.

Sometimes the confirmation email may go to your spam/junk folder. If you still can’t find it, contact Dublin Zoo with your booking reference, date of booking, email used, and telephone number and we will be happy to help.

Yes, you can use a gift card to book a ticket. For example, if buying as a gift, a gift card is recommended (valid for 5 years from purchase).

You can contact us by phone on +353 (0)1 4748900

Or you can email us on [email protected]

No, tickets are non-transferrable. See our ticket policy below.

Yes there is! An Annual Pass at Dublin Zoo pays for itself in three visits and offers you UNLIMITED adventures at the Zoo for 12 months, as well as early-bird access to seasonal events at the Zoo and 15% off* in our gift shop.

Every Annual Pass funds our vital work with conservation partners in Ireland and around the world. Together, we are working to create a brighter future for wildlife.

Did you know that with your Dublin Zoo Annual Pass, you can also get FREE entry to Fota Wildlife Park.

Be sure to get a Dublin Zoo Annual Pass for all its amazing benefits! Great value for all the family!

As of October 2025, Tesco customers will no longer be able to exchange their Clubcard vouchers for Dublin Zoo day entry tickets.

If you currently have unused, and in date, Dublin Zoo reward codes then please rest assured that they will still be accepted for 6 months from the date of issue.

Please ensure that you use the unique booking link provided to you by Tesco when you traded in your Clubcard vouchers.

One4All gift cards can be used in-person to buy tickets at the entry gate, or in our zoovenir shop and restaurants. However One4All gift cards are not accepted for purchases online.

First off, thanks a million for supporting Dublin Zoo through our adoption programme, we really appreciate it!

Inside your adoption pack, you will find a six-digit code – once you have chosen your date and time to visit Dublin Zoo, there will be a promo area on the online checkout to input the code from your adoption pack. Once accepted, the value of your ticket will be removed from your total.

Most of Dublin Zoo is accessible for people with disabilities. We have 10 wheelchairs available at the front gate. See our accessibility page for full details.

We have 12 wheelchairs available which are cleaned and sanitised before each use. These wheelchairs are available on a first-come first-served basis. To reserve a wheelchair, please email [email protected] with your name and the date and time of your visit.

Mobility scooters are available to rent during your visit to Dublin Zoo. The cost is €25 and they can be collected from the Visitor Operations desk at the main entrance of Dublin Zoo. Mobility scooters are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Mobility scooters can only be hired by persons 18 years or older.

Please be advised the rental fee is non-refundable or exchangeable and mobility scooter rentals are subject to availability. The mobility scooter rental fee does not include entry to Dublin Zoo.

For more information please email [email protected] or call +353 (0)1 4748900.

For visitors who arrive with a guide dog, Dublin Zoo will provide temporary accommodation for the guide dog while their owner enjoys everything Dublin Zoo has to offer. Guide dogs will be kept in a comfortable space and will be provided with fresh drinking water.

Domestic pets pets are strictly forbidden from entry into Dublin Zoo.

Domestic pets are strictly forbidden from entry into Dublin Zoo.

As mentioned, for visitors who arrive with a guide dog, Dublin Zoo will provide temporary accommodation for the guide dog while their owner enjoys everything Dublin Zoo has to offer. Guide dogs will be kept in a comfortable space and will be provided with fresh drinking water.

Yes, there is a baby changing and feeding area by the Meerkat Restaurant.

Yes, Dublin Zoo has several food and beverage outlets offering hot & cold meals, snacks and more.

Yes, if you wish to bring a picnic there are lawns and picnic tables around the Zoo. Dublin Zoo also has a number of superb catering outlets that offer a range of delicious hot and cold meals and snacks. 

Please note that you cannot bring a barbecue with you to Dublin Zoo. 

Yes, we have Zoo gift shops on site.

Alternatively, you can visit our online Zootique to purchase your Dublin Zoo gifts and have them posted to you.

There are lockers available at the entrance. The lockers cost €5. Once you pay, you can operate the lockers via the key.

• Dublin Zoo’s catering partner, Baxter Storey, follows all food safety protocol and provides consumer information and advice on allergens in all restaurants.
• Further information on what dietary requirements are catered for are available on site in all restaurants.
• Although animals are usually fed at distance from the public, the produce we feed our animals may contain human allergens.
• As visitors are permitted to bring their own food produce on site providing an allergen-free environment is not possible.

No, balls and balloons can injure our animals. We ask that you keep these at home.

No, there is no alcohol permitted at Dublin Zoo.

Feeding the animals is NOT permitted. Giving them your food could make them sick.

Dublin Zoo is an outdoor attraction but we ask that visitors are considerate of others and only smoke/vape inside the designated smoking areas. You can find the locations of our smoking/vaping shelters on our map and there are also signposts throughout the zoo to point you in the right direction.