Lisbon Zoo (Jardim Zoológico)
Lisbon Zoo (Jardim Zoológico) is the largest zoological gardens in Portugal located in the Sete Rios district of Lisbon.
The zoo is a fun day out for the kids and is set in a pleasant environment. There's an aquarium and children's farm as well as an enjoyable ride on a cable car to enjoy the animals from above.
Conservation, research and breeding programs are central to the zoo's mission.
History
Lisbon Zoo was founded in 1884 and was the first zoological garden with both fauna and flora on the Iberian Peninsula. First located in Parque São Sebastião da Pedreira, the zoo has moved several times before settling at its present location at Quinta das Laranjeiras in Sete Rios in 1905.
Some of the first animals at the zoo were donated from the menagerie of the Portuguese royal family.
Animals
The zoo holds a variety of animals from all over the world. Larger mammals from Africa include elephants, giraffes, gorillas, hippos, lions and rhinos. There are also antelopes, bears, cheetahs, crocodiles, iguanas, a pair of Iberian lynx, meerkats, okapis, various primates, snakes, Sumatran tigers and zebras.
The aquarium and Bottlenose dolphin pool is in the southern part of the zoo near to the entrance. The dolphins are from the Sado Estuary near to the Tróia Peninsula.
Altogether Lisbon Zoo holds over 2,000 animals from around 300 species including amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles.
Access - Getting There
Lisbon Zoo
Praça Marechal Humberto Delgado
1549-004 Lisboa
Tel: 217 232 900
www: zoo.pt
The zoo is open 365 days a year; in summer (21 March to 20 September) hours are from 10 am to 8 pm; in winter (21 September to 20 March) from 10 am to 6 pm.
Reductions with the Lisboa Card.
The nearest station on the Lisbon metro to the Lisbon Zoo is Jardim Zoológico on the Linha Azul (Blue Line).
By Lisbon bus take one of the following buses 701, 716, 726, 731, 746, 754, 755, 758, 768, or 770.
The nearest rail station is Sete Rios on both the Sintra Line and the Fertagus Line to Setúbal.
The Terminal Rodoviário de Sete Rios with intercity buses to many places in Portugal is also nearby.
For a 90-minute full relaxation massage nearby visit Tamen Beauty on Estrada de Benfica.
