Zoo Aquarium de Madrid tickets: pandas and aquarium in Casa de Campo

History and standing of the Zoo Aquarium de Madrid

The park welcomed its first visitors in 1972 inside Casa de Campo, the former royal hunting estate that is now the largest public park in the city. Since 1997 it has been run by Parques Reunidos, the group that also operates Faunia and the neighbouring Parque de Atracciones.

Over the decades it grew in layers: the aquarium was added in 1995, the bird-of-prey displays arrived in 1997, a complex for South-East Asian primates followed in 2006 and the giant panda facilities opened in 2007. The result is a site where 1970s enclosures sit alongside far more recent pavilions.

Conservation work at the Zoo Aquarium de Madrid

The zoo takes part in European breeding programmes for threatened species. Those most often mentioned include the white rhinoceros, the giant anteater, the Asian elephant, the koala and the Bornean orang-utan, as well as the pandas themselves.

A recent change at the Zoo Aquarium: the former dolphinarium

In 2025 the dolphins were moved to another facility, following a recommendation from the species' European programme. The building remains, and the zoo has said it will be used for other educational and marine conservation activities, so exactly how it will be used in 2027 is still to be confirmed.

Giant pandas, the stars of the Zoo Aquarium de Madrid

The current chapter for pandas in Casa de Campo began in September 2007, when the Chinese government loaned a pair to the zoo. Several cubs were born under that partnership, and the zoo highlights six cubs in seventeen years, one of the best records in Europe.

Jin Xi and Zhu Yu, the Zoo Aquarium's current pair

On 29 April 2024 two young pandas landed in Madrid from the Chengdu base: the male Jin Xi, born on 1 September 2020, and the female Zhu Yu, born on 25 October of the same year. Their official presentation on 30 May 2024 was attended by Queen Sofía. As they are still young, the zoo itself explained that a few years would need to pass before any breeding could be expected.

The best time to see the pandas at the Zoo Aquarium

They spend much of the day eating bamboo or resting. The first hours after opening tend to be when they are most active, and the pavilion is also quieter then than around midday.

The aquarium and animal displays at the Zoo Aquarium de Madrid

The second half of the name is far from decorative. Opened in 1995, the aquarium brings together around 35 tanks holding more than two hundred species of fish, invertebrates and other marine creatures, spread across freshwater and saltwater habitats.

Educational displays at the Zoo Aquarium

• Sea lions: a demonstration of their skills in the water, with an explanation of their biology.
• Exotic birds: brightly coloured tropical species and the ways they have adapted.
• Birds of prey: one of the park's longest-running shows, held since 1997, with birds flying low over the audience.

Each display runs at set times that change with the season, so the first thing to do on arrival is check the day's programme.

More to do at the Zoo Aquarium de Madrid

A little train runs around the grounds, and there is a newly added lemur experience, a shop, a photo service and several places to eat. Summer and school-holiday camps are organised, and in autumn there is a Halloween programme.

Zoo Aquarium de Madrid tickets and prices

The general admission ticket covers every area open on the day and that day's displays. Special experiences, such as the lemur encounter, are booked separately.

Indicative prices, checked October 2026. The actual amount depends on the date and on any offers running, and buying online in advance usually beats the ticket-office price.

Combined ticket and annual pass for the Zoo Aquarium

There is a combined ticket with Faunia and the zoo's own annual pass, the Bono Zoollower, for anyone planning several visits. For a short stay, a standard single ticket is the most sensible choice.

Zoo Aquarium de Madrid opening hours and the best days to go

The zoo opens at 11:00 all year round. Closing time varies with the season and the day of the week: as a rough guide, during the darker months it closes at around 18:00 on weekdays and an hour later at weekends, while summer brings longer hours. Check the times for your date when you book.

When the Zoo Aquarium is quietest

• Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays outside the school holidays.
• The first two hours after opening, especially in the panda pavilion.
• Autumn afternoons, when temperatures are mild and there are fewer groups.

Weather in Casa de Campo

Much of the route is outdoors under the pines. In July and August the shade and the air-conditioned aquarium help, but a Madrid summer afternoon is fierce: water, a hat and sun cream are essential.

Getting to the Zoo Aquarium de Madrid

The site lies within Casa de Campo, with the postal address Casa de Campo s/n, 28011 Madrid, in the Moncloa-Aravaca district.

Bus 33 to the Zoo Aquarium gates

This is the easiest option. EMT line 33 links the Príncipe Pío interchange, close to the centre, with Casa de Campo metro station, and stops right in front of the zoo entrance.

Casa de Campo metro, lines 5 and 10

Casa de Campo station, served by lines 5 and 10, is around 900 metres from the entrance. It is a short walk, although in summer many families prefer to change onto the bus.

Driving to the Zoo Aquarium

Take the Extremadura road (A-5) at exit 5A, reached from the M-30. The zoo itself encourages visitors to use public transport rather than hunt for parking on busy days.

A day at the Zoo Aquarium de Madrid, step by step

Four to five hours let you see everything at a relaxed pace and catch two or three displays. With young children, a day running from opening time to mid-afternoon works best.

1. Head straight to the pandas when the gates open, while they are at their liveliest.
2. Check the programme and build your morning around the birds of prey or the sea lions.
3. Spend the hottest hours inside the aquarium.
4. Finish with the large mammals, and hop on the little train if the children are flagging.

Practical tips for the Zoo Aquarium

• Please do not feed the animals or tap on the glass of the tanks.
• If you are bringing a pushchair or using a wheelchair, ask at the official ticket office for the most comfortable route.
• Keep your ticket on your phone with the screen brightness turned up to get through the gate faster.

What else to do near the Zoo Aquarium de Madrid

Casa de Campo has enough to fill the rest of the day. The Parque de Atracciones sits in the same green expanse, next to Batán station, and the lake with its promenade is a pleasant spot for an afternoon snack. The cable car also leaves from the park, crossing over to Paseo del Pintor Rosales with views across the city.

Fitting the Zoo Aquarium into a west Madrid itinerary

From Príncipe Pío you can walk up to the Royal Palace and the Sabatini Gardens, pairing a morning of monuments with an afternoon among the animals. On another day, Faunia takes a different, ecosystem-based approach, and Parque Warner covers the theme-park option on the outskirts.

Madrid with children in 2027

The San Isidro festivities in mid-May, and spring in general, are a lovely time for Casa de Campo. The school-holiday weeks bring more visitors to every park.

Zoo Aquarium de Madrid availability in our calendar

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