Ultimate Travel Guide to Rome, Italy - Family Friendly Activities

For many years, the zoo improved and expanded, with successful attempts to plant various exclusive plants on its territory and to populate the zoo with rare and exotic animals. The Rome Zoo was transformed into a Biopark at the end of the 1990s and became known as Bioparco di Roma.

The Biopark Zoo Rome

Currently, the Roman Biopark is an immense 17-hectare zoo located on the grounds of Villa Borghese. It is arguably one of the most enchanting places in the Eternal City.

The Rome Biopark boasts a rich and significant botanical collection of plants and houses approximately two hundred species of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians from five continents of the Earth.

All the animals and birds are placed in the Rome Zoo in family groups, each in a specially designed and equipped area.

The tiger area covers 1,000 square meters among chestnut trunks and bamboo. Here lives the Sumatran tiger, an endangered species.

The Giraffe House, created in 1926, occupies an area of 1,700 square meters. Visitors can watch the giraffes from specially installed platforms.

The "Lake Oasis" has a total area of 1,200 square meters. Next to an artificially created lake is a picnic area, a children's playground, an amphitheater, an ark (ship), slides, swings, and ropes. The "Teatro del Pinguino" is used for small shows, entertainment, educational events, exhibitions, and theater performances. White swans and ducks swim on the lake, and pink flamingos stroll majestically along the shore.

Habitats include areas for the smallest monkeys in the world, the lemur territory, the Asian lion playground, the so-called chimpanzee village, a vast space for reptiles, and territories for hippopotamuses, camels, zebras, elephants, and bears, among others. (For a more detailed description, see the official Biopark website).

At the entrance to the zoo is the "Il Caffè del Parco" cafe, and in the predator zone, the Mascagni restaurant. Additionally, on the grounds of the Rome zoo, there are several "area ristoro" restaurants, restrooms, and two picnic areas. In the biopark shop, you can buy souvenirs, books, gadgets, and stuffed animals. For children, there is an express train (a ticket costs 1.50 euros).

To visit the Biopark in Rome, you should allocate an entire day. The zoo is quite large, and 1-2 hours will not be enough to go through all its pavilions and corners and see all the animals and birds!

The Rome Zoo is accessible to everyone. There are no obstacles for people with disabilities; you can easily navigate the biopark in a wheelchair. For visually impaired visitors, there is a circular route around the perimeter of the Oasis, where you can listen to sounds using special devices, such as the singing of birds living in the park. Interested visitors can join sensory tour groups and interactive seminars.

When visiting the Rome zoo, the following are prohibited:

Feeding the animals or throwing any objects into the enclosures.
Entering the grounds with balloons, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, or shoes with wheels.
Bringing animals (except guide dogs).

There are no storage facilities at the zoo (it's best not to bring heavy or large items during your visit).

Sixty minutes before the park closes, the sections housing felines (lions, tigers, etc.), chimpanzees, giraffes, elephants, and reptiles are closed.

Approximately an hour before closing, an announcement in Italian and English is made over the speaker system, notifying visitors of the closing of the Rome zoo. Be mindful and hurry towards the exit; otherwise, all gates will be closed, and it will be impossible to climb over the fence as there are sharp metal spikes at the top of the wrought iron fence.

How to Get to the Rome Zoo

As mentioned above, the Rome zoo is located in Villa Borghese park, which is very large. However, finding your way to the zoo will be easy if you follow the signs at every intersection in the park streets marked "Bioparco." On the Pincian Hill, near the observation deck, there is a map of Borghese Park, which also shows the Rome Biopark.

How to Get to Villa Borghese Park, Where the Rome Zoo is Located

From the Spagna Metro Station:

Exit the metro and go through the passageway where signs indicate "Villa Borghese," then take the escalator and follow the signs.

From Piazza di Spagna:

You can also reach Villa Borghese by climbing the Spanish Steps to the Church of the Holy Trinity at Piazza della Trinità dei Monti. Then turn left and walk towards the park for about five minutes.

At the end of the street, you will see a small observation deck and a monument, which is a landmark for the park opposite Villa Borghese. Next, enter the park and walk through it towards the north side to reach the zoo.

From Piazza del Popolo to Villa Borghese Park:

Climb the stairs to Pincian Hill, then follow the park streets to the opposite end, towards the north side of Villa Borghese park.

Ticket Prices for Entry to the Rome Biopark:

1 adult ticket – 18 euros
1 child ticket: up to 12 years old and children taller than 1 meter – 14 euros, shorter than 1 meter – free
For seniors (over 65 years) – 14 euros

Tickets can be purchased directly at the zoo ticket offices, from Tiqets.com, and from the official biopark website – bioparco.it.

(Tickets purchased online are valid for 60 days from the date of purchase, but no discounts are available for these tickets).

Ticket Discounts

These can only be obtained at the ticket office of the Rome Zoo:

A 3.00 EUR discount for adults and children upon presenting a boarding pass for an Alitalia flight.
A 3.00 EUR discount for adults and children upon presenting a ticket for a visit to Casa Raphael.
Upon presenting an Ikea card, a 3.00 EUR discount is offered for the cardholder and family members (up to 5 people, including the cardholder).
Roma Pass – a 2.00 EUR discount for the cardholder.
Student card – entrance fee for students is 6.50 EUR (for higher education students).
For those arriving in Rome on Freccia high-speed trains, a 4.00 EUR ticket discount is given on the day of arrival and the next day at the latest.