Tiergarten Schönbrunn, also known as Vienna Zoo (Austria), home to giant pandas, is the world's oldest operating zoo. It was founded in 1752 within the Schönbrunn Palace complex. Originally reserved for the Habsburg imperial family, the zoo opened to the public in 1779 and has since become a European benchmark for zoological conservation and environmental education.
Austria, Tiergarten Schönbrunn: history and giant pandas
In the 1990s, Austria expressed interest in hosting giant pandas, and after intense diplomatic contacts with China, Yang Yang (female) and Long Hui (male) arrived in 2003, loaned by China as part of an international conservation project. The pair gave birth to five cubs, including Fu Long, Fu Hu, and Fu Bao, who helped raise public awareness.
Sadly, Long Hui died in 2016, and a new male, Yuan Yuan, was introduced in 2019. In September 2024, Yang Yang and Yuan Yuan returned to China, but in 2025, Vienna welcomed a new pair: Lan Yun (female) and He Feng (male), who live in a recently renovated enclosure designed for their well-being and observation by visitors.
- Yang Yang (female) e Long Hui (male)They arrived at the zoo in 2003 after years of negotiations between Austria and China. They were the first pair of giant pandas to be hosted at Schönbrunn Zoo and have given birth to five cubs, much loved by the public.
- Among their most famous puppies are Fu Long, Fu Hu e Fu Bao.
- In 2016, Long Hui died, leaving Yang Yang alone in the zoo.
- A new male was introduced in 2019, Yuan Yuan, who shared space with Yang Yang until their return to China in September 2024.
- In 2025, Vienna welcomed a new pair of giant pandas: Lan Yun (female) e He Feng (male), transferred to a specially renovated enclosure to ensure their well-being and offer visitors an optimal observation experience.
These pandas are an important symbol of the collaboration between Austria and China for the conservation of the species, a central attraction in the Tiergarten Schönbrunn and one of the main reasons for the zoo's great success.
Opening hours
Vienna Zoo is open every day of the year, with opening hours varying according to the season:
- January: 9:00 – 16:30
- February: 9:00 – 17:00
- March: 9:00 – 17:30
- April to September: 9:00 – 18:30
- October (until the time change): 9:00 – 17:30
- November and December: 9:00 – 16:30
Admission is permitted until half an hour before closing time. For more information, visit the official website. Vienna Zoo.
Ticket prices
- Adults: approximately €29
- Children (6-18 years): approximately €17
- Children under 6: free entry
- Family tickets, annual passes, and combination offers with guided tours or other Viennese attractions are also available.
How to get to Schönbrunn Zoo
The zoo is located within the Schönbrunn Palace park and is easily accessible by public transport:
- U4 subway: Hietzing stop
- Tram: lines 10, 58, 60; Schloss Schönbrunn stop
- Bus: line 56A, Schloss Schönbrunn stop
- Parking is available for those arriving by car, with disabled parking and electric vehicle charging points.
Experience with giant pandas in Schönbrunn
Visiting the pandas is one of the zoo's most popular experiences, thanks in part to recent renovations to their enclosure, focusing on their well-being and natural representation. The decades-long history of pandas at Schönbrunn, including the successful birth of cubs and international collaboration with China, confirms the zoo's central role in global conservation of the species.