Duration
4 hours
Best Time
Any time
Price
€€€
Walking
Minimal walking
About Zoo Aquarium de Madrid
Zoo Aquarium de Madrid sprawls across 50 acres of Casa de Campo parkland with over 1,300 animals from 500 species, plus a legitimate aquarium section featuring a walk-through shark tunnel and daily dolphin shows. You'll find everything from Iberian lynx to Asian elephants, with the aquarium's 2 million liters of water housing rays, tropical fish, and those impressive sharks swimming overhead. The dolphin presentations happen three times daily and genuinely showcase the animals' intelligence rather than just tricks.
The layout feels more like exploring a wooded park than walking through concrete enclosures. Shaded pathways wind between spacious habitats, and the forest canopy provides relief during Madrid's brutal summers. The shark tunnel creates an authentic underwater atmosphere, while the dolphin stadium fills up fast for each 20-minute show. You'll spend considerable time walking between sections, especially getting from the main zoo area to the aquarium complex.
Honest truth: this isn't Europe's most modern zoo, and some enclosures show their age. Adult admission costs €25.90, children €20.50, but online booking saves you about €3 each. Skip the overpriced café food and bring snacks. The cable car combo ticket (€32 adults) makes arrival fun but isn't essential. Focus your energy on the aquarium section and dolphin show, then choose 2-3 animal areas rather than attempting everything.
Insider Tips
Enter through the main Casa de Campo entrance and head straight to the dolphin stadium to check show times, then plan your route backward from there
Most families exhaust themselves trying to see everything: the zoo covers 50 acres and you'll walk over 3 miles if you hit every section
The shark tunnel is best experienced mid-afternoon when natural light filters through the water creating the most dramatic effect
Getting There
Address
Casa de Campo, S/N, Moncloa - Aravaca, 28011 Madrid, Spain
Neighborhood
La LatinaNearest Metro
Skip the queue: Book tickets online to avoid the ticket line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan for about 4 hours.
Zoo Aquarium de Madrid is in the La Latina neighborhood of Madrid. The address is Casa de Campo, S/N, Moncloa - Aravaca, 28011 Madrid, Spain. The area is well-served by metro.
This works well at any time of day, though mornings tend to be quieter. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends.
Comfortable shoes are recommended. Parts are outdoors, so bring a light layer.
