Bern Animal Park, Dählhölzli
With its 200 different animal species, Bern Animal Park, Dählhölzli – nestled in the Dählhölzli forest and right by the Aare river – is an experience for both young and old. The Animal Park is open 365 days a year, and about half of the site can be visited freely. Leopards, musk oxen, eagle owls, wolves, gophers, monkeys and many other animals invite visitors to observe and discover.
At Bern Animal Park, Dählhölzli, visitors have the opportunity to witness the seals digging into their food and puffins hunting for fish in their mysterious “underwater flight”.
Discovering makes us thirsty and hungry. For visitors who feel like relaxing and having a cup of coffee while the children run around on the playground, there are several options at Bern Animal Park, Dählhölzli: The Eulen Bistro (Owl Bistro) offers small, regional snacks. You can, for example, buy a sausage and roast it over the fire yourself, and then eat it accompanied by a tasty salad.
On the banks of the Aare river sits the Restaurant Dählhölzli. The varied and diverse menu, the beer garden and the soothing sounds coming from the river will make you want to stay forever.
Visiting the children’s zoo is a must for kids. Petting the pygmy goats, minipigs and pygmy donkeys is something that all animal lovers, no matter the age, enjoy doing. There’s also carriage rides (Friday afternoon) and face painting for kids – visiting Bern Animal Park, Dählhölzli + BearPark is an adventure for the entire family.
Exploring the zoo at night? An individual tour? Or a workshop in animal photography? There are always exciting events at Bern Animal Park, Dählhölzli + BearPark.
You can see all the events here.
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Opening Hours
You can find the current opening hours of the Animal Park here.
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Admission
Information on ticket prices can be found here.
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Getting There
Public transport Bus no. 19 from Bern’s main station in the direction of “Elfenau” all the way to “Tierpark”, then it’s a short stroll through the forest Car Highway exit “Ostring” (there is a limited amount of parking spaces)
Discover the Dählhölzli forest from above
Bern Animal Park, BearPark
The home of the Bernese bears is the city’s Bern Animal Park, BearPark. Since 2009, the bears have been in the park on the banks of the Aare river, an exclusive location with a view of Bern’s Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A small forest, bushes, caves and a large pool next to the river make sure that the bears are comfortable and happy. A landscape has been created in which they can climb, fish, and play, but also retreat. The compound measures about 5,000 square metres and covers the area from the former Bear Pit all the way down to the Aare river.
In December of 2009, bear “Björk” gave birth to two cubs in one of the hibernation caves. Daughter “Ursina” still lives at Bern Animal Park, BearPark with her parents, her sister “Berna” has found a new home in Bulgaria.
Bern Animal Park, Dählhölzli + BearPark is suitable for visitors in wheelchairs. There’s been a wheelchair-friendly panorama elevator at Bern Animal Park, BearPark since 2015. It can be used for free and connects the banks of the river with the upper part of the park. Floating through Bern Animal Park, BearPark on the lift is a unique experience!
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Information
Open round the clock, 365 days a year
Admission free Getting there Public transport: Bus no. 12 from Bern’s main station in the direction of “Zentrum Paul Klee”, getting off at “BärenPark”
Car: highway exit “Wankdorf”Guided tours: +41 (0)31 357 15 25
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Getting There
Public transport Bus no. 19 from Bern’s main station in the direction of “Elfenau” all the way to “Tierpark”, then it’s a short stroll through the forest Car Highway exit “Ostring” (there is a limited amount of parking spaces)
