Every traveler has must-visit places in any city. For us, zoos are one of those places. Therefore, in St. Petersburg, the Leningrad Zoo was one of the first places we headed to.
Leningrad Zoo is one of the oldest in Russia. It opened in 1865 and has become an integral part of the city, blending into its historical layout. The zoo survived the severe blockade of 1941–1944: its staff managed to preserve some animals and even increase the number of some species. Despite the city's renaming to Saint Petersburg, the zoo has retained its historical name — Leningrad.
Despite its relatively modest size, it houses about 600 species of mammals, birds, and fish.
How to Get There
Leningrad Zoo is located in the historic part of the city — the Petrogradsky District, in close proximity to the Peter and Paul Fortress. The easiest way to get there is by metro to the Gorkovskaya station (blue line) or the Sportivnaya station (purple line). From there, it's a short walk. The main entrance is on Kronverksky Prospekt, and there is an additional entrance on Zoologicheskaya Street.
What to See
As in any zoo, Leningrad Zoo features a large number of animals: exotic ones (giraffes, lions, capybaras, primates, etc.) and those typical for Russia (wolves, foxes, squirrels, etc.). Some animals are moved to indoor enclosures for the winter period, so it can be less convenient to observe them. If you're lucky, you might see offspring: for example, lion cubs were born here at the end of 2017.
A distinctive feature of the zoo is the large number of various birds, as well as the Exotarium, which contains many aquariums with inhabitants of both freshwater and saltwater bodies. We haven't encountered such diversity in other zoos.
There are several cafes and canteens on the zoo grounds. Prices in them are quite high, so it's better to bring food with you or have a snack in cafes outside the zoo, of which there are plenty.
In summary:
- An excellent place for family recreation;
- Best visited during warm weather;
- Has interactive activities for children.
