Hellabrunn Zoo

Hellabrunn Zoo sits on the southern bank of the Isar in Munich's Thalkirchen district and opened in 1911 as one of the world's first geo-zoos — grouping animals by geographic origin in open enclosures rather than by taxonomic class. The Jugendstil elephant gate at the entrance remains one of Germany's most recognizable zoo landmarks. Heavily damaged during World War II, the park was gradually rebuilt and today houses more than 19,000 animals across 750 species. The expansive grounds, shaded by mature trees and bordered by Isar hillsides, function as a proper urban nature reserve: a beer garden, several petting areas, and dedicated children's play zones make it equally attractive to families and to visitors simply looking for a long walk through greenery.

World's first geozoo (1928): 760 species arranged by habitat instead of cage row, set in the Isar floodplain forest.