Tallinn Zoo

Why go

The zoo offers a different kind of Tallinn day: a large site where animal habitats, indoor spaces and the children's zoo can shape the pace. Its beginnings also have a memorable local connection. A lynx brought home by an Estonian shooting team became the first animal in the collection.

What to look for

• The rainforest adds an indoor contrast to the outdoor habitats.
• The Children's Zoo provides a distinct stop within the grounds.

The full story

Tallinn Zoo began with an unusual gift. After Estonian marksmen won a world title in Helsinki in 1937, they returned with a young lynx named Illu. The lynx became the zoo's first animal when it opened in 1939, and later its emblem. The institution first occupied a site beside Kadriorg Park. Plans to develop it were interrupted after Estonia's occupation in 1940, and the zoo eventually moved to Veskimetsa in 1983. That move helps explain why a visit here feels different from a compact city museum: the grounds support a mix of outdoor habitats and indoor spaces. The current visitor areas include a rainforest and a children's zoo. Think of those as different parts of one visit rather than assuming every animal is housed in the same kind of setting.

Useful to know

• Check the current timetable for indoor exhibits before deciding how to order your visit.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.