The 10 Best Zoos & Aquariums in Ireland, Ireland

We are a small animal facility, just a short drive from Newcastle West in Coolyroe open for general admission visits and private interactive animal experiences. All visits must currently be prebooked through our website www.wildencounters.ie

One of the world's oldest zoos, Dublin Zoo is also modern in design and houses more than 600 animals. It has been redesigned in recent years to be a safe environment for people and the animals with gardens, lakes and natural habitats.

A large aquarium filled with countless species of marine life.

Ireland's Wildest Attraction. Fota Wildlife Park is set on 100 acres on the scenic Fota Island in the heart of Cork Harbour. It is a unique place where you can come face to face with free roaming animals and birds from all parts of the world. So if it’s a kangaroo that hops in front of you, or a ring-tailed lemur, which jumps down from a tree, each visit is sure to bring its own fantastic memories. Fota Wildlife Park features the recently opened Asian Sanctuary—with Asian Lions, Sumatran Tigers, and Indian Rhino. The cheetah run, tropical house and giraffe crossing are also must-sees. The development of the Asian Sanctuary over the past five years has enhanced the Park as an iconic international visitor attraction as well as serving the core values of conservation, education, and research. Facilities include cafés, several play areas, picnic areas and a gift shop. Accessible by train and car.

The Achill Experience contains an Aquarium, an exhibition on Island life, a Replica deserted village boley house complete with artifacts of the era, an art exhibition and a History Room as well as an audio visual room showing documentaries covering historical information from Achills past. It is a great all weather facility, ideal for people of all ages, families and school groups. There is also a stand alone Gift Shop.

Open seasonally, Tropical World at Alcorn’s, Letterkenny, has best be described by patrons as both “Donegal’s hidden gem” and the “one must see attraction to visit in Donegal”. Tropical World is a fully licensed zoo with an astonishing array of animals, from a dazzling display of butterflies to the world’s smallest monkeys alike. The incredible butterfly house is still the star attraction, with hundreds of amazing tropical butterflies in free-flight around you as you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the rainforest. Leave Letterkenny’s own slice of the Amazon and you’re greeted by the sounds from the tree topped canopies, with beautiful birds of all shapes and sizes from around the globe calling you on. Only after you reach the reptile house can you begin to meet the lemurs and miniature primates that call Tropical World home, along with owls,prairie dogs, our family of Meerkats.

Belfast Zoo is located in north Belfast. The zoo's 55 acre site is home to more than 1,000 animals and 150 species. The majority of our animals are in danger in their natural habitat. The zoo also carries out important conservation work and takes part in European and international breeding programmes which help to ensure the survival of many species under threat. Belfast Zoo is one of the top fee-paying visitor attraction in Northern Ireland, receiving more than 300,000 visitors a year.

Galway Atlantaquaria, National Aquarium of Ireland seeks to present a comprehensive view of the world of water through clear and interesting displays, informed helpful staff and exciting live presentations and animal interaction sessions.This is achieved through accurately displaying aquatic life in a manner that reflects their natural habitats, providing an enjoyable and educational environment to learn about the diverse marine ecosystem of Ireland.As Ireland's largest aquarium we strive to ensure that a visit to the aquarium is original and full of wonder for visitors of all ages.