About Craiova Zoo
At a glance: Zoos and aquariums in Craiova, Dolj County. Ticket: Free. The visit takes 1 – 1½ hours. Information verified on 10 October 2026.
Craiova Zoo began in 1906, in the park laid out a few years earlier on the site of the former Bibescu garden, as a simple zoological point: a few enclosures around the Forester's House, with local fauna, foxes, badgers and roe deer. In the 1960s lions, monkeys and ostriches arrived, and after 1989 llamas, jaguars and African ostriches. Today's operator is ECO URBIS Craiova, the municipal company that also looks after the park.
Unlike zoos in many other cities, admission here is free, according to the operator. The enclosures line the paths between old trees, and the oldest residents, the bear, one of the lions and the tiger, are among the stars. It is a place on the scale of the city: more a short walk among animals, within the park, than a day trip.
What you can see
The official list counts 37 species: carnivores (lion, tiger), herbivores (mouflon, llama, nutria), omnivores (brown bear, brown capuchin, coati) and birds (swan, white stork, peafowl, African and emu ostriches). The collection changes: in early 2026 several animals, including fallow deer, raccoon, llamas, rabbits, emus and farmyard birds, were handed over to the zoo in Călărași, and the operator announced that the large and rare species will stay.
Good to know
For 2026 the operator announced a reorganisation of the enclosures, done in-house, in stages, with no public deadline; check the official page for what is on show on the day of your visit. I found no official opening hours for the zoo. Separately, in the Hippodrome area of the park, Valea Ciutelor (opened in December 2025) is a ticketed area where you can feed deer, alpacas and pygmy goats.
- The lions and tigers, among the oldest animals in the zoo.
- The brown bear, one of the animals that have lived here longest.
- Free admission, rare among the country's zoos.
- A walk through Nicolae Romanescu Park, with its lake, suspension bridge and rotunda.
- Valea Ciutelor, at the Hippodrome, where you feed deer and alpacas (ticketed).
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the zoo is in Nicolae Romanescu Park, in the south-west of Craiova, a few kilometres from the centre.
Public transport: I found no confirmed line to the entrance; look up the route in Craiova's local transport app.
- Fees & discounts
Admission to the zoo is free, according to the operator. Valea Ciutelor, in the Hippodrome area, is ticketed: 30 lei adults and 10 lei children (from age 3; under-12s must be accompanied by an adult; free for children with autism spectrum disorder, with medical documents). Pony rides for children aged 3 to 12, at the Hippodrome: 50 lei for 30 minutes or 25 lei for 15 minutes.
- Rules
Do not feed the animals food brought from home and do not throw anything into the enclosures. Do not frighten them and do not enter fenced-off areas. Children stay under adult supervision. Follow the signs at each enclosure.
- Facilities
no information on toilets or wheelchair access
Frequently asked questions about Craiova Zoo
- How much is a ticket to Craiova Zoo?
- Admission to Craiova Zoo is free. Admission to the zoo is free, according to the operator. Valea Ciutelor, in the Hippodrome area, is ticketed: 30 lei adults and 10 lei children (from age 3; under-12s must be accompanied by an adult; free for children with autism spectrum disorder, with medical documents). Pony rides for children aged 3 to 12, at the Hippodrome: 50 lei for 30 minutes or 25 lei for 15 minutes.
- How long does a visit to Craiova Zoo take?
- A visit to Craiova Zoo takes about 1 – 1½ hours (an estimate; a short walk).
- Can you visit Craiova Zoo with kids?
- Yes, Craiova Zoo is suitable for children (animals, ponies at the Hippodrome).
- How do I get to Craiova Zoo?
- Craiova Zoo is located at Parcul Nicolae Romanescu, Aleea Grădinii Zoologice, Craiova, Dolj County. By car: the zoo is in Nicolae Romanescu Park, in the south-west of Craiova, a few kilometres from the centre. Public transport: I found no confirmed line to the entrance; look up the route in Craiova's local transport app.
- When is the best time to visit Craiova Zoo?
- The best season for Craiova Zoo: April – October (more pleasant in warm weather).
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