About Târgu Mureș Zoo
At a glance: Zoos and aquariums in Târgu Mureș, Mureș County. Opening hours: daily 09:00 – 18:00. Ticket: 40 lei. The visit takes 2 – 2½ hours. Information verified on 10 October 2026.
Târgu Mureș Zoo opened on 23 August 1964 on the Cornești Plateau, in a forest in the east of the city. Its founder was László Rend, around whom a group of volunteers and specialists gathered. At the start it had 10 animals: three wolves, two bears, two wild boars, two pheasants and a roe deer. A year later the area had grown to 20 hectares, and today, according to the official website, the zoo covers 42 hectares and presents itself as the largest in Romania by area.
Besides its size, the zoo prides itself on being the only one in the country with elephants, giraffes and gibbons. New habitats for bears, wolves, big cats and waterbirds appeared in the 2008–2011 renovation, and the collection has kept growing since: in March 2026 a puma, four guanacos (a new species for the zoo) and three Cuban amazon parrots arrived from Szeged Zoo. The zoo follows the principles of the European association EAZA.
What you can see
The route runs among tall trees and enclosures that combine local fauna (bear, wolf, lynx, red deer, wild boar) with exotic animals: elephants, giraffes, lions, tigers, mandrills, gibbons, meerkats, flamingos, camels and llamas. The Tropical House shelters birds and bats, and a panoramic tower shows the animals from above. Every day, at fixed times between 11:00 and 16:00, there are six animal encounters (meerkats, tortoises, alpine ibex, mandrills, flamingos, giraffes), included in the ticket.
Good to know
The zoo is open every day of the year. Entry is by a physical or electronic ticket, and the figures for the number of animals differ by source and year: "about 800 animals from more than 150 species" on the official website, "almost 1,000 specimens from more than 120 species" in a March 2026 announcement. The same plateau also has a leisure complex and the Bear Lake (Lacul Ursului), which are not part of the zoo.
- The elephants and giraffes, the only ones in any Romanian zoo, according to the official website.
- The gibbons, also unique in the country, and the mandrills from the 14:00 encounter.
- The tigers and lions, in the enclosures rebuilt in the 2008–2011 renovation.
- The fallow deer in the forest and the public feedings announced at events.
- The panoramic tower, from where you see the enclosures from above, in the middle of the forest.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the zoo is on the Cornești Plateau, in the east of Târgu Mureș, at Strada Verii no. 57; there is a car park at the plateau, and cars are not allowed inside the grounds. Cluj-Napoca is ~100 km away.
Public transport: the official website says a bus runs to the Cornești Plateau in summer (May–September); check the timetable with the local operator.
- Fees & discounts
Prices valid from 1 January 2026: adult 40 lei; children aged 2 to 18, pupils and students with a card, pensioners: 15 lei; free for children under 2 and for people with disabilities (with a severe or accentuated disability certificate and an ID). Organised groups of more than 10 children: 10 lei per pupil. Annual pass: 110 lei for children, students and pensioners, 220 lei for adults (sold only at the ticket office). There is no family ticket. Tickets are bought at the ticket office or online through the partner platform Easy2Visit; no time slot has to be booked.
- Rules
Children under 12 enter only with an adult. Do not feed or touch the animals, do not pick plants and do not leave the paths. Pets, bicycles, scooters and roller skates are not allowed, nor are alcohol or entering while intoxicated. Smoking is allowed only in the marked areas. Photos and films for commercial purposes need the management's consent.
- Facilities
toilets · food and drinks (you may also bring your own) · rest pavilions · free pushchairs at the entrance · baby care room · panoramic tower · drinking fountain · app with an interactive map
Frequently asked questions about Târgu Mureș Zoo
- How much is a ticket to Târgu Mureș Zoo?
- A ticket to Târgu Mureș Zoo costs 40 lei (children 2–18: 15 lei). Prices valid from 1 January 2026: adult 40 lei; children aged 2 to 18, pupils and students with a card, pensioners: 15 lei; free for children under 2 and for people with disabilities (with a severe or accentuated disability certificate and an ID). Organised groups of more than 10 children: 10 lei per pupil. Annual pass: 110 lei for children, students and pensioners, 220 lei for adults (sold only at the ticket office). There is no family ticket. Tickets are bought at the ticket office or online through the partner platform Easy2Visit; no time slot has to be booked.
- What are the opening hours of Târgu Mureș Zoo?
- Opening hours at Târgu Mureș Zoo: daily 09:00 – 18:00. Open every day of the year. Summer hours (1 March–31 October): 9:00–18:00, last entry at 18:00, last exit at 19:00. Winter hours (1 November–28 February): 9:00–16:00, last entry at 16:00, last exit at 17:00 (official website, October 2026). Daily animal encounters: 11:00 meerkats, 12:00 tortoises, 13:00 alpine ibex, 14:00 mandrills, 15:00 flamingos, 16:00 giraffes.
- How long does a visit to Târgu Mureș Zoo take?
- A visit to Târgu Mureș Zoo takes about 2 – 2½ hours (1.5–2.5 hours (official site)).
- Can you visit Târgu Mureș Zoo with kids?
- Yes, Târgu Mureș Zoo is suitable for children (daily animal encounters).
- How do I get to Târgu Mureș Zoo?
- Târgu Mureș Zoo is located at Strada Verii nr. 57, Platoul Cornești, Târgu Mureș, Mureș County. By car: the zoo is on the Cornești Plateau, in the east of Târgu Mureș, at Strada Verii no. 57; there is a car park at the plateau, and cars are not allowed inside the grounds. Cluj-Napoca is ~100 km away. Public transport: the official website says a bus runs to the Cornești Plateau in summer (May–September); check the timetable with the local operator.
- When is the best time to visit Târgu Mureș Zoo?
- The best season for Târgu Mureș Zoo: March – October (longer hours from March).
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