The city of Skopje has so many interesting sights and activities to offer. Aside from the lively nightlife and breathtaking historical monuments, Skopje is surrounded by beautiful nature that is worth seeing. Macedonia has 280 sunny days within a single year, so naturally locals love to spend their free time outdoors. Whether it’s a mountain hike or a stroll through the city park, getting some fresh air in the green areas of Skopje is always a good idea – which brings us to the city Zoo.
Skopje Zoo is just one of the green zones where nature is manifesting itself fully. Located in the Skopje city park, which is just a 15 minute walk away from the main square, this is one of the oldest zoos on the Balkan Peninsula. Skopje Zoo was founded in 1926, and it’s been growing and improving ever since. It was recently renovated and at the moment there are 495 animals (out of 96 animal types) on the Skopje zoo map, residing within an area of 120,000 square meters.
The Skopje city zoo is a family friendly place – locals take their kids here for a recreational family day filled with activities and educational tours. Keeping that in mind, the zoo is mostly visited on weekends, so if you want to avoid crowds, it’s best to visit Monday through Friday.
Skopje zoo tickets
Considering the number of animals and the huge space this zoo takes up, the ticket price is incredibly cheap. One ticket will cost you no more than a can of soda – 50 denars (0.90 USD).
The entrance for children below the age of 3 is free.
Keep in mind that prices can change throughout the year, but don’t expect anything more than 2 dollars in any instance! The Skopje zoo tickets are available on the counter, located right at the very entrance.
Aside from the regular visit, there are some special activities that the Skopje zoo offers. You can be a zookeeper for a day for 3000 MKD, go on a night tour for 5000 MKD and get to feed the animals for 1000 MKD. The price is ridiculously low either way!
Skopje zoo opening hours
The Skopje zoo is open for visitors from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, 365 days a year. You’ll need approximately 3 hours to see all of the animals, as you make your circle around the entire place.
Animals in the Skopje city Zoo
The Skopje zoo animals are certainly a spectacular sight to see: there are mammals, birds, fish and reptiles from all over the world. The habitat for each, after a series of renovation activities, is remarkably close what their natural habitat looks like. So here is what you will find inside the zoo:
Mammals
The mammals represent the biggest and most popular group of Skopje zoo animals. Getting close to a magnificent creature like the Siberian tiger, a jaguar, or a leopard is certainly a unique experience. Aside from these stunning cats, there’s the American buffalo, the European mouflon, the giraffes, the elephant family and the Hippopotamus, all worth seeing at least once in a lifetime. The bears are also fun to observe.
And then there’s the group of mammals that simply enjoys the visitors attention – the monkeys. This group has many different members, including the curious baboons, the squirrel-sized tamarins and the friendly macaques.
The Skopje zoo is also the home of pygmy marmoset, the smallest monkey in the world, which can fit in the palm of your hand. Needless to say, seeing the monkeys interact with the visitors (of course, behind a glass wall, or a wired fence) is such a fun experience. Another popular group worth noting is the Lemur family – with their unique appearance and lively behavior, they always seem to steal the show.
The newest addition is the sea lion, which you can see both from above the water and from beyond the water surface. Kids definitely love it!
Birds
The Skopje zoo houses birds from all over the world. This is the place where you can see large birds like hawks, eagles and the intimidating vultures. Representing the colorful members of this animal group – the peacocks, parrots, and the golden and silver pheasant birds are a true spectacle to ebehold. Another impressive animal worth seeing is the emu bird, which is the second largest bird in the world.
Reptiles
If you’re interested in seeing cold-blooded animals, make sure you visit the Skopje zoo reptiles section. This is the home of the frightening boa and python snakes, and the largest snake in the world – the anaconda. You can also see the Australian beard dragon and the spectacular Nile crocodile. The alligators are magnificent creatures, and you’ll enjoy trying to find them as they perfectly camouflage within their habitat.
If you’re looking to spend a day in nature surrounded with animals, the Skopje zoo is the right place for you. It’s a great way to extend your visit to the Skopje City Park and enjoy the company of many magnificent creatures! The ticket price is beyond affordable, and there is rarely a line at the entrance. All in all, you will enjoy the Skopje Zoo which takes around three hours to explore fully, as both yourself and your kids will build some fond memories for years to come. No visit to the capital is complete without stepping inside the city Zoo!