Dublin Zoo

Opened in 1831, Dublin Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world, and it draws more than a million visitors a year. It occupies about 28 hectares within Phoenix Park, on Dublin's northwest side. It was founded by the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland, and some of its early Victorian character survives among the modern enclosures.

The zoo is organised into habitat areas rather than rows of cages. The Kaziranga Forest Trail is home to a herd of Asian elephants. The African Plains, a large open stretch of grassland beside a lake, holds giraffes, rhinos and zebras. Other areas house gorillas, big cats, primates and sea lions, connected by paths that wind past lakes and planted woodland.

The grounds are large and walking between areas takes time, so most visitors spend a good part of a day here. Families with children make up much of the crowd, but the zoo's history and the parkland setting appeal to adults too.