Zoo Aquarium Madrid

The zoo in Madrid is quite well preserved although it is definitely kind of depressing to see so many animals in such a small area. I guess that for kids it can be very interesting and fun! the best of all is the dolphins show. It is a really good show! You also have many snack bars and one self service, which was surprisingly cheap. The ticket cost me 16´50 euros and inside all show are included in the price. Show times are not the same on the weekend so just have that in mind. If you go there at lunch time you will find all the animals sleeping, so go early in the morning or stay until they close. Overall it is a good attraction if you with kids!

This zoo is big and open.  It costs about 16€ for an adult all day ticket.  As I began walking I instantly got the feeling that they had a lot more animals then most zoos.  Even the ducks and peacocks that typically walk around the zoo come in various species at this zoo.  Once you get to an animal exhibit you are also closer to the animals then in other zoos.  There was one lady who let her daughter try and feed grass to an ostrich.  Obviously dangerous, and not permitted by the zoo rules, but that is how close you are to a lot of the animals.  Each animal, and many plants, have signs in English and Spanish explaining things about them. 

The zoo also has a small aquarium as part of it. 

The zoo posts signs regularly about not feeding the animals, but more visitors then in my passed travels seemed to heed this request and were feeding animals constantly.  Almost all of the animals seemed to expect it and would approach, like begging dogs.  While I do not condone this, watching it happen is something you don't see frequently.  Usually when I go to the zoo I see the animals sleeping, here they were active.  As tempting as it is though I know that this can be deadly for the animals, but if everyone else is doing it you can at least watch. 

The zoo has two bird shows, a dolphin show, a seal show, and they will pose children with a seal for photos following the dolphin show.  All shows do reduced schedules on Sundays if they do a show at all so I suggest attendance on Fridays or Saturdays.

Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays the zoo stays open into the later nights which would be neat to see.

Not a bad half day trip.  With children this could easily be a full day as they have resturants and snack stands all around. 

The zoo is part of the Parques Reunidos (United Parks) so there are discounts if you purchase dickes for all of them together.  This includes the Aquarium in Valencia, Aquapolis, and The Parque de Atraccions which is next to the zoo.