Zoological
Stadtgarten
Karlsruhe not only has a lot to offer culturally, but also one of the oldest and most beautiful zoos in Germany. The Zoological City Garden is an experience for the whole family and invites you to stroll, discover and linger.
Zoo
Karlsruhe Zoo offers visitors a journey through different habitats and continents. Discover the aquatic habitat with sea lions and penguins, the tundra landscape of the polar bears, the African savannah, the Himalayan mountain world with snow leopards, the Australian enclosure with wallabies and the tropical exotic house with over 2000 exotic animals. Young visitors can get to know the petting zoo with dwarf goats, alpacas and ponies.
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Sea lions, seals and penguins have found a home in the aquatic habitat, which was redesigned in 2009. The natural enclosures are reminiscent of a coastal landscape with rocky cliffs and offer fascinating insights into the world of animals through underwater windows.
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Right next to the water habitat, you will discover the tundra landscape of the polar bear enclosure. Here, too, you can watch the impressive polar bears diving and swimming through windows.
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In the African savannah, many large and small classics of the African animal world await you, spread over three spacious enclosures. In the area, which was redesigned in 2023, you can experience giraffes, zebras & co. on around 4,500 square meters.
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On the eastern slope of the Lauterberg lies the Himalayan Mountain World, where rare snow leopards live in a large, natural enclosure. The majestic cats feel completely at home here and are easy to observe.
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Another highlight is the Australian enclosure - an absolute must when you visit the Zoologischer Stadtgarten. Under the motto "Up close and personal with kangaroos", you can experience Bennett's and Parma wallabies up close - without any fences!
City garden
The Stadtgarten in the Karlsruhe Zoological Garden invites you to linger with three idyllic lakes - the Stadtgartensee, Schwanensee and Ludwigsee - as well as a picturesque landscape. A special highlight is the Gondoletta, with which you can glide along the lakes by boat. Themed gardens such as the fragrant rose garden, the scent and touch garden and the Japanese garden await you around the waterways. The Stadtgarten is a wonderful place of peace and nature in the middle of Karlsruhe.
Japanese garden & tea house
The Japanese Garden in Karlsruhe's Stadtgarten is an oasis of calm and combines Far Eastern garden art with the nature of the Black Forest. One highlight is the traditional tea house, which opened in 2018 and offers authentic insights into Japanese tea culture. Surrounded by carefully laid out paths, ponds and fragrant plants, the garden is a wonderful place to relax and immerse yourself in Japanese culture.
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The Japanese Garden in Karlsruhe has been home to a traditional teahouse since 2018, which was created on the initiative of the German-Japanese Society Karlsruhe. Inspired by earlier tea ceremonies, the desire arose to build a tea house of its own - this was made possible thanks to the generous bequest of Ms. Gertrud Mowitz in the amount of 300,000 euros. The building was designed by Japanese architect Prof. Kazuhisa Kawamura from Cologne, who combined Japanese architecture with regional materials: instead of imports from Japan, he used local wood, roof shingles and clay walls.
The teahouse itself is 35 square meters in size, and the actual tea room comprises six tatamis, around ten square meters, which are traditionally covered with rice straw mats. An additional room has been set up as an "auditorium" for visitors to the ceremonies.
The German-Japanese Society offers guided tours for anyone who would like to learn more about Japanese culture and tea ceremonies. However, a visit to the Japanese garden is worthwhile at any time - you can find peace and inspiration under the fragrant trees. Further information can be found on the website of the German-Japanese Society Karlsruhe e.V.
Oberwald Zoo in Karlsruhe
The outdoor area of the Karlsruhe Zoological Garden is located in the middle of a closed recreational forest close to the city. Weather-resistant wild animals from temperate and cold zones live in the large outdoor enclosures. The Oberwald zoo is home to deer, gazelles, wild horses and bison, among others.
