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Home Zoo Santo Inacio

Zoo Santo Inácio: Tickets and Info

This website offers official tickets for this venue. Please note, however, that it is not the official website of the venue.

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Saint Ignatius Zoo: no queues

Highlights

Access the largest zoo in northern Portugal dedicated to threatened animals.

Observe rare species like Asian lions, Himalayan snow leopards, and Siberian tigers roaming freely.

Witness live feeding sessions and wildlife demonstrations across various continents.

Discover diverse animals such as birds of prey, penguins, hyenas, and pygmy hippopotamuses.

Benefit from skipping the queue for faster entry and a fuller experience.

Good to Know Before Visiting Zoo Santo Inácio

Opening hours change by season, so it’s worth checking the current hours for your travel dates before setting off.
The zoo closes for the year on January 1st and on December 24th and 25th.
Booking tickets online in advance is the easiest way to avoid queues at the entrance.
The zoo covers 15 hectares, so comfortable walking shoes are a good idea.
Guide dogs are the only animals allowed inside the zoo.
Strollers suitable for children aged two and up can be rented at the Zoo Shop.
Visitors with reduced mobility will find adapted paths and toilets throughout the grounds.
The zoo has its own free parking area with electric vehicle charging points, right by the entrance.
Keeper talks for the Asiatic lions and Humboldt penguins run at set times during the day and are worth timing your visit around.
Picnicking is welcome in the designated Picnic Park, but not inside the Restaurant or Lake Bar areas.

Zoo Santo Inácio – Highlights in Pictures

Essential Visitor Info

Opening hours change with the season. From April to September the zoo is open 10:00 to 18:30. In March and October, hours run 10:00 to 17:30. From November to February, hours are 10:00 to 16:30. The zoo closes for the year on January 1st and on December 24th and 25th.

Most visitors set aside two to three hours for a visit, longer with a meal, some shopping, or a keeper talk. The Asiatic lions have keeper sessions around 11:00 and again in the late afternoon, and the Humboldt penguins have sessions around 11:30 and mid-afternoon, with some seasonal changes to the later time slots in winter.

About Zoo Santo Inácio

Zoo Santo Inácio opened on June 1, 2000, as Quinta de Santo Inácio, after founder Roberto Guedes transformed family land in Avintes into what he envisioned as a bridge between visitors and the natural world. The park was renamed Zoo Santo Inácio in 2010 as it grew from that original idea into a full zoological park, and it has since welcomed more than 3 million visitors. Today it sits within a wider international network, having joined the Thoiry Group of zoological parks in 2013 and taken part in National Geographic's Photo Ark documentation project in 2018.

Conservation sits at the centre of the zoo's identity. It has been a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria since 2005 and a founding member of the Portuguese Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 2006, and it takes part in multiple European Endangered Species Programmes aimed at breeding and protecting threatened species. Recent successes include the births of dama gazelles and pygmy hippos, both involving animals from vulnerable populations. Newer habitats such as Lemurs Forest and Tropical World, opened in 2021 and 2023 respectively, along with a walk-through wallaby habitat, reflect the zoo's continued expansion alongside long-standing signature attractions like its glass tunnel through the lion habitat.

Area: 15 hectares
Animals: 500+
Species: Around 150
Animal Categories: Mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates
Opened: June 1, 2000
Visitors Since Opening: 3 million+
EAZA Member Since: 2005

Why Visit Zoo Santo Inácio?

Close encounters with more than 500 animals

Zoo Santo Inácio houses more than 500 animals across around 150 species, spanning mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates. Many are part of international conservation breeding programmes for endangered species, so a visit doubles as a look at real wildlife protection work.

The largest and greenest zoo in northern Portugal

Spread across 15 hectares of landscaped, natural terrain in Avintes, the park gives its animals spacious, naturalistic habitats rather than cramped enclosures. The generous grounds also make it a pleasant place simply to walk and explore for a few hours.

Walk beneath a pride of lions through a glass tunnel

One of the park's signature experiences is a glass tunnel that runs directly through the Asiatic lion habitat, letting visitors watch the lions move and interact from just below and around them. It was the first attraction of its kind built in the Iberian Peninsula.

Recently expanded habitats, including Tropical World and a wallaby walk-through

Newer additions let visitors get closer to the animals than ever, from walking directly into the wallaby habitat to exploring the immersive Tropical World zone and Lemurs Forest, alongside long-running favourites.

Seasonal experiences throughout the year

In the cooler months the zoo transforms after dark for Wild Lights, an illuminated nighttime trail with interactive games, while summer brings Radical Zoo, a run of adventure and outdoor activities for families.

Zoo Santo Inácio - Additional Info

Visitors have a choice of two main dining spots. The Zoo Restaurant serves hot meals, including vegetarian options, around midday into the early afternoon, in a setting surrounded by greenery. For something lighter, the Lake Bar overlooks the zoo's central lake and Lemur Island and serves snacks throughout the day.

Visitors who prefer to bring their own food can use the Picnic Park, which has shared tables available on a first-come, first-served basis and lockers for storing bags and belongings while you explore.

Interesting Facts about Zoo Santo Inácio

Zoo Santo Inácio opened its doors on June 1, 2000, on family land in Avintes transformed by its founder, Roberto Guedes.
The park was originally known as Quinta de Santo Inácio before being renamed Zoo Santo Inácio in 2010.
The zoo has welcomed more than 3 million visitors since it first opened.
Vila Nova de Gaia's City Council awarded the zoo a medal of professional merit in 2012 in recognition of its conservation work.
In 2015 the zoo opened the first glass tunnel of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula, letting visitors pass directly through the Asiatic lion habitat.
The zoo took part in National Geographic's Photo Ark project in 2018, which documents endangered species worldwide.
Lemurs Forest, one of the zoo's immersive habitats, opened in 2021.
Tropical World, a more recent addition to the zoo's exhibits, launched in 2023.
The zoo participates in more than one European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), contributing to international breeding efforts for threatened species.
Recent conservation successes at the zoo include the births of dama gazelles, considered among the most endangered gazelle species in the world, and pygmy hippos.

FAQs about Zoo Santo Inácio

What is Zoo Santo Inácio?

Zoo Santo Inácio is a zoological park in Avintes, Vila Nova de Gaia, home to more than 500 animals across around 150 species, spread across 15 hectares of natural, landscaped grounds.

When did Zoo Santo Inácio open?

The zoo opened on June 1, 2000, as Quinta de Santo Inácio, and was renamed Zoo Santo Inácio in 2010.

Is Zoo Santo Inácio the largest zoo in northern Portugal?

Yes, it's described as the largest and greenest zoo in the north of Portugal, thanks to its 15-hectare grounds and range of habitats.

What is the glass tunnel at Zoo Santo Inácio?

It's a glass tunnel that runs directly through the Asiatic lion habitat, letting visitors observe the lions from within their enclosure. It was the first attraction of its kind built in the Iberian Peninsula.

Does Zoo Santo Inácio take part in conservation programmes?

Yes, the zoo is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria and takes part in multiple European Endangered Species Programmes, with recent breeding successes including dama gazelles and pygmy hippos.

What is Wild Lights at Zoo Santo Inácio?

Wild Lights is a seasonal, illuminated nighttime trail with interactive games, held during the cooler months of the year.

Where is Zoo Santo Inácio located?

The zoo is located at Rua 5 de Outubro in Avintes, Vila Nova de Gaia, just south of Porto across the Douro river.

What are the opening hours of Zoo Santo Inácio?

Hours vary by season: 10:00 to 18:30 from April to September, 10:00 to 17:30 in March and October, and 10:00 to 16:30 from November to February. The zoo is closed on January 1st and December 24th and 25th.

How long should I spend at Zoo Santo Inácio?

Most visitors find two to three hours enough to see the main habitats, longer if you plan to eat, shop or catch a keeper talk.

Is Zoo Santo Inácio accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes, the zoo has adapted paths and toilets throughout the grounds, and electric wheelchairs can be rented on-site subject to availability.

Is there somewhere to eat at Zoo Santo Inácio?

Yes, the zoo has a sit-down restaurant serving hot meals, a lakeside bar for snacks, and a picnic area for visitors bringing their own food.

Is there a gift shop at Zoo Santo Inácio?

Yes, the Zoo Shop sells souvenirs, soft toys and sustainably produced gifts, including animal-themed products.

This website sells official tickets for this venue. Please note, however, that it is not the official website of the venue.

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