The Reykjavik Zoo is not like any zoo you've seen before, that's for sure. You won't see lions, alligators, giraffes, hippos or anything like that. It's main focus is on Icelandic farm animals and several wild native species. Yes, seals, foxes and chickens attract people of all ages, all year around, though the zoo is mostly appealing to children.

The great thing about the Reykjavik Zoo is that you can interact with most of the animals that Icelanders know and love. An animal petting schedule is posted each day. You can watch the animals while they're being fed - We especially recommend watching the feeding of the seals at 11am and 4pm. Supervised pony rides are also offered during the weekend by the stables at 2pm.

The Reykjavik Zoo first opened in 1990, and today 19 animal species counting about 150 individual animals live in the zoo. You'll find horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, foxes, minks, reindeers, seals, pigeons, turkey, chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, geese, ducks, cats and dogs. The zoo also serves as a rehabilitation center for wild animals in need before they are set free so the zoo presently has some rare visitors, f.x. birds that need treatment.

The latest addition to the Reykjavik Zoo is the Aquarium that opened in 2004, where they keep species from the North-Atlantic Ocean. The aquarium currently contains molluscs, crabs, echinoderms and over 20 fish species. The Science World is also a popular attraction on the site. It's a small world of adventure where you can conduct experiments and learn new things, for example you can measure how loud your scream is or see how much you would weigh on other planets.

The Zoo Cafe is open all year where light refreshments can be purchased. During the summer there's also a snack bar/shop where visitors can buy hot dogs and barbecue them on a large outdoor grill. You're also allowed to bring your own provisions if you wish, the outdoor grill is available to all guests of the zoo.

They Reykjavik Zoo is a part of the Reykjavik Family Park, so make sure to get the whole experience. You can read more about the attractions of the Reykjavik Family Park here.

If you want to make the most of your Reykjavík Experience, you may want to pick up a Reykjavík City Card, which grants you access to all the public museums, pools and city buses, in addition to discounts on many other things!