I am planning on making a Czech zoo trip later this year, probably in September. My plan is to be based in Prague for about ten days and to make day trips to other zoos using only public transport. Which zoos would people suggest are best to include under these circumstances? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
If you are interested in chameleons, Zoo Zajezd is a must - easily reached from central Prague via a tram and then a bus - the journey takes a shade over an hour. Plzen is also probably a must - incredible species diversity and packed full of rarities. It is easily reachable by train from Prague, then a short walk from the station to the zoo. Plzen is also a very pretty city in its own right.
All larger Czech zoos are doable as day trips by public transport from Prague - in theory. You will have to plan correctly, you might spend long hours on travel and dont have as long time at some zoo as you would like, but it´s possible. You might consider to divide your trip in two parts. And move your "base" to Olomouc (or Brno) for a few days. Olomouc is ideal central starting point for collections in east part of the country (Zlin + Ostrava). When you plan, look also a little over the teller. For example Dresden zoo is very nice place and just 2 hours by direct train from Prague. Or Vienna zoo - just 1,5 hour from Brno, and considered in TOP3 best zoos in Europe. To assess potential collection on their "attractivity", check ZTL and maybe also their attendance figures. (BTW The best Czech zoos are Prague, Zlin, Dvur Kralove, Ostrava and Plzen.)
Plzen for sure, and Dvur Kralove as well if you can. I visited Brno and Decin as well a few months ago: Decin is small but not too far from Prague by train; I stayed in Brno so can't comment on how long it takes to get to from Prague but it is on the eastern side of the country. Also, make at least 2 visits to Prague Zoo if you can - it's huge and hilly.
It should take about 3 hours to reach Brno: Prague to Brno hl.n. by Train from £5.71 | Cheap Tickets & Times | Trainline The information bureau is near the station. I asked for information about the zoo and was told "It's got lots of animals'. There is a bus that goes directly there. You may be interested in the Brno dragon (Brno Dragon - Public Art Around The World) and the link to Gregor Mendel (GO TO MENDEL’S BRNO | Go To Brno).
I recommend Plzen. When I went, it had many XYZ animals, some of which are not found in any other zoo. There are also large ABC animals, but some of these seem to be in cramped enclosures.
Thank you for these responses. I spent some time looking at maps and the zoo locations this afternoon and think I will have to either focus just on Prague and the nearer zoos or do as @Jana suggests and split my time between Prague and Brno or Olomouc. I have already been to Dresden and Vienna so I think I’ll keep to Czechia on this trip.
Děčín and Ústí nad Labem combination is doable in one day quite easily, Děčín opens at 8:00 so I would recommend going there first.
From Plzen's train station it's 3 km walk, that is not really short Also why would you walk when there is a tram+tram or tram+bus public transport option.
It's a very pretty walk, plus I had wild siskin, green woodpecker, coypu etc when I walked from the station to the zoo earlier this year! I'd say walk and enjoy seeing a new city!
oh ok. I tried to access the webpage using my phone and the PC via google as well as the link you kindly provided. With both I still get an error message saying my request is blocked. The only way I can see the webpage is using the Wayback machine internet archives.
