5 Reasons Tierpark Bern Disappointed Us: An Honest 2024 Zoo Visit Review
An Underwhelming Zoo Experience
If you are planning a family day out in the Canton of Bern, you might be considering a visit to Tierpark Bern. Back in 2024, we wanted to take our daughter to a zoo. Since we had already visited Zoo Zürich and Zoo Basel, we decided to give Tierpark Bern a shot. Here is our genuine experience from that trip and the 5 main reasons we felt underwhelmed.
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Arriving in Bern
- Via Train or Bus: Bern is centrally located with fast, direct rail connections from Zurich, Basel, and Geneva. To check schedules and book your ticket, use the Busbud platform here.
- Via Flight: Fly into Zurich or Geneva Airport and take public transport to arrive in Bern . To find the best deals on airfare, search and book your flights here.
Getting Around and Staying in Switzerland
- Going Around:
- Taxis & Private Transfers Secure a reliable, fixed-price ride with professional drivers. Avoid the airport queues by booking in advance. Book your taxi/transfer here.
- Car Rentals Enjoy the freedom of the open road. Compare the best rates from top brands to find your perfect vehicle here.
- Public Transport Travel like a local and save money. Skip the station lines by securing your train and bus tickets here.
- Stay Connected: To navigate the city like a local and share your photos in real time, we recommend getting an eSIM. Pick the option that suits your needs:
- We recommend Airalo for a budget-friendly and basic plan. Get your Airalo eSIM here.
- Yesim is our top-pick for unlimited data needs. Get your Yesim eSIM here.
- Where to Stay: To make the most of your trip, I recommend booking one of these hotels.
1. The Extremely Disappointing Size
The entrance ticket is worth 11 CHF, which is relatively affordable for Switzerland. However, we were extremely disappointed by the size of the zoo.
2. The Short One-Hour Walkthrough
It was extremely small and we were done going around it in less than an hour. If you are expecting a full day attraction, this might not meet your expectations.
3. Wolves in the Bear Enclosure
Adding to our letdown, there were wolves in the big bear enclosure instead of bears, which was extremely disappointing for us to see.
4. Highly Limited Animals
Because the grounds are compact, the variety is quite minimal. The specific animals we came across during our visit to Tierpark Bern were flamingos, wolves, a leopard and Arctic foxes.
5. The Need to Drive to Zoo Basel Instead
We were so underwhelmed by the experience that we drove all the way to Basel to visit Zoo Basel the same day just to give our daughter a complete zoo experience.
Final Remarks
To summarise, the zoo ticket isn’t too expensive but the animals inhabited are also very limited. If you are looking for a decente-sized zoo, consider visiting Zoo Basel or Zoo Zürich.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Tierpark Bern tickets cost?
A standard adult ticket costs 11 CHF, making it a budget friendly option compared to larger Swiss zoos, though the wildlife selection is much smaller.
How much time do you need at Tierpark Bern?
Based on our 2024 visit, you can comfortably see the entire zoo section in less than an hour due to its highly compact layout.
Is Tierpark Bern worth visiting if I have been to Zoo Basel?
If you prefer expansive grounds with a vast array of wildlife, you might find this location small. We felt so underwhelmed that we ended up driving to Zoo Basel the exact same day to get a full zoo experience.
