Split Zoo - animals, location, and price

If you decide to spend a few days in Split, a good idea would be to visit the city zoo. You will have a chance to see and find out more about animals which are typical for Mediterranean culture. Some of them became a rarity and endangered species, while others are still commonly found in the villages of this region.

Table of Contents

1. Split zoo location
2. Split Zoo ticket price and working hours
3. Split Zoo animals

Split zoo location

The zoo is located on Marjan hill, so you will have to make some climbing effort to reach it.
The easiest way to approach the zoo is to take the so-called Marjan stairs, located near the church and monastery of St. Francis on Split Riva.
After you get to First Vidilica on Marjan, you need to walk uphill towards the church of St. Nicholas. From there, you need to continue climbing the rest of Marjan stairs, which will take you to the zoo. It may take approximately 20 minutes to reach the location from Riva.
If you are not fully fit, you may want to take a break on Vidilica, where you can have a coffee or a meal.
The area around the zoo contains benches in the shade, which are perfect to take a short rest. There is a faucet with free drinking water as well.

Split Zoo ticket price and working hours

The ticket price for an adult person is 3 euros.
The zoo works from 8 am to 4 pm. During the summer season, working hours may be extended.
The zoo features a toilet, coffee machine, and instructional boards containing information about the animals in the zoo.

Split Zoo animals

As already mentioned, the Split Zoo features domestic animals which highly affected the lives of people living in Mediterranean villages, both in the past and today's time.

The first interesting animal I would point out is the traditional Dalmatian chicken, which has been an important source of food for so many families living in this area.

The most featured animal in Split Zoo is the dalmatian donkey.
There is a whole series of educational panels that contain information about the importance of donkeys for people living in this area.

Bogdan Radica, a famous Croatian writer wrote the following words about their importance for farmers living in the area around Split:
"For peasants from Split, a donkey is first and foremost a companion - a comrade, mate, a close acquaintance.
In the early mornings, when Split peasant would take the donkey to the field, he would talk to him, make conversation, argue, curse, and scold.
... a peasant would confide to donkey his troubles with the weather, with his wife and children, as well as with his master."

Unfortunately, the donkey is not so common in today's villages, and it became endangered species.
Jobs that used to be done by a donkey, such as carrying heavy loads, are done by machines in today's time.
That's why it is necessary to make additional efforts to protect this beautiful animal.