Europe’s #1 Zoo
In 2018, I had the distinct opportunity to visit the Sóstó Zoo while living in Nyíregyháza, Hungary.
To see more photos of the Sóstó Zoo, click here
Rated the number one zoo for those which receive under 500,000 visitors per year, they held the title in 2015, 2018 and again in 2021.
During my day spent at the zoo, of course I had fun seeing all the different types of animals they had to showcase, but the most important thing to note about the Sóstó Zoo may not be the animals themselves, but rather how they house them.
Marketing Director and head of the zoological department, Zsuzsanna Revesz, gave me a personal tour around the grand attraction center, which included a trip to the flamingo lagoon (my favorite animal), the terrain where the giraffes reside, and perhaps the most spectacular portion of the tour, the 500,000-litre glass corridor which houses different species of fish, and even full adult-size sharks – over your head, no less!
While there you will also get to walk through an Asian jungle with a massive waterfall; an adventure trail with a suspension bridge, which is set in the theme of South America; a forest dedicated specifically to lemurs and even an ice world.
The zoo, as Zsuzsanna mentions in the video, has 35 hectares of forests, more than 500 species of animals, and a total of 5,000 animals (as of 2018). The zoo offers a sea lion training show, and is even home to a Komodo dragon.
The park also offers a Safari Restaurant which is located on premises, so there’s no need to leave if you’re hungry. Getting to view some of the animals from your outdoor seats, you can enjoy your afternoon meal with a nature show.
And if you’re headed to the city of Nyíregyháza specifically to visit the Sóstó Zoo, you might want to stay at the Pangea Hotel which is connected to the zoo! The hotel is themed in animal wildlife décor, and even has realistic dinosaurs in the front and back of the hotel for kids and adults of all ages to enjoy. Don’t worry, you won’t walk out directly into the lion’s den – but your bedroom might be decorated that way.
The zoo is not just a fun afternoon adventure, it’s a continentally renowned attraction with thousands of animals to see, shows to watch and even a gift shop where you can purchase souvenirs to commemorate your visit.
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