Zoo da Maia

Zoo da Maia is a town zoo run by the parish council of Cidade da Maia, just north of Porto. It is much smaller than the big national zoos, but it packs in more than 330 animals from around 110 species, and its best-known part is the reptile house, which the zoo and the Maia tourism office describe as the largest in the country.

It suits families who want a zoo they can see properly in a morning, at a lower price than the large parks.

This is the part children talk about afterwards. Visit Maia describes a house of around 40 specimens set in themed surroundings, with venomous snakes, crocodilians, iguanas and a dim “mysterious” section of scorpions, tarantulas, nocturnal animals and piranhas.

The zoo’s own animal list gives a sense of what is in there:

• Big snakes: a yellow anaconda, a reticulated python, a Burmese python, a boa constrictor, a Cuban boa and a rainbow boa
• Smaller snakes: corn snakes, a Texas rat snake, California and desert kingsnakes, and a royal python
• Lizards: iguanas, a bearded dragon, a leopard gecko, a Sahara spiny-tailed lizard, a legless lizard, a tegu and a giant plated lizard
• Tortoises and turtles, including Greek and Russian tortoises and a snapping turtle
• A spectacled caiman, a small South American crocodilian
• A Brazilian salmon pink tarantula, one of the biggest spiders in the world, which the zoo’s fact sheet puts at 25 cm
• Axolotls, red-eyed tree frogs and fire-bellied newts, plus piranhas

Children who love anything with scales will want to go round twice. A child who is scared of snakes or spiders can skip it, since the rest of the zoo is outdoors.

Outside the reptile house the zoo’s list includes a tiger, a brown bear, a Eurasian lynx, plains zebras, Bennett’s wallabies (listed as kangaroos), ring-tailed, brown and collared lemurs, a white-handed gibbon, marmosets and several kinds of monkey, a porcupine, a seven-banded armadillo, alpacas, pygmy goats and a barking deer (muntjac).

The bird collection is strong for a small zoo: lesser flamingos, crowned and red-crowned cranes, emus, rheas, peacocks, mandarin ducks, and a noisy line-up of parrots including blue-and-yellow macaws, a sulphur-crested cockatoo, an African grey, rainbow lorikeets and an eclectus parrot.

Your ticket also covers the Arca de Noé (Noah’s Ark) and Esqueletolândia (a skeleton display), which are included in the single ticket.

Twice a day, keepers fly birds of prey freely over the audience. The zoo calls it an educational and interactive demonstration, with different birds of prey flying with complete freedom while the keepers explain what you are seeing.

• Winter (26 October to 29 March): every day at 12:00 and 15:00
• Summer (30 March to 25 October): weekdays at 12:00 and 15:00; weekends and public holidays at 12:00 and 16:00

The zoo warns that displays can be cancelled or moved without notice for weather, technical or animal-welfare reasons. Plan your visit around one of the slots and arrive a little early for a good view.

Prices when checked in September 2026:

• Adults (13 to 64): €10
• Children (3 to 12): €7.50
• Seniors (65+): €7.50
• Family ticket (two adults and two children aged 3 to 12): €30

The official price list starts at age three; the online ticket page says under-twos go free with at least one paying adult. Ask at the gate about a two-year-old. Residents of the Maia municipality pay much less (from €2 a child) on showing a physical ID card.

The price list also shows add-ons at €1.50 each: a guided visit, a feeding activity (“Vamos dar de comer à bicharada”, or “come and feed the critters”), an activity sheet (the Pedizoopaper) and a visit to the incubation room. These are designed mainly for schools and groups, so ask in advance whether a family can join one.

Groups of 15 or more (schools included) pay €7.50 each with booking, with two free adults per 15 children, which is useful for a home-education group.

The zoo runs colónias (holiday camps) for children aged 6 to 14 in the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays. The programme is built around animal awareness and conservation, and children get to see animals up close and learn what working in a zoo is like. Registration is through an online form. Dates, hours and prices aren’t published on the page, so ask.

Birthday parties are for ages 6 and up, with 10 to 25 children, lasting three hours at €14.50 a child when checked. They include a guided visit, feeding the animals, the Arca de Noé and reptile house, the flight display and a party snack. The birthday child’s parents get in free.

In past years the zoo has held extra activities for Children’s Day (1 June) and World Animal Day (October), such as painting workshops and feeding sessions, so watch its news page around those dates.

• Rules: no feeding the animals, no pets except guide dogs, no balls, bikes, scooters, skates or balloons inside. Tell children about the balloon rule before you pass a seller.
• Food: the zoo bar overlooks the enclosures, and the Bo’Rosa restaurant, serving regional food, is just outside the zoo. The zoo site doesn’t list a public picnic area.
• Time: two to three hours covers everything, including a flight display.
• Toddlers: the zoo is compact, so little legs cope. The official pages don’t mention buggy access, so check if you need it.
• Getting there: the zoo is in Maia city centre, off Rua da Estação. Metro do Porto’s line C runs through Maia, so check a journey planner for the nearest stop.

For a bigger nature day, the Parque Biológico de Gaia has trails through woods and farmland with native animals. For marine life, SEA LIFE Porto is an indoor aquarium on the coast. Families heading to Lisbon later can compare it with the much larger Jardim Zoológico.

How much is Zoo da Maia?

When checked in September 2026: €10 for adults, €7.50 for children aged 3 to 12 and seniors, and €30 for a family of two adults and two children. Maia residents get large discounts.

What time is the bird show at Zoo da Maia?

In winter, daily at 12:00 and 15:00. In summer, 12:00 and 15:00 on weekdays, and 12:00 and 16:00 on weekends and public holidays.

How long does a visit take?

Around two to three hours. It’s a compact zoo, so it fits into a morning or an afternoon.

Is the reptile house scary for small children?

Some parts are dim and the animals include venomous snakes, big spiders and piranhas behind glass. Most children love it; a very sensitive child can skip it and enjoy the outdoor areas.

Can you take a dog?

No. Pets aren’t allowed, except guide dogs.

Does Zoo da Maia run holiday camps?

Yes. Colónias for children aged 6 to 14 run in the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays. Register through the zoo’s website and ask for dates and prices.