Frequently asked questions
TICKETS AND ENTRANCE
WHAT KIND OF TICKET TYPES ARE THERE?
We have just one type of entrance ticket, it includes access to Pandahouse, Zoo tour and our Farm. With the ticket you can visit more than once during the day within the opening hours. So you can easily leave for a lunch at Hotel Mesikämmen and come back or see the pandas at the beginning of your day and again before you leave at the end of the day.
You can find the ticket prices here.
IS THE ZOO OPEN EVEN IN THE WINTER?
Yes! Our zoo is open all year round, rain or shine, including ALL holidays! Most of our animals are actually more active during the cold months. While we work hard to provide an exceptional guest experience, occasionally habitats, tours, restaurants, transportation, entertainment, or services change or close without notice and without liability due to refurbishing, capacity, weather or special events. You can see our opening hours here.
PARKING
HOW DOES THE PARKING WORK?
Parking area P1 is with payment during the summer (June-August), rest of the year parking is for free. P1 is located next to the entrance and the Pandahouse, just across the street from Hotel Mesikämmen, and closest to the Zoo entrance.
As you drive to the parking area, the gaes will open automatically once you get closer to them. You can park your car normally and spend your day in the Zoo. You can pay your parking fee at Zoo Shop upon arrival or when you leave. If you leave after 7pm when the Zoo Shop is already closed, you can pay at the Hotel reception. As you leave from the parking area after having payed your parking fee, show he ticket to the machine without entering it anywhere and the gaes will open automatically.
Parking area P2 is free all year round, it is located a few minutes walking distance away.
ARE THERE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS?
Yes! There are 4 electric charging stations at the P1-parking area. The spaces are marked with green color. There is a nominal fee at each park for use.
ACCESIBILITY
DOES ÄHTÄRI ZOO HAVE ACCESS FOR GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES?
Ähtäri Zoo is a EU Disability Card destination. The card holder and a personal assistant can enter for free to the Zoo, Pandahouse and to the events organized by the Zoo. Please visit the Zoo Shop or the Ticket booth (only open during the summer season) for an entrance ticket.
We have accesible bathrooms in different areas of the park and there is signage to help the tour for the ones with a sight disability. In the parking P1 area there are several designated accessible parking spaces. The Zoo tour is aprox. 3km long route, mostly a crushed stone path.
ABOUT PETS
ARE PETS ALLOWED AT THE PARK?
No. Pets are not permitted at the Zoo. Because we house significant populations of rare and endangered species, the Zoo is considered to be quarantined facilities. Only certified service animals are welcome with their service jackets on, please notify our Zoo staff about bringing a service dog inside the Zoo.
WHERE CAN I LEAVE MY PET WHILE I'M IN THE ZOO?
If you are travelling with your pet you can leave him/her easily to our dog park in the P2 area, a few minutes walking distance from the Zoo entrance. There is no personnel attending the dog park during the day, but the enclosures are kept safe and clean. The dog park enclosures are outside with plenty of air running through them even in hot weather, and they have a roof to keep the doggies safe from extreme weather. The enclosures have space for big dogs as well. The doors can be locked with a key that works with a 2€ coin (which you get back once you return the key to the lock). Our animal keepers provide fresh water to the dog park every day, it is in a canister next to the enclosures where you can serve your pet. Outside the high season (summer), the fresh water isn't provided, so please bring your own water.
Please notify the Zoo Shop or ticket sales personnel about leaving your pet at the dog park.
VEHICLES INSIDE THE ZOO
CAN I BRING A BIKE OR AN ELECTRIC SCOOTER?
No. Bikes, skateboards, electrical boards etc. are not allowed inside the Zoo park.
Vehicles such as wheelchairs are allowed. We also lend wheelchairs which you can ask from our personnel, the wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
DOES THE ZOO HAVE STROLLER RENTALS?
We don't have strollers, BUT we do give pull-along wagons for the tour. On the outside corner of the Pandahouse our visitors can get a pull-along wagon without any extra cost, which can be used for kids or for any luggage/snacks etc.
