Visitor Rules

1. The Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden (hereafter: Zoo) is a public institution and a conservation area, with the aim of showcasing the wonders of nature and the threats to their survival, while fostering a connection between people and the diversity of living creatures, including cultural diversity. The Zoo contributes to the conservation community’s efforts to protect endangered animals, plants, and habitats. As one of the top tourist attractions in the country, the Zoo provides opportunities for relaxation, family entertainment, and modern education while preserving and enhancing its historical heritage as one of the world’s most artistic zoo monuments.

2. Visiting the Zoo is only possible with an entrance fee. By purchasing a ticket, visitors are required to accept the provisions of the current Visiting Rules. Visitors must keep their tickets throughout their visit and present them for inspection upon request by Zoo staff. Payment of the entry fee does not entitle visitors to enter restricted areas or violate any prohibitions outlined in the Visiting Rules.

3. Ticket prices and any available discounts are detailed on a separate price list, which is displayed clearly at the ticket office. Attendance at events held in non-public areas of the Zoo, entry for official purposes, or other cases authorized by the Zoo’s General Director are not considered regular zoo visits, but the Visiting Rules apply fully to such entries as well.

4. Re-entry with the same ticket is not allowed after leaving the Zoo for any reason (e.g., health issues or bad weather). A new ticket is required for re-entry. In case of interrupted visits, the Zoo is not obligated to refund the ticket price.

5. The entry fee entitles the visitor to view the Zoo’s exhibits and collections, as well as access other free services provided by the institution. By entering the Zoo, visitors agree to abide by the rules in place. They acknowledge that they must follow the restrictions, warnings, and instructions communicated by the Zoo staff in writing, verbally, or by other means.

6. For the comfort and safety of all visitors, only pedestrian traffic is allowed within the Zoo. Exceptions include medical equipment necessary for the mobility of individuals with reduced mobility and devices used to assist the movement of small children (pushchairs, push ride-ons). When using a push ride-on, the parent or adult accompanying the child must ensure that the child does not endanger his or her own safety or the safety of others. Otherwise, if a Visitor complains, the ZOO staff may ask the parent to suspend the use of the push ride-on.

7. Visiting the Zoo is only permitted during opening hours. Visitors must leave the premises before closing time. Exceptions to the usual opening hours include events organized by the Zoo outside regular hours (e.g., evening concerts, guided night tours, other events), during which the accessible areas and available services will be specifically designated for each event by the Zoo.

8. The Zoo is open every day of the year, from early morning until dusk (closing one hour before dark). Current opening hours are displayed at the Zoo’s entrances and on its website (www.zoobudapest.com). The Zoo may change its opening hours for justified reasons, such as extreme weather conditions (lightning, rainstorms, gales, hurricanes, etc.), technical issues (power outages, etc.), animal emergencies, or terror threats. Any changes will be announced at the ticket booths and via the Zoo’s loudspeaker system. In such cases, the Zoo is not liable for compensation. In the event of service reductions due to technical issues or other force majeure situations, the Zoo reserves the right to decide at its discretion whether to issue refunds or make adjustments to fees.

9. The Zoo is entitled to close certain areas, buildings, or exhibits for various reasons (renovation, technical problems, events, filming, animal health situations, etc.). These closures will be communicated to visitors on the Zoo’s website and at the entrances when necessary. No compensation or ticket price reduction will be provided for these situations.

10. Visitors under the age of 14 are considered children and may only enter and remain in the Zoo when accompanied and supervised by an adult. The accompanying adult is responsible for ensuring that the child follows the Visiting Rules. The accompanying adult must remain with the child throughout the visit and must pay close attention to the child’s safety, accident prevention, and the protection of the child’s belongings. The Zoo is not liable for any damages resulting from the failure to supervise the child.

Group leaders are also responsible for ensuring that the Visiting Rules are followed by the children in their care. Group leaders and supervisors are required to remain with the group of children throughout the entire visit and must pay close attention to the safety, accident prevention, and protection of the children’s belongings under their supervision at all times during the visit.

11. Playgrounds, play equipment, petting zoos, and immersive exhibits (where visitors can interact directly with animals) may only be used or visited at the visitor’s own risk. Children under 14 may only visit these areas when accompanied by an adult.

12. Visitors acknowledge that dangerous or highly dangerous species are kept at the Zoo, and approaching these animals poses a significant risk of accidents. Visitors must comply with all warning signs. It is forbidden to climb or cross barriers or fences designed to keep visitors at a safe distance. It is strictly forbidden to reach into, enter, or penetrate any animal enclosure with any body part or object, if the enclosure is fenced off by barriers such as fences, bars, pens, nets, glass, walls, or any other means. Exceptions are certain designated areas, such as immersive exhibits, where animals not considered dangerous are on display. Even in these areas, touching the animals can still be dangerous, and visitors should refrain from doing so unless they choose to at their own risk, even if Zoo staff are nearby. Animal behavior can be unpredictable in response to sudden movements, sounds, or smells, and even seemingly peaceful species may bite, charge, or peck.

13. In the event of an accident or emergency, a Zoo staff member should be notified, who will take appropriate action according to the relevant emergency plans and notify the responsible management. (First aid cases should be handled in accordance with the current General Director’s instructions on visitor first aid.) First aid kits and emergency contact points are located in designated areas marked with a first aid symbol.

14. Certain areas of the Zoo are not open to visitors. These include facilities supporting Zoo operations and zones within the range of dangerous animals or other hazardous factors. Unauthorized entry into these restricted areas, which are marked with barriers or signs indicating “Üzemi terület” (Operational Area) or prohibitive pictograms, is strictly prohibited. The Zoo is not liable for accidents resulting from unauthorized entry into such areas.

15. Visitors are required to respect the rules that ensure the welfare of the animals. It is strictly forbidden to mistreat, provoke (even with light or sound effects), or introduce foreign objects into the animals’ enclosures in any way. To protect the health of the animals and for public health reasons, feeding the animals is prohibited (except for special programs organized by the Zoo, where the necessary feed and supervision are provided by the institution)!

16. Visitors with severe mobility, visual, auditory, mental, or communication disabilities, who may pose a risk to themselves or other visitors, must visit the Zoo accompanied by a caregiver.

17. Persons suffering from contagious diseases or showing symptoms of infection are not allowed to visit the Zoo!

18. It is prohibited to bring dogs, pets, ornamental, or hobby animals into the Zoo, as they pose significant health risks to the animals. The only exception is for assistance dogs with the appropriate documents and vaccination certificates. These documents must be sent to the Zoo at least two working days before the visit via email to info@zoobudapest.com. The Zoo will then provide either permission or refusal for the visit. During the visit, assistance dogs must be on a leash and wear a muzzle. The owner must ensure that the dog does not disturb the Zoo animals or the visitors. If the assistance dog poses a risk, the Zoo reserves the right to immediately suspend the visit.

19. It is forbidden to bring balloons, hazardous objects, sharp or cutting tools, weapons, pyrotechnic devices, any intoxicating substances, or alcohol into the Zoo. It is also prohibited to bring any items that may cause panic, endanger the health or peace of the animals, or disrupt the peace of visitors. Furthermore, behaving in a manner that violates public order or decency is strictly prohibited.

20. Visitors acknowledge that the Zoo is under video surveillance for security purposes, and recordings are stored for the duration specified by law. By purchasing a ticket or pass, visitors accept that they may be filmed during their visit, and cannot make any claims regarding this.

21. Smoking is prohibited in the Zoo, except in designated smoking areas. Throwing away or discarding lit cigarette butts, especially in trash bins, is strictly forbidden. Visitors must use the cigarette disposal units provided.

22. Within the Zoo’s fenced premises, at its entrances, and on the sidewalks adjacent to its fences, only the Zoo and organizations with written agreements with the Zoo are permitted to conduct commercial, service, promotional, or fundraising activities.

With the exception of the above organisations, it is prohibited to:

• trade goods and products,
• perform any service activities,
• perform any solicitation or advertising activities,
• beg or perform any activities aimed at obtaining any donations or other profit or advantage,
• perform any political, activist or similar agitation and organising activities.

including any sales or ticket-selling activities, dissemination of flyers without permission, collecting signatures for any purpose, or any other activity that causes any disturbance to Visitors or obstructs the flow of Visitors.

23. A visitor may be excluded from the Zoo if they:

• do not have a valid ticket or cannot provide proof of payment upon request;
• refuse to comply with the “Visiting Rules” despite warnings;
• endanger their own or others’ safety, the property of the institution, or the health of the animals in any way;
• behave in an outrageously disruptive or indecent manner, inconveniencing other visitors;
• are visibly intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or other substances.
• In these cases, the visitor is not entitled to a refund for the ticket.

24. During opening hours, it is prohibited to drive vehicles into areas of the Zoo used by visitors. Exceptions include vehicles necessary for the operation of the Zoo, as well as police, ambulance, and fire service vehicles performing their duties. These vehicles are subject to traffic regulations and a maximum speed limit of 5 km/h.

25. A “Customer Book” is available at the main entrance of the Zoo, where visitors can record their opinions (complaints, compliments, other feedback), and any visitor of the Zoo is entitled to make an entry. Possible complaints shall be investigated as soon as possible, but within 30 working days at the latest and, if so requested by the complainant, they shall be notified in a letter on the measures taken to remedy the complaint.

26. The Zoo is not responsible for any financial or other compensation for lost or misplaced items, including those that may fall into animal enclosures. Lost items can be handed in and retrieved at the Information Pavilion located at the main entrance of the Zoo. Items handed in will be stored for three months. The person who lost the item can claim it by providing a detailed description and proof of identity, provided the item was indeed handed in by someone else. Items that fall into water or animal enclosures may be retrieved by the appropriate staff at a time and in a manner depending on the animals’ schedules and the management of the enclosure. Visitors acknowledge that immediate retrieval may not always be possible. The Zoo has established specific procedures for handling lost items.

27. Visitors are fully liable for any damages they cause.

28. The Zoo shall reject all claims filed regarding damages resulting from the violation of the Visiting Rules by a Visitor.

29. Visitors may take photographs and video recordings for personal use in public areas of the Zoo, provided they comply with current laws and these Visiting Rules.

30. Visitors are not allowed to fly drones or record images by the cameras installed on such drones over the area of the Zoo and in its airspace; furthermore, it is strictly forbidden to record images by reaching into the yards or enclosures of the animals (for example with a selfie stick) due to the increased safety risk involved.

31. The written permission of the ZOO or a prior contract agreement entered into for that purpose shall be required if the recordings made in the areas of the ZOO are intended to be used for non-private purposes, in particular for commercial or business purposes. In this case, the creator and the user of the photos shall assume full financial and legal responsibility for the observance of the personality rights of the persons in the photos.

32. As part of the Zoo’s own documentation activities or during press work conducted with the Zoo’s permission, photographs and videos may be taken in which Zoo visitors may appear. As far as these images are concerned, the Visitor, by purchasing the ticket or (if free admission is granted to them) by using the free admission, accepts that if they are included in the image with at least two other persons then it qualifies as a mass image, and if the image includes, in addition to the Visitor concerned, a ZOO animal, plant or building or facility, in a discernible manner, the image concerned does not qualify as their personal portrayal, but as a view of the ZOO, and hence no claim can be raised by the Visitor regarding making or using the given image on the grounds of the right to personal portrayal. Visitors who do not want to be included in a discernible manner in mass photographs or views of the ZOO can indicate this at the main entrance at the start of their visit and the ZOO will accordingly not make any such images of them.

33. The Visiting Rules of the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden also apply to the Margaret Island Mini Zoo.