The Ostrava Zoo, on a wooded slope across the river from the centre, is one of the larger zoos in Central Europe with about 4,000 animals and a strong reputation for ape breeding (its chimpanzee group is among the largest in Europe). The park combines a zoo with a botanical garden and a long forest path that climbs to a small lookout.
It is genuinely family-friendly — a full day's visit — and the layout encourages a slow circuit on foot. Tram and bus routes connect the gates to the centre of town.