Plzeň Zoo (Zoologická a botanická zahrada města Plzně) is one of the better provincial zoos in the Czech Republic, located in a wooded hillside north of the city centre about 20 minutes by tram. The zoo covers around 21 hectares and keeps over 1,200 animals from about 200 species, with a particular strength in large mammals — big cats, bears, primates — and a good reptile house.
The zoo shares its grounds with a botanical garden, which gives the whole site an unusually green and park-like atmosphere. There are good enclosures for gorillas, orangutans, and a walk-through free-flight bird aviary. The children's section includes petting areas with domestic animals. The zoo is genuinely well-maintained and makes a half-day trip when combined with a walk in the nearby Lochotín park. Getting there: tram 4 toward Lochotín, about 5 stops from the centre; or a pleasant 30-minute walk through residential streets.