Medium sized zoo, perfect for half a day outing. 44 different species of animals, all close to each other and easily visible. Interactive experiences, including goats petting zoo, pony riding and occasional shows. Great playgrounds. Rapperswil (Switzerland)
Final verdict: Highly recommended for kids 2-10 years old
The "it" factor
What makes it special:
Not too large and compact - easy to explore with small kids
Packed with animals - very visible and quite close to each other
Interactive - goats petting zoo, pony, elephant, camel riding and more
Many playgrounds
Clean and quite green
What needs to be considered:
It can get crowded on days off
Many areas are sun exposed and it can get hot on sunny days
Rapperswil Zoo Impressions video
The fun factor
What makes Rapperswil Knie's Zoo and its 44 different types of animals engaging are the variety, size and the layout. It is not too large with animals placed near each other and all very visible, so kids don't get bored walking and are more likely to stay engaged as they keep discovering giraffes, elephants, yacks, camels, horses, cheetahs, penguins, flamingoes, meerkats - just to name a few.
We particularly appreciated how interactive this zoo is. The highlight for toddlers and preschoolers is the goat petting and feeding area (you can purchase special food at the restaurant or a shop). Goats are very friendly and keen to engage and our daughter was giggling as they were approaching her, demanding their treats.
At an extra cost (4 chf in 2023), kids below 30 kg can do a short pony rides, kids above 6 years - camel rides and there are also elephant rides for the whole family. When you are a bit tired but want to keep exploring, there is a small horse-pulled carriage (paid extra) going through the zoo.
This zoo is a playground heaven. Swings, slides, large water spraying whale, climbing constructs, and a giant pirate ship. They break the visit quite nicely and add a significant fun factor for the kids.
There are also seasonal shows in the Knees Zauberhut event hut. In 2023 we particularly enjoyed the birds show and Pippi Longstocking theatre play. Some are included, some are paid extra - check their website for the latest ones.
On days off, more so in the afternoon and when the weather is nice, it can get quite crowded - especially at the restaurants, pony rides and playgrounds.
The food factor
There are two self-service restaurants, both with similar and standard fast-food and salad offerings. We often find the Restaurant Tiergarten (by the entrance of the zoo) less crowded.
There is also a Thai restaurant open only from 5 pm, occasional brunches (booking required) and a bubble tea place which is a nice treat.
The value factor
We find Knie's Kinderzoo reasonably priced and appreciated that kids below 4 enter for free and that there is a flat fee for families with many children.
Practical info
* How does the rating work?
As it is difficult to compare different types of activities, each one is evaluated against similar in its category (e.g. animal parks are compared against animal parks). The scoring is completely subjective. Activities scored 4 (recommended or recommended for specific audience) or 5 (highly recommended) are considered as best in class and worth a visit.