Riga Zoo celebrates its 113th birthday with the traditional “Animal Days” on October 11-12, 2025, offering special discounts to visitors whose names contain animal references.
Special Discount Event Returns to Riga
The Riga National Zoological Garden continues its beloved annual tradition of “Animal Days” this October. Visitors with animal names in their first or last names receive a 50% discount on admission tickets.
Those lucky enough to have animal names in both their first and last names get free entry to the zoo.
How to Claim Your Animal Days Discount
To receive the discount, visitors must present a valid ID at the ticket office. Names in languages other than Latvian are welcome — visitors just need to prove the connection to an animal by showing the meaning in a dictionary or reliable online source.
The Animal Days discount cannot be combined with other promotional offers.
The Annual Name Competition
Each year during Animal Days, there’s excitement about which animal will be most represented among visitor names. In recent years, various forms of “Dove” (Balodis) have dominated, but strong competition comes from Bears (Lāči), Swans (Gulbji), Deer (Brieži), Roosters (Gaiļi), Rabbits (Zaķi), and Lynx (Lūši).
Will Doves maintain their lead this year, or will another animal take the top spot??
Special Guided Tours Available
During Animal Days, visitors can join special open tours to meet Riga Zoo’s most famous residents. For an additional €5 on top of the admission price, guided tours offer fascinating facts and the chance to touch unique animal items.
Tour participants can feel camel or alpaca wool, flamingo feathers, porcupine quills, lion dreadlocks, and see hippo teeth, tiger whiskers, snake skin, seal pup fur, and reindeer antler velvet.
Tours run on both October 11 and 12 at 12:00 PM. Tickets are available at the zoo’s ticket office.
Visitor Information
Riga Zoo ticket offices operate from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on October 11-12. Visitors can continue walking the zoo paths until 7:00 PM.
The zoo invites everyone with an animal name — whether it’s a mammal, bird, insect, fish, or any other living creature — to join the birthday celebrations during Animal Days at Riga National Zoological Garden.
Animal Names Welcome in All Languages
International visitors shouldn’t worry about language barriers. Animal names in English, Russian, German, Lithuanian, Estonian or any other language qualify for the discount. Popular English animal names like Fox, Wolf, Bear, Bird, or Fish would all be eligible.
Simply bring your ID and be prepared to show the animal connection if asked.
