Head to the outskirts of Edinburgh to spend a day perusing the Edinburgh Zoo; with over 1,000 animals to meet, it’s going to take you at least that long. The Zoo is committed to its animal welfare and conservation programs, but there’s still visitor activities that let you get way up close – you can feed rainbow lorikeets or line up for the daily penguin parade (these penguins live large – they have the biggest penguin enclosure in the world!).
Among the many animals to meet are leopards, lions, otters, chimpanzees and the UK’s only koalas. There are also Animal Antics shows that show off the animals' natural abilities and allow for audience participation.
The zoo is easily reached by public transport; from the city center, buses 12, 26, 31, 100 and 48/X48 go to stops located directly outside it. You can also take trains from Edinburgh Waverley Station and Edinburgh Haymarket Station.
