Come face to face with nature at Ähtäri Zoo
Ähtäri Zoo is Finland’s oldest zoo built in a natural environment. Here you can experience many wonders of the natural world!
While best known for its brown bears and great pandas, Ähtäri Zoo is home to several other exciting species from the Nordic region and Asia. It houses more than 50 animal species, including wolverines and wolves and the endangered red pandas, snow leopards and takins.
The zoo’s easy-to-navigate route runs through a wooded area. There are also playgrounds and picnic areas for enjoying a packed lunch or grilling sausages along the route. In summer, snacks and other refreshments can also be bought at the Kaakkolampi summer café, Lokki boat café and Café Farmi.
In addition to our two giant pandas Lumi and Pyry, Snowpanda House houses Snowpanda Deli&Café, where you can treat yourself to a delicious snack or buy panda products. More gifts and souvenirs are available at the Zoo Shop.
Ähtäri Zoo’s open farm offers an introduction to farm animals and farming.
Hotel Mesikämmen is located only a couple of minutes’ drive from the entrance to the zoo. Ähtäri Zoo Camping offers accommodation on the lakeshore of the beautiful Hankavesi, a stone’s throw away from the zoo. The campsite has cabins and larger Hirvi cottages that are also suitable for winter use.
SNOWPANDA HOUSE – HOME TO OUR SNOW PANDAS
Ähtäri Zoo’s Snowpanda House is a spectacular complex. Upon examining the premises in November 2017, the top experts of China’s State Forestry Administration’s panda centre concluded that the building and its outside enclosures make the best facility for keeping pandas outside of China. The building houses a viewing area from where you can observe our pandas in the outdoor and indoor closures. In addition to the spaces for the pandas, the building contains Snowpanda Deli&Café, a large outdoor seating area and a gift shop.
SNOWPANDA DELI&CAFÉ AND SNOWPANDA SHOP
Visitors to Snowpanda House are well catered for, with Snowpanda Deli&Café serving delicious burgers, pastas and salads. The café also offers all its delicacies to take away, so you can enjoy them later in one of the zoo’s picnic areas or in your hotel room or cabin. In the summer months, you can make use of our large and sunny outdoor seating area, where you can enjoy refreshments and the beautiful lake scenery. The outdoor area also houses a service point where you can purchase drinks and snacks.
Ähtäri Zoo Shop is located right next to Snowpanda House and offers a wide range of gifts and souvenirs, in addition to housing Paulig’s Takeaway Corner café.
