Worth a Journey

The World’s 100 Best Zoos & Aquariums · 2026

The Best Zoos & Aquariums in Asia

7 of the 100 zoos and aquariums in The World’s 100 Best Zoos & Aquariums 2026 are in Asia, in 3 countries. The highest placed is Shanghai Wild Animal Park in Shanghai, China, at number 38 in the world. Singapore Oceanarium in Singapore, Singapore (number 43) and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan in Osaka, Japan (number 50) follow.

Shanghai Wild Animal Park
N° 38 · Shanghai Wild Animal Park, Shanghai

Singapore

Singapore Oceanarium on Sentosa island replaced the former S.E.A. Aquarium. Its Open Ocean habitat and the Shark Seas tunnel are the main draws. Singapore Zoo in the Mandai area uses moats and glass instead of cages, with a rainforest walkway and a tram between zones.

Japan

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan in Osaka is a spiral route down around a central Pacific tank with whale sharks, manta rays and sunfish. Seals, penguins, otters and dolphins are shown along the descent. Kobe Animal Kingdom on Port Island in Kobe is mostly indoors, with shoebills, Pallas's cats, sloths and capybaras seen at close range.

Open enclosures

Nagasaki Bio Park in Saikai is on a hillside where animals roam with few fences or cages. Capybaras, kangaroos and squirrel monkeys can be fed and petted by hand there. Izu Shaboten Zoo in Ito sits at the foot of Mount Omuro, beside a large cactus garden, and peacocks and squirrel monkeys roam free.

Zoos and aquariums

100. Izu Shaboten Zoo 97. Kobe Animal Kingdom 92. Nagasaki Bio Park 75. Singapore Zoo 50. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan 43. Singapore Oceanarium 38. Shanghai Wild Animal Park
100. Izu Shaboten Zoo 97. Kobe Animal Kingdom 92. Nagasaki Bio Park 75. Singapore Zoo 50. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan 43. Singapore Oceanarium 38. Shanghai Wild Animal Park
  1. Shanghai Wild Animal Park N° 38 Shanghai Wild Animal Park Shanghai, China Safari park
  2. Singapore Oceanarium N° 43 Singapore Oceanarium Singapore, Singapore Aquarium
  3. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan N° 50 Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan Osaka, Japan Aquarium
  4. Singapore Zoo N° 75 Singapore Zoo Singapore, Singapore Zoo
  5. Nagasaki Bio Park N° 92 Nagasaki Bio Park Saikai, Japan Zoo
  6. Kobe Animal Kingdom N° 97 Kobe Animal Kingdom Kobe, Japan Zoo
  7. Izu Shaboten Zoo N° 100 Izu Shaboten Zoo Ito, Japan Zoo

Best by region

  1. The NordicsCopenhagen ZooCopenhagen, DenmarkN° 61
  2. EuropeZoo LeipzigLeipzig, GermanyN° 2
  3. AsiaShanghai Wild Animal ParkShanghai, ChinaN° 38
  4. North AmericaHenry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmaha, United StatesN° 1
  5. The CaribbeanZoo de Guadeloupe au Parc des MamellesBouillante, GuadeloupeN° 41
  6. Latin AmericaZoológico La AuroraGuatemala City, GuatemalaN° 44
  7. OceaniaAustralia ZooBeerwah, AustraliaN° 3

Best by kind

  1. AquariumsPoema del Mar AquariumLas Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainN° 15

Best by country

  1. United StatesHenry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmahaN° 1
  2. GermanyZoo LeipzigLeipzigN° 2
  3. SpainLoro ParquePuerto de la CruzN° 13
  4. FranceBioparc de Doué-la-FontaineDoué-la-FontaineN° 8
  5. PolandZoo WrocławWrocławN° 16
  6. United KingdomChester ZooChesterN° 21
  7. AustraliaAustralia ZooBeerwahN° 3