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After years of anticipation, the Biodome at the Budapest Zoo is beginning a new chapter with the opening of its central hall as the Biodome Urban Oasis, a permanent indoor attraction that visitors can enjoy throughout the year.
After years of anticipation, the Biodome at the Budapest Zoo is opening its central hall as the Biodome Urban Oasis, a permanent indoor attraction that visitors can enjoy throughout the year.
The newly opened area occupies nearly one hectare of the Biodome’s 1.7-hectare building. Designed as a four-season indoor environment, the Urban Oasis offers a tropical and subtropical world that can be explored regardless of the weather outside.
The highlight of the new attraction is its lush plant collection. Around 13,000 tropical and subtropical plants have been installed throughout the space, creating the atmosphere of an indoor jungle. More than one hundred of these plants are tree-sized specimens over five metres tall, transforming the vast hall into a green landscape unlike anything else in Budapest.
The Urban Oasis is also home to several remarkable animal species. Visitors can see hulmans, a group of Asian monkeys related to Old World monkeys, as well as critically endangered Bali mynas. Other residents include African spurred tortoises, one of the world’s largest land tortoise species, along with additional rare and unusual animals displayed throughout the hall.
Adding to the experience is a dramatic 14.5-metre-high waterfall cascading through the interior. Together with the multi-level botanical and zoological exhibits, it creates a striking setting intended as both a leisure space and an educational environment focused on the natural world.
Széchenyi Thermal Baths with the Biodome in the background
The Zoo has also revealed additional attractions for visitors. Among the surprises being introduced to the Biodome are life-sized dinosaur models, including moving specimens created in cooperation with international partners. These displays add a prehistoric dimension to the tropical setting and are expected to be especially popular with families.
The opening represents the latest step in bringing the Biodome into regular use. While parts of the building have hosted temporary exhibitions and events in recent years, the Urban Oasis becomes a permanent attraction integrated into the Budapest Zoo experience. Zoo officials describe the opening as the beginning of a new phase for the Biodome, with hopes that additional areas may become accessible in the future.
The Biodome Urban Oasis offers a unique opportunity to experience exotic wildlife, tropical vegetation and spectacular indoor scenery within the historic City Park area.
Of course, zoo tickets will also be valid for the Biodome area!
