Faunia — Attraction in Madrid

I loved being so close to the animals, my kids were seriously excited. I didn't bring my pushchair (mistake! Bring your own) and was a little annoyed that the kiddie car thing we hired to push them along instead a) cost €15! b) All had badly maintained tiny trolley like wheels meaning they were super difficult to push along, and really noisy. For €15 I'd like the smoothness of a Ferrari please.

Also as the "parking points" for them were only at food courts and not around exhibits, we had to have one of us stay outside with it as they were normally two big for the exhibits and other kids kept trying to get in them and escape (sorry guys, not for €15....)

While the parking is not too expensive, it really bothered me having to pay extra after shelling out nearly €100 on tickets. Plus you have to validate them at the ticket/photo booth, which is incredibly stupid, instead of having a machine to do it on the inside of the park - guys your park is in the middle of nowhere, Noone is coming here for free parking.

Also, there are no signs or information anywhere even saying you have to validate the ticket, so many people went to the barrier, then had to reverse back, get out, and walk back to the entrance booth - they weren't even asked for tickets as proof of having entered either so same price whether you're a customer or not I guess....

I am a "familia numerosa" and the online website also gave me a million difficulties and I ended up having to buy the tickets without the discount I am entitled to, although at three euros I won't exactly lose any sleep over it.

The "app" they tell you that you need to download for paperless tickets does NOT work, don't bother downloading it. You can just show the electronic copies you get in your email and zoom in on the barcode.

Although I felt like the animals habitats were large and well-kept, I felt really bad for animals in areas where silence was requested. I really don't know what is wrong with people that they need to be shouting and banging on glass and letting their kids run around like absolute maniac berserkers while the animals look visibly distressed and there are signs everywhere asking for silence.

The animals in the nocturnal section seemed to be the worst off, they were acting very agitated. Sadly, as people apparently can't be trusted, the park should really have someone in that section to shush loud idiots, as the animals and their welfare is their responsibility.

The food is OK, but very unhealthy and expensive - bring your own snacks at least. There is a really nice picnic area with benches inside a large playground, but it was super crowded the...

We visited on a Sunday in October. Two adults and a three year old child. English/ Italian. This park has the potential to be significantly better than it is. The main problem is the total lack of staff present around the park. Staff are to be found only conducting the shows (well put together and keepers clearly very respectful towards the animals in their care) and the occasional 'educational tour' (only in Spanish, like everything here including the website, which is a pity given the amount of international tourism) and working in shops/restaurants/kiosks, cleaning staff, etc. So there is no-one keeping an eye on the animals and monitoring people's behaviour. There are plenty of signs politely asking guests not to use flash, or in some areas not to take photos/use phones, there are quiet areas where guests are asked to be silent, there are signs about not feeding particular animals, or feeding particular food to particular animals. There is no-one about to enforce any of the above, and there was a shocking lack of common sense, respect and civility amongst the majority of the guests. Shouting, banging on the glass, running around, pushing, taking selfies, flash photography, breaking plants, climbing onto barriers and feeding the animals any random thing seems here to be the norm, and not just children - their parents were no better. The result was a significantly worse experience for all involved, the animals and the guests. The most extreme example of this was in the nocturnal area where the noise level amongst the public was such we couldn't hear each other speak and half the people there were on their phones, despite signs asking for silence and prohibiting use of screens. This situation needs to be...

Faunia provides a very well-designed and enjoyable day out. One of the things I appreciated most was the park's layout. There is a single, clear path that guides you through all the different ecosystems, so it's incredibly easy to navigate and you don't have to worry about missing anything or backtracking. It makes for a very relaxing and logical visit. A huge highlight is the sea lion show – it's highly entertaining and definitely a must-see.

​A couple of important tips for future visitors: first, make sure to buy your tickets online in advance. The price at the entrance is significantly higher, so booking ahead can save you a lot of money. Second, it's good to know that this isn't a traditional zoo. You won't find some of the larger animals like lions or giraffes. I'd recommend checking the list of animals on their website beforehand to set the right expectations and avoid any...