Guldborgsund Zoo & Botanisk Have

A beloved green corner of Nykøbing Falster

Guldborgsund Zoo & Botanisk Have occupied a sheltered pocket along Østre Alle in Nykøbing Falster, where tree-lined paths, lawns and flower beds framed a compact but varied collection of animals. Designed as a town park as much as a zoo, it felt intimate and walkable, with winding routes that encouraged you to explore at an easy pace rather than rush from exhibit to exhibit. The site combined traditional enclosures with softer landscape features: ponds that mirrored the sky, mature trees providing shade in summer, and seasonal planting that brought colour to spring and late summer days. Even though the grounds were carefully organised, the overall impression was of a green refuge tucked into the urban fabric, where birdsong and the sounds of animals softened the sense of being in town.

Animals, themes and gentle encounters

The zoo element focused on a mix of familiar domestic breeds and more exotic species. Hoofed animals and smaller mammals occupied grassy paddocks, while aviaries housed colourful birds whose calls carried across the paths. Reptiles and smaller creatures were often displayed in more controlled habitats, giving a taste of varied ecosystems within a relatively small area. Rather than monumental exhibits, Guldborgsund Zoo leaned into close-range viewing: low fences, glass panels at child height, and platforms that allowed you to look across enclosures from different angles. Feeding times and informal talks added rhythm to the day, connecting everyday animal behaviour with simple explanations of habitats, diet and conservation themes in a family-friendly way.

Botanical pockets and seasonal colour

Alongside the animals, the botanical side of the park offered curated plant beds and small themed areas that highlighted both local and more unusual species. Shrub borders, perennial beds and specimen trees were arranged to give contrasting textures and colours, from fresh spring blossoms to autumn foliage. Labels and small information signs introduced plant names and origins, helping to frame the garden not just as decoration but as a quiet educational thread running through the zoo. The mix of open lawns and denser plantings meant that you could move from sunny, open spaces to more secluded, leafy corners in just a few steps, making the garden element an integral part of the overall experience.

Play, picnics and unhurried time

Playgrounds and informal play spaces were woven into the grounds, turning the zoo into a full-day outing for families with younger children. Climbing frames, swings and sand areas offered breaks between animal areas, while broad lawns and scattered benches encouraged lingering rather than ticking off a checklist of species. Picnic spots, often shaded by trees or near flower beds, invited visitors to bring their own food and treat the zoo as a park as much as an attraction. The soundscape blended laughter from the playgrounds, rustling leaves and the occasional call from an enclosure, reinforcing the feeling of being outdoors in a safe, contained environment.

A site in transition

Today, Guldborgsund Zoo & Botanisk Have is permanently closed, and its future role within the town’s green network is in transition. What remains is its footprint in local memory: a small-scale zoo and garden that showed how animal care, horticulture and recreation could coexist in a single urban space. For anyone tracing the character of Nykøbing Falster, the former zoo still marks an important point on the map, a reminder of how this corner of town once gathered families, school groups and nature-curious visitors behind its gates. Even as enclosures stand silent, the legacy of leaves, lawns and learning continues to shape how people think about this part of Østre Alle.