• Reduced numbers – There will be a limited amount of tickets available on a first-come-first-served basis.
  We ask that you only book tickets for the sensory friendly night if one of your group has sensory sensitivities.
• 15-minute entrance times – Time slots will be 15 minutes apart, which should reduce the time it takes to get into the event.
  We ask that you arrive as close to your booked time slot as possible.
  If required, you can leave one of your group in the queue whilst the person with sensory sensitivities and a support person walks around until it is time to go in.
• Sensory / comfort items – Please bring whatever items that help put you or the person you are caring for at ease. Sensory/fidget items, weighted blankets, ear defenders, sunglasses etc. Assistance dogs are not permitted into Dublin Zoo.
  Balloons, sparklers, bikes and scooters are not permitted into DublinZoo.
• Social Story – We have put together a social story with visuals which some will find useful in planning your visit.
  We suggest that you download the social story here to your device and/or print a copy to bring with you on the night.
• Event planner – Please download the event planner here which details the arrival and exit of Wild Lights and allows visitors to prepare for your visit.
• Sensory map – We have created a sensory map which indicates which areas may have loud sounds, smells and crowds. The map also notes where the zoothing/calm spaces are located as well as the accessible toilets and Changing Places facilities. You can download the map here.
• Zoothing/calm spaces – We will have two dedicated spaces where visitors can step away from the main route and take a few minutes to regulate and prepare for the next part of your journey.
• Accessible toilets – Each of the accessible toilets will be clearly signposted on the blue wayfinding signage.
  There is also a full Changing Places facility in operation. The code to enter this facility will be given to each visitor upon entrance – but there will be stewards in the area who can also give you access.

Yes, you can download the Wild Lights social story, event planner and sensory-friendly map below:

Social story.

Event planner.

Sensory map.

Yes, these will be located in the Meerkat cafe and the Discovery and Learning Theatre (subject to change, visitors will be notified of any changes to these areas) and are noted as ‘Zoothing areas’ on our map.

• These areas will be used specifically as calming spaces and visitors will be asked to respect others and their individual needs.
• To keep noise to a minimum only the person in need of the space at the time and their carer / designated support person to accompany them.
• These spaces will be needed by others so we would ask respectfully that once the person feels ready to move on that they do so.
• No food or hot beverages are to be consumed in these spaces. The smell / sight / sounds from food and drinks can be a strong trigger for other peoples’ senses.
• You can also ask any of the stewards in the orange coats standing by the barriers if you can step off the main route for a moment if required.
• It is recommended to bring whatever equipment the person needs to use as a calming method.
  Ear Defenders
  Fidgets
  Blanket etc

Yes, there are toilets and accessible toilets marked here on our map and are also sign posted on our blue wayfinding signs.

A fully accessible Changing Places facility is available to visitors who require this facility specifically. Each visitor will be verbally told the access code to this upon arrival.

Hand dryers. Some toilets are fitted with taps which incorporate an automatic hand dryer at the tap. If the sound of the hand dryer is a source of distress please use the accessible toilets.

Wednesday 20th November 2024 from 5pm – 9pm.

Admission times to Wild Lights are as follow:  

• 5pm-9pm (Last entry is strictly 8.00pm) 

• Sessions will be every 15 minutes to alleviate queuing times.

Please arrive at your designated pre-booked time slot.

No, once you enter Dublin Zoo before 8pm, your time is not limited and you can stay until we close.  

Please remember to double-check the last entry time for the date you’ll be visiting.  

The experience is suitable for all ages, families, couples and groups alike. This experience is wheelchair and buggy accessible.

Yes, the route has been designed so that wheelchairs and buggies can get around as easily as possible.

You can book a ticket for any date of Wild Lights as the route has been designed so that wheelchairs and buggies can get around as easily as possible.

For visitors with mobility issues, Dublin Zoo has a limited number of wheelchairs. These wheelchairs are available on a first-come first-served basis. Please email [email protected] reserve a wheelchair.

Guide dogs are not permitted into Wild Lights.

Wild Lights is back with an exciting brand new theme for this year – ‘A Journey Through Time’.

From Earth’s creation and the dawn of dinosaurs to the rise of civilisations and empires as well as first inventions, discover the history of our planet through the ages.

As you journey through the immersive experience, over a thousand breath-taking, magical lanterns will tell the story of evolution and life on earth.

On the sensory evening, the normal Wild Lights event will be mirrored but visitors can explore the event at their own pace in a less-crowded environment, there will also be the addition of a sensory map and calm spaces.

Yes, the music will be slightly lowered but there will still be music and noise along the trail. We will have marked all of the loud/music areas on the sensory map that will be available nearer the time on our website and will be emailed in advance to all ticket purchasers.

No, it’s very unlikely you’ll see the animals as at that time of year they’ll mostly be in their indoor habitats and houses where it’s warm! 

No, Wild Lights admission tickets do not give admission to the Zoo during daytime operating hours. 

Wild Lights will still go ahead unless weather conditions are deemed unsafe for our visitors, staff and animals, in which the event will be cancelled. Please see our cancellation policy below.  

Please be aware that this is an outdoor winter experience so please dress appropriately.  

There are lockers available at the entrance. The lockers cost €5. Once you pay, you can operate the lockers via the key.

Note: In line with standard protocol for past Wild Lights, backpacks and large bags are not permitted. Only small bags measuring no bigger than A4 (8.27in/21cm x 11.7/ 29.7cm) will be permitted into the Zoo.

This is an alcohol and drug-free experience. 

There is one ATM on-site at Wild Lights, located in the main gift shop at the entrance of the Zoo.  

Entry to Wild Lights is subject to bag searches. For the safety and enjoyment of all attending, An Garda Síochána and Dublin Zoo request that patrons leave bags at home while attending Wild Lights.

Note: In line with standard protocol for past Wild Lights, backpacks and large bags are not permitted. Only small bags measuring no bigger than A4 (8.27in/21cm x 11.7/ 29.7cm) will be permitted into the Zoo.
 

Exceptions will be made for people with medical conditions and children, but all bags will be subject to search.

This is an alcohol and drug-free experience. 

Management reserves the right to refuse admission and to eject any persons attempting to interfere with Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo or gain access to any non-public areas within the Zoo. Please note and adhere to all public signage and staff instructions while in the Zoo. 

Yes, the Dublin Zoo gift shop will be open. Alternatively, you can visit our online Zootique to purchase your Dublin Zoo gifts and have them posted to you. 

There are also a number of festive kiosks open. Please take a look at the map below for further information.

Sensory-friendly map

Yes, there will be select toilets available along the trail as well as accessible and Changing Places facilities which are signposted on our blue wayfinding signage. 

There will be select food and beverage kiosks available for take away services along the trail. 

Dublin Zoo is situated in Phoenix Park in the city of Dublin. The city is easily accessible from all over Ireland by car, bus and train.

Dublin Bus is the easiest and most extensive travel network in Dublin. Please double-check bus timetables before you depart as each line does not run all day. 

The bus routes that stop closest to Dublin Zoo are: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, 26, 46A, 69

There is no designated parking for Dublin Zoo in Phoenix Park and parking will be on a first-come basis, but below are our suggested parking based on your time slot:

You can view the parking in more detail on this map.

5-6pm: Park on the Upper North road, Garda Headquarters and Married Quarters

6-7pm:  Park on Lords Walk car park and Citadel Pond

7-8pm:  North Road

There are no concession tickets for visitors with additional needs aside from the entry of a free carer, a standard child or adult ticket must be purchased.  

Visitors with additional needs may admit one accompanying carer free of charge when attending Wild Lights. Free of charge carer tickets are required for entry and can be acquired by contacting the Dublin Zoo Wild Lights’ Team at [email protected] 

Please bring relevant ID and documentation, such as an IAA Autism ID card, or an associated membership card that confirms the visitor is unable to visit Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo independently without the aid of a carer or mobility aid. 

Yes, the route has been designed so that wheelchairs and buggies can get around as easily as possible. 

For visitors with mobility issues, Dublin Zoo has a limited number of wheelchairs. These wheelchairs are available on a first-come first-served basis. 

Tickets are only available to buy online here

There will be no ticket sales available from the ticket office at Dublin Zoo.

Wild Lights is a date and time specific event. However, Dublin Zoo offers Wild Lights customers the option to change the date of their booking up to 7 days before their original date of visit. If you wish to change your booking date there are two options:

1. If you set up an online ticketing account through the Dublin Zoo website when you made your Wild Lights booking (or were signed into a preexisting account when placing your order) you can change your date free of charge up to 7 days before the date of the original ticket to another available date with sufficient capacity.

2. If you do not have an online ticketing account then you can email the Wild Lights customer service team to change your booking date. This can be done up to 7 days before the original date booked. To use this option there is an admin fee of €4 per ticket, payable immediately. If you wish to avail of this option, please email [email protected] with your booking reference, the date you would like to change to, the name and email address you used to book and a contact telephone number to arrange payment of the admin fee.

There is no option to change the date of your booking if it is less than 7 days from the visit date originally booked. Please be advised that November 22nd is the only sensory-friendly evening.

Wild Lights is a date and time-specific experience. Tickets are valid for the chosen date and time of booking ONLY. Tickets are non-refundable. 

General Public
Adults: €25.50
Child: €21
Under 3s: €0 (a ticket is still required that must be added to online purchase free of charge)
Student: €22.50
OAP: €22.50
Carers: €0*

Annual Pass Holders
Adults: €23.50
Child: €19
Student: €21.50
OAP: €21.50 
Carers: €0*

*Visitors with special needs may admit one accompanying carer/support person free of charge when they purchase an additional needs adult or child ticket.

Please bring relevant ID and documentation, such as an IAA Autism ID card, or an associated membership card, GP letter or hospital consultant letter which confirms the visitor is unable to visit Dublin Zoo independently without the aid of a carer or mobility aid.

Yes, children aged under 3 go free to Wild Lights but they must have a valid ticket to enter which can be added to your purchase free of charge at www.dublinzoo.ie  

Students and Senior Citizens can attend Wild Lights at a discounted rate. They must bring a valid ID when presenting their ticket at the gate. 

There are no concession tickets available for visitors with additional needs aside from the entry of a free carer/support person, a standard child or adult ticket must be purchased.  

Visitors with additional needs may admit one accompanying carer/support person free of charge when attending Wild Lights. Free-of-charge carer/support person tickets are required for entry and can be added to your basket alongside the rest of your tickets.  

Please bring relevant ID and documentation, such as an IAA Autism ID card, or an associated membership card which confirms the visitor is unable to visit Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo independently without the aid of a carer or mobility aid. 

Tickets are on sale now and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Book early to avoid disappointment! 

The tickets for the sensory-friendly night are limited to ensure that visitors with sensory sensitivities can enjoy their experience in a less-crowded environment. November 20th 2024 is the only sensory-friendly Wild Lights evening.

No, we don’t require tickets to be printed. E-tickets can be scanned on any mobile device. However, if you wish to print your ticket we will accept them in paper format too.   

You should have received an email from Dublin Zoo after booking with your ticket information however, due to high volumes of site traffic on certain dates, this is sometimes delayed. If you have not received this, have a look in your junk/spam email folder. If you are still having difficulties, email [email protected] with your booking reference, the date you booked, the name and email address you used to book and a contact telephone number, and we will be happy to help. 

No, Wild Lights admission tickets do not give admission to the Zoo during daytime operating hours. 

Yes, if you have a valid Dublin Zoo annual pass card then you will be entitled to a discount. The rate for an annual pass for adults is €22.50 and for children is €18. 

A valid annual pass is required to avail of the annual pass discount. You will be required to enter your unique annual pass number when booking online. A valid annual pass matching the name on the Wild Lights ticket will also need to be presented on arrival at the Dublin Zoo entrance. Normal annual pass T&C’s apply. 

No, we do not offer a discount for Fota Wildlife Park’s annual pass holders. 

Dublin Zoo does not offer refunds for Wild Lights tickets apart from in the event of a venue closure actioned by Dublin Zoo. 

In the event of a cancellation of Wild Lights, attendees will be notified at the earliest convenience by email to the email address used to book the tickets. It is the responsibility of the attendees to check their emails before departing for the event to check for any updates and to make sure email addresses are correctly entered when booking tickets.  

In the event of a cancellation, attendees will be given a full refund which they will receive within 15 working days of the cancelled event.  

Dublin Zoo accepts no responsibility for a customer’s inability to attend Wild Lights due to any external factor including but not exclusive to traffic restrictions, illness, weather conditions etc. 

Dublin Zoo reserves the right to change or update experience timings and content up to and on the day of the event. 

Dublin Zoo reserves the right to cancel any nights of Wild Lights for any reason deemed necessary for the safety and well-being of our visitors, staff and animals including unsafe weather conditions.  

In the event of a cancellation of Wild Lights, attendees will be notified at the earliest convenience by email to the email address used to book the tickets. It is the responsibility of the attendees to check their emails before departing for Wild Lights to check for any updates, and to make sure email addresses are correctly entered when booking tickets.  

In the event of a cancellation, attendees will be given a full refund which they will receive within 15 working days maximum of the cancelled date.