Visit a zoo or an aquarium

Visiting a zoo or an aquarium means an afternoon up close with animals you'd otherwise only see on a screen: an orangutan swinging overhead, a whale shark gliding past the glass. Good ones also breed endangered species and fund conservation in the wild, so choosing well matters as much as going.

Where to do it

Schönbrunn Zoo, Austria

Founded in 1752 in the gardens of Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace, it is the oldest zoo still running, with a baroque pavilion at its center. A visit pairs easily with the palace itself in Austria's capital.

London Zoo, United Kingdom

Opened in Regent's Park in 1828 as a scientific collection of the Zoological Society of London, which still runs it and its conservation work. It's an easy half day from central London in the United Kingdom.

Berlin Zoological Garden, Germany

Opened in 1844, it is the oldest zoo in Germany, right beside the Tiergarten park. The aquarium next door has its own ticket, or a combined one.

San Diego Zoo, United States

In Balboa Park, with big habitats on hilly canyons; its sister Safari Park lies north of the city. On the other coast of the United States, the Bronx Zoo is one of New York's great days out.

Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, Singapore

The Night Safari, opened next to the zoo in 1994, is recognized by Guinness World Records as the first nocturnal zoo. Visit the zoo by day and stay for the Night Safari after dark, when Singapore's heat drops.

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Japan

Its huge Kuroshio Sea tank holds whale sharks and manta rays. The aquarium sits on Okinawa's northern coast, a long drive from Naha, so many visitors combine it with beaches in this corner of Japan.

Oceanogràfic, Spain

Part of Valencia's City of Arts and Sciences, with underwater tunnels where sharks swim overhead. Pair it with the science museum next door in Spain.

Two Oceans Aquarium, South Africa

On Cape Town's V&A Waterfront, it shows the sea life of the two oceans that meet off the Cape. It's a good rainy-day plan in South Africa.

When to go

Go when the gates open: animals are most active in the cool of the morning and around feeding times, and crowds are thinner. Midday heat sends many animals to sleep in the shade. Aquariums are busiest on rainy weekends.

How to make it happen

• Choose an accredited zoo. Membership of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, or a regional body such as AZA in North America or EAZA in Europe, means welfare standards are checked.
• Skip places that offer animal rides, cub petting or selfies holding wild animals.
• Check feeding times and keeper talks on the day's schedule when you arrive.
• Buy a membership if the zoo is local; it often pays for itself after a few visits.
• For the photo, take one outside the entrance too. Big indoor halls can confuse a phone's location.

Seen them here? Try wild animals in the wild next. A botanical garden makes a quiet afternoon nearby. More ideas: the Close to home chapter.