Zoom Torino: tickets and a guide to the Cumiana biopark

What Zoom is

Zoom is a biopark in the countryside of Cumiana, at the foot of the hills between Turin and Pinerolo. It is neither a traditional zoo with rows of enclosures nor a drive-through safari: you walk a loop that crosses a series of recreated habitats, mostly inspired by Africa and Asia, where the animals live in large spaces and barriers are hidden as far as possible behind vegetation, moats and glass.

The idea is to put visitors inside the landscape: you move from the savannah to an Asian village, watch hippos underwater and penguins from the edge of a beach. Throughout the day the park’s biologists give short talks in front of the habitats, explaining how the animals live and the conservation projects Zoom supports. It is aimed mainly at families, but adults looking for a day outdoors away from the city enjoy it too.

Animals, habitats and pools

The route takes in around ten main habitats and is best done slowly, with plenty of stops.

The animals

• African savannah: giraffes, zebras and antelopes share wide open spaces, with the lions in a separate area.
• Asia: tigers and other Asian species in densely planted habitats with close-up viewpoints.
• Hippos: their pool lets you watch them swim below the waterline.
• African penguins, lemurs, kangaroos, emus and capybaras complete the loop, along with reptiles such as iguanas.

Beaches and experiences

In summer Zoom also becomes a water park: Bolder Beach is a beach with a pool next to the penguin enclosure, Malawi Beach looks onto the hippos, and the Zambezi Falls are a water area designed for young children. At extra cost there are animal encounter experiences and even the Lake Eyasi glamping, safari-style tents for spending the night in the park.

Season and opening hours

Zoom is a seasonal park. It usually reopens at weekends towards the end of winter, then opens daily from spring until early November; it is closed in the coldest months. Gates open at 10am, while closing time varies a lot: from late afternoon in the low season to evening on summer days, when there are also night openings.

Exact dates change every year, so check the calendar on Zoom’s official website before you go. The beaches have their own calendar and open only in the warm season. On summer weekends and long holiday weekends it gets busy: arriving at opening time means easy parking and animals at their most active, before the hottest hours.

Getting there from Turin

Zoom is about 30 km south-west of Turin and cannot be reached by metro or GTT city bus.

• By car: take the ring road and then the main road towards Pinerolo, exit at Piscina and follow signs for Cumiana for about 4 km. From the centre it usually takes 40 minutes. The park’s car park is paid (about €5).
• By train: the SFM2 line leaves from Porta Susa and Lingotto and stops at Piscina di Pinerolo station, about 1.5 km from the park. At certain times of year a shuttle runs from the station, with morning departures and afternoon returns; on other days it is roughly a 20-minute walk, or book a taxi. Train travellers may get a discount at the gate: check the conditions on Zoom’s website.
• By bus: some regional lines link Turin and Pinerolo with the area, but they are less practical than the train.

For trains and public transport in the city, see our guide to getting around Turin.

Which ticket to choose

Zoom sells tickets directly, on its website and at the gate, using dynamic pricing: the same entry can cost about €13 on a low-season weekday and approach €30 on a Saturday in July. Children under 3 go free. Entry including the pools costs a few euros more than park-only entry.

On Tiqets you will find entry to Zoom from €20, rated 4.5 out of 5 from nearly 600 reviews: handy if you want to fix the date in advance and keep the ticket on your phone. Before booking, compare it with the official website’s price for your chosen day and check whether the ticket includes the pools.

The Torino+Piemonte Card only gives a discount at Zoom, not free entry: it makes sense if you are buying it anyway for the city’s museums, not for the biopark alone. All the other attractions in the city are gathered on our Turin tickets page.

Practical tips and planning your day

• Sun and heat: most of the route is outdoors. In summer bring a hat, sunscreen and water; on hot days the animals are most active in the morning.
• What to bring: comfortable shoes, a swimsuit and towel if you plan to use the pools, and a light jacket in spring and autumn.
• Food: there are snack bars and picnic areas in the park; on busy days eat lunch early.
• With children: the paths suit pushchairs; for specific accessibility needs, ask the park before your visit.
• Planning the day: Zoom deserves a day of its own. Do not pair it with the Palace of Venaria, which is on the opposite side of Turin: keep that for another day. If you return by train to Porta Susa, you can finish with a stroll and an aperitivo in the centre; more ideas are on our things to do in Turin page.

For other destinations outside the city, from the hills to the royal residences, see our day trips from Turin.