Calgary Zoo Reviews

Zoo lights is such a wonderful time! The zoo is decorated beautifully, there's bonfires throughout and the skate rink is a lovely touch. I'd recommend this to anyone in the city during December!

The zoo is amazing. Contains a wide varieties of animals. The butterfly house is a new experience. The zoo has an african safari , eurasian, and Canadian wild animals. It took us 4 hours to go through every place and see all the animals. The parking is 12 $ for the whole day and the adult admission is 35$ and kids are 25$. There several ice cream parlors and cafes. The animals are sleepy and lazy which can make them not properly visible.

This zoo beats any other zoo I have experienced. It is worth admission just to do one of the themed sections, let alone all of them. A must stop place in Calgary

Calgary Zoo is laird out very well. Great for kids. The lemur area is great. One tip
: get tickets in advance to see the pandas. They are incredibly popular.

Wonderful zoo. They seem to be about wild life conservation a lot. And they treat their animals with such care.

Great day all the animals were out enjoying the sunny day

Good sized zoo to spend a day. Could be bigger, but for the price and size it's nice to go with your friends. Zoo Lights is always nice on a winter night; bring back Illuminasia please! Calgary needs more events like it.

We have been members at the zoo for many years. My kids love going. I really appreciate all the volunteers who are eager and willing to answer questions my children have about the different animals. It is always a great experience.

The Calgary Zoo is amazing. I came to see the pandas and they did not disappoint. I also saw the lemurs and the immersive experience with them was great. Parking was really easy to find and the train station stops right in the zoo. I always learn new things when I come to the zoo and though the price to get in is high, I know it goes to supporting the zoo's great conservation initiatives.

First time visiting the Zoo and I can't say enough about it. What a fun filled day! With Covid, being inside means you need to wear a mask, BUT while outside it's mask free, (even with LOADS of people walking around) so it helps an all day activity not feel uncomfortable especially if it's a hot one out! I loved seeing the penguins and giraffes - staff was knowledgable and very friendly. I also appreciated the protocols they enforced around the park to ensure safety measures were being met, for example: I saw two people on different occasions spraying down metal hand bars and railings with sanitizer and making sure that if it was a "high touch" zone, you're reminded to sanitize yourself. Great job! Wanted to come back the next day for another full day!

It's more walking now that it's all one way But that's ok we love walking it was a great experience

Lots of fun was had here. The prices are outrageous now. But I think that's just the name of the game these days. The Freakin gift shop needs to stick Komodo Dragon toys though. Had one sad kid

Have come to the Calgary zoo since I was a young kid. Try to make a visit anytime I am in Calgary. Large areas for the animals to roam and they appear healthy and well taken care of.

We love how big this place is, even when crowded there s space to get away from people. Many interactive programs to take in, check the website. Buy your tickets online too to skip the line and save $5. Stroller friendly for the most part and they warn you where it isn t.

Excellent experience! Happy animals and informative staff!

Place like magic, worth seeing, a lot of things to watch and hike around.

Attended a wedding there last weekend and the staff and grounds were great. The grounds were very well maintained and the staff were helpful and very friendly

Visited during the COVID era at 1:30pm. They have a marked route for you to follow for the entire zoo with a few detours. Most animals were active when I went and I got to see the Lions, Tigers and a Snow Leopard for the first time.

School has started and must've cut down the amount of kids but tons of kids & babies were there.

I noticed there were a handful of families ignoring the marked paths and that's just pure ignorance and disrespect to every other visitor and staff at the park.

Such a nice place for family. It has standard facilities and restaurants. But they need to care washroom department. Washroom is not a clean. And also, I recommend them to build more various restaurant.

I had some time to myself and walked it solo. Spent 3 hours there and loved every minute of it. It was a gorgeous day in Calgary and the animals were all visible/active. The atmosphere at the park was great and it was a very therapeutic experience to unwind there on my own. Would absolutely return one day.

This might be the coolest zoo I've ever been to. It's extremely clean, the animal enclosures are really close to the walk ways so you can see the exhibits clearly, and the animals actually seem happy. While here, a bird got in a cage with the cougars and their instincts kicked in and started chasing the bird around. It was pretty amazing! Not to mention the owl exhibit that you could actually walk around inside! Would definitely come back, and HIGHLY recommend!

It seems like nobody knows about the Sunday brunch at the zoo but it is incredibly delicious! You buy a combo ticket for entrance and brunch and that's it. Highly recommended! And the zoo was great too! As usual every time I'm there it is really hot and busy. Will definitely return.

Great displays and exhibits. Lots of interesting animals. Too much commercial stuff. Feels like there is someone selling something every 10 feet. Wonderfully affordable tickets (under 3 is free!). They are very accommodating to outside food and there are tons of picnic tables.

All animals very good shape . Thank you all staffs hard work.

Awesome place. I come here often. The grounds are always in good shape even in the winter. The panda exhibit was very good as were the others. Highly recommend a visit here.

We really enjoyed this Zoo. This time we had the chance to see also the new Pandas area and we been affascinated by the animals and the amazing structure builted for them. Also the giraffe and hypo areas are fabulous but the dyno area.....leave it apart... Is not worth the time. I believe that Calgary Zoo should probably invest better money and renovate or change this dyno area which we found quite depressing and very insignificant and poor related to the beauty of the rest of the Zoo.

I really loved the zoo, due to COVID-19 few places were closed but it was really nice ! When its sunny and nice outside most of the animals will be outside and you can observe them from not too far.

We Purchased Zoo light tickets on line, trying to be pro active. Our guests were from out of town and we really wanted to take them to see the lights. We waited in a line of over an hour trying to just get into the parking lot. As we had a small child who was getting fussy we were unable to wait any longer. I contacted the zoo about a refund, they were kind enough to offer tickets to a different day, unfortunately we have very hectic schedules and the night we tried to go was the only date we had available. I told them this....STILL waiting for a response. So buyer beware, Don't buy your tickets until you make it to the gate!

What a great place to teach kids and grown ups alike about the wonders of the natural world. Exhibits aren't huge but everything is well kept. The penguin exhibit is particularly neat! The volunteer interpreters are wonderful!

Awesome exhibits and very kind staff. I loved the peacocks walking around the paths.

Such an amazing place to go. So many beautiful animals to see and the pandas are the best!

Great place to spend the day with kids. Lots of animals! Very clean zoo.

Allot bigger than the last time I was there. The parks are pretty awesome for the kids, it is a pretty unique environment with Peacocks walking around wagging their tail feathers and animals literally everywhere you cant help but be amazed at what they have been able to put together. For the most part the facilities are fairly clean and everybody is really nice. If you go on a cooler day definitely bring a jacket or a hoodie, if it's hot bring sunscreen! All in all I really love what they have done to the zoo over the past couple of years. If you get a chance check the show times of live feedings and intricuite animal exhibits on the website before you go so you can get the best out of your experience. For the entry fee I dont think it is unrealistic as they have allot of Zoo to tend to.

Most easy to find the washroom and great for family. There are few playground but they are aged and need some upgrade. The pandas exhibit was a little bit disappointing.

A must-see in Calgary. The sections according to the origins of the animals are well thought, the different habitats are nicely constructed. Our highlights: tiger training and the pandas. Great. I love the fact that the staff is walking around the different areas and giving information, a kind of non-guided tour... good idea! The only drawback: quite pricey for a single visit but it's worth it overall!

Love the zoo! One of the most acclaimed zoos in the world, ask them about conservation efforts and well-being of the animals in the zoo and they are more than happy to tell you.

Expensive. The price of admission increased because of the Stampede so for a family of 4 it's well over 100$ just to get in - seems ridiculous. Was cool, but we will not be returning.

Great day out with my son's. Really well set up. Good food and refreshment options.

World class, fun and informative. Less walking than you might expect. Try to catch the shows and events as they're scheduled. Watch for the groundskeepers tidying up the greenhouse and you can get the freshest bananas you'll ever have.

The zoo is always one of my favourite ways to spend a day. If you go in the fall or on a brisk day, the snow leopards and wolves and such are a bit more lively.

My kids love the Calgary Zoo! Buying an annual pass is well worth the money!

Amazing Zoo. We visited on a hot and sunny day, so the lions, leopards, and tigers were all napping in the shade and were difficult to see. The penguin area was nice and cool, even though the doors were broken. Staff were very friendly and helpful and there were a number of spots to cool off in the summer heat.

I'm not really for animals in a cage but Calgary Zoo is a good and animals are well cared of. I know because my daughter a Vet doctor and sometimes she is working there.

It was fantastic. All the animals were out. But there were no lockers for you to store your stuff in.

One of the positives of Calgary and a go to for visitors and tourists. Animals are taken care of there's no cramping of animals into small enclosures. Locations are clean and well maintained

Really enjoy the zoo. Very interactive staff, easy to get up close to glass near a lot of animals especially penguins, pandas, and big cats! My 16mo little guy loves it!

Oh, and Starbucks coffee... Parents dream!

Attended an event here in summer and I didn't expect that there were a lot of things to be excited about this place.

Very good place for children and animal lovers. Animals with various habitats such as lions, giraffe etc have been brought and are being maintained well. Penguins made my day though. Amusement park for children and not so big but good enough cafeteria. The best thing is it's inside the city.

Went to the zoo middle of February, was still able to see 90% of animals and they had a penguin walk which was so cool. Place was attached to local ctrain system as well making it easy to get to from downtown.

Loved the zoo despite the current requirement/ recommendation to wear a mask inside public buildings. Like elsewhere these days, be aware of fearful people will look at you weird if you don't follow the lines on the ground or get a little too close to them for their comfort, yes even though you're all outside, some folks are like that. But it's still great because you're outside for almost 100% of it, and there are some washrooms that are accessible from the outdoors directly. Overall, loved going during summer time, the animals were more active and could get some great pictures.

A Wedding. A Beautiful amazing fantastic place for a wedding. Of stop for food. A tour around. Incredible

The kids love it I personally feel its an expensive experience but I understand things cost money to run

Excellent Zoo I thouroughly enjoyed my visit. I would recommend this zoo to Everyone. Staff very friendly.

Great place for family! We will definitely be back soon! Can t wait to see the Pandas

I enjoyed the zoo lights. I was impressed at everyone and their hard work with the setting up of the evening event. So beautiful.

Zoo is broken up very nicely into sections. Kid friendly areas. Very nice indoor exhibits as well.

We had gone on a monday since calaway park was closed; nearly all of the concession stands at the zoo were closed. We have three small kids, we packed water and such but it would have been beneficial to have had options for treats.

An awesome day, great way to see animals close up, an excellent zoo

Great full day for the family must visit places in town

Great zoo. Lots to do with kids. Microwaves available for use if you're the type to bring your own lunch.

The Calgary Zoo is world class. I visited the Zoo for a work function. They have stellar meeting spaces like no other. They have programming staff that offer a variety of team building activities for all ages. Their programming focuses on learning about a specific animal, and an environmental friendly message too.

We love the Zoo. So much to see and love the fact that kids can play at the parks too.

A great zoo especially if you are looking to see some of the Canadian wild life and you weren't lucky enough to see bears

Panda exibit a must see! So many other great exbits as well. Penguins / Lemurs / Tigers / Hippos / Giraffes / Bears. The facilities are in good condition, and the staff are friendly. The Zoo is a really great way to spend a day. Plan for a long full day if trying to see everything.

We enjoyed the visit...
but missed three parks due to heavy rain. :(

A really fun place to visit if you have a few hours (or more) to kill. The penguin enclosure is a must-see, as well as the gorillas, hippos, lemurs, and grizzly bears. There are plenty of food options scattered throughout the park, so you're never too far from food and drinks. The gardens are great to walk through if you have time, and the new Panda exhibit is stunning. My personal favorite area is the butterfly house- there are tons of exotic plants, as well as many species of butterflies fluttering around. Don't miss the tiger training! It's really interesting to see how the zoo keepers 'play' with the tigers in order to do routine (and possibly life saving) veterinary checks. I would definitely recommend visiting if you haven't been here before!

Beautiful place! The enclosures are large and well set up, the staff is great, there's lots for kids to do, but it's still immersive enough for adults too.

Love the new Panda exhibit. 3 of the 4 Pandas were out and munching on bamboo. Great little reno they did!

Always impressed with the efforts of the staff here. It just gets better and better. Now there are many more areas for the public to enjoy. Even on a super busy day, there are small lineups. The animals seem generally happy here. Great job!

The zoo's expansion has helped with Calgarys tourism and racking in a steady clientele of annual members. If visiting the best time to come is early morning during the weekdays to avoid large crowds, it's recommended that pack your own snacks as the food selection is limited, pricey and unhealthy fast-food options. My favourite exhibit will always be the prehistoric park, be sure to look for the fossils and dinosaur foot prints throughout your walk.
Upside: Panoramic view of the city skyline (weather permitting). Zoo school activity for the kids and indoor butterfly greenhouse.
Downside: Long walking distance, wear comfy shoes and be prepared to pay for overpriced souvenirs.

A great place to wall with a baby in the winter. Paths are cleared of snow and there are indoor exhibits to go in to get out of the cold. I only gave it 4 stars at it would be great if there were more breastfeeding areas.

Absolutely love seeing the Pandas and Penguins. Pack snacks or lunch as the prices are high.

We have visited numerous times as tourists. This is a fantastic zoo, lots of animals, top notch upkeep. Good play areas and food service as well. A must for families visiting Calgary.

Too much to see in 1 day..Few sections were closed though.
Carry enough water, snacks.

I have always been a big fan of the Calgary Zoo and love to visit the animals and listen to the interpreters teaching about the animals. I had a new experience last night when I had the honor of attending "In the Heat of the Night" their Valentine's Day evening ADULT ONLY night. What a great event. The food was great and the talk about the naughty side of the zoo animals was interesting and delivered with such humor that it was well received by everyone. Can't wait to find out who the Penguin baby's father is! That was quite the soap opera story. Too Funny. I would highly recommend attending any event put on by the zoo. It is always well done and keep in mind that it goes to a very good cause. THE ANIMALS, CONSERVATION and EDUCATION!!

Cold day although sunny, animals were moving lots and could be seen well!

Great place. Animals look healthy and have lots of space

The landscaping and gardens are excellent. The staff were helpful and knowledgeable. Had a great time

What a great day! Great that it wasn t too busy and you get so amazingly close to the animals. But it s that time of year where lots of shops and trails are closed for the season. Love this zoo!

A great place for families!! A must see in Calgary!

One of the best zoos I have been to... amazingly well kept and has a wide range of animals to view in well constructed environments.

Beautiful visit with the family. The new Panda enclosure is worth the visit alone. The staff everywhere were courteous and helpful as always.

Great Zoo... Lots to do. And laid out very logical... Can be expensive with the kids (especially if they're buying toys)