San Diego Zoo Reviews

Best zoo I've ever been too. I took the bus tour, and I walked. Very steep hills at times. So worth it. The animals come up to the fences. I loved it!

We love this zoo! There s enough that it would be quite difficult to see it all in one day. The habitats are beautiful and even just walking around between sections there is so much to see. Be sure to look at the schedule of events with animals because there is lots to learn and see throughout the day!

The San Diego Zoo is one of the truly must-visit zoos in the country. It's incredibly well-designed, serves as a home to a wide selection of exotic animals, and has lots of experiences that go above and beyond what one might normally expect of a zoo. That said, the $50+ admission is also a far cry from the free entry of the National Zoo, so be prepared for sticker shock.

It was perfect. Great day for the animals, I would highly recommend

Take the hour tour. Then enjoy doing what you'd like

Awesome jacks birthday celebration !!!!!! 4 yrs old

Very nice place. Enjoyed the tour buses. Awesome view

AMAZING!!! I don't like to visit zoos because I don't like seeing animals in cages. I was curious to see what all the hype about this zoo. I came in as a skeptic but I left as a believer. If I visit SD I will visit the zoo again with full batteries in the cameras

The cost to enter is a little pricey but the zoo is making financial efforts to care for the animals and support organizations fighting for animal rights/preservation. I attended the "Animals in action" show and learned so much about the animals in the zoo and got to get hands on with some of them! I reccomend buying tickets for the animals in action show.

Be sure to check out the Bonobos. They aren t on the map and are kind of hidden.

World famous and free to park.
Win/Win.

Amazing setup, they even have bus rides to take a break when you get tired from walking. Keep in mind that it might be hard for some people to walk around as the zoo is huge and there are no lifts like in great America.

Simply the best zoo ever. Hands down. The experience far exceeded any expectations. Don't miss going here.

Worth spending a whole day there.. get good walking shoes and a pair of glasses.. so try the skyfari!

Great zoo. I didn t have enough time here even though I was here for almost a full day.

This zoo is remarkable! My entire family thoroughly enjoyed this zoo and wish we could go back. I particularly picky on the zoo's I go to and this specific zoo beyond exceeded my expectations. There is A LOT of animals that seem very happy to be there because they are all so active and are playing around. This zoo is definitely a full day trip, but very worth spending every minute. It is also very awesome that they have a Panda bear! The staff also seems very excited to be there and are willing to go out of their way to help the visitors. They are always smiling and very knowledgeable. This park is also surprisingly very clean because there are a lot of visitors daily but this park manages to maintain a super clean zoo. Overall, I highly recommend spending a day at this zoo because of how clean it is, the friendly staff, abundance of animals, maintenance of the animals habitats, and general care for each individual animal.

yeah, the San Diego zoo is dope. I would recommend going early if you plan is to see the whole zoo. There was a bus going around and giving tours, but I opted to just walk around. There were koalas, lions, Jaguars, polar bears, elephants, eagles, snakes, there's really just a lot to see here. I only walked around for about 4ish hours but you could easily spend the entire day here especially if you have kids. I also enjoyed the peacefulness of the fern valley. This was an area of just plants, waterfalls, and peace and quiet lol.

Bus Tour and Skysafari was great. Cut down the amount of walking for sure. Enjoyed ourselves.

Awesome zoo! Very disorganized, though, with COVID. We drove over an hour to get to the zoo only to have signs posted zoo is full. They told us to come back in a few hours. The COVID screening process has to be done for each person and only contains 3 or 4 yes or no questions. The line to get into the zoo, even if tickets were purchased in advance, was an absolute joke.
Guests are expected to wear masks the entire visit, but there are no arrows to direct one way traffic. Everyone is all over the place. Zoo has multiple levels, which the map can t show, so it was a nightmare trying to get to the exit.

I ve been to other zoos during COVID and the process was much smoother and safer.

Overall, despite this COVID mess, it s a great zoo.

Awesome experience. Great viewing. Hopefully working toward more natural and larger exhibits

We always love the zoo. I can't imagine a better investment of time and money than the zoo. The efforts they put into conservation and the lessons we share with our kids is invaluable.

Went on the school bus with the 3rd grade class. We had a blast! Loved the skyride across the park. Could spend more time enjoying the flowers and plants. Beautiful!

Great family day! If you use the tour bus sit on the right side, best views. The history of this place is great too. Take the time to read while you are there, the things you will learn is amazing.

New attraction is wonderful best part of the zoo in my opinion. The zoo as a whole has grown to be a very pleasant experience

Beautiful Zoo! A great place to go with friends and take the family. They have so much to see and do and so many intresting facts and animals. It is expensive but it is an experience that will never be forgotten and the money does go to the zoo so I don't feel bad about spending money there. So many fun picture opportunities as well!!

Great time and great selection of animals. The kids really enjoyed Skyfari. The food is expensive and tasteless, bring snacks!

It was fun to visit at the Japanese Friendship Garden, I would come back anytime and Bon Odori Festival will start on August 2nd, I will join in

One of my favorite places in San Diego. Can stay all day or just bounce around for a couple hours. I used to go even just to get some exercise....the hills can be killer. African penguins are my new favorite. All locals should have a season pass!

A really large zoo with tons of exhibits and shops. For those that's don't wish to walk everywhere, there is a sky tram and good bus system. This place does feel pretty busy but that's what you get with any popular zoo.

It's a world famous zoo for a reason. Very affordable. The yearly pass is the best deal plus it's a tax write off. The outside auditorium shows are basically for young children. Plan for LOTS of walking. The tram ride is good for an overview. Great place for photography as well as plant lovers. You can bring in your own water bottles and food. Awesome animal environments, not cagey at all. If it's a warmer day many animals are sleeping. You can tell how crowded it is by the cars in the parking lot. Wear a hat or bring an umbrella for shade. Use sunscreen.

No issues THANK GOD!! Was very calm and the food was great at the restaurants in this zoo, this zoo made my day even before the unexpected arised

Been coming here since I was a kid. Got to bring my baby son for his 1st time. A must visit if you have never been

It is just a remarkable place to bring your family. From the tour buses to the available Skifari Aerial Tram this is a must see zoo. The living habitats for the elephants, hippopotamus, Polar bears, Giraffes and other animals are pretty large compared to the ones in the LA Zoo. Animals look in great shape and they look pretty sharp and active. Worth the money.

Great! And HUGE! you'll be here for 5+hrs to s everything but it's worth it! PACK SNACKS! Vendors are pricey.

Best zoo ever. Well designed. Always walking down hill and bring you back by the air.

Beautiful zoo with lots of shade. We brought a small stroller, but there were plenty of people with huge wagons and double strollers. Some of the paths through the exhibits can be narrow and hard to move past people so a bigger stroller may be challenging through certain areas. We went on a Wednesday and it wasn't too crowded.

We did the bus tour first, but the brakes on the bus were Horrible and screeched the entire tour and made it difficult to hear the tour guide. It is a good way to get aquatinted with the park and decide where you might want to go. If the line is long, I don't recommend waiting around for it though.

This Zoo is big and hilly so I recommend good walking shoes.

Amazing place to be!!! We arrived here around 3:50pm, and we needed to get tickets for my aunt and cousin that are visiting us. Jan, San Diego Zoo employee, gave us great advise on choosing a ticket plan for my family. He was very polite; he thoroughly explained what each ticket pass includes. Thank you Jan. Other person that helped us was Greci from the Bus Tour Tickets location. She helped us get a great deal on a year pass with the tour buses. She explained everything thoroughly and professionally. She was very funny as well .
The gift shops were good; however, I would like to see more colors in backpacks. The Zoo looks clean except for the restrooms, but I know it's not the employees fault. I really like how some employees wear animal costumes, and they mimic their behavior. Overall, it was an amazing day; my family and I were very blessed to be here together. We are happy to help those animals in need!! #savethechubbyunicorn

Great little zoo with plenty to do and see. Good food options.

We were members about 5 years ago and let it lapse, went in the last day for pandas and saw several improvements and positive changes to an already stellar zoo.
This is one of the best zoos in the world, and I have seen a dozen world class zoos and few compare.
It's a full day for healthy fast walkers, and can easily be two days if you attend the talks.
Will likely renew my membership.

Went for the Food, Wine, and Brew festival. Lots of breweries representing, mostly good local restaurants with good portions. Don't know what Papa John's was doing there, though. Even the bridge and Skyfari were open.

Took my LO here and they loved it it's a lot of walking but its worth it would definitely visit again!

Great Experience for the whole family definetly worth the go!!

Big zoo with many animals. Great for a walk even with rain.

Welcome my dear friends and travelers...what a beautiful Xmas day..to be out with family and friends touring all the great wild ...we have to support all the staff that makes the San Diego Zoo ..one of the finest in the USA...love it..Thank You for viewing ...D Third Eye

The zoo is wonderful and huge. We spent a whole day there. The lines to buy tickets were long. I recommend to buy tickets online. The first thing was that we took a bus tour to see the zoo. Then we took the sky tram to the other side. The lines for the bus were long. The line for pandas was also long. The food and drinks were expensive. You could bring your own food. The animals were well taken care of. The layout and presentation are wonderful. The pandas are amazing.

I have been here a bunch of times and it is always a different experience. Something fun and great and new is always happening!

This zoo left me speechless! It was phenomenal! I spent all day here and would have spent longer if possible! I highly recommend starting with the guided bus tour to get an idea of what you'd like to do. The animal exhibits were amazing, but what was even better was the lush landscaping and beautiful scenery around the zoo! Highly recommend this zoo if you are visiting San Diego!

It's the San Diego Zoo... not much to say that hasn't been said! Incredible place for any age. It always seems like too animals at SD Zoo are active.

Well worth seeing. All employees very helpful. Wonderful time.

Great zoo, nice to have something outdoors to do spring during this time!

This was our first time coming to this zoo. It is a blast! Bring a stroller for the kiddos because there is a lot of walking. The animals are lively. We came at opening and it progressively got busier. We came on a Thursday. It was great! We brought in our own lunch stuff, but the food looked and smelled good!

Awesome zoo. Great for kids and adults. The zoo is split into different regions. There is an Australian region, Africa, Asia, etc. The bus tour was great and I highly recommend that. One day is probably enough to spend here but two would be better.

Beautiful, spacious, excellent staff. Close up views of most animals

It was amazing me and my family got to see all of the animals the workers were nice and all kinds of stuff.

Been forever since we've last visited, great coming back. Going back to finish.

Best zoo ever visited. So well maintained and animal enclosures are spacious. Is a must see when in San Diego

Perfect place to bring your kid. Offers entertainment in addition to an awesome collection of fauna. Cool enclosures too!

$56 adult ticket.... Food... forgot but it was a lot for what they give ya. $9 twelve oz Beer served in clear plastic cup. $1.00 for any dip sauce in a small small cup. EAT WELL BEFORE YOU GO. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

No wonder this is voted as one of the best zoo's in the world. Fantastic day with the family. San Diego is well worth a visit too.

A great zoo for people of all ages. If you plan on taking the time to see the whole park (and you should), give yourself a day. Lots of enclosures and exhibits to see in a well kept and clean zoo. Manage your expectations though: depending on the time of day, some animals may be asleep or hidden further in their enclosure.

The concessions are what you'd expect from a zoo and the prices are commensurate so bring a lunch if you want to save yourself some money. All in all, definitely worth a visit for families from out of town.

We love this zoo! The animals seem happy and you can see all of them.

The San Diego Zoo is a great place to bring your family for a fun day of exploring and awe. Bring comfortable shoes there is really a lot of walking. So many different animals to see and habitats to peruse. Bring snacks, water and sunscreen, and a stroller for the kiddos.

A one of a kind zoo! Our kids loved it and they are 8-12yrs old. From the tour shuttles to the skyride to the sliding stairs. The exhibits were great! Very clean and every staff member was very knowledgeable on any animal exhibit.

Fantastic. One if the best zoos I have been to in the world. Only wish they'd been more straight about the panda exhibit - a lot of money been made on merchandise but no actual pandas!

Wonderful zoo with beautiful birds n animals. Park is very well organized and maintained. They have something for every age group which I really liked apart from meeting animals.

Best zoo we've been to. Respectable to animals & children alike. Easy free parking. Great food options for adults and kids.

So many cool animals loved it would recommend to bring any kid here or just anyone because the animals all have facts and theres a bus u can ride to see awsome animals

It's the best zoo. Perfectly located and accessable.

I went there yesterday with my family and loved it!! The animas were all beautiful and they had many varieties of birds and monkeys! The staff was ready to help when we were confused on where to go next because it is very big so we accidentally repeated where we already went. It was a great experience and I got so many good pictures because they have some of the animals I have never seen before! I only give it four stars because the bus tour is like an additional 62 dollars or something so we needed to walk (which I m not complaining because when you walk you can see more ) but the popular exhibits like the elephant one for example, were so crowded it was hard to move around and at some places we got a little stuck and just had to stand there for a bit but I know this isn t the staffs fault and I still got to see the elephants so I really recommend you go here

Had a great time! Make sure you have some good walking shoes, water & sunscreen. Parking is free. Take snacks for the little ones, as food can be pricey. There's lots to see. Pandas, elephants, polar bears, reptiles, gorillas, monkeys, giraffes, etc. They open at 10 and are usually out for feeding before noon. Really good for people who like botanical gardens too. They have plant names on most plants.

Good variety of animals. Kept in fairly large enclosures. Good choses for food.

If you plan on going here, plan on staying the entire day. I didnt realize just how big this zoo was until I got here. Multiple walk in bird cages up to 2 stories tall, tons and tons of exhibits with animals in them, definitely not a cheap zoo but I can see why. Very very busy even with us going in the morning during the week, tons of parking available, the food was okay, I did have a couple feathered friends join me while eating (ducks). There was 3 of them and they love french fries. There are too many animals in here to list, but all seem well cared for, staff was very very friendly always teaching us cool things about all the animals. I would love to come back here.

Best zoo I have ever been to. The variety of animals itself is incredible. Plan on spending the whole day if you want to see everything.

The first time Today 3-11-19 and it was OUTSTANDING .Got there when it opened 9am plenty to see,a good pair of walking shoes are a must.there are gift shops,eateries throughout the zoo. they also have a tour bus that lasts about 45 minutes and another bus that just takes you to certain stops on only half of the zoo. They have zoo ambassadors throughout and scooter,stroller rentals.this zoo is a must and it was a awesome experience for my first time.

San Diego world famous zoo is always a great place to go visit our trip today was to see the Panda's before they leave to go back to China

Best zoo I have been too. We went on a day were it was raining and it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. A must do in San Diego!

beautiful zoo my daughter and i did the panda tour beautiful experience lovely staff - bring super comfy shoes though as heaps of walking

Almost all exhibitions are open. Best zoo around southern Ca

San Diego zoo was spectacular! Great active wildlife. Walked the entire park in about 7 hours (went with a group in their 20's). Also took the sky tour which gives you a great view of the park, city, and surrounding areas. Parking was easy and they give 10% discounts for AAA members and students!

So amazing, and there's a new exhibit, love this place

Absolutely massive zoo filled with so many beautiful animal species and plant life! Must see! Pro tip is to ride air tram to top of zoo and work your way down the hill.