San Diego Zoo Reviews

It's always a beautiful place to visit. With grand fauna and beautiful animals

It was an excellent experience. All the volunteers are very friendly and more than willing to help you get your way around. The restrooms are super clean. We really enjoyed seeing all the animals. I recommend to take the zoo bus tour as soon as you arrive to give you an idea where you want to go first. The zoo is awesome!!!

Amazing place for kids and adults. Be sure to bring sunscreen and visit during a sunny or overcast day. Animal conservation is a priority, educating visitors is the other.

This is a great place, it is so clean. animals pens clean, all clean . love it. happy animals too.

Fun time at Zoo. Amazing and big place to visit. Dedicate a full day for here. A lot to see. Kids learn too much.

Loved, loved, loved it! This zoo is soooo huge which is awesome because the animals appear very well taken care of. The employees are very knowledgeable of both the animals and the zoo functions. They were all so super helpful. Will definitely bring my family again!

All that I expected and more. Great, clean huge zoo that is very beautiful and educational.

Facilities were nice, map and directions kind of confusing at times. Some animals looked really stressed and that part was sad.

Excellent zoo, a bit on the expensive side. I really don't see a point in waiting that long line to see pandas while there is plenty of other creatures to see

I'm an artist and this is a favorite spot for us. They are doing an excellent job of handling traffic and sanitation for COVID. Also new remodeling helps dramatically with mobility. Thanks for the bridge and new elevators!

Great place for the whole family! Very well run zoo. Tons of animals and activities. Plan on being there all day or two days as there's lots to cover.

The Zoo: Huge Huge Zoo! I was so exhausted after walking for hours in the park. So many to see! So much fun~

Just a few more suggestions for the park.....

1) Make the map for "user friendly", it is really confusing to figure out the route. We have to keep asking volunteers in the park (thank God they all wear the same uniform) because we could see it on the map but couldn't find the way to get there.

2) Accommodate more for the parents with the stroller. I would say 60% or more family come with little children. It is so difficult to use the stairs. If we don't use the stairs, we have to walk longer and further away route to avoid the stairs.

3) The gate at the aviary, it is so heavy to push. It would be nice to make it automatic to open. That will be super convenience for parents who have strollers!!

No polar bears and a lot of construction. But a good zoo all around. Tree tops cafe ran out breadsticks during lunch hour.

No care for guest, In long lines and heat! Very careless, no tents, no misters, no free water, no restrooms in area of line to get into park during long holiday weekend- they need to anticipate!!!

This was the first zoo that I've ever been to where I didn't feel bad for the animals there. Not only were animal enclosures thoughtful and well executed, but the entire facility was beautifully designed and landscaped. Walking around it was so easy to get lost enjoying the tiers of aviaries, the winding roads through penguins, fish and bears... I may have sunburned my neck very badly, but I still have nothing but fond memories of the park.

We spent about 3.5 hours and walked a total of ~5 miles along every road/main path in the zoo.

This zoo is spectacular. I took some people with me who didn't like it before and they came out believers, so listen to me ppl. If you want to go to the zoo, any zoo, it's an all day affair. Animals can't be perfectly viewable all day, thats why you schedule several passes. If you do it right, this is one of the best zoos you cqn go to.

Fantastic! Take the included bus tour approximately 30 minutes
Wear your walking shoes

Had a special event dinner here with the Wounded Warrior Project after the park closed. The park staff made amazing food with terrific service.

Fantastic place to come and revisit again and again. I will comment that there should be more vegan food options and more environmentally friendly items to purchase. It would go hand in hand with the mission of the zoo.

Fantastic biopark with critical work. Take your time and see the plants as well as the animals!

The zoo was alot of walking, but fun. We had a five year old with us, which was tiresome for him, but fortunately, I expected he would tire out, so we took the bus tour of the zoo first, so he was still able to see most of the animals. The zoo was inexpensive also, compared to other amusement parks.

AMAZING ZOO!!! Many animals, over 100! Tourists come from all over to see the majestic animals. The busiest days are (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and wensday) the busiest hours are from 12:00-6:00.

The zoo is pretty nice but I expected more. Probably because of all of the hope around it.

I especially liked the bus ride. The bus driver was very knowledgeable and careful about driving the bus. Kept our interest going.

The zoo however was packed. That was not fun. Also it seemed like the cages for the big cats were on the small side.

The skyfari seemed a bit dull. Very quick and I couldn't really see much because of all the trees.

Very beautiful and gorgeous love the Animals and creatures. Staff very friendly and courteous great place for the whole entire family.

Covid-19 protocols being handled correctly. Other then having to walk the whole park, the family had a lot of fun and saw almost all tbe animals.

Amazingly maintained zoo and a very wide arrangement for all the animals. No wonder it's the number 1 in the world! Glad to have visited this.

Excellent zoo. The best I've visited. I like the smaller size than our local zoo because it means that we could see the entire place in one visit. Everything was very clean and all the staff we interacted with was very friendly.

Gorgeous zoo. Knocking off a star because there are no baby changing tables in the men's restroom- only the women's. Unacceptable in this day and age. Please fix this.

Haven't been there in awhile and was so very impressed during our recent visit that we purchased annual passes. So many animals and they all looked healthy and content. We will be visiting often now!

Amazing place! One of the largest zoo in USA. Money worth it!

The best zoo ever! If you want to see the pandas you should go early and go first. Take the bus to see some things then decide your route because most likely you won't do it all in one day.

Wonderful place to enjoy and appreciate the world's bounty of animal life!

Great zoo, tons of exhibits, and a helpful and friendly staff. The map could be a little more accurate though.

GREAT zoo! Large and spacious. A bit expensive for a zoo, and little reciprocity with memberships. Animals have large pens, zoo keepers seem to come out and present often, there are great interactive experience with several animals.

Great place and nice to see large environments for the animals.

This zoo is so amazing. We became members in March 2019 so we go quite often. My son is 8 years old and has a genuine love for animals. We learn something new and explore new species and learn about the zoo's efforts to revitalize and restore numbers in endangered species everytime we go. This place is such an awesome place for enrichment and educational information. I recommend getting the annual pass if you're a local. It is totally worth it.

4 stars only!!! Because there is no security or Baggage check AT ALL ... you can bring inside what ever you like ...(this is in July 2019).. they only have the police stand in the park.
5stars for ;The park itself is amazing great experience and Adventure for the families the animals are super activities and it s amazing to watch them not like other places where they sleep all day.
Lots of free parking, food is a bit expensive and not tasty enough ( especially the kids meal)
Very recommend to visit

Nice atmosphere here with a very friendly staff!! Lots of walking room so you don't feel cramped looking around.

Had a great time looking at the exhibits filled with exotic plants and animals, but the line was long and I think we got scammed by some kids pretending they went to a school and charged $20 for parking.

Always have a blast. Lots of great food and beer. Good exercise too

I am currently still walking through the zoo. great place, lots to see and do. They serve beer and cocktails too. There are no giant pandas anymore.

The children's section of the zoo has been torn down and they are rebuilding it. It won't reopen till 2020 sometime. The zoo is quite large, a all day experience. I would recommend riding the bus then walking back to see what you missed or wanted to spend more time observing. The zoo is spectacular in it self. Cant wait to see the new Children's zoo. Then I'm sure it'll rate 5 stars.

One of the best in America! My family had a fantastic time. We spent the entire day but still didn t get to see every exhibit.

I was very surprised to learn there was no insect-specific exhibit. Most zoos have an insect house or something similar.

Fantastic zoo. The fact that it's a non profit is serious icing on the cake too. There are all sorts of animals, and the price of the ticket includes a lot of the "extras" that you would otherwise have to pay for elsewhere, such as the bus tour and the gondolas.

Also, it's very very big. If you want to see everything, expect to spend the entire day here. This is not a place that you can get through in a couple of hours.

Free parking is a plus.
Awesome zoo.

They have a red raccoon! Or so I thought until I was so rudely corrected by a 4 yr old girl that, and I quote, "It's a PANDA"

10/10 would visit the red raccoon again

Bus tour gives you an overview of the zoo. This helps you determine where to start your walk (hike) paved but up and down. The staff all friendly and very helpful, my wife and I were looking at the map and several times someone approached and helped us. The skyfari/tram gives you another view of both the zoo and skyline.

Nice zoo with quite a lot to do, during the holidays they have live music. During winter month don't expect to see the animals at night areas are not lit. I am assuming for the animals comfort. Still a pleasent experience.

The world famous San Diego Zoo has a lot to see, so come early if only spending the day! We have annual passes and discover something new everytime we visit. Remember this is 100 acres in size, and in my opinion, one of the most beautiful zoos in the United States; take your time, visit often if you can! The employees are outstanding too. Always happy to help and smiling despite how busy it can be at times. The tram tour will skim all of the exhibits and animals, however, you must walk around to really see everything the zoo has to offer. You will not be disappointed if you love animals.

The covid-19 line takes 30 minutes to get through and the park is packed but things are still going smoothly at the park. Plan ahead and bring your own food.

Waited five years to come here. Left LA in time to make it by opening. I have to say it was worth the wait. The collection of animals and the setup so you can have an ultimately close view of them makes this zoo remarkable. A nice workout for a wildlife photographer!

Had been wanting to go to this zoo for decades and one of the places that definitely lived up to the hype I had been hearing since I was a kid. So very much to see, explore, and walk through. Recommendation to just wander through the paths and follow the signs to specific animals. The multiple layers, elevators, moving walkway, sky tram, and bridges make the map difficult to follow on your first visit, so wandering is the way to go to get your bearings.

What a wonderful Zoo! For someone who has traveled a lot and has seen some exotic animals this is too notch

We had a wonderful experience at the San Diego Zoo. This was my first time visiting and I can t wait to go back. We did a mixture of walking and riding the bus which was nice to experience different aspects of the zoo. The best part of this zoo was definitely all of the friendly staff and volunteers who were available to answer questions and help us if we were lost (it is a VERY large place). Wear your walking shoes and give yourself lots of time to spend here!

This is an amazing zoo...
+Good visiting flow
+Clean environment
+ See animals in close-range

A great zoo to visit. Spent all day here... And enjoyed every minute.

Would be better if there was logic to the paths. It would help keep people moving in a good flow.

Amazing, truly the best zoo ever. Thank you lady we met in line that saved my family $250 by letting us all in under your family pass!

I know this place and I went there during my eighth grade graduation trip. That I graduate in middle School.

A great feature to San Diego! Easy to access, an all day adventure (if you choose), and great place for family and all ages!

What can you really say that hasn't been said? World famous. An incredible variety of animals from different continents. Its not just the most popular lions, tigers, and bears, but that's also what you can see when you visit. You can spend at least a few days here. One day looking at animal exhibits and another with tours if finances permit. A suggestion about food though: if you got money coming out your ears feel free to spend it on food or whatever you want here. Budget visitors: Pack the bologna sandwich and buy a nice dinner after a day of watching elephants. There's too many top notch restaurants in the surrounding area than to drop exorbitant cash into chicken strips in the zoo. If your reason to come is to please the family, snap a few choice photos, or relax with some wild animals it's a solid choice.

Volunteers and staff were very helpful guiding us around the zoo when we were lost or unsure of something they gave very clear and detailed directions.

What a vast zoo with so much variety! You can spend and entire weekend at this place. They serve alcohol which one can cruise around with and plenty of little food joints to soak up the posion. A must visit if you are visiting San Diego.

I wasn't so impressed with the zoo. What they do is great though.

The ticket is expensive.

Lots to see and do. A Huge park/zoo. You can spend all day and not see everything. The layout of the trails is not ideal. There is no way, in many places of the park, to flow from one set of exhibits to another without missing a trail to another set of exhibits. Whatever path you choose, you're gonna miss something. We spent a lot of time looking at the map, trying to plan out our 'next attack'. It wore us down a little. My recommendation : just start walking. Don't plan nothing, just pick a path and see what it has to offer. Once you get hungry, sit down and eat. Then, pull out the map and make your plans to see what you have missed/gotta see before you leave. A big beautiful zoo with lots to see, just a little hard to maximize your time/experience due to park path layout.

One of the best zoo experiences in the world! Though this is a compact zoo, the exhibits are laid out so the animals have ample space yet are clearly visible to visitors most of the time. From time to time the zoo also has special exhibits.

With my annual membership, I can visit the zoo at leisure. For those who may have limited time the zoo is still easy to navigate and see everything in less than a day. The zoo provides a tram for those with walking limitations or with young children. There is also an aerial gondola system that gives panoramic views of the zoo and surrounding Balboa Park.

The best times to see the larger animals are in the morning hours before the mid-day sun drives the animals into shady hiding spots.

I'm not a fan of wildlife in captivity - since they do exisit, this zoo however is one of the finest in the nation. Award winning facility & care. Educational. Activities abound. They also did a great job celebrating the holidays.

We showed up at 9 when they opened and only stopped walking for lunch. We saw all but five of the animals and it was a blast! The children's zoo is closed and the polar bears are visiting another zoo, but it was amazing! All of October 2019, kids get in free with each paying adult. We loved to see the monkeys next to the aviary, try both levels. There are definitely more animals out the earlier you go, so try to see as many as you can in the morning.

The "TourRide" bus driver was very informative, place is kept clean, looked like the animals were well taken care of. A lot of fun and various varieties of plants and trees.

We really enjoyed the San Diego Zoo on Christmas Day. The bummer was that it rained off and on through the day, but thankfully they have busses and the sky lift which were included with your normal ticket. Those were a big help.

Well maintained top zoo in the world. Along with the Safari park (better than the zoo in my opinion), a great experience

Love the zoo great experience. Lots of walking make sure you come with time to enjoy the the amount of animals they have.

Who doesn't like the zoo? Took our 3 year old here for the first time, and he was amazed. I was bummed out that the children's area was closed. Also, we had a coupon so we couldn't purchase tickets online so we waited in line for a hour and a half. It was ridiculously. Other than that, we had fun.

One of the best Zoo's in the world. Great exhibits and excellent facilities across a huge space.

Get there early and hop the bus first thing to get a quick tour of the animals while they are as active a possible. Then spend the rest of the day hiking around to look at your favorites. Bring good walking shoes!

Great place to visit and bring family but expesive.

best zoo I have ever been to by far. It is so big that it took us a from 10am to 8pm to see the entire zoo and have lunch. Very fun and definitely worth the price.

Great day at the zoo on hot day. This place is huge! We did this as a day trip with the San Diego go four day pack. Most of the animals were out and about. Buy the souvenir soda and refill all day long with soda or water to stay hydrated.

I've learned a lot by the way elephants walk. Did u know they are probably the only mammal besides us that "celebrates funeral s" they mourn their loved once every year, after walking a slow and delicate journey "back in time'

The SD Zoo is an amazing zoo. They have so many amazing animals to see. There is a large free parking lot. The San Diego Zoo year long pass options are great. If you plan on going for more than one day it is worth it to buy the annual pass. Another way to save some money at the zoo is to pack a lunch, because the food can be a bit pricy.