San Diego Zoo Reviews

Loved it...
2nd time and all the way from Colorado.
Highly recommended. An absolute must of you are in San Diego.

Definitely worth it! Beautifully designed. They also do a good job with conservation.

I love it! Super slow for a Monday! I Got to venture the entire zoo! It was so much fun and an amazing experience for my first time being there.

Hands down the best zoo that I have been to. Lots of animals out to see in their habitats. The 30 minute double decker bus tour is very interesting!!

The animals are taken care of and the surroundings are clean. We can see lot of animals within short period of time. I expected over inflated tourist prices but it was reasonable. I admired how the zoo kept me informed how their efforts are conserving. I especially enjoyed the open bird room in the tropical area. All of the animals are within close proximity of each other.

So much fun. A beautiful place to spend the day. Hard to see it all in one visit!

Absolutely amazing! Had no idea how large the zoo was...something for everyone to see in the family

This is the best zoo ever. They have a huge number of animals and attractions and the people are very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. Dress for the weather, you'll be outdoors.

Great zoo! Best I've been to! Me and the wife have been twice. A must see!

Great place to bring kids. A lil pricey though but good food options too

We recently moved to San Diego, and have enjoyed using our zoo membership to take our kids out. It's a large zoo, and there is always something new for my kids to do or see when we visit!

Huge Zoo area for tourists and Locals alike. Probably the largest zoo I've EVER been to from the east coast to the west. If you can plan for a couple days at least, definitely do so because it's so much to see in one day and highly unlikely you'll get through much.

The work that the trainers do here is above and beyond what most of the public know. They treat the animals with the utmost respect and all their environments are very clean. The park offers so many fun things to do for the entire family. They make it very simple to have an amazing time no matter what age group you fall into. I highly reccomend coming it's the best!

Best place to visit if your in San Diego on vacation! I head to the zoo throughout the year to walk around and relax for the day. Once you re done with the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park is walking distance away so check that out as well!

The San Diego Zoo is a great way to spend a day. This place is huge! But the double decker tour bus is included with admission, as well as the sky tram, so it's very easy to see the whole zoo without walking all day. And it's just as much a botanical garden as a zoo. (San Diego County has the largest biodiversity of any county in North America)

Such and amazing zoo.. So much to see in my option its huge.. I really really love it. This zoo is a whole day thing...not just a couple of hours so.much too see.. Its just beautiful.

Great place for kids and adults. Best zoo I've ever been to.

A little expensive but very good and beautiful! If you plan to go you should know it is quite big! You need an entire day or even more to explore everything!

All the grandkids loved seeing the SD Zoo for the first time, the variety of the animal environments are impressive and you will never see them all in one day...so just plan on coming back!!

Great zoo and heard a lot about it coming from Detroit. Honestly the experience was good for a zoo.

This was by far the best zoo I've ever gone to. The exhibits are all very large and have lots to see. B animals are clearly very well cared for. Almost every exhibit had a zoo employee or volunteer nearby to answer questions and share information which made it a fantastic experience.

Who wouldn t want to take a kid to the San Diego Zoo? Makes me feel like a kid again too. We walked through the entry gate and were soon approached by a member of the zoo staff who kindly asked us about what we would like to see that day. She then gave us a strategy for moving around the park so that we could get to our desired spots without too much effort. What a bonus! The day was bright and clear. Kids all around were laughing, playing and enjoying seeing the animals. Petting zoo was a huge thrill too. All in all, a great day.

Can't say enough about the experience! This place is a classic visit, but they have added so much since you were a kid! Pay a little extra and you can see a cheetah up close, well worth it and what an experience for my twelve year old! He'll never forget that! Staff is knowledgeable and so warm and personable. You can't help but be impressed with their zeal at working there! They are really wonderful people and it's easy to get swept up in it all. The food was too expensive, but tasty.

Amazing place! Best zoo I've ever been. So many different animals! Beautiful walking trails. Well worth the $58 entrance fee!

We went in October, all kinds under 12 get in free only that month. We loved it. You have to walk a lot so ware walking shoes. You can bring in your own food from outside the park. The food inside is a bit pricey but very good.

Great environment but difficult to follow their map!

Zoo was fun lots of walking. Tram is a great overhead view

@sandiegozoo need to let people know that they no longer have giant panda. The entry fee of $56 per person is not justified.

I didn't enjoy myself for the price that we paid, only about 2 of each Animal's where out & the security guards kept following us because we are African American . NOT ENOUGH EATING AREA'S OPEN.

First time in San Diego.

Wanted to check out the world famous zoo and boy was it a great time.

Please go early to see everything because we got to the park early and left exactly at closing.

If you love animals, go to the zoo.

Nice shade, with an area talking about comparing animals 12000 years ago to today.

Aww, the poor animals. Someone should get them out so they can run and play. Look at the pretty kitty

** The above review is not meant to be taken seriously, although it would be funny as sh!t, you'd be in a helluva lot of trouble

I've always loved this place, ever since I was a kid. So I had to take my kids. They loved the kids' zoo, the performers, the double deck buses, and the sky rail. The place was really clean for all the people that were there. The zoo keepers were very knowledgeable and answered all of my kids' questions. Really nice about it and explained things in a way they would understand. It was a lovely educational experience.

Definitely get there early, so you can see everything. They do have a lot to see. If you go during summer hours, they stay open until 9pm (at least they did in the summer of 2018). We got to see the nocturnal animals get up and around. It was super neat!

Educational,well taken care of,wildlife looks good and healthy,had lunch was nice,lets us know what we need to do to have these amazing animals in our future,need action now ,and what they do at the wilds, wonderful work for future of wildlife

Very good, some places need proper direction display for tourist to follow and not miss the animals.

Plan to spend the whole day here I was there for 5 hours and felt rushed.

Very beautiful and well taken care of highly recommend

Great zoo and loved the food options that you get inside. Finally a zoo that caters to the vegetarians. Panda exhibit is what I was here for but you can't stand and watch them as there were many like me.

I felt some exhibits especially the one with the Giraffes was a bit cramped. Felt sad for those animals.

I like the cable car ride and I would recommend it as it is unique experience to have in zoo.

My partner and I enjoy going to the Zoo every weekend as members. We live only a few blocks away, so we see it as a great place to put in a few steps. We love taking our family when they come to visit, and it s always so cute to see the cubs and other babies. It s a great experience for all the family.

Great day to go to the Zoo. Spectacular weather and not crowded. Could not have been better!

The San Diego Zoo is really nice. So much to see and do. Over the years, they continue to update the exhibits and add new sections (this is a bit hard since there is not that much room around them). They do a good job taking care of the animals. The tour buses were not running so we had to do all the walking. The San Diego Zoo is built on a hillside so walking can be a bit tough at times. My feet still hurt today.

Amazing place to visit with your kids. I visited during Christmas time.you can spend whole day and it will be not enough time

This zoo blows other zoos out of the water... hands down. Love the exhibits, space, and it s just beautiful even to walk around all day in.

LOVED IT, EVERYONE ,HELPFUL , FRIENDLY, WELL KEPT, CLEAN AND FUN. JUST LOVELY, GREAT FAMILY TREAT. WITH COVID CROWDS LIMITED, IT WAS NICE AND NO PARKING FEE.

Well kept facilities and hop on and off buses are very organized and convenient. By the other hand, I think that large animals cages are too small. Lions and leopards doesn't have enough space to walk or run around. It's sad. Some animals don't have enough areas to cool off in the shade on these hot summer days.

Lovely zoo, my 2 year old was super excited watching all the animals.

Kids will totally love it. There is day plus ticket in which you would get 4d experience for polar Express, I would suggest to skip it as it is not worth.
Zoo made excellent efforts to make commute within park easy with bus , sky gondola and well marked trails.

The zoo is amazing and diverse! All the plants in each section are sourced from that part of the world. So much to see that you'll have to come back again and again! It's more than worth the yearly pass if you live nearby or visit frequently. Each time we go we see another side of the exhibits - something else is active or has young ones. Be sure to go on Sundays for carnivore feeding time. The bus tour and Skyfari are very fun as well.

Be prepared to walk, wear good shoes, you can bring in your own drinks but if you buy one always get the drink with free refills, find the gorillas!

Amazing zoo! Looks very realistic like your actually in the animal habitat.

This place is AWESOME! I never was a big fan off the zoo. I preferred the wild animal park. Boy, has this place changed!!! The paths are great. The plant life is breathtaking. I actually SEE the animals in their enclosure. I always feel good about buying passes for the Zoo. It's nice to contribute to the welfare of the animals.

When we arrived, we were informed the zoo was closing an hour early. And we still had to pay full price for our tickets even though the zoo was closing in less than 2 hours. They should give discounted tickets if they re closing early for some stupid event for rich people. (But of course, the actual zoo itself is amazing) 4-5 hours would probably be the ideal amount of time to have to see everything you want to see at a leisurely pace.

Wow have not been here in a while. It gotten more modern and More fun.

Zoo should definitely do a certain discount for bad weather days when no animal is out. Paid over $200+ only to read signs that says animal wont be out due to weather.

We had a blast at the Zoo! We were like little kids again excited to see the impressive animals there we would love to come back again!!!

Lovely place! We were there two days in a row, so many animals to see.

I don't have to tell you about the amazing animals. Everyone knows that.

My suggestion: Go first. The bus is perfect if you have not been or haven't been in a while so you can get the lay of the land. This will help you go to the areas you want to see.

The bus ride will take approximately 45 minutes. It's always nice to take the driver and host is usually entertaining and will share their knowledge about the animals but point out areas they don't drive by, where the shuttle bus, the 4D movie, and random facts.

The thing I seem to forget is the horticulture is fantastic. Plants from all over the world. Take time through out your visit and admire them. You will have time as you walk through the park.

It's always a good day at the zoo.

Select a few areas to visit and have better time, rather then squeezing in the whole zoo in one day. It just won't happen. Passes are the best way to go.

World class zoo with great facilities, for both humans and animals + friendly informative staff

Staff was great retrieving our 2 yr olds "thrown" shoe . There is a nice shaded area with tables and chairs, weather you want to bring your own lunch, or purchase from the food court. Well worth the entrance fee, as there was more to see that we could do in a day.

Very big zoo, good for visiting with kids. They have 2 pandas!!! It will take one whole day and you will be very tired in the evening! Ticket i think very exprensive. The most expensive zoo i ever visited

Surprisingly there were lots of animals! Who knew!?

It was awesome! There were so many different animals! It was a little busy but that was expected.

I visited here for the first time today. Spent 7.5 hours in the zoo and it's so amazing! Love koala and capybara

This is such a spectacular place! The grounds are lovely and there is so much greenery you feel like you're in a forest and not a zoo. There is a little bit of everything here. The animals seemed closer than some other zoos i have visited. I will have to devote more time to seeing all of the zoo!

Don't go try to see the Pandas if the day is hot,the Pandas will definitely in their air conditioned room.
You will definitely enjoy Skyfari!

Best Zoo probably in the entire world. Lots to see and do. Clean and organized! Would definitely go back!

Awesome zoo! It's got a lot of species to see and a well laid out natural looking habitat!

Almost after a decade I went to a zoo and it was the really one of the best in the world. The guided tour by Leslie was a pleasure!
The only sad thing in an awesome experience was that there were no Pandas :(

You cannot really visit San Diego and not visit the zoo. Had a great experience even going on a weekend when it was crowded. The zoo is large enough and exhibits split up enough that there isn't problems with crowding except when trying to see the pandas. If you end up liking the zoo also be sure to check out the San Diego zoo safari park a little ways away.

Love the place. So much to see. Get there at opening on the weekends to be sure to get parking and be able to see the most before the crowds!

Without a doubt, one of the best Zoo I've attended. But i was not expected to find that many souvenirs stores everywhere.

Best zoo I've been to in years!!! It is a bit of a maze getting around but it was a blast

It s known as the World Famous San Diego Zoo. I think that really sums it up. The exhibits are clean, zookeepers are very friendly and always open to questions. We ve been annual pass holders for years and I don t see that status changing any time soon.

I have the year pass since I live so close by. This place is great for early morning walks (get there a little before they open). The animals here are very well cared for, and the keepers and staff and very friendly, and knowledgeable. Some or the Galapagos tortoises here are over 100 years old! It's amazing how much you can learn in just one visit. In the summer and winter they have extended hours.

This Zoo was just as awesome as I remember it being when I was a child. Pretty great prices even for the one day pass, kids $44 adults $54. It included the skyfari tram, a 40 min guided bus tour, and a few other things. Food was reasonably priced, a $12 refillable cup was well worth the buy as I refilled it with different non alcoholic beverages throughout the day. Also the frozen margaritas and cups of beer can be taken throughout the park which was 100 acres. So many things to see and to do and to learn. Also helps that 100% of proceeds are applied to help fund animal preservation in numerous ways. There was also a pass you could buy to visit the zoo, the safari park AND SeaWorld if you're there for a weekend or vacation. Different passes to fit all experiences and budgets.

Great place to go for the day but recommend bringing your own food could get pricey in the park

Had lots of fun there with my grandkids and my family a lot of walking got a lot of exercise and the food was very expensive considering you pay quite a bit to get in the gate

So amazing! The park was clean, the staff friendly. The food was good. The souvenirs were good quality for their prices and the value of what's included in the ticket was very exceptional and made it very affordable

The San Diego Zoo is an awesome place to come visit! Whether, your from out of town or a local, it's a great place to come check out. I'm a zoo keeper membership holder and the benefits that come with this card pays for itself. The cost is also tax deductible! The zoo is for nonprofit and are doing great things on helping the animals. If you haven't been you need to check it out. We always have a great time here!

Amazing places for kids as well grown up to spend vacation time, weekends. Their winter time Jungle Bells show is amazing , one of the best light show.

I can understand why the San Diego Zoo is the best in the country. There was so much to see and the facility was beautiful. We tried to see everything but I think it would have been better if we would have gone over 2 days. I only say this because we really enjoyed casually strolling through the zoo instead of racing to see everything.

If I loved closer, I would have an annual pass and take over a bench in the Lost Forest all day. It was incredibly peaceful!

My only suggestion for first timers would be to check ahead on the panda cans through the website before you jump in line to see them. We didn't know about and waited in line for an hour to get the tiniest glimpse of her. She was hiding in the front left corner of her enclosure so we barely saw her. The other one was hiding inside.

Great zoo! Spent an entire day and still didn't get to see everything. Very well kept.

An amazing zoo with fantastic animal habitats and a knowledgeable and friendly staff. Free parking is also a great benefit. The place is HUGE and the elevation changes within the park are dramatic. Bring good walking shoes and be prepared to spend the whole day.