San Diego Zoo Reviews

This Zoo is wonderful. Great bus tour and allot to see, the animals seemed healthy and well treated.

I've loved the zoo and safari park for nearly 50 years now! I noticed recently that a lot of the old Eucalyptus trees are dying and looking shabby. I suggest taking them all out and replacing them with our beautiful, native Torrey pines. It's an all win situation! Torrey pines are very drought resistant, extremely beautiful and a tree that San Diegans are very proud of!!!

Wonderful to visit .Keeping large number of animals in apt surroundings.

Always wanted to go and finally saved up enough for all 5 of us to hit the zoo. It's not cheap because it's not a cheap experience. If I lived here, I'd consider going to the zoo atleast every few days just to get my hiking in... Great workout! We had a blast, the shows were awesome and the videos during the show made me appreciate the San Diego Zoo and their efforts for wildlife preservation that much more. The animals weren't over active but we did get to see most of them in action. I guess the worst part of the experience was the inconsiderate Mothers with strollers. It seems as if they think they have a free pass to do anything because they have a toddler in a stroller.

LOVE OUR UPDATED, CLEAN & NATURAL WILD ANIMAL ENVIRONMENT! GREAT JOB S.D.!!!

Lots of flash not much zoo. They try to be a fancy theme park but there are not many animals and the decor is as fake as it gets. I would happily pay 20 dollars for it but not 50.

On the plus side, the location is great and there are several museums nearby! You can put together a fun weekend in the area for sure.

San Diego zoo is fantastic place to go. I am sorry to say it has been 30 yrs since I last went and a lot has changed. But all the changes have been fantastic. One thing that really helps is the tour bus it is about 35 mins long takes you around the park making stops at the animal enclosure giving you a idea out what is there. The staff are very helpful and will to assist you if needed. It goes without saying the animals are fantastic well cared for and the enclosure are easy to see them. My favorite were the bears very animated. If in San Diego this is a must see.

A fun place to explore for the young and the young at heart. So many different exhibitions and animals from all parts of the world are here - must go when in San Diego!

A very fun place for the all people in a family. The staff were so friendly and helful, they really try to make your visit a great one for you. I would recommend going there anytime of the year. Don`t forget to take the bus tour, best time would be around sunset.

Amazing time. There is a lot of walking though so be warned... a few spots that were very steep, but it was so worth it. My son had a blast. Their finale show was spectacular!

If you are in San Diego and have neve been to San Diego Zoo you must go. I went with some friends and had a great time in the zoo kangaroo hop in and out. loved the Pandas, you can actually see them very close.

Thank you San Diego Zoo for the wonderful experience during this difficult time!. My family had a wonderful time. God bless the entire staff.

Great place to go with the family or a loved one. Kinda expensive but, worth it if you go early enough to see everything. Kinda torn though seeing all those beautiful creature's caged up. Directors of operations should focus even more on delivering a message of preservation of all wildlife and their habitat. We should all put that effort and dedication as well. (Truth)

The zoo is always a pleasure. The skyfari is open, which is great. Pretty good food. Definitely get the collector's cup for cheap refills.

Pretty good place to visit if you are nature lover. We have visited both safari park & zoo in san diego and both are worth spending time as they have a little different habitat. Safari have a bus ride which takes you into a different experience of riding you through different habitats and showing different animals. Zoo does have free bus ride but its like a zoo bus ride rather than safari ride. Safari does have special exhibits where you can hold little birds and other animals. If I have one day to spend, I would take safari as its little different than regular zoo but both are worth visiting.

Not cheap, however totally worth it. Don't get to caught up with the pandas. If there is a huge line keep moving. The hippos were the most entertaining. They have a great setup where we saw the mom and baby playing underwater. As well as all the animals the grounds were amazing everything was so well maintained and beautiful. I would recommend getting there in the morning since there is so much to see.

Fantastic fun for the entire family
The zoo entry fee is expensive but you are allowed to bring your own food and there is no charge to park. The new bridge is beautiful. Just opened about a month ago. The bubble party is fantastic!! So much fun!

State of the art awesome zoo. Their focus is on animal preservation and us patrons get to enjoy the animals in such natural settings

Walked to the zoo and went in the evening. All the animals were active and temperature was perfect. If I lived there I would buy an annual pass. Rode bus inside and around first to get the lay of the park. Don't skip the aviary cool birds All around us.after the bus you have an idea of what you want to see more of. Perfect!

So much fun! Pack your walking shoes! We did over 5 miles!! Up down up down. Access the Kangaroo bus to help get around.
If you are lucky you will get Rhonda. Dont think she is a reg. driver for it BUT SHE WAS THE BEST! The zoo is Beautiful. Tons of amazing foliage! Magnificent docents and employees all over helping and teaching. O

The annual pass is the best deal in town. We take the kids as much as possible and they really seem to enjoy it. Usually they get bored and tired of parks or other attractions but no so with the zoo! The place is always clean which having grown up going to the Bronx Zoo is a huge change. It can get a tad busy certain times of the year.

Best zoo in the world. So many conservation efforts are great . The environment is good mix of shade and sun. Membership is completely worth it if you're going to come more than two times in a year. Standard cost for a park. Grab a souvenir cup and popcorn bucket for drinks and snacks all day. Skytram and bus tour are included in 1 day admission.

We arrived at 17:00, it was very romantic experience although we expected that due to the fact that we arrived 3 hours before closing so all the animals are asleep (you can hardly see any animals), the price will be lower.

The San Diego Zoo is world-class and a must visit place if you are in town. My wife and I love the spending time in the aviaries. The new Africa Rocks exhibit is amazing. If you can make sure to wide the skyfari during sunset to get an outstanding view of downtown and Balboa Park.

Pro tip for those over 21. The Zoo sells excellent craft beer from local breweries and you can carry your cold beverage while you explore the park.

Get Keeper's Club membership. Great deal, support the Zoological Society, and get early entrance to the Zoo and Safari Park.

My granddaughters Make A Wish was here. We had awesome tour guides and workers. Everyone was so helpful and friendly. We really enjoyed our visit.

Elephants are still my favorite part to visit. Its also great exercise to walk all the way around.

Great Zoo. Tree Tops Restaurant was an enjoyable break.

Wonderful zoo. Very clean and staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Clearly marked signs and maps for locations within the zoo. Animals are loved by those who work there and it is very clear to patrons. Get there first thing in the morning if you want to get in to see the pandas!

Take the bus your first time see what interests you then go back walking to those spots. This is so much walking and hills and hotness otherwise which is a lot with crowds and toting kids!

Awesome place, even when It's crowded, there is enough space to see the animals. the bus tour is included in the ticket and is great to get around the park for general orientation. It is clean and fun for kids.

One of San Diego's best spots. Bring your kids, go for a hike, get inspired by other mammals with your new date... They even sell microbrew beer throughout the park. Love it!

Definitely lives up to the hype. I recommend everyone check this place out when visiting San Diego.

Awesome Zoo, buses are not open right now, but its a nice walk .

We saved money with an online coupon. Defiantly necessary as the prices for this zoo are pretty high as far as zoos are concerned.The kids had a good time. There were a lot of animals to see with a good variety of places to go and see. There were very few exhibits that were closed or where you couldn't find the animals.Lots of ways to spend extra money here. We didn't spend the extra for the bus ride in the park...that almost runs you over if you are anywhere near it. Glad we didn't pay for it. Looks like it just takes you on the outskirts and tells you what other people are seeing.I'm not a big fan of zoos, but this was a fun day.Would recommend if you have a day to kill in San Diego

One of the best zoos I've been too. The park is really large and there's so many types of animals to see.

This is an amazing zoo. I think the price is too high and I would have liked to have had better information on animals held in multiple exhibits. Several exhibits were closed, empty or under construction. We were generally able to find the missing animals in another place, but there was not any info to guide you. I think this could be improved.

This is a lovely place. Worth every penny and every step. Over abundance of bathrooms which is a plus! Friendly staff and cool shops. Every time I come to San Diego I must go here.

Very clean, lots of animals were out! There are alcohol and wine options available and gluten free options! we loved it and spent about 5 hours but could have easily spent all day from 9 to 5. Great experience!

Renewed all our memberships today, and came with my daughter to Albert's Restaurant for supper. We love the zoo at night! We're looking forward to another great year with lots of adventures at the zoo!
There are plenty of interesting things for children, the food is reasonably priced, and the staff here are always very pleasant and full of fascinating facts about the animals.

The time seems always less to visit the entire place. It's a huge place and be prepared to get extremely tired. Try to cover all the parts of the zoo as every part is unique. If you plan your journey properly, you will be able to visit all the places in the zoo. Will definitely visit again.

I've been against the idea of zoos for a while... But the San Diego zoo changed my mind with their conservation work...

The place is really an adventure. My kids love it.

One of my favorite places to go visit, bring your own food have a picnic and see all the amazing animals. It's best to come either early or late afternoon to see the animals most active

What a fantastic place to explore and support Wildlife Conservation!

The biggest zoo I ve ever been to, one has to spend at least 4-5 hours to explore the whole zoo. We mainly went to see the Panda s but unluckily they had been sent back to Guangzhou. But got to see many other kind of animals that I had never seen. Really good experience.

This was amazing!!! Although you have to go when it's not too hot

My wife and I have an annual pass for the zoo and Safari park and we couldn't be happier with it. We take our son here all the time for a quick visit or a while day. I always suggest for visiting family to go for the day, and maybe try both parks if they have time. Definitely one of the must sees when in San Diego.

The kangaroo tour was great. The tour guide new her information about the zoo. I had a great time.

What more do I need to say about this world famous zoo? Everything is there, clean, friendly and constantly adding new exhibits. The animals are well cared for and happy. We love being members of this zoo.

So exciting. Amazing Staff. Wonderful Atmosphere. Excellent information.

Always a great time. So glad we saw the pandas before they left. Very clean and laid out well. All the staff is friendly and willing to help.

Nice zoo if you are into that kind of stuff. Great for kids. They even have a play place for kids and petting area. The bus zoo tour is worth it.

I love coming here with my son, and my family. We have had season passes for two years now and it is so worth it. I can't imagine coming here without it. Parking is free, just be willing to wait for someone leaving in the middle of the day. I love the aviaries and that pretty much everything (besides the sky ride of course) is stroller friendly.

Amazing! Lots of options for getting around the hills. Set in beautiful Balboa Park.

Amazing zoo. A litter higher priced but it s a whole days worth of fun. So many animals and good food everywhere! Can t wait to go back again.

My family and I went here on vacay and enjoyed the experience, especially the guided tours. None of the exhibits were closed and we got to see the entire park. Our favorite thing was the tram which allowed us to see the beautiful surroundings of the park and beyond.

My first time in California we took our grandson to this place it was awesome and I would say it is a must see for any one of any age if you are in the area but we walked around with him a 3 years old 4 hours and I know we did not see it all he is pooped and took a very long nap but such the trooper

Fascinating place. Love the new Africa exhibit area and the fossils.

Most animals looked content, but there were a few that had very small enclosures and were pacing. Other than ethics this place is absolutely amazing and I was astounded at the variety of animals here. Need 2 days to thoroughly see everything.

San Diego zoo is a Premier zoo experience for everyone. Although it is a lot of walking, it's gratifying to see all the animals in habitats that are least restrictive, types of environments. We is specially love the aviaries.

Had a good time at San Diego zoo. Caretakers and tour guides are very passionate about the work that they are doing. It was interesting to learn about them bringing back the Cali condor population. Highly recommend this place to bring your.kids.

Very nice place to visit with kid. My kid enjoyed seeing all the animals up close.

My husband and I visited the San Diego Zoo last week and it was - hands down - the best zoo I've ever been to! We were there all day and only did 2/3 of the zoo.. it's that huge. I'm a big animal lover and it made me happy to see the animals had very large cages that looked well maintained. Almost all of the animals we saw were extremely active and so much fun to watch! They all seemed really happy. My favorites? All of the monkeys (hilarious), gorillas (also hilarious), and the polar bears. It was amazing to see the polar bears swimming underwater and move about out of the water as well. I loved how the zoo made areas to watch them do both. Oh, we also loved the restaurant to the right when you enter the zoo. Forgot the name but amazing sandwiches.. not what you expect at a park - really good quality and yummy! What a cool zoo - and a fabulous day! Thank you, San Diego Zoo, for caring for the animals so well!

Some cages are probably too small, other than that great place

Great zoo, family had a fun time, bus was nice at the end of the day when the kids didn't want to walk anymore. Tram was really fun as well.

Best zoo experience ever! So much to see. The organization of this place is just amazing - from the depths of the forest floor and the hippo pool to the sky tram that takes you from one end of the zoo to the other. Wear comfortable shoes because you will cover a lot of ground!

Absolutely amazing experience! Only place on our trip we didn't pay to park. Setting was very beautiful. So many friendly and helpful volunteers engaging the children and answering questions. The way the exhibits and feeding where set up gave great opportunities to see the animals easily instead of spending time searching. Very clean and constantly being cleaned. A couple in our party have a fear of snakes, the way the reptile house is set up with exhibits in the middle and fairly open on the outside helped them feel safe/not trapped and were able to enjoy viewing snakes for the first time. Only negative would be the price, this wouldn't be something we would be able to do often.

Just for fun is really good place, there by kind of animals and look very good.

A very beautiful zoo with so much to explore. As a San Diego resident, it's fun to just go for a few hours at a time and check out different areas each time. My 2 year old and I love the hippos!

One of the best zoos in the world I will be back. Lovely staff.

Best zoo I've ever been to! Each habitat is well thought out and on the bigger side. Educators would be in several areas with teeth, claws, or in one case dehydrated poop(!) and information are fun facts. The biggest drawback is the topography of the place. There are quite a few steep spots that accidentally but fortunately we walked down and could take a bus up, but for handicap actually have warning signs about how steep it is! Several snack, drink, and actually nice meal options as well as multiple souvenir stores. Definitely worth the hype!

Very nice place to spend the day...take the bus ride.

Social distancing is enforced and they re doing a great job with cleanliness. The zoo grounds are beautiful and theres a lot of walking! Alberts restaurant is the best place to eat! Great food and drinks and views! For now it s outdoor patio seating which is perfect!

Good place to spend the day, you'll do tons of walking and see tons of animals. The staff were super nice and told us about the animals if you are in or near San Diego I would definitely recommend going here it is a great zoo with tons to see. Make sure to grab a map you will need it.

Had a wonderful experience with my sister, daughter, son and granddaughters. We loved the butterflies but the line was 2.5 hours wait. The overall experience of interacting with them was amazing and they let you stay as long as you want which explains why it is such a long wait to get in.

This is incredible zoo. It is absolutely huge. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is because the San Diego Safari Park is slightly better.
The pandas are very cool, but fair warning they will be gone by the end of April so if you want to see pandas you'd better so it soon! The Mama Bear is only available to see in the mornings, so I would recommend you do that first.
Food in the park was tasty enough and fairly priced all things considered. The kids meals are very expensive at $9/each, but they come with a for little bag and drink which almost makes up for it.
Be prepared to walk a lot up and down hill. It's all on a slope. There is also the kangaroo bus to help you get around but we found the stops, timing and route to be somewhat confusing.
Signage is also confusing. Multiple times we planned a route based on the map, but ended up in the wrong area because the signs were unclear. Make sure you carefully check your location often, or just accept that you won't always end up where you want to be.

Best zoo I've been to. Wear comfy walking shoes. Some areas are very steep.

It's the San Diego Zoo - it's awesome! And they're one of the few places open to take the family during this quarantine. They only allow a limited number of guests in the zoo at one time because of the virus so get there early. We also had to wait in line on the asphalt parking lot to be screened for entry but it was well worth it to have a fun family outing. One thing to note is the the tram through the park isn't running so you'll have to be prepared for a lot of walking. This wasn't an issue for my family but might be for others.

My day was made yesterday! From the posing gorilla, hooded mergs, and flamingos talking I had a blast

Spent a full day exploring the zoo and surrounding park. The staff is attentive, and the volunteers always happy to give you directions and helpful tips. We enjoyed both the morning bus ride around the zoo, as well as an afternoon trip on the gondola. The animals seemed entertained by their surroundings and spent as much time watching us as we did them! Really enjoyed the pandas, Koalas, California trail and reptile area.