San Diego Zoo Reviews

I totally loved it! My favorite zoo in America! The panda section was the best. I also loved the Australian section of the park. No worries if you have difficulties walking: they have buses inside the zoo. Bring some water as the weather can get pretty hot. I think that what makes this zoo incredible is the work they've done with the landscaping, the flowers, the trees and the global scenery where the animals and the tourists are immersed in.

Always check the website for closing times before going. Closing times vary with season and events/promotion. If you are a member, show your membership card when buying anything - you may get a 10% (or more discount).

Beautiful, well laid out zoo. The animals seem well cared for with appropriate habitats. Plenty of walkways and transport. A really nice physical space, too. Very green.

I have great time, so much fun, and have learning experience at the zoo. Let's help protect the wild!

I really enjoyed the zoo. There was a lot more up and down than I expected. It was super hilly. The animals were nice to see. The food was delicious. Staff were very helpful and knew what they were talking about. The light show at the end of the day was awesome!

This is considered one of the best zoos on the planet. I understand why after visiting. There is so much to see and do while visiting the San Diego zoo. Whether you are taking in the sight of the majestic Capybara or you are engaging in healthy debate over weather a baboon is a monkey or an ape. I would suggest that you take the bus tour early to avoid long lines. Also high on the skyfari trolley that flies you above the clouds and through the zoo. Once you are in the air, you can easily see every animal in the park. Don't think that it's time to leave! There is still so much to do. I'm not going to give away the ending but let's just say that it is something to experience for yourself .

Amazing time with the family. Sad but no more Panda's. Thanks China. Exhibits were very detail orientated and clean. Truly an amazing zoo

This place is so much fun for all ages but its a great place for kids

The San Diego zoo is one of the best zoos around. Everything is super clean and we'll kept. Everyone working there is really nice, professional and sincerely cares about the zoo and the animals in it. The season pass is well worth the money if you live anywhere close to San Diego.

The San Diego Zoo has the reputation it does for a reason... many reasons, actually. I live locally and go to the Zoo as often as possible. It's a beautiful place with lush grounds. It sets the standard for modern zoos. They do a wonderful job caring for their animals and ensuring their health and comfort and are well-known for their global conservation efforts. It is a non-profit organization, so all the money you spend there goes back into the Zoo and its mission.

Pretty good zoo. There's a dog exhibit... Also there is a cheetah in there too

Nice place for fun with family and friends. Wide variety of animals and jungle experience. Reach early in morning and avoid bus tour if it's crowded. Take a printout of map one day in advance for better planning. Map is little bit confusing.

Was fortunate enough to come here. Weather was awesome and everything was great. The animals seems like they like the place and love how the staff were interactive

As a kid I loved the place; but this time wasn't as memorable for my family. It was hot so the great majority of the animals were inside and unavailable. We saw maybe a handful of large animals. The staff was great. Knowledgeable and apologetic. If you are going to plan it for a family vacation make sure to do it in the coolest time possible so you can actually see animals.

I just love animals and I love San Diego! I love my family!

Experience would of been better but it was too hot for the animals and too hot for the public when we went. The zoo has loads to do and wish we had gone when it was cooler. It is great for little kids!

Best zoo I have ever been to. Clean, massive zoo with friendly helpful staff. Could spend an entire day here and still want to come back for a second time.

With huge, beautiful and natural feeling animal enclosures and an incredibly large sprawling zoo, you can see why the San Diego zoo is considered one of the best in the world. For us the highlight of our day was getting to see the polar bears play and swim in their giant bear-quarium!

We have been coming here for the past two decades and always enjoy the time spent walking around and watching the animals.

Worth every penny! We had the most incredible time and didnt even see it all! I can not wait to return!

Beautiful zoo. Lots of walking but there are other easier ways to get around. Loved spending the day here.

Love this place is gorgeous....with the bird section that was so serene...

The zoo was great! Lots of animals were out and we had a great time. There are many places to eat and drink. The Skyfari was exciting and the bus around the park makes things very convenient.

Expensive but worth it, try to get a coupon online before coming

Always a hit with the kids I watch. All the employees and volunteers are so helpful! One of the best zoos iv been too

What can ya say about the zoo. The world's great zoo at that. Nothing much beyond awesome. Only loses one star cause in general I don't like zoos. Animals being in cages etc. But I get it. And this one is the best.

We are members, and today there were several staff just standing around, telling interesting info about hippos, chimps... such a fun day! And Africa Rocks is such a gorgeous exhibit! Not to mention we got to walk right in to see the pandas, no line!! World class zoo in our backyard, so lucky!!

Great zoo! Totally worth the price of admission. I strongly recommend the bus tour as you get a great birds eye/behind the scenes view of the zoo (for the best view sit on the top right of the bus). The zoo is absolutely massive, so bring a comfortable pair of shoes!

Food prices are ridiculous as they are inflated to account for a donation to the zoo.

Here you can see some of the coolest animals in the world and the experience will fascinate you.

Not only does this place showcase animals, it brings critical, educational while interesting info to tourists. Beautiful layout, plantation and gardening make it even more appealing.

Love this Zoo. It is huge so be prepared to walk a lot! The food is ok, very expensive! We bring a cooler with a picnic for our family, they let you bring your own food and drinks. Love that they serve beer too! Go early and you will be able to see a lot of the animals having breakfast.

It had been years since I visited and I was very impressed with the staff and the quality of exhibits. I enjoyed the plant life almost as much as the animals! There were also some really cool life-size statues of prehistoric animals throughout the park and those were fun to see.

The bus tour at the beginning is very much worth the wait in line and I recommend doing it first so you have an idea of what you want to see, especially if you are short on time. I spent a full day there and was able to see everything at a relaxed pace. I also recommend doing almost a counter-clockwise route when walking around. Wear good walking shoes.

There are a lot of options for food, drink, and snacks all over the zoo with a pretty good amount of seating. The food prices are reasonable and pretty good quality for being in a park. The drinks and snacks/treats can be a little pricey but they have a refillable mugs for fountain drinks that gives you free refills on the day of purchase and for only $1 on return visits.

Near the entrance there was live music which was really fun. It might have been a summer thing but it seems like they have different things happening throughout the year. The website looked pretty helpful for planning as well. I would recommend buying tickets online to avoid waiting in line for a ticket.

Just an FYI, the Safari Park has some animals not featured at the zoo, so if you are hoping to see specific animals I would recommend checking the website.

Very well run establishment, super clean and super friendly staff and volunteers everywhere. Can t wait to come back with our baby.

Huuuuge zoo! So much, we only got to about half of it in a day. Some of the enclosures are kind of small, and the animals in them are stressed. Lots of places to stop for a snack or even a sit down meal, and of course lots of places to get souvenirs. The Skyfari is fantastic fun!

Best place to see and learn about wildlife. I recommend bringing a hat and jogging shoes, a lot of walking.

One of the most amazing experiences of my life. The zoo was extremely large, and it felt like you were in the middle of a jungle. Would definently go back. I reccomend taking the bus tour first.

San Diego Safari Zoo.. Amazing time. Feels good to just leave the books and have fun sometimes.

Visiting this zoo was a lot of fun. There was a lot to see... almost more than could be seen in a day. The bus tours were nice, as well as the plethora of gift shops offered. My favorite was wondering around with my husband and a map trying not to get lost. I would recommend this as a date or to families.

A great family experience. Wheelchair accessible parking lot and pathways, public bathrooms, and plenty of restaurants in all different cuisine types. If you go, I recommend stopping by the Pandas-- but hurry!! As of April 26th, the pandas' breeding and boarding contract will have ended, and they'll be moving back to China...
[Pictures are of the young Xiao Liwu and his mother, Bai Yun.

This zoo holds up to its world famous status! A must see.

I hope this place opens soon. I miss all of the animals

I didn't do this all in one day and it became very interesting. Something for everyone. Food and drink is a little pricey but good quality. A great day out.

We came to San Diego specifically for the zoo which is rated as such a high attraction. Although it was pleasant, it was not distinguishable. The layout was less than desirable although the on-off bus was helpful. I thought the price, at $54 a person, would prove to be worth it. It was not. The map of the zoo was very confusing, not at all helpful. There was so much on the map that it was frustrating to find specifics. Not a single Bear, other than the polar bear, was in a viewable area. They were all comfortably snoozing behind giant rocks great for the animals but disappointing to guests. The zoo was well maintained and the animals all appeared to be healthy. I did not expect the flamingos to be the highlight of my visit to a supposed world class zoo.

Love the zoo always great. San Diego zoo is one of the best i have been to

Always love coming to The Zoo, get lots of good pictures everytime minus a few animals since they have some type of mesh wiring around them but beyond that it's always worth it. Favorite are the Orangutans and the Tigers Among others

Awfully expensive for entrance fee and food with lots of walking.

Great zoo! So much to see! It was nice to have the bus tour included in the ticket price. That was a great way to see most of the park without walking in the heat. Really enjoyed the sky tram, especially on a hot day and you've been there for several hours and your too tired to walk back to the entrance!! The whole family enjoyed!

Amazing, not just the animals but the nature & plants were gorgeus ! Must see if you are in san diego

Excellent place to have a good time. I suggest coming early if you want to catch all the animals awake.

The zoo is world famous for a reason. If you're a local, getting a season pass is a must. It's around $155 for 2 people which gives you unlimited access to the zoo and the wild animal park. There are also a few other perks like discounts and tram rides.

Great day for the family. Bring sunscreen as it is an all day event. Recommend both the full park bus tour and the kangaroo shuttles to get from point A to point B.

Very nice place for family visits
Takes entire day to enjoy thoroughly

Amazing Zoo! This place is huge.
Love the way it is layed out in the canyon making it more like ecological sections of the animal world. But be prepared for lots of walking up and down hills.
Definitely plan to visit all the new animal babies!
Stop early for lunch or dinner at Allberts (near the bridge).

We have made great use of our passes. The park is such a great way to spend time with family or friends. I love that it's like an amazing hike. Every time we go we see something different. Best money spent all summer.

It was okay but we've been to nicer zoo's & paid a lot less.

So much to do here... At first I didn't want to ride the sky lift... But it was great... Especially at sunset

You need hours. Half a day or more. We were there for 6 hours. We use the skifari to go across the zoo! Worth it!

Good experience! and a great place to bring your family and over all.

Best entertainment for the price. Always a fun day here.

Get there early on warm weekend days! Best if you're there at 8:00/8:30

We loved the zoo. Huge..w animals you don't see elsewhere. Beautiful and clean.

By far the best zoo I ve ever visited. The property is gorgeous. The staff is friendly. The animals steal the show, of course. We last visited to see the pandas before they returned to China. Don t miss this place when in San Diego.

The best part of our vacation, was visiting this zoo. We loved so much from the friendly staff to the selection of animals they had. No wonder why the zoo is #1 in America. Well worth the trip from Texas. We loved how easy the zoo was to navigate through with the handy maps they provide. Wear comfy shoes and be prepared to do a lot of walking up hills/stairs.

Amazing animals, nice place to walk and get some exercise too. Great learning experience for kids.

Best zoo in the world. Staff is amazing caring and each animal is like there child it's amazing the hearts they have. I've only been once but now that I have lived failure it's hard to travel and wish conical I could take my baby who's 17 she loves animals. So god bless me to cost thos amazing zoo again...

Good zoo, but quite pricy. Wish I could have seen more while there. Plenty of walkways to walk, good for kids in strollers.

Okay, as a San Diego native, I am completely biased about my zoo. The World Famous San Diego Zoo is indeed that! It is located in the heart of San Diego in a prime area and location. Over the years I with the rest of San Diego have watched it change and grow so many times in my lifetime and I love that. They continue to do what is necessary for the animals by expanding areas and updating habitats and locations for the well-being and health of the animals. The organization respects each and every species from the smallest plant to the largest animals and all of their natural habitats like no other zoo. The SDZ is a large zoo so wear comfortable shoes or you will regret some of your life choices. The zoo is super hot in the summer so hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen are a good idea, thankfully, there are lots of shady areas to get relief. On any windy or cooler temp days it gets quite chilly on the grounds so don't forget your favourite hoodie.
I love the food and drink options: hot dogs on pretzel buns, big ol' reusable refillable beer cup, churro hot fudge sundae. My only complaint with the sundae is the churros never seem to be fresh and I always want them to be warm and soft. Note to SDZ: offer the churros on the side warm and fresh!
If you've never been, you need to go and if you've not been in ages, well, you need to check out all of the changes and growth the zoo has undergone. Go...do it!

what a fun place ... went with large family and even when we separated based on our interests we could quickly re unite ... the aerial ride is really cool from one side of the park to the next ... lots to see and worth the trip

Wonderful place to enjoy the day with the little ones!

Hands down the best zoo in the country. Beautiful landscaping and giant enclosures of well kept animals. So much nicer and more well taken care of than any zoos in middle america. Worth the visit if vacationing.

The San Diego Zoo is amazing. So many different things to do. Different ways to experience the animals. I love it. Their conservation efforts on behalf of the animals is awesome.

This zoo has always been my favorite growing up. I no longer live in SD. But we I come to visit the zoo It is definitely one of my stop. To do.

It was expensive. We all had fun while learning about animals and conservation.

The Bush Tour is a must! Amazing elephant enclosure! Just about every animal is a star! Definitely better than Sea World! Lots of hills wear your tennis shoes!

There are a lot of animals to see! We spent about 6 hours in the zoo and got to see most of the exhibits. If you don't want to walk there are two buses that can take you around the zoo. Also, there's a lift that goes across the park and has great views. The parking is free and you can go out the park and re-enter without a problem. Definitely a great way to spend the day, beautiful animals and you get to experience really close to them.

You can't go wrong if you love animals. A beautiful well thought out zoo.

I've been wanting to go here for years. And finally had the chance to come. I love this zoo so much better then the ones in Washington!

I love that you walk in and straight ahead is the flamingo exhibit. That s all I really care about, sure there are lovely forest walks and big enclosures for the animals, but the flamingoes are the besttttt!!

Not the beat zoo I have been to. There is not too much walking for a young adult a few hill to get a good amount of exercise. And plenty enough benchs to take a brake. As well there are strollers you can rent at the zoo. My favorite animal to see was the flamingos because of there activity. The San Diego Zoo is fun and I personally like San Diego's safari park better (less people and animal habits are more to the species actual eviorment). The best time to go to either zoos is early in the morning.

The San Diego is an amazing place! Its huge, so well maintained and they have such a great variety of animals to learn about. The price is hefty but it is well worth it. Pack your sunscreen and don't forget to utilize the kangaroo bus to help you get around. Also taking the guided tour early in the morning is a great way to get yourself oriented so you can have a plan for scoping out your favorite animals. I found the best view from the guided bus tour was on the top on the right hand side. Don't miss the sky car, its wonderful to see the zoo from so high up.

The zoo is huge, very well maintained and clean, we had a fantastic time with our 18months old. Spent a good 4-5 hours there. It deserves its reputation of best zoo in the world.