San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo Reviews

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I can not say enough positive things about this zo...

I can not say enough positive things about this zoo. Animals
Had large enclosures, it was easy to get around, they had a great 30 minute double deck bus tour and a tram that went across the whole zoo! Food stops where throughout the park and prices weren t that steep. Had a big taco plate with rice and beans for $10US. Can walk around with beers and had some great shows. Would go back again as you need to spend several days there to see everything!

Getting a day pass is nice, but when they convince...

Getting a day pass is nice, but when they convince you to pay so much for a year pass and they don't have many shows or events, it feels like you've been ripped off. The prices have risen to high for a smelly place

We really enjoyed the zoo, we were visiting from f...

We really enjoyed the zoo, we were visiting from florida. We spent 3 days Between balboa park and the zoo and it was still not enough. But you can see the whole zoo in one day. The panda's and the elephants are the a must see. I highly recommend the San Diego zoo

Love the zoo and it's set up. Amazing enclosures f...

Love the zoo and it's set up. Amazing enclosures for the animals and beautiful sceneries for walking paths.

Note for the people with service dogs; they treat you really well. We had no problems, they gave my girl a bandana to make it easier for security and other workers to know your dog is a working dog. They even have drinking fountains available for them. We also were let in more areas than most zoo's, just not the duck pond, that's restricted.

After going to this zoo, my local zoos seem dull. ...

After going to this zoo, my local zoos seem dull. So much to see, easy to get lost. The animals were closer to see. The gorillas were very entertaining, especially the smallest. He was twirling and rolling down the hill. Glad We went since the pandas are going back to China.

So me and my boyfriend legitimately spent 7 hours ...

So me and my boyfriend legitimately spent 7 hours here, because I'm in love with animals (especially elephants!) And this place is FULL of them. I suggest going early or late to witness all the animals moving about, because most of them sleep during the day. The aerial sky tram is also a huge bonus that not a lot of zoos offer, and the guided bus tour is a great way to learn about the animals while checking out what's new at the zoo! Our tour guide Ashley was very knowledgeable about what's new and upcoming at the zoo. June is also a great time to visit because it's baby season! Many animals are mating and therefore there are lots of new members at the zoo! Parking is FREE at the zoo which is a huge bonus. At first I felt iffy about the price of tickets, but remembering that the San Diego zoo is a non profit organization and all of our proceeds go towards helping these animals out of extinction really made me feel much better about spending and the prices of everything (still cheaper than Disneyland!). The only downside is the long line for the Pandas (we skipped the lines because we wanted to see everything else first) but the zoo is definitely somewhere I would go again! If I lived in San Diego I wouldn't think twice about getting an annual pass! I had the best time here, thanks San Diego Zoo!

Con : Parking is free but you have to find it

Con : Parking is free but you have to find it
Pros : huge park to spend your day. We took the 3 day Go San Diego pass and all the bus tours and kangaroo Express was covered. The zoo has great animals and is very well kept. Most of the walk way trial is covered with trees and it feels like walking through a forest. Had a great time with my toddler. Love it!

Went here in August of 2017; though this is only t...

Went here in August of 2017; though this is only the third different zoo I've ever visited (first out-of-state; zoos in SC don't exactly live up to their mission), this is definitely the best I've seen! My first-time encounters with a hippo, polar bear, both a regular and red panda, and even seeing a giraffe that is as old as me (May '97) were surprising and amazing! Bit pricey at the entrance, but worth the tour around!

Be prepared for a long walk. Exhibits could have b...

Be prepared for a long walk. Exhibits could have better viewing opportunities, and there should be more restrooms given the number of people they serve. But it's great to know they are successfully restoring endangered species.

Lots of great animals and the zoo really focuses o...

Lots of great animals and the zoo really focuses on educating people about species preservation. The environments are set up to make it feel as if the animals are in their natural habitats, and the barriers that exist do not feel to obstructive to experiencing the animals. It really is impressive the lengths that the zoo goes to in order to give animals the environment they need to thrive. For example, the polar bears have cooled water in their area to simulate arctic waters (well, maybe not that cold, perhaps). The bus tour was a good overview of the whole place. I would suggest doing that early on because it can help you develop a plan for the day off which places in this large zoo that you want to visit.

We had season passes for both of the two years we ...

We had season passes for both of the two years we lived in San Diego. I like the upgraded pass as it is nice to be able to bring in a free guest. Some of my favorite less visited areas are the fern canyon trail (closest thing to my Hawaii home that I have found on the mainland) and all of the aviaries. The bus tour is best for first timers, however there is a great rooftop jaguar viewing area that you only get to see from a bus (after construction on Africa Rocks connector is finished and they close the road to pedestrians again), although you can just get on the kangaroo bus (quick stop bus) to see it... As long as there is room available, it can be very busy on the weekends! While I love the night hours, really Africa is the best place to see animals after 5pm as many of the animals throughout the zoo have early bedtimes and will be off exhibit in the evening hours. And take the skyfari towards the polar bears (away from the front entrance) as lines returning can be quite long. Have fun! I always see something new and interesting. I almost forgot, don't skip the reptile house, they have one of the best snake collection with lots of tropical species as well as a few local north American species. There are also some reptile sections hidden in small segments throughout the zoo. I skip the children's zoo, only because it is crowded. There is a great bug house and some nice smaller animal exhibits.

I've been a zoo member for years and I plan to be ...

I've been a zoo member for years and I plan to be for many to come.

I see and learn something new and amazing every single time I visit. Whether it's an animal ambassador, a new exhibit, an animal displaying a behavior I hadn't caught before, or some cool item at a gift shop this place never gets old. There is always something exciting going on, and everything ties into the zoo's ongoing fight for conservation, education, and research. They don't just help animals. They help restore faith in humanity.

If you're a local, I highly recommend buying even the basic membership. Parking is free (different story at the Safari Park). Sometimes I'll just go here for a morning walk since the grounds are extensive and there are plenty of thigh-burning hills. Even if you live a couple hours away, say in L.A., it's worth it if you go only for the night time zoo in summer and the holiday celebrations. Heck, I went on Christmas Day in the rain this year and had a blast.

Bring food and drinks with you. They allow it. The food and drinks they sell aren't bad, you'll get a souvenir cup out of it, and it all goes to the zoo's cause, but if you're looking to save a couple of bucks DIY. There are plenty of places to sit and eat the food you brought. Also, if you really want to see a lot of critters out and about, make sure you arrive no later than 10 a.m. Many of the talks and feedings happen earlier, plus the crowd doesn't start to thicken until around noon on most days. Many areas are shady since the zoo also cultivates a huge array of trees and flora, but don't forget the sunblock in the brighter months anyway.

Check out the orchid house, pollinator garden, and botanical tours too, plant-lovers! The orchid house is open every...second Friday of the month? At 2 p.m. And ask about the tons of behind the scenes encounters they have with animals. These make awesome gifts.

A good time. The zoo is giant so if you want to se...

A good time. The zoo is giant so if you want to see all the animals in one day come early and be ready to move. The park still advertises a lot around pandas but as of the end of 2019, pandas are no longer there.

Really nice zoo, its big and has alot of animals t...

Really nice zoo, its big and has alot of animals to see. Prices are good for the size of the zoo. Ive been to alot of zoos in California, and I am even a member of the LA zoo, but this zoo beats them all so far. I like the bus tour included with your tickets, if you dont feel like walking or get tired take the bus! Prices inside are decent, and food is good. Most of the zoo is covered in trees, so when you are walking your under shade(good thing during summer). I would recommend this zoo to anyone, especially if you have kids like me.

Only 1 star due to the depressing fact that they e...

Only 1 star due to the depressing fact that they exhibit a polarbear despite hot hot summer weather! And that the zoo tries to lessen their shame and torture by installing a small ice cube machine to the swetty robbed polarbears disposal! Truly a shame, if not a crime against animal rights!

One of the best zoos that I have visited. It is v...

One of the best zoos that I have visited. It is very big with a great variety of animals. It is divided in regions which help to see specific animals. If you want to see everything, you will spend the whole day.

I know that this is a world-famous zoo... But hone...

I know that this is a world-famous zoo... But honestly, I couldn't see the animals in about half of the attractions. The directions around the park were also confusing, even with a map. My wife and I had a WAY better time at SeaWorld the following day.

This is a must see when you are in San Diego. Ther...

This is a must see when you are in San Diego. There are so many things to see and do. I rushed through ans for plenty of wonderful photos of the amazing animals. Elephants, rhinos, hippos, bears and ao much more. I suggest going early because even on a slow day it fills up fast and can get a bit overwhelming quick.Many things are included with your 1 day pass. The bus tour and the sky tram are included so make sure to stop and see the animals.

They have animals. They were pooping and screwimg,...

They have animals. They were pooping and screwimg, as they should. It smelled a lot like poop there, but I guess that's to be expected. There was food available, but I'm not sure who'd want to eat with it smelling like that. The prices of everything wasn't crazy, but it was certainly not the lowest price in town. I guess you can feel free to shop the competition if you're looking for a good deal.

It was super fun . I did miss giant pandas . I cou...

It was super fun . I did miss giant pandas . I could not see red panda as well . But I can say overall it's must visit once . It took for me 5 hrs to see all . I would recommend going on a time when it's less hot .carry water bottles with you . There is kuala bear over there

You were able to get pretty close to the animals. ...

You were able to get pretty close to the animals. One of he volunteers, Sue, saw that my daughter was having a rough moment and walked with us to show her a horse. While walking she told us cool facts about the animals plus their names. Thank you Sue it was appreciated.

The pandas are worth seeing! Lovely made Zoo with ...

The pandas are worth seeing! Lovely made Zoo with lots of animals. But there are too much people in the afternoon and parts of the zoo could have been made more modern and animal friendly (giraffe, elephants). Would most probably not visit the San Diego Zoo again.

Fun place to be at if the weather is good. They al...

Fun place to be at if the weather is good. They also do bus tours at regular intervals. Tickets are a bit expensive but I guess it's worth the money. Google says it is the world's largest zoo. Lots of animals to look at up close. If you like reptiles, they have great snakes to look at. Another excellent thing is, you can walk around with beer. There are a lot of stalls where you can buy food, soda, beer. Fun place to bring in your kids. They have some stops where the kids can get face paintings of their choice. Overall if you like nature and animals, this is the place to be.

Very impressive zoo! I've heard about how nice it ...

Very impressive zoo! I've heard about how nice it is but I didn't realize just how nice.
Size: Wear comfortable walking shoes! This place is huge and you'll find yourself wanting to keep exploring after each exhibit.
Organized: The map at the entrance is very organized and intuitive. You can find restrooms, restaurants, particular animal exhibits, etc. very easily.
Quality: Everything here is done at the highest levels. The aviaries are quite large and high giving plenty of freedom for the birds. The big cats and gorillas have really nice layouts.
Small Touches: Everywhere you look you'll notice someone was thinking. The flowers and succulents are clearly arranged by professionals. They carefully planned for older growth trees to be incorporated into various exhibits by building around them.
Summary: It's the nicest zoo I've seen and we've been zooing for 25 years now. You'll want to plan on this being an all day thing so don't try to make following plans or you'll not see everything there is to offer.

Not a real Zoo fan, especially being from Chicago ...

Not a real Zoo fan, especially being from Chicago il but this zoo is the best ever i couldnt finish it all on foot so we took the bus and sat on top! Perfect saw whole zoo in 1/2 the time great guides too! Beautiful zoo, definitely going back

My expectations were high for the famous Sam Diego...

My expectations were high for the famous Sam Diego Zoo, but it was a little underwhelming. I'm not sure if it just happened to be the day we were there, but the "Elephant Odyssey" had two elephants. Not much of an Odyssey... The grizzly bears were gone. The panda habitat had just recently been closed also. The kids seemed to have a good time however. The food was pretty good. The best part was how many people were walking around engaging with the kids and teaching them about the animals. I would still recommend it, but don't expect it to blow your mind.

Wear good walking shoes because you ll definitely ...

Wear good walking shoes because you ll definitely be doing a lot of walking on flat and up/downhill paths. Get there early to see the Koala bears at feeding time, they sleep most of the day and it s worth watching them eat. Look at a map and plan your day if there are any shows you want to see. The park is big and you might not make it to a show if you don t plan accordingly.

If you re on vacation and only going for one day plan to be there the entire day. I spent 9 hrs and still didn t see a portion of the animals. A lot of the animals are only active at dawn m dusk so plan accordingly if there is a certain animal you want to make sure you see.

Definitely use the sky safari to get from one end of the park to the other. Take the bus tour (I did it last and was kind of happy because you don t really get a good view of all the animals), the tour gives you a lot of information. Note: the polar bears have access to their inside air conditioned compartments. They are not forced to stay outside in the heat. You may or may not see them. And don t be upset thinking they re being treated unfairly if you do.

You are allowed to bring a bag with your own food/water. Suggest doing so if you don t want to spend the money on expensive food. Alcohol is available through out the park, and you re able to walk around with it (please drink responsibly and remember it s a family venue).

As a lical san diegan it was surprising to see how...

As a lical san diegan it was surprising to see how well behaved and respectful everyone was. Let alone their offspring. Weve been to everything there is to do in california. San diego has the coastline beat by miles. Such a bust day! Yet everyone was having fun! Nit like LA or longbeach wherenpeople simply dont give a single pinched loaf about anyone but themselves. True story.

I am a San Diego local with a zoo pass, so I go to...

I am a San Diego local with a zoo pass, so I go to the zoo often. It is very large--the animal exhibits are numerous and are often bigger than other zoos. They have feedings and animal care demonstrations throughout the day. The park is very hilly, so after a few hours you can get quite a workout. I find it difficult to see everything in one day, but it is doable. There is a free on-off bus that runs throughout the day and has many stops around the park, and also a sky-ride that runs across the park in case you're too tired to walk back to the exit. The food is pretty good but not great. The alcohol selection is fantastic but expensive (lots of local stuff from beer to canned cocktails). All-in-all this is one of San Diego's highlights and worth the ticket price.

If you're thinking of going multiple days, the pass price is not that much more and you can break up your visits with trips to Balboa Park and downtown or mid-city. Otherwise, plan to make a full day visit as the park is very extensive.

Relocated and this was on our very long list of th...

Relocated and this was on our very long list of things to do! Loved that we just walked up to the kiosk and purchased our tickets in two seconds. We also really loved the bus ride around the zoo and off course all of the awesome animals.
Worth every penny.
We loved it here and we'll definitely be back!!!

The zoo is beautifully designed and fun with the d...

The zoo is beautifully designed and fun with the different variety of animals. However, two things that were superbly annoying: 1- I can t remember a straight 15 minutes went by without having someone from the zoo blurbing about saving the animals and how humans are killing them all.. you d think you re watching a CNN panel. We wouldn t be there if we hated animals that much, smart employees. 2- the bus tour is a pure waste of time if you re sitting on the left side. AVOID SITTING ON THE LEFT SIDE. If you do, you will see two or three animals and that s it beside the continuous flow of bushes. It s definitely worth the $56 since Disneyland s tickets are +$104.

Really cool experience for anyone who hasn't done ...

Really cool experience for anyone who hasn't done it. It is huge however so be prepared for a ton of walking. They offer a bus tour that drives around the perimeter of the park which gives you a good overview of what the park has to offer however to really see it you need to walk. They do offer a shuttle service they will drive you to 4 stops around the park which is helpful. Also if you not afraid of heights they offer a cable car that will take you across the park and give you awesome views. Some of the bigger attractions (such as the Panda or the bus tour) get some decently long lines so plan for that or get there early to avoid them.

Tons of animals. Super fun. Make sure to take the ...

Tons of animals. Super fun. Make sure to take the aerial tram over the whole zoo... My husband and I took them and were able to see several exhibits we had not seen and did not even know existed. It was just the two of us, so it is fun for adults and children alike. Highly recommend.

I grew up in Washington DC and enjoyed that zoo wh...

I grew up in Washington DC and enjoyed that zoo when I was a young girl and then again as a young mother and I felt that nothing could come close to that zoo. But then I came to San Diego and wow! What a fantastic experience. This zoo has so much to offer and is so unique in its look and feel. I don t think you can see everything in one day to be honest...

Zoo employee 1 informed us rhino exhibit is closed...

Zoo employee 1 informed us rhino exhibit is closed. Employee 2 says that emoloyee 1 is misinformed because the rhino exhibit is open...We were excited and confused so we went to check and the rhino exhibit was in fact closed...I find nothing online about closure. My daughter was very disappointed. It was her birthday and she loves rhinos.

Simply the best. Spectacular. This is a world clas...

Simply the best. Spectacular. This is a world class zoo with so many exhibits. The Giraffes are such beautiful creatures. But near by are the Rhinos. Kola bears in there own habitat. Birds and monkeys. Elephants and Antelopes. Well you get the idea. Remember to allow time as this is a very large zoo with much to see.

If you don't have more than one day I recommend th...

If you don't have more than one day I recommend the bus tour first and then exploring the areas of the zoo that pique your interest most. The gorilla and orangutan exhibits are beautiful with lots of glass to see the animals in their enclosure. It has lots of shade around the park but I recommend a hat! We enjoyed the polar bear exhibit, it has a large glass that shows the underwater areas so watching the polar bear swim was very cool and the penguin/shark tank has an amazing waterfall above it. Great zoo for adults and children. Also, they serve alcohol at several locations ;)