San Diego Zoo Reviews

Wow! Lots of fun for the whole family. I thought this zoo was like any other. What makes this zoo stand out is the organization of animals and the walking trails. It's a good workout at the same time. Excellent layout. Family loved the pandas!

Pandas were great now they are gone though. They still have a red Panda.

Probably the best zoo in US. Very large. I am against keeping animals in captivity, but many animals there have large spaces to roam around. They have different guided tours like "inside look tour" where you can see giraffes elephants, big cats etc. Aerial tram and miniature Balboa railroad. Educational and entertaining.

Huge zoo!! Beautiful and fun! Just make sure to wear comfortable shoes!!

We go for exercise to get our steps in! Always a good time and different things to see every time. We also have lunch at Albert's before returning home.

Loved it, great place to get your exercise for the day...lol

Fun for the entire family. if you live near by I uy the 1 year membership well worth it.

Wonderful place, wonderful beautiful animals. Caring people. You guys are amazing! It has to take so much work to run this place as beautifully as it is

Very nice place to go with family. Weather was fantastic.

Loads to see and do here, almost needs 2 days to really see. Use your AAA card for a discount, buy ahead from them too save time in line. The double decker bus tour gives a nice overview of the whole thing if you didn't wear your walking shoes! Half a star off for the having people inside asking to set up monthly donations. I get that they need funds to operate but when it's almost closing time and you are looking for that one last look, that's not the time to slow me down.

Great zoo. Would definitely recommend . Animals are very close

Absolutely everything I hoped! Such a beautiful zoo!

Amazing experience. Plenty of shade and comfort/food stations!

I chose to spend my single free day in San Diego at the zoo and must say it was an incredible experience. It was sprawling and beautiful. The animals seemed well cared for and the staff were engaging and knowledgeable. I hope to bring my son someday.

This place is magical. But let's face it...if you go on a weekend or any day during the spring/fall/summer...its packed. If you can my recommendation is to go around 2pm (no later) on a weekday during January or February. You'll basically have the park to yourself. And, as the sun sets around 430, it seems more animals are out and more intimate (except bears...they are obviously hibernating). The zoo has done an amazing job to accommodate the slew of visitors. Patience is key if you go at any other time. And maybe a beer...they actually have good ones inside! Unless you're a Coors Light fan, then you will be disappointed. There is plenty of alternative transportation (to feet), but on busy days you will definitely stand in line for it. Like many tourist spots, be prepared for what you'll get when you pick your time to go.

I HIGHLY recommend weekday afternoons in the winter...its magical. Enjoy!

Favorite spot to visit every month. Really awesome experience and outstanding service. Highly recommend a membership to the zoo as it is cheaper.

Visiting from Boston. Had a great day at the zoo with the family!

Beautiful and so much fun!!! Worth the drive out of L.A. plan accordingly you ll need the whole day to explore the entire zoo. You won t be disappointed!

Such a great park to visit even if you don't visit the Zoo. Many museums and a fun Art Row. Free parking. Beautiful gardens to stroll including the Botanical
It can be free if you only visit designated free sites. Or pay, and enjoy it all.

Over hyped. Highly recommended on the internet but not very exciting.

Beautiful place every corner of it is filled with something interesting and or beautiful

I had hurt my knee a few days before but even with the pain of walking I still had the time of my life! I wasnt expecting them to have all those plants there aswell but they had all different kinds of exotic plants! The animals were so beautiful. I had a great time and would definitely go back! I live across the country and wish I lived closer.

It's the zoo and very big,a lot to see including a couple playgrounds

Had a awesome time with my family. Lines are pretty long.

love the bus's that took you everywhere so much fun for the whole family

Night zoo at Winter break and Summertime brings out a whole new experience at the zoo.
Many animals become more active. The African Lions begin roaring at sunset.

Such a WONDERFUL BEAUTIFUL place to spend the say :)

Great time at the zoo today; kids got in for free!! Yipee!!

Beautiful, full of exotic animals, try to come early in the day to have the chance to see all the animals

This is by far the best zoo I've ever been to. The habitats are so carefully thought out to be the most comfortable and closest in feel to the natural homes of each animal. Nothing actually looks like a cage. I also enjoy the unique layout of the paths; it feels more like taking a slow meandering hike, which is a huge enhancement to the experience for me. You can walk the whole zoo in 10k steps or less, but you don't need to with the bus tour and tram ride included in the ticket. As can be expected, the prices of food border on extortion, but outside food is allowed in so pack a lunch and it's all good. We're SoCal locals, so if we plan to go to the zoo (or Safari Park) more than once throughout the year it's actually cheaper to get the passes, and makes it nice to have the freedom for spur-of-the-moment trips to SD with no added cost (thanks in part to the free parking).

A world class Zoo with excellent exhibits and a huge variety. The park was relatively easy to navigate and there was always something to see no matter where you were walking. Loved the fact you can walk around with local craft beer. Price was pretty expensive but I think it's worth it. Food options were OK, ate at the Sandwich Company and while it was also expensive it was better than expected. Overall an excellent day spent at the Zoo.

This is one of the best zoos in the world for a reason. You can really see that they are conservation focused and really care about the animals. The take the mission to build passion about conservation through education and interaction and have many rehabilitation program to help stave off extinction for many species. Almost every species in the park is endengerd and has a breeding program to help boost numbers in the wild.

Love the zoo! It offers so many animals and helps preserve them. There's a lot of downhill which could mean uphill... instead there is a tram to get you back to the front of the park. Definitely recommend taking the bus ride first to see various animals and get yourself oriented.

The Sandwich shop was amazing! Try the chicken curry wrap

The world's Best Zoo! So clean and the Animals are very well cared for, Truly a pleasure to visit!

Very clean and the directions were right on the spot

Great big Thank You to Security Officer, Carlos Espinal! I'm 74 and lost my car. A young lady in Membership called Security and that's how Carlos came. She walked me to the place to meet him. He pleasantly drove me around, eased my nerves, and helped me find my car. Thank you both for making my visit end on a happy note!

Probably the BEST zoo in in America. Zoo is huge and provides many tour guides. However it could be quite easy to get off track.

Love coming here for my toddler. Great pace for the little one to run around and burn energy. Snacks and food inside the park are pricey. But they allow you to bring in your own snacks. Large selection of animals to see. A lot of walking unless you buy a bus pass for the day (I would recommend it). The crowds are never to big. Great place for the family.

Awesome experience. Wish I had more time to enjoy it.

It is highly recommended to visit here. It felt like a zoo that's nature friendly and takes good care of the animals. There are souvenir shops and many cafes throughout. Skyfly across the center of the zoo is a good place to rest. But you can't see the animals below in the air. (Foresty)

Been awhile since I've been to the zoo, had a great time !! Great place to bring the family for the day !! Make sure you ride the little train and carousel thats in front of the zoo too. Brings back good memories !!

In a word - dreamy! Highly recommend. Zoos are definitely not something we typically go for, but this is so much more than a zoo, it's a whole experience. Immaculate, beautiful, organized, and expansive - the whole place is breathtakingly beautiful. Tickets include unlimited sky tram and bus transport - good shoes, water, sunscreen are a must.

Get an annual pass. Another 30 bucks for a year pass. Excellent

They don't have pandas anymore and I was pretty upset about it. A lot of the animals were sleeping or lounging in the shaded corner but I did arrive at the zoo around 1pm. Their layout to walk the zoo is a little confusing along with the map. The area for the small monkeys and canary area was really confusing because they had stairs to a walkway and it was just really crowded so it was hard to walk the upper level.
I was hoping they had a petting zoo area or a section just for kids to play on because at almost every main section of the zoo, there was a small play/picture corner that would just be full of people so it was hard to move around them to get to the next section.

We love the San Diego Zoo! We've been twice already and will most likely return. My wife and I are horticulture lovers and enjoy the hundreds of plant varieties around the zoo in addition to the animals.

Zoo with many animals!
The zoo is huge. It will take all day to go through so plan accordingly. Also wear comfortable shoes as you will be walking a lot.
The bad: place is pretty expensive. For 58 dollars a ticket they have one tiger and two lions. Also no giant pandas. We didn't see a few of the animals and many cages appeared empty. Crowd is a burden and full of bad-mannered people.
I would recommend it.

The 4 stars only for the well designed gardens and similar to a rain forest. As for the animals collection, don t expect to see that much of animals there. It s a nice place to take kids for and have lunch over. Bus tour is a plus, just to know where to go to and were to start from. Staff very friendly and nice. If you re looking in seeing more animals , then maybe you try the safari park which I haven t seen yet.

I really do and will always respect the work the San Diego Zoo does regarding their research and contribution to all of their studies and hard work, which are numerous. But over the years, it's been a downhill experience for guests because of massive tourism. It really does bring down the spirit when trying to find parking for an hour but having to resort to a $20 "donation" to the adjacent public school (legally, it's not a donation if they set the price at $20), the extremely long lines to buy a ticket, view attractions and exhibits, and rushed experience to move along when viewing key areas. In a nutshell, they exceed capacity and still promote a Disneyland experience with their park, including the exorbitant prices for food and drink. The Zoo will always have a place in my heart but sadly it's been downgraded to tourist attraction and I won't return unless it's on a weekday and for a special occasion. Management: crowd control your exhibits and facilitate a more relaxing atmosphere with your guests.

Visited the San Diego Zoo from Chicago with my family and we had an amazing experience, I recommend to get there early if you want to see everything

Had lots of fun with the kids.
Place has definitely improved

Had a private behind the scenes experience so it was very special this time! Beautiful specimens, clean and our guide was great & funny.

Even in the times of COVID they go above and beyond. Remember to hydrate, bring good walking shoes, and a mini fan if you aren't used to the humidity and heat.

It is a good place for a family trip. Great for military to member gets in free. I think I'm a bigger fan of the safari park but this is a nice part too. You will end up doing a lot of walking in this park so make sure you bring the right shoes. My favorite spot is the gorilla's.
PS: Easter is insane at this place avoid it if you can.

12/2/2018
Tip! Arrive before the zoo opens! Parking was easy at 8:30am. We bought our tickets with a 10% discount through AAA. Once inside we ate at the Sandwich restaurant just on the right. Two breakfast sandwiches with has browns were approximately $18.00. Beware, most food and drink inside the Zoo will be very expensive. We bought the cheapest things.

We opted to walk around the entire zoo and walked over 16K steps! Clean bathrooms all over. There are lots of drinking water fountains too. There is a sky tram and a bus tour included in the day pass.

All the animals are well taken care of. The staff and volunteers know a lot about the zoo and animals.

Overall I was very impressed! It was not crowded on this day.

Fantastic, will take bus tour next time, loads of walking

Really need 2 days to get around everything. Lovely enclosures. Pandas were fascinating. Elephants and tigers were our favourites. Lovely to take a bus around to get some info on the general lay out of the zoo. Hop on hop off buses were also useful to get around, as there are a lot of hills!

I was skeptical about spending the whole day on a trip to the zoo, but it's completely worth it. They have a wide range of animals, which are kept in enclosures resembling their natural habitats as opposed to cages. The zoo also runs a lot of wildlife conservation projects and runs as a nonprofit so every $ you spend goes back to the animals.
The basic ticket gets you a busride and a skyride, make sure to grab a map and get the busride first so you get an overview of what animals are located where and to plan your walk later(the zoo is huge). There are several cafes and gift shops throughout.

Great zoo! Our tour guide Adrianna was fantastic! I would highly recommend her. The zoo was great, just very hot. Stay hydrated!

Animals!! Everything was amazing. I loved it so much and can't wait to go back.

No complaints, fun all around, a huge selection. The double decker bus tour was super informative. The Skyway ride was also very smooth and despite huge lines it moved quickly. Bathrooms everywhere as well as places to eat. THEY HAVE BEER!!!! Big food selection. The entire staff that we interacted with was extremely helpful and helped above and beyond. Parking was easy, prices fair, and really enjoyed the Zoo. Good family spot and also good for a simple retreat and back to nature. Highly recommend.

A beautiful place. Very good to visit with your family.

World-class zoo! So amazing. We only got through half today. We will be back to finish the other half tomorrow!

Fun place to take your family or go solo if desired. Lots to see and do. A little surprised to see how short distance the Skyfari was. It only took about four minutes for the ride. The Bus tour was a bit disappointing too. For much of the tour, they cut through areas where people are walking which seems to crowded as it is. Also, you don't really see the zoo animals all that well from that vantage point. It's better to just go in foot and take your time to see the animals.

Great place to spend an entire day walking, riding the air train, and hoping on/of buses.

So worth the money and time. Recommend getting the two day pass. If you try it all in one day the kids tend to get cranky and tired.

One of the best zoos in the world. There is a lot to see, but it can get a little crazy during peek hours.

Lots of animals ,the elephants are breathtaking. Polar bears fun to watch.
Very clean park staff friendly and helpful.

Wonderful location (especially if ur local) to walk in safe surroundings. I'm here regularly.

I first visited this zoo in 2013, and went again in April of this year, and it is still just the best zoo in the world!!! I get a great education on a variety of animals, birds, and reptiles. Please know that you will do a ton of walking that is not for the faint of heart so wear comfortables shoes when you go. We have two small kids, so we had to push the double stroller; however you can rent a stroller for 9.00 (single) or 18.00 (double). Parking is free while admission is definitely not cheap. For a day pass it will cost you 50.00 per adult and 44.00 per child over 3 years old (2018 prices). You probably will not see the whole zoo in one visit because it's so big, but be prepared to be there 3-4 hours to get your money's worth. Also eat before and after you go because concessions are very expensive.

One of the best zoos in the US! The animals have sufficient space and nicely put together exhibits. The walkways for the visitors are also well done, full of greenery.

Wonderful time, stayed for the night time experience more animals were up, but the path ways needed more light

Love the Zoo. Such a great place to relax sight seeing animals and a great walking workout.

Honestly, one of the finest zoos in the country. The enclosures are great, and the park itself is lovely to just walk around.

Great zoo! Tons of animals and great info. It's a toss up as to whether the zoo or the safari park is better, they are both super interesting.

This is the most beautiful zoo i have ever been to! I'm not much of a zoo person but this place i did not want to leave!! Lots of sneaks its awesome!

We had a great experience, but unfortunately we didn't have enough time .

Nice and big zoo. The best in the world. Awesome huge lion sculpture in front of the entrance. You can keep your experience here a positive one as long as you don't walk around outside the zoo. Drugged up wierdos and nasty homeless prowl around Balboa Park right outside zoo.

Are you serious? This is the number one zoo on planet earth for a reason! Phenomenal. All the animals are happy and having babies, plus it's a botanical garden! Somehow you're almost always walking downhill...

It was so much fun going to the zoo! All the animals were active and not just depressed and sad. It took us 5 hours to do half the park so be ready for a long day. The prices are higher for a zoo but i didn't complain the workers are so nice and educated. If you're in San Diego go visit the zoo

We planned to spend two hours or so... Six hours later we still hadn't seen all the exhibits. The Skyfari was fun. Our highlights were the leopard, panther, fossa, meerkats, elephants, and the amazing plants.

Good bus tour, but aerial Skyfari is closer for remodel

It was a great experience that I would repeat if we ever come back.l

Great place!

I like how clean this place is and how helpful staff is is talking about the animals it pointing you where to go for exhibits. When you go early in the morning the animals are up and active.

As well, supporting the zoo helps them support rehab locations around the world to help animals who become injured as well as help fight species extinction.