Philadelphia Zoo

This zoo feels very different from some of the newer, more “theme-park style” zoos. You can really tell it’s one of the oldest zoos in the U.S., but in a good way — lots of mature trees, wide walking paths, and a calm atmosphere that makes it easy to spend a few hours without feeling rushed. The animal variety is solid, and some exhibits allow you to observe the animals at fairly close range, which makes it more engaging than I expected. It’s also easy to walk around without constantly backtracking, which I really appreciated. What I liked most is that it’s enjoyable even without kids. You can just walk, watch the animals, and take your time. Overall, a very pleasant and relaxing zoo experience, and definitely worth a visit if you’re in Philadelphia.

We visited the Philadelphia Zoo, and it was an awesome experience! We enjoyed a lot and had such a fun time exploring all the animal exhibits. The zoo is clean, well-organized, and perfect for families. We loved seeing so many unique animals up close, and the staff was friendly and helpful throughout. It’s a great place to spend the day and learn while having fun. We definitely recommend visiting! 🦁🐯🐵🌿

Oldest and most historic zoo in the country! Most of the animals in the zoo have to be there because they won’t survive in the wild, especially if they were born in captivity. I went to every exhibit that was open and offered. Spent about 2-3 hours there. There’s even a historic house on the property. My favorites were the cheetah, lions and red panda. The cheetah might be new and I do think it’s one of the few animals that might be able to handle its own in the wild. They were FIERCE but very beautiful and honestly was just a big kitty. Not sure if they would be better with another cheetah in there or if they’re on their own for a reason. The red panda was not so fond of people, hiding a lot and running but I got some pics. The lions hide to go to sleep because you can tell they hate being looked at. They also need much more room to roam they looked very bored. One lion in particular was pacing around the enclosure over and over. But any animal or person is going to be bored in one area after a long period of time. My cat gets bored and starts screaming for attention so I’m glad he was just pacing. They also loved my niece and went up to the glass to look at her. I think the staff there is just wonderful. With the amount that they care for the animals they should definitely be paid more. I was chatting with one of the employees about her job there and she sounded like she loved it but I was also curious about the logistics because I’ve always wanted to intern or work at the zoo myself and after speaking to her I said never mind. Seems like very rewarding work but also dangerous, time consuming and taxing. I didn’t have to speak to an employee to figure that out though. If this review sounds negative don’t get me wrong I will be back with my family. We LOVE the zoo. Oh and ticket prices vary on season!

We really enjoyed our visit here today. Our primary draw were the 5 topiary sculptures done by Mosaiculture. They were great and look good even now, late into the season. Despite this being the oldest zoo, the enclosures are mostly modern and well kept. Animals have a lot of stimulation and everyone looks healthy and content. The critter tunnels are an amazing inclusion. The galapagos tortoises have 16 new babies! What a joy for the zoo! Good animal variety. Preparation for holuday lights is already beginning. A great family day for all ages. Parking is $19.00.

Never been to a zoo in the winter, so this was a first for me. It was very quiet and we were able to see a lot with a crowd - especially a lot of cool feedings. Parking is close and safe, and the gift-shop was large.

It was such a fun and great experience at the Philadelphia Zoo. The zoo has an amazing variety of animals, and the tiger definitely stole the show 😆 - it was so cool to watch. My favorite part was the African Plains Safari section; it felt like a little adventure within the zoo. The zoo is stroller-friendly, which makes it perfect for families visiting with kids. There are also restaurants inside, making it easy to grab a meal or snack while exploring. Definitely a place worth visiting if you’re in Philly.

Overall, the zoo was nice. Disappointed that a bunch of exhibits were closed. But I understand that it might be too cold for some of the animals. Food was expensive but you can bring your own in. Will be back again.

Oldest zoo in the US. I was expecting it to be dirty and run down, much like the city surrounding it, but I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't. It was a beautiful sunny day, cool temp in the upper 70s. Perfect day to stroll through the park. The animals were loving it too, as they were active and easily seen. I thought the simulated habitats were done really well. It's interesting how they have suspended walkways for some of the animals to move wherever they want. The zoo is currently constructing a new bear enclosure. There's plenty of docents stationed about to help explain interesting facts about the animals. Membership allows for perks and frequent entries, while daily ticket holders may find discounts. Little children will also enjoy the carousel and the kiddie's train. With online timed entry and tickets payment, the park never feels crowded and easy entrance. I really enjoyed my visit and thought the zoo was exceptionally good.🤗

Came to an event, it was great weather and great vibes. The staff were funny and helpful, it was late so most of the animals were no longer out. Good time overall. It's a zoo so maybe wear walking shoes and comfortable clothing.

For 180$ today, there was hardly any animals out. Drove two hours to come, and about 75% of the animal exhibits, were not in their exhibits. Or they were locked away while they were cleaning their cages. Just wasn't worth the money.

Beautiful zoo! All parts are clean, staff friendly, and the bathroom is maintained. I 6 feel like it was too much walking before seeing another animal exhibit. On a hot summer day, I definitely realized just how much shade they offered, which was greatly appreciated. We ate there and felt the prices were average for basic hot dogs, burgers, and chicken tenders. We did see multiple new food locations being constructed, so, hope for the future. We loved seeing some of the animals using the 360 sky trails they created! Genius! My only issue was parking. We were there an hour after opening, and the garages were filled, parking lots filled, and were sent to some side road to park. Which is fine, except i had to walk a 1/2 mile around the zoo, and they expected us to go inside and pay $17 for that... yeah, no. Not even their private lot. Right next to the amtrak. We didn't pay. It's not happening.

The Philadelphia Zoo is "America's First Zoo." Chartered 1859 as the Zoological Society of Philadelphia. A wildlife refuge and a zoological garden, the zoo has long been committed to fulfilling its public mission. I was almost positive my significant other and I were going to love this place. The price for Admissions was Adults (ages 12+) for $26. It was pretty steep in my opinion, so I was hoping for a fantastic experience. Right after we began our journey, we saw the Colobus monkey and the Red-tailed Monkey exhibit. They were very active. I thought they were in a nice location. The Rare Animal Conservation Center was a building filled with a variety of animals. The Pied tamarin was beautiful, but deemed a Species In Danger, unfortunately. The Two-toed sloth was in the same exhibit as the tamarin. I loved this animal! The Prehensile-tailed porcupine looked very relaxed. I was interested by the physical features of the White-faced saki monkey. It was truly different. The Naked Mole Rat exhibit was complex for sure. They were all over the place! After we left that building, we got to see the Alpaca and Goat area. It was a quick stop, as it was almost impossible to ignore as we continued our walk. The Bald Eagle exhibit was wonderful and I was very glad to see it. The Common Barn Owl display was gorgeous! It was almost a must to see the Chicken exhibit. The Vampire bat display was interesting. There were so many of them and they seemed to be relaxed. The Giraffe exhibit was my favorite! They were such amazing animals to admire. The Southern white rhinoceros and Plains zebra exhibit was fantastic. These animals were large and enjoyable to watch. After I walked past them, I stopped to see the Sloth bear. This animal was in a large area. The Caribbean flamingo display was amazing. They were vibrant! The Sebastopol goose was pleasant to view. The White stork and Trumpeter swan were beautiful. The Emu exhibit was a cool stop to check out. It was an interesting animal. We ended up stopping at The Backyard Kitchen to grab something to eat and drink. I ordered a small Diet Coke for 4.00 and we shared a Philly Cheesesteak for $14. Our order didn't take too long. We sat down at a nearby table to relax. The Diet Coke wasn't too good. It wasn't worth the price at all. The Philly Cheesesteak was decent. For what I needed it to do, it hit the spot. The prices weren't terrible. The service throughout my time here wasn't nearly as good as it should have been in my opinion. I believe every employee should be friendly and grateful to work with these animals. I was sad to see such horrible employees in this line of work. Overall, I'm happy I came here to see what it was all about. I enjoyed all of the animals! I most likely won't go back there, though. Date of visit: 5-22-2024

The Philadelphia zoo was beautiful. I visited while on a trip to Philadelphia and really enjoyed the ambiance. I was not prepared for all the walking so definitely wear comfortable walking shoes. It is a big zoo and I really enjoyed all the nature and all of the photo ops throughout the zoo. They have a good selection of animals to look at and I will say the animals looked taken care of. The zoo did cost around $20 per person, I wish it were a little cheaper but I did have a good experience

I've been to this zoo a couple times and it's good, but not one that I would travel from out of town to visit. Also, as fun as it is to see the animals, the large crowds of people and the relatively small living spaces for the animals relative to what they have in the wild makes it a little difficult to fully enjoy the zoo without a guilty conscience. Regardless, the zoo has a classic selection of animals, my absolute favorite being the giraffes! It's pretty easy to see all of the animals you want to see in one outing and the layout of the zoo is pretty straight forward. Also, the zoo is right off the highway and not too far from Center City, making for a convenient trip. If you drive, paying to park at the zoo is the easiest way to go since there isn't much street parking outside of the zoo.

The Philadelphia zoo is still a premier place to visit in the entire world. Yes, I said the entire world. When I travel, I make sure to visit a local zoo and outside of San Diego and Guatemala city. Philadelphia is one of the very best. Tonight I visited illuminations to see all of the spectacular lights and decorated trees throughout the Zoo absolutely fabulous. Although it was cold out, there was no place I would have rather been to see the zoo and lights. I love the flamingo tree and the butterflies something to behold in must be seen in person. When I visited the Philadelphia zoo again? Heck yeah!

One of the better zoos I have been to. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff too. They have overhead areas where animals can roam "around" the zoo, but because we came after a day of storms, that was closed. And if you come right when they open, note that they may still be cleaning so not all animals may be out. Those were the only drawbacks. Definitely worth a visit.

Wow! We had such a fun visit! I thought it was going to be crowded over the winter break week, but it felt like barely anyone was there. There were lots of indoor areas to check out so if it's a cold day you can pop inside to warm up. So many animals to see and a lot of them were very active and playful! They also had some extra decor out for their holiday lights. We didn't go for the lights but it was fun to see the giant penguin and some of the holiday trees and decorations. Almost all of the food spots were closed, so I wish we had brought a snack in. We were able to buy some soft pretzels on our way out.

Came here today for a family outing and was honestly a little underwhelmed. We parked at the Zoo parking garage which was pretty conveniently located and reasonably priced ($17). It did take a few minutes to work our way into the garage since there was some traffic, but no big deal. It was a short walk to the main entrance of the zoo, and we began our tour! We noticed pretty quickly that a number of exhibits were being renovated and were empty. Add to that the hot weather (which, understandably, makes the animals hide) and the experience was just a little empty. The aviary had some excellent air-conditioning but there weren't many birds at all. I've been to other zoos in hot weather (like the Houston zoo, for example!) where there were many more animals and it was a much better experience. For outside exhibits, there wasn't enough information about the animals, so we were often left wondering about basic details like a given animal's origin, etc. The ticket price wasn't insane but it also wasn't cheap. Honestly, given the headache of driving into the city, I don't think I would come back here, although I understand that it's probably better in colder weather.

The cost to get in vs what a visitor is a part of in return is sad. The habitats are small, there are few animals, several habitats were empty, and everything was just sad. The entrance was inviting enough, though 3 digital kiosks to purchase tickets moved slow at 1:00 in the afternoon on a Saturday. Employees gleefully welcomed us in and then... sadness. There was a good bit of open space that I suppose was meant for wildflowers, meanwhile the hippos had no pool (just a pipe of running water) and the cheetah habitat was very small and not reflective of the Savannah (but there was no cheetah). The free Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago has so much more appeal and many more animals. For almost $90 for me and my two children under 15-I expected more education (we had to Google facts about each animal like lifespan and such), more ambience, more interactive experiences (like Brookfield Zoo that isn't free in the Chicago area but has a lot to offer for the cost). This is an attraction that is outside of most city attractions in Philly so is an 'effort' to get to and very much needs improvement. Honestly -I wanted a refund.

The Philadelphia Zoo has really cool exhibits like the rare animals conservation center and PECO Primate reserve. They also have an exhibit that offers a more up close experience with the lemurs. Overall a great place to go especially on a weekend. Definitely a full days worth of activities.

Very nice zoo. Well maintained and very large too. Overall really enjoyed would definitely go back.

Very nice zoo! It is the oldest in America, and the first one I had visited in the country. Lots to see, different food stands, though some may be closed depending on the weather. I believe tickets vary in price depending on the day, but I paid $26USD. I enjoyed my visit!

We showed up for their Pride Day event and it truly was a MAGICAL day! The weather of course helped with being mostly sunny and only a bit warm but honestly everything was so easy and fun! We arrived about at opening which I recommend cause the parking garage was already filling with families and strollers. Going in was easy with the scanner, security was super friendly and gave easy instructions on bag checks. Our strategy was to push all the way to the back of the zoo first and then make our way forward to avoid the crowds just lingering around the front. This was very smart and we never felt crushed. The zoo definitely seems targeted to kids so don't expect a ton of signs or in depth info, but fun games and decor do add nicely to the experience. What can I say, the animals are amazing, the guides are ready and happy to answer questions and give tips on when to be around. We just kept getting lucky- feeding time for giraffes, turtles, otters. So many animals and experiences! Big cats, amphibians, fruit bats, red pandas, kangaroos, zebras, hippos, bears, flamingos, swans, SO MANY MORE! There's plenty of seating around and the Big Cat area is even air conditioned. They have broken up the space very well for people who want to picnic and again never feel over crowded. There's even a beer stand. The prices are what you expect- not as insane as six flags but not cheap. Just bring some subs and juice boxes if you don't want to spend! Food is welcome! After we took a midday break we were ready to do ANOTHER full round of the zoo, at about 2pm things had started to thin out a bit but we got to see even more animals than from the morning and could not believe our luck. The Pride Day itself was fun, two tables, the Phanatic photo ops, and loads of decorations and signs, plenty of people were visibly showing their Pride and that was great to be part of and almost all the staff were showing their support. But it wasn't really a big deal overall if you wanted a specific Pride party event. If you do have kids I can see why you must get a membership and come back for one of the many events they have. As an adult I got my fill for likely a few years but cannot praise the zoo enough for a great experience!

Standard zoo. Grounds are well maintained. Animals seem well cared for. Entrance fee plus parking on higher end of range for zoos but not outrageous. Not a ton of content / exhibits you can't see at most larger zoos. Not a destination zoo but not a bad stop if in area.

Fun day! Great animal choices. Fun exhibits. I wish there were more snack places open. We were so hungry and everything was closed or limited. We had to park far away but lucked out by finding the South Gate exit which was right near the parking lot where we parked.

Such an awesome light display! The only issue was getting out of the parking garage took over an hour. Needs to be better managed. Lots of beauty though.

A fantastic zoo that is sometimes overshadowed by its cousins in NYC and DC. Exhibits are spread out to minimize crowding, the habitats are aesthetically pleasing and seem to meet the needs of animals, and it's a fun way for a family to spend the day. As you'd expect, traffic around the zoo can be a little tricky, especially if you're coming from the Schuylkill. The covered garage is my preferred parking area for convenience. Plenty of large animals to enjoy, ranging from Rhinos to big cats. Many opportunities to get up close and really "see" the animals. The kids also enjoy visiting the petting zoo and seeing the goats. Seating and shaded areas can be limited, so consider hats, umbrellas and water for the hotter months.

Took my little cousin to her 1st visit to the Philadelphia Zoo! We were able to experience Boo at the Zoo. It was so cute to see all of the children dressed up in costumes! I was shocked to see so many adults dressed up in costumes as well! The lines to get good stayed pretty busy. We were able to get in a line on our way out near the tigers to get Fries. The fries were just okay. There were a few locations where children could stop to get candy while walking around the zoo. The zoo appeared to be well kept and clean. A great location for a family outing.

The zoo is great but the customer service at the food building was horrible. Please train your managers running the food court areas better customer service. For instance "make it right" My son bought a hot chocolate during iluminature. The drink was very hot so he couldn't drink it for awhile. By the time he was able to sip it he noticed it was very watered down. We were near another food stand. Something kitchen. Maybe country kitchen. He asked if they could replace it. The lady in charge told him her machine was working fine because no one brought theirs back but he would have to walk back to the vendor stand that he bought it at and ask them to replace it. This place is run by all the same people..correct? Replacing a hot chocolate is that gonna break the bank??? Sorry but I work in customer service and that is unacceptable. Replacing a hot chocolate would have cost you less than a bad review.

We went to the Philadelphia Zoo to check out the LumiNature exhibit for Christmas. We never got to do it last year and really looked forward to checking it out this year. Mind you We went 2 days before Christmas, so it was very busy there even with getting there shortly after they opened. Their garage had a long line to get into so bringing your patience is a must. The whole experience in the zoo for LumiNature was amazing! A huge variety of lights and themes, many different costumed performers. They had some food carts there and areas you could enjoy food and warm beverages with heaters nearby. We loved it

Great variety of animals and educational programs to keep the family busy all day. Although the food options are decent with a few permanent choices and a section of food trucks, I was so disappointed that the only please that looked like it had coffee options was closed. We even circled back later in the morning with no luck. Nonetheless, it's worth a visit. Tip: they let folks in we'll before the posted opening time so if you're an early bird, it's worth getting there early to avoid the crowds.

Very friendly staff. The environment is clean. So much fun to see these beautiful animals. The only downside is that not all of the restaurants were open during my visit. I hope they all be open on my next visit. Thank you for keeping the zoo such a great place.

Luminature at the Philadelphia Zoo was a cool experience! Seeing the zoo lit up at night with lights and sounds is amazing. There were at least 14 displays of lights and a few displays had performing artist. The tickets for the exhibition are timed although there was not someone their to show you out once your time ticket is up. The tickets are kind of pricey. You can even opt in to purchase parking when you purchase your tickets. There is a concession stand where you can get hot cocoa or adult beverages as well as seasonal treats. Definitely prepare yourself to spend some extra on souvenirs for the kids.

What a great place to spend an afternoon with a child... or another adult! Numerous exhibits and a terrific family atmosphere. Pro tip. If you plan on going more than once in a year, buy the membership. Includes unlimited access and free parking. Pays for itself on the second trip

We like all animals especially the bears, tiger, lion and giraffes. Great place for kids to learn about the animals. There is also a large exhibition of reptiles. We parked on the side of the street by the train rails, didn't pay anything.

As a first time experience this zoo was really fun however not all wild animals that were promised where present. Pricing was fair.

I love visiting here. There's a huge parking garage close by that you need to pay for while in the zoo. The prices are fair. I love that there's plenty of shade and places to sit. The best part is that you can bring your own food/drink in. The staff is always kind and helpful. The zoo itself is clean. There's a wide variety of animals.

I came here on Friday night in winter - I have been DYING to check out the LumiNature exhibit, which I really enjoyed. The price of the tickets was reasonable but I was a little disappointed with the parking situation - we found parking but at the far end of the street that the Zoo is on because the other lots were full. Anyhow, the exhibit was whimsically, delightful! If I had been able to see the animals too it would've been a spectacular night for me. However, after visiting this exhibit, it definitely peaked my interest in checking out the summer Biergarten that the Zoo hosts.

The entire experience was great! So many animals!! My son had a blast It is a bit of walking because it's a large zoo so keep that in mind But everything else was great

We took a few days off of work for some fun and we utilized a day as a family outing and brought my toddler daughter for her first zoo experience. The day was sunny and warm but not hot so it was a perfect day to be outdoors comfortably. We arrived around noon and saw a fairly steady flow of people in and out of the zoo parking deck. We were told to proceed into the parking deck without obtaining a ticket and upon leaving were told that it was free for the day, which was nice. Once arriving at the entrance, there were self help kiosks to buy our tickets and we got through the gates hassle free. Although we were there on a Tuesday there was a good amount of people at the zoo, so there were areas where we had to wait a bit to get closer and see the animals. We saw a good amount of animals, and it was pretty exciting for a toddler for many reasons but many animals specifically birds were not on display due to bird flu among birds at this time (including penguins & flamingos). All in all we had a decent day at the zoo but at this time I would advise to walk, not run to the zoo. The reason I say this is because there were limited animals as I mentioned previously and also there wasn't any excitement or entertainment as I remember zoos to have when I was younger. It lacked a bit of je ne sais quoi in my opinion.

Horrible zoo dirty rude employees and the poor animals no life in them just terrible and sad and I have been to many zoos but the overall situation is disturbing. If you want something to eat forget about it eat before or after your visit!!! Don't waste your money on the $5 train ride as we approached the train we were told they are closing early this was at 2 pm and we could ask for a refund where we came in !!! As it was a slow day !! Needless to say couldn't get a refund !!! No real loss we missed the train only went in a circle a good 2 minutes at best ! Now I have lived in this area my entire life been to Philadelphia Zoo many times in the past !! But my goodness it has changed over the years disgusting by far !!!!

This zoo is perfect for about a 3 hour tour. You don't really need to much more than that unless your kid likes to play on the playground. There's a ton to see! And it's the perfect size, with a lot close together so you're not wondering for ages between exhibits. Loved the tigers. The 360 degrees thing, where the animals can climb and walk around the park is amazing. My family was so excited when one of the tigers walked right above us. It was so cool!! It was fun to feed the giraffe. It was expensive but when else are you going to get the experience. Would definitely recommend this. And may make this part of our future trips to the phili area. Fun times for all.

Had an amazing time here as there was lots to see! My favorite part of the day was when the tiger snuck up on the group while prowling on the cat walk! Love that the animals are able to migrate to other areas of the zoo. The gift shop could use some better things as it was very geared towards children so I wasn't able to leave with a souvenir. I'd recommend this place as it was money well spent!

Big enough to walk around, a good amount of food places. The 1/4 burger I had wasn't the worst, but definitely not the best. I was at the zoo for a special event. I think it was informally open to all, but not advertised to all and those not on the list would've had to pay most likely.

Overcast Mothers' Day not very crowed from noon to 2:30 PM. Few concession stands were open. All avian creatures were removed or sheltered for protection from potential infection by local birds. Only the hippo, big cats and bears, and smaller mammals were visible in their outdoor environments. The large primates were indoors and lethargic . This is the first and, therefore, the oldest zoo in America. It is very large and although there have been improvements, it still reveals its historic age. Our party of six enjoyed our visit most in part for the pleasure of seeing our six-month-old granddaughter looking at and reacting with the animals and other children. We'll probably visit again sometime, but there are other viable choices if traveling isn't an issue.

I had the opportunity of attending the Grand Unveiling and Media Party for LumiNature by Philadelphia Zoo through Yelp and it was an incredible experience! Chase sponsored the event and had tables all over the zoo handing out cookies, popcorn, scarves, and even hand warmers! Dinner and drinks were provided for this special event and there were plenty of options! The entire zoo was transformed with lights and lots of music! A few animals were to be seen which was exciting! Performers were all over interacting with guests! There were plenty of zoo staff to direct you and answer questions! Don't miss out on this great event!

Visited the Philadelphia Zoo on a autumn Saturday afternoon. Beautiful weather! Not too, too crowded. It was an enjoyable time to see all the exciting exhibits that the zoo offered. Prior to visiting, we reserved our time on the website; days in advance. When we arrived, we parked into the parking garage that was not bad at all. The parking garage is not to far from the zoo. Us adults and a 4-year-old had a pretty good day! We arrived early afternoon -- where a lot of the animals were still out. I was amazed by all of the animals that are located at "America's first zoo". Wow! Also, I was impressed that the zoo had working hand sanitizer stations all over. Especially, when you're with a very active 4-year-old that wants to touch, touch, & touch on everything -- you have to have sanitizer available and of course we carried some of our own too! Mask is required for indoor spaces. This particular visit, I enjoyed us petting goats (hilarious), seeing the giraffes, gorillas, penguins, etc! I cannot wait to go back!

Philadelphia is America's oldest zoo which is pretty cool but since it's the oldest it could use some updating. The zoo has a pretty good assortment of animals with both indoor and outdoor exhibits. My favorite is always the monkeys. Huge indoor area with lots for the monkeys to play on. Some of the exhibits are closed which is a bummer. Otter area is cute. I love seeing them play but for some reason, the outdoor area with the slide is closed. The zoo has cute events like Boo at the Zoo where kids can wear their costume and get candy at different stands throughout the zoo. There was a dinosaur exhibit going on but it costs extra, even for members! I do think these things should be included with membership. There's a garage and parking lots for parking. Garage is nice because it's a short distance to the entrance. However, parking is also extra charge. Overall a good zoo. A little hilly for anyone who might have walking issues so be mindful of that!

Grandkids love the zoo! The membership is the way to go! It can be pricey with parking and admission. Pack a lunch and bring water. Food is expensive.

Had the chance to visit the during for the LumiNature opening event. The zoo was transformed into a light show and it was beautiful. My favorite part is a section where there were trees decorated by different school/organizations as well as the section where there were different clips playing varying from animals to the beloved city of Philly . There are different stands in the zoo where you could purchase hot chocolate/ hot apple cider. There is also a s'more stand and a cute fire pit section. The whole going around was not huge but it was really enjoyable. If you have the time, go and enjoy the light show with the family. ** Note: During this hour you will not be able to see the animals

I love taking my kids to the zoo and seeing the animals. This zoo has lots to do! Last night, we got to experience luminature. I love the holidays when everything is lit with bright colors. So glad we got to experience this. They really set it up nicely with certain areas to be a zoo type theme. There are a few parts that were quite dark, but overall, it was really cute to experience. The kids were a bit upset that when I told them zoo, they were expecting to see animals, but they couldn't really see any animals (with exception of a zebra). I explained to them that bc it's dark, they are sleeping and we really only came for the lights. They definitely still had fun though, but asked to come back during the day to see animals. As for parking, unsure if the main garage is closed due to covid or if it's just closed in the winter time, but I did notice the outside lot became packed and many people had to park elsewhere. Make sure you pay for parking in advance though bc they don't take payment at the gate.

Been here at least 20 times in the last 4 years and our grandchildren still want to return. With the last of Covid still hanging around there are still some restrictions but over all, most exhibits are open. Masks are required indoors but didn't hamper the kids from running from one display to the next. Be sure to look into memberships if you plan to visit (even) more than once a year. The cost will most likely pay for itself. It includes the parking price which I think is high but whatcha gonna do ... We always pack a lunch with drinks because of the somewhat high prices. There are plenty of tables throughout the grounds for you to take a break and eat. At the present time there's an outdoor exhibit of dinosaurs which is really worth the small extra fee that even members have to pay.

Came here during my trip in Philly on a Saturday around 2 somethjng... and after 20-30 minutes of just seeing the few exhibits in the front, there was a power outage and the staff around the zoo told us to leave since the zoo is closed now. Regardless, I still tried to make my way around the zoo quickly before exiting since I was like I did not pay $20ish just to get here and get kicked out immediately but that wasn't worth walking around in the cold either. It seemed that lots of the animals weren't out and exhibits were closed too, regardless of the power outage. No food or booths open either. I knew this place was non-refundable, but of course it was my luck to come when there was a power outage and they kicked everyone out. Im not from this area so the free zoo tickets are useless for me. I'm trying to get something out of the money I spent to see basically nothing but it doesn't seem I'll get anything back for 20 minutes walking in the cold to see empty exhibits, squirrels hopping around in trash cans, and seeing a peacock on the loose that I can brag about on Instagram!

The Philadelphia Zoo is impressive. The animal exhibits are nicely decorated, and they have so many exhibits. I especially enjoyed the lions, monkeys, and otters exhibits because of the skywalks and play area animals. You should visit this zoo. You only need about 2-3.5 hours here.

Zoo is just okay but the food staff at most counters were rude and incompetent. When asked a simple question instead on finding an answer they are lazy and lie instead of simply doing their job. If it were one person maybe it wouldn't be a big deal but it was three different individuals.

Went for a morning visit recently with the toddler, and we had a fun time. We opted for a relatively early morning to try to avoid the crowds, but found that there were a bunch of school trips at that time, so we tried to go in a different direction, which worked out well. I like how they have some nice kid-friendly attractions in the zoo, such as the train ride, which the toddler rather enjoyed. No-go on the carousel this time around, but maybe in the future. Little one also enjoyed seeing the different animals throughout the zoo. One thing that I noticed this time around, although they have elephant statues in the front, there are no actual elephants in the zoo. That said, a kind zookeeper saw us trying to take pictures with the statues and offered to take them for us - and they came out great!

What an amazing zoo! It's the oldest zoo in the US and really a lovely zoo. I love that it's just a zoo. Sometimes zoos are so interactive and full of food courts and activities, etc and it's just a bit too chaotic and not very fun (like Disneyland). This zoo is perfect for kids and adults. It has a calm environment, it is very clean and the exhibits allow you a wonderful opportunity to get very close to your favorite animals. There is a great lemur exhibit where you can see nocturnal lemurs and there is an area where you can get very close to the lemurs. Usually exhibits like this require an extra fee. This is included in your ticket price and really an amazing experience to get that close. Hannah, the lemur docent was a WEALTH of lovely information. She is a volunteer docent whose knowledge of lemurs knows literally no bounds. We were enthralled with her! The primate exhibits are wonderful and they use a 360 degree ideology where the animals are rotated between exhibits to increase their overall happiness and wellness by being exposed to different toys, obstacles and smells. Really a nice exhibit and you can get so close to an actual silverback gorilla. Once a lifetime opportunity! All zoos unfortunately have a few sad animals here and there. I did notice the big cats seemed to have exhibits that were too small for them and did not offer enough stimulation. The big cats I saw were pacing back and forth and did not seem very happy. However, overall this is truly one of my favorite zoo experiences.