San Diego Zoo Terrace Lagoon

This is such a beautiful, lush garden that's hidden from the main attractions. It has a Japanese zen style look with a koi pond. Worth seeing if you want some peace and quiet from Main Street.

We got the family meal for 80 dollars that came with 3 pizzas and we expected it to be very big but we got 3 small pizzas not even as big as your hand

분명 패밀리밀시켰는데 삼십분을기다려도 샐러드가안나와서 가서 말하니 주문받은 힐아버지가 니 영수증 보여주래여;;지가받아놓고 기억못하고 피자준 여직원분이 아 샐러드 못줫다고 하면서 줬는데 둘다 사과안하네요;;우리가 까먹엇으면 그냥 못받는건데 짜증납니다. We ordered family meal and old clark gor our order but didnt get garden salad. We forgot to fet the garden salad and i finally remember didnt get it and td him few minutes mlater but he told me show the reiceipt. And later female clark remember didnt give it and give us but didnt tell us sorry about it its so annoying!!!!!

We had a short FOUR HOUR visit to the San Diego Zoo, as we will be coming back in a month with some out of town relatives. We of course started with the BUS TOUR, which was amazing with our GUIDE IVAN. In July, we look forward to taking them on a private tour. It took up the first hour. I am always so very grateful to be able to rent their Electric EV Scooter, which is a GODSEND for any disabled person!!! We saw FLAMINGOS, GIRAFFES, TIGERS, LIONS and BEARS, and also KOALAS!!! We had coffee and Diet Coke, popcorn, and VANILLA ICE CREAM. We concluded with the RT SKYFAR!!!!

We went last week and let me tell y'all, the Skyfari and the bus tour are totally worth it. We were there almost all day, we even wanted to come back for the nighttime zoo and see if we saw more animals but we were dead tired. compared to my first visit to the zoo, this time almost all of the animals were out and about and even if we looked just a little lost, there was immediately someone out there to help us. we were able to explore so much more than we did the first time and enjoyed some downtime on the Skyfari (twice) and the 30 min bus tour. we also enjoyed lunch at the busy bee cafe. my hubby and i shared a pizza and a drink i think it came out to like $25? we also learned that if you see an empty enclosure, (polar bears) sit around and wait. have a snack. take a load off. because the bears came out to play right when we were getting up to leave! amazing! ALSO download the app... never get lost again. like a mini GPS within the zoo. idk how many times we blocked the walkway looking at our maps like a bunch of tourists.

I have always been a fan of this zoo. It is huge so may take a few days to complete. If you are on a time crunch, like we were, then I highly suggest to do the zoo tour or the sky tram ride. The zoo tour takes you around the whole zoo and you can see lots of animals while strolling through. You can always go back to your favorites. This zoo can tend to get busy so I would suggest to get there early or doing the zoo tour/sky tram first to make sure you get to enjoy that. Unfortunately, because we were ona time crunch we were only able to do the tour. Once we departed the zoo tour, we were able to walk through the Urban Jungle, Africa Rocks, Elephant Odyssey, and the Asian Passage. Several of these areas are considered to be the must see's. We were able to do these sections in 30-45 minutes. We were walking fast and there were lots of hills so beware. Anyone who is interested in visiting, I suggest purchasing an annual pass. You are able to use your passes at the Safari Park. A couple of my friends have it and they say it is definitely a great deal, as long as you are a local. We really want to go back since we did not get to see everything, so I will be checking out the deals they have on passes. Hoping to see the zoo and all my fur friends, exotic animals, and amphibians soon.

Huge zoo with a variety of animals. Wear good walking shoes! Who knew polar bears could live in San Diego?!?

Amazing zoo! I dabbled in zookeeping myself and kept elephants, so I understand the zoo life pretty well and was very impressed with San Diego's zoo. It was incredibly clean and lively. We came on a Monday evening so crowds were pretty non existent. All of the staff was friendly and had smiles on their faces. The animals are obviously happy and treated well. The enclosures all had enrichment activities, were clean and appropriately sized. Some zoos are unfortunately pretty depressing to go into but not this one! You could spend weeks here, and if I was a local I'd spend many many days. We were there 4.5 hours and seemed to see everything in the park. Will definitely be back

Vibe This is one amazing place. Tour bus can take u around in 40 minutes. There is sky-liner that can take u to the back of the zoo, it is massive. Customer Service All staff that hired is so friendly, that is a reflection of good management. They all smile and are sincerely helpful. Animals We were there only 4 hours not enough to see everything. They appeared to be well taken care of. They had elephants, hippos, rhinos, cheetahs, lions, tigers, and so much more. The giraffes were very animated and we were maybe 10 feet away from them. The komodo dragons are large and look fierce, they stare u down. Very few places in the world have polar bears but they did not come out. The zoo has web site that posts videos of daily activity and could see them there. Laughing kookaburra was hilarious. The red panda and koala where sleeping. You would need an entire day there. Have to go back.

The San Diego Zoo is amazing with so many animals and exhibits to visit. I'm always amazed and have a completely different experience every time. The kangaroo bus is complimentary with your ticket and is like a city transit bus with hop on and off stops throughout the zoo. The Ariel tram also takes you from the front entrance to the middle of the zoo. The guided bus tour is a nice way to learn about the wildlife and to see cover a lot of ground in 30-40 minutes. There's plenty of restrooms all around the park, and the parking lot is really large. On busy weekends, it can be tough to find a parking spot though. I'm always excited for my next visit here. Definitely recommend getting the annual pass, because there's no way you can see everything in one visit. The koalas are by far my favorite to visit, and there's usually a few awake even though they sleep a lot :)

I absolutely adore the zoo! I've been coming here since I was a kid, no day is ever the same as there's always animals doing something different and fun! The crowds are never too bad on a weekday, and the staff are always very friendly. My favorite part is seeing the polar bears, they're so dang cute! The food is good and not too bad of price. The park is kept up very nicely with grounds keeping.

I LOVE zoos and had been looking forward to coming to this one for so long. The planets finally aligned and my work conference was moved to San Diego (instead of the usual LA) so my coworker and I were able to check out the zoo. First of all, it's huge. So be prepared to walk. There is a bus that can take you across the park and also sky gondolas. We pretty much walked the entire zoo and then took the sky ride to one side and walked the rest. There are so many exhibits and most of them give the animals a good amount of space. The place was very clean and the staff was helpful whenever we got lost. It's honestly one of the best zoos I've been to!

The best zoo in the US. There's free parking, beer and margaritas served, and a dozen food options. I love the leopard exhibit with a caged bridge above the walkway. This zoo has the most animals from cheetahs, to a butterfly enclosure. The penguins pool was very cool to watch them swimming through the glass. And the Skyfari gondolas was fun to ride and get a sky view of the whole park. If you haven't been in a while, it's time to revisit.

Great visit to this Iconic Zoo during our visit to San Diego. Conviently located in the northwest corner of Balboa Park with a massive (and free) parking lot right near the zoo entrance. We arrived late morning on a Friday and there were spaces available...but we did have to walk about 4-5 rows over to the actually entrance after parking. Zoo is massive...lots to see and experience. It is practically organized into different regions. Having the app on hand is very useful...be sure to download before going. Makes planning a route to see everything much easier. I do like that the common zoo grounds as well as the exhibits were very clean. There is also much more space in the animal enclosures than other zoos I've visited....which I'm sure the animals appreciate. There are also lots of food options there...prices are typical for this type of venue...exect to pay $4-5 soft drinks, $15 sandwiches, and $18 meal platters. Lots of gift shops as well. Ticket prices are high at about $72 per adult...this was a bit surprising since the Bronx Zoo's, another iconic massive zoo, current adult admission is $38...nearly twice the price! After our visit, I think $50-55 adult admission may be more appropriate. There are a few discounts avaible online but the best was AAA which brought the prices down to about $60 per adult. I do have to commend the staff there....everyone we encountered were very helpful and friendly. The folks near the exhibits were very knowledgeable and passionate about the animals. Lots of staff around to address visitors' questions. Lots of walking and hills...wear comfortable shoes. Very stroller friendly. Balboa Park contains lots of other museums and attractions so be sure to work those into your day if interested.

Talk about an AMAZING day! I'm from San Diego, live in San Diego so I'm very blessed to be able to go to the zoo whenever I want to but it had been quite a while since our last trip to the zoo so we decided to go on Memorial Day and it was AMAZING! We got to the park during their soft opening which is 15 minutes before park opening, the weather was nice and cool, plenty of parking available and we didn't feel rushed. Once the zoo opened we went opposite of where everyone else was going and it was great because so many animals were out! This was the first time I've ever seen so many animals out, we got to see the hippos walk out which was so cute, all the tigers were out along with the bears, elephants, baboons, you name it and it was out!! We've decided to make Saturday mornings zoo mornings for the rest of the summer season!!

I haven't been to many zoos, which is surprising when you consider how much I, as an adult, love zoos. Having said that, this is the most insane and impressive zoo I have ever visited. We were only in SD for one full day. We were also here for a half day but we decided to take advantage of our time on our vacation and nap the entire afternoon. We had a slow morning and I thought coming here for most of an afternoon would be enough. It probably would have for most zoos. Not this one. We probably only saw about half, if that. They have SO MANY ANIMALS. It's crazy. The thing is massive. I wish we had another day or more time. It was a really wonderful way to spend the afternoon.

I went on a weekday and there were so many school groups that you had to jostle to see the inside animals. The shows are a good 15 minute walk to each other. Show times run close to other shows so you will either miss it or see part of it. Signage in the park is nil so it is extremely difficult to navigate. There are no paper maps nor are there many zoo maps posted. You need to download their app to get information. Make sure your phone is fully charged with a good WIFI signal. The best way to see the park is either go clockwise (more uphill walking) or countershock wise. This will allow you to cover the entire park without backtracking or zig zagging. If you want to see all the shows, then you really need to plan and rush from one area to the next, sometimes, backtracking. There's a large arcade section with many interesting games. Dryer's Ice cream has its own shop as well as Starbucks (Coral Market). There are many food choices. It's cheaper to purchase the food pass that allows you to eat every 90 minutes. The zoo is cashless via Apple Pay, Google Pay or a Cash-to-Card kiosks where you will receive a Visa prepaid debit card. My favorite was the Humboldt Penguins and jelly fishes. So peaceful to watch them interact with each other. A must is the Artic Exhibit to see the penguins in their habitat.

The San Diego Zoo is truly an incredible place. It's commonly regarded as one of the best zoos in America and I understand why. The zoo is located in Balboa Park. It is already so incredible to have a zoo in the middle of such an urban area. The zoo is expansive and when you take a ride across the skyfari gondola, you get the most incredible views of both the zoo and the park. The zoo is well organized. I love to get to see the lion and all of the elephants! The sleep koalas are always so cute as well. If you want to see the animals at their most active state, go in the morning. The zoo is often very crowded, but because it's so large, there's still a lot of space to roam around without feeling overwhelmed. There are a lot of kids play areas. When I went with my friend's toddler, he had a blast playing all over the place! I'd highly recommend getting a zoo membership. Even if you go twice, it's worth it.

Love how they did a great job recreating some of the habitats for the animals... plenty of plants and space to fly or run freely. Variety of the best and near exotic and extinct animals are kept safe here. The donations and proceeds fun Wild Life Organizations. My son enjoyed the flamingos, birds, aviary, lions, monkeys, hippos, Cappy, elephants, giraffe, and reptile house! Wear your sun hat and walking shoes... plenty of walking to do here. There is a tram tour as well. Variety of Restaurants to choose from with good quality food, honestly way better than Sea Worlds menu. Plus, you can also bring in your own snacks and food. Parking is free. Seniors and Active Military are free as well. It is very scenic and relaxing.

I love all the conservation work the San Diego Zoo does, and I like seeing the animals, but THERE ARE A FEW ANIMALS THAT NEED MORE SPACE, bigger homes, here at the zoo; the Andean bears, jaguar, cheetah, lions, and the hippo all need more space. Please fix this. The Andean bears were pacing back and forth, throwing their heads back in an irritated way, and the jaguar, cheetah, and lions were all sleeping in small spaces. The hippo was going back and forth in the smallest area of water in its small home. Incredibly sad.

All the animals here were happy! They have so much to see that it should take 2 days! I have so much fun!

I came here with my family on a Sunday afternoon. While tickets are expensive, the price is well worth it. You could easily spend the entire day here. We spent about five and a half hours at the zoo and still didn't see everything! All of the staff and volunteers were friendly and knowledgeable, and the animals looked well-cared for and happy. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in San Diego.

Great place for the whole family and those who just like the zoo. What is nice they have a kids zone for them to explore the animals , bugs and reptiles. If you are going to walk it make sure to have good shoes and if you're doing the tours then not so much. They do make the experience fun and show how to keep the animals safe and comfortable in their environment. My daughter has never been to the San Diego Zoo but she had so much fun and came across animals and plants she has only read about a whole new world.

The San Diego Zoo is often heralded as a world class zoo for good reason. Not only is it huge, with a large variety of animals (many that are fairly uncommon in other American zoos) but the level of design is truly something else. You could spend all day at the zoo and not even come close to seeing everything that they have to offer. Fortunately they do have a complementary tour bus that takes you on an overview of the zoo. Especially good for first timers to get their bearings and maybe see which animals/sections they want to seek out on foot later on. There's also a sky tram that takes you between the front and back of the park. And there is another bus service that takes you to various stops in the zoo. Admittedly the provided map is not the best. It doesn't list out all the animals nor exactly point out where they are. But there are so many staff members and volunteers to guide you. One kind volunteer walked us all the way over to the Tasmanian devil enclosure herself when we asked her where it was. The enclosures are expansive and innovative in their design. A lot of them employ various techniques to provide optimal views, like using glass or trenches instead of fences. The boundaries of the exhibits often blend into the surroundings, giving it a very cohesive look. You can tell the animals here are very well taken care of and given a lot of enrichment. All the staff and volunteers are also very clearly dedicated to the wellbeing of the animals. Needless to say, the zoo's conservation and education efforts are stellar. While the zoo is a little pricey, you definitely get what you pay for. And the money goes to a good cause. If you get the chance, the San Diego Zoo is a must!

One of the very best things to do in San Diego. Whether you live here or are visiting, it's an experience that you won't soon forget. How many cities have a world renown zoo just a stone throw away from the skyscrapers and business of downtown... It's hidden, not so hidden, oasis of beauty at the heart of SD. Definitely buy the pass, it's a yearlong membership that also include the Safari Park in Escondido. It also has my favorite food at any of the parks in Southern Cal. Better than Disney, better than LegoLand, better than Knott's. The Double Trouble Burger from the Busy Bee Café is phenomenal (make it a triple for $1 extra!!)

San Diego Zoo was great experience for both adults and children. With your regular admissions, you're able to access the guided tour bus, hop on hop off kangaroo bus, and the sky tram. Got here at 9:30 on a Saturday morning and it was already pretty crowded. We ended up walking through the entire zoo - stopping for lunch - and then took a guided tour around 2. The guided tour goes around the perimeter of the zoo - and honestly we didn't see too many animals so I'd definitely recommend doing some walking. The best seats for the guided tour bus are on the top level, in the front half, on the side that's opposite of where the driver is. If you're on the lower level, it's also the front half on the side opposite to where the driver is. If you're coming with a baby/kids you'll have to park your stroller before getting in - same with some exhibits like the bug one. We didn't get to ride the air train but between 11:30-1:30 there was a giraffe feedings where you can pay $7 and get a little nugget of food to feed the giraffe. What a great experience but it goes by super quick so make sure you have your cameras ready!

I haven't been in the San Diego zoo in a long time. Today was such a good day to go! I saw so many animals active or sleeping out in the open. It was pretty busy for a Monday but still a very good day. We were a party of 14 and everyone had the time of their life. After exploring, taking pictures, videos, shopping and eating we decided to end the day on the tour bus. It's a good way to recap everything and also see anything you might have missed. (It's also free) the only bummer is it's open seats so although they have a lot of seats available they might be scattered around so since we didn't come early all of us weren't able to sit together. It was still a fun experience. When they stop you are able to stand up and take pictures my phone was dead though All in all great day and such a fun experience.

It may have been a better experience if it wasn't so hot. There is not much shade at this zoo. It's definitely one of the biggest and most advanced zoo's I've been to, I'll give that to San Diego Zoo. My family and I took a bus "tour" around the Zoo which was pretty fun and informative. I was inhaling diesel fumes the whole time so I got a headache and we didn't really want to walk around too much because it was so hot and sunny. On the plus side, the San Diego Sandwich Company was AMAZING. Really good sandwiches and a nice interior with A/C. I'll definitely come back and give SDZ another try when it's less sunny out, as I would much rather give them my money than Seaworld.

Yes! Grab you walking shoes, sun screen, and some water, and enjoy! This is such an amazing zoo. It is great for the young and old. They have fun play areas for the little ones, it is very stroller friendly, you can even get around via bus. Recommend bringing your own snacks and a reusable water bottle. Plan on staying at least half the day. Free parking wasn't terrible depending on what time you show up. Buy tickets online prior to your visit to save a little money because tickets are .

The Zoo is huge and amazing. We easily spent about 4 hours here and we could've spent more if we were dedicated to seeing everything that the Zoo had to offer. Your entry includes use of their Sky Tram as well as the hop on/hop off buses that pick you up from various points in the park. You can also opt to take their 35-minute guided bus tour, which gives you a brief overview of the zoo. They had so many animals and a lot of the exhibits looked very big. The animals all looked very well cared for. Staff were all incredibly nice.

Y A S S - Q U E E N ! ( S L A Y I N ' I T ) Who doesn't love the zoo? Wearing the requisite safari hat. Shouting "YASS QUEEN YASS!" at the peacocks. Learning which animals are ticklish at the petting zoo. And who doesn't love Christmas? Snowmen. Ornaments. Sugar cookies. A time to express joy, gratitude, and warmth towards one another. Now you can combine the two for the perfect holiday evening. Every Christmas, "Jungle Bells at San Diego Zoo" lights up each night in December through New Years Day. So we were slayin' Christmas ourselves this December, strollin' the pathways of the zoo, when a Muslim wearing a keffiyeh walked by and said "Merry Christmas". I smiled and replied "Happy Ramadan to you". A beautiful moment of interfaith harmony and a stunning rebuke of racism, xenophobia and religious intolerance that is so prevalent these days. Then he said but it's not Ramadan and I said listen grandpa stop ruining this fake interaction because I need a couple more reviews to maintain my Elite Status. May you have a very Merry Christmas. Or Chanukah. Or Kwanzaa. Or Ramadan... which apparently only sometimes happens around Christmas. Pro tip: Don't miss Jungle Bells at the zoo. Featuring the Jingle Brass Band, Santa's high-flying elves, and the spectacular Aurora! show, which celebrates the beauty of Christmas. Bonus Pro tip: Think twice about buying a belt at the zoo, it could just be a snake trying to escape.

Great place to take the family and enjoy. Lots of cool attractions and options if you don't want to walk around the entire zoo. Bus tours are available with entry and lots of food options.

Great place to be with kids. The guided tour bus (right to the entrance) and skyfari (left to the entrance) were awesome designs - saved quite a lot of efforts to go up and down. Loved the detailed introduction from the bus driver (ours was Alex) and volunteers everywhere. Quite a few people even on a weekday. Species were diverse and well taken care of.

Amazing zoo for all ages! It is a lot of walking so come prepared with comfortable shoes though there is a bus tour and a skytram included with admission. The variety of animals here can't be beat and the exhibits are spacious for all the animals. The San Diego Zoo really focuses on rehabilitation and release as well as trying to save endangered species. Great experience! Parking is free.

When we visited the zoo a few days ago we were not able to see many animals. Most are hiding or were covered by plants and trees. It was disappointing. We didn't see many either riding the train or sky-lift. Maybe we picked a bad time, but it wasn't worth the $66.66 we paid for the admission. Maybe others have better luck.

An educational trek awaits the city dwelling adventurer at the San Diego Zoo. Easily my favorite attraction in San Diego, the San Diego Zoo transforms the cityscape into the Australian Outback, African Savanna, and Latin American Jungles. The beautifully constructed habitats house an impressive collection of the animal kingdom. With bird sanctuaries, Butterfly exhibits, guided tours, educational shows, there are no shortage of attractions at a trip to the zoo. The San Diego Zoo is dedicated to keeping the animals safe and their habitats maintained. That being said, at any given time, animals may be moved away or habits may be closed. So some of your favorite animals may not be available that day. Luckily, there are so many more animals to see. Being a local and annual pass holder, it is so fun seeing new animal babies and watching them grow up. The annual pass is well worth the price even if you plan on going twice in a year. I love animals and it's so refreshing to see a zoo put so much care in taking care of them!

San diego zoo was well maintained. There are multiple eating places. There is a guided bus tour of around 35 minutes. And It is narrated. There are two decks. One upper and one lower. The upper deck is cooler. You get to see a lot of animals from the upper deck. It's a wonderful place to be. There is also a kangaroo bus which is a hop on hop off bus. There are 4 stops in total for hop on hop off buses. Toilets are relatively clean but there are some stalls that are not very clean. There are also many places to eat in there but expensive like usual tourist places. 2 bottles of water cost me 13.90 at a gift shop. Also there are lots of parking lots available for parking. They also have overflow parking lots and there is a free shuttle which takes you to the entrance. Most of the enclosures look pretty well maintained. And it was a fun day! Wish we had more time in a day to hang around the zoo Also worth a mention: If you spent more than 50 usd they will give you a recyclable tote. I got one which was not what I wanted. I went to another gift shop and they actually exchanged it for free for the one I wanted. Edit 4 stars because the signs weren't exactly fully adequate- they need to add directions to that. Thankfully there were volunteers who were helping

So I'll be honest.I'm thirty six years old and I haven't been to a zoo since I was ten. I was so excited to visit the San Diego zoo While on vacation and man did it not disappoint. I felt like a kid in a candy store.Every animal seemed like it wasn't real. Seeing things you only ever see in movies or TV is so weird and cool at the same time . I was in awe of everything I saw and being so close to them mad the experience unforgettable. I'm pretty sure we spent about 5 hours trying to explore everything from the birds to the elephants. There were snack bars everywhere to refuel so that made the day complete. I absolutely loved my experience

Where to start? This is the best zoo I have ever been to! Download the zoo app before you go which helps you navigate. You can bring food into the park, and there are lots of great places to picnic! There are so many animals here, and they all seem well taken care of. The price of admission includes the bus tour and the skyfari. I would recommend the bus tour if anyone in your group isn't a big walker as you can see about 70% of the zoo with the bus! The skyfari is cool to experience; as long as nobody is afraid of heights! There are also buses that stop at certain areas in the zoo to help you get around quicker. Parking is plentiful. Summer hours are long, winter hours the park closes at 5 or so. Prices: admission prices are expensive ~$71. If you live in San Diego or will be visiting multiple days, get the yearly membership for $100. It's totally worth it! If you upgrade your membership to the $169 it comes with free parking at the Safari park. If you get the base membership there are a good number of blackout dates, so I would recommend the slightly upgraded pass. You can also use your day ticket to upgrade to a membership within a week. If you're just visiting, try to find a friend who is a member - they have 50% off or free admission coupons!

I cannot possibly say enough good things about this zoo. It is a FULL day experience! We were there for the fun opening ceremony ( release of parrots) I highly recommend taking the double decker bus tour first. It gives you the " lay of the land" . Sit on the bottom as the view is better. You get to see some "behind the scenes"of the animals. Wear comfortable walking shoes....you WILL walk a lot. We did 25,000 steps that day! The animal habitats are amazing! The staff through out the zoo is OUTSTANDING! So friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Always willing to offer assistance, answer questions or just chat. The food is good, reasonable and spread throughout the zoo. We are " zoo lovers" and were so wowed by this experience. Well done San Diego, well done!

We live in Orange County and live closer to the LA Zoo but we continuously renew our San Diego Zoo/Safari Park. Be prepared to walk and if you have a child that may get tired, I recommend a small stroller. It's a HUGE zoo. For the first time since getting passes my kids feeding the giraffes. It was 7 dollars per feeder and the kids had an amazing experience (plus a photo opportunity). The staff has always been nice along with the volunteers. You can bring snacks and food so if you prefer that, it's an option. Food can be on the pricier side but it goes to a good cause: The animals. These are just some of the memories taken and when our passes are expire in May, we plan to renew yet again.

This is the coolest zoo I've ever been to! It's almost like Disneyland and it's huge. We had so much fun exploring and checking out all the animals here. The aerial tram was awesome, highly recommend! We also dined at Albert's Restaurant, which is located on the treetop next to the waterfall. The ambiance was very nice.

SD zoo is like joining a DND game. People gather together in one place to take part in a visible imaginary adventure that often involves exploring and discovering treasures, such as the animal friends here and the lush nature. I was pretty surprised as to why I hadn't visited this place before. Maybe the safari zoo disappointed me so much that it made me think the San Diego Zoo, located inside the city, couldn't be this good. I'm glad that I found this place. The drive from OC is terrible, a 3-hour drive with a few jams that come without any accidents along the way. Luckily, we arrived before 2 pm. The tickets are pricey, $75 USD per person, with donations, and you wonder why the tickets are still so expensive. Is this place another tax haven? But after you come here, it explains itself. This place is worth every penny. The price is for an experience that combines a zoo with a botanical garden. The roads wind up and down, so it's a good idea to wear sport shoes or super comfy ones. It can be a bit tiring, but the roads are well-maintained. The zoo landscapers did a great job with the exterior, making the zoo surrounded by beautiful lush plants--some rare, some tropical, some giants, and a mix of real and fantastical. It looks amazing. The displays and cages are large and clean, providing habitats for reptiles, koalas, hippos, and more. They're even places I'd want to live in myself. The reptile building is particularly well-designed, feeling like wandering through a living art gallery. The bird greenhouses with their layers are perfectly designed, and the route through the zoo feels like playing a puzzle game. They have so many beautiful birds! Where did they gather such beauties from? They also have lots of rare species that I've never seen at any other zoo before. The animals here are quite active. Unlike the OC or L.A. zoos where tickets are cheaper but the animals often look tired and hidden, here they seem to be having a blast and are quite active. I'm not sure what they feed them here, maybe it's a sugar rush, but all the animals seem to be having a great time and are very active. If seeing the animals happy like this means higher ticket prices, I don't mind paying. They look genuinely happy here. They've done something remarkable to make the animals seem really close to humans, allowing you to take clear pictures even without big cameras. I've never seen a rhino, flamingo, jaguar or snow leopard so close before. They have lots of food courts, but the choices are boring and overpriced. I didn't understand the food choices at this place; everything is well-maintained except for the food. Some of the staff are super friendly, but others are odd, especially those who guide people to the exit during the late-night kids show. The downside is the house for the red panda, which is tiny and claustrophobic. The red panda walks inside and looks unhappy. The mountain lion also seems frustrated, pacing around as if it could eat all the kids outside. Perhaps they've had enough of the shouting kids. Nobody is there to stop kids from banging on the glass windows. But that's an American zoo for you. You don't see this often in European zoos, but here in California, those rude kids and their rude parents are everywhere. It's not the zoo's fault, but they could send people to stop this. Because of the timeframe, we missed seeing the penguins and tigers. Unfortunately, we also didn't have time to go on the Guided Bus Tour, Kangaroo Express Bus, or Skyfari Aerial Tram. You really need an entire day here to experience everything. The zoo is big, but it's packed with shouting kids. I wish they had special hours for non-kid hours. The zoo opens till 9pm, but actually when everything goes dark, they don't provide lights here. The animals are off duty; they've had a long working day. So it's best to come early; there's no point in staying here when everything gets dark. The lion sculpture at the front entrance looks odd; Oh well, Art is subjective, but the posture and disproportionate anatomy make it look weird.

Isn't this the best zoo ever? Stepping into this exceptional zoo was like entering a vibrant tapestry of the animal kingdom. This zoo is huge and it's so well maintained. They have a bus tour and a gondola ride which is included in the admission ticket. Their attention in detail to replicating natural environments was evident, from lush greenery to carefully crafted rock formations. The diversity of species were aww inspiring and it was so much fun to watch all of them. My favourites were the Polar Beer, the lion, the snow leopard and the cute monkeys. The amenities here were great, they had clean and well designed rest rooms and cafes offering a variety of refreshments. This zoo undoubtedly stands out as a beacon of excellence in creating a memorable and enriching experience for visitors of all ages.

It was a nice experience visiting the zoo with my little one. This zoo is gigantic so it would take you all day. There is a tram service you can purchase if you do not wish to walk. Well maintained and a must visit if you have little kids.

One of the best places to visit when in San Diego. I have been coming to this zoo since I was a kid, living in AZ, but my family and I would always make the trip down to SD for the zoo. Coming back this year made me realize all the great things about the zoo that I loved as a child, and brought back good memories. It definitely is a large zoo so bring your walking shoes, and the prices have gone up a little bit, but the experience is worth every penny. A must see and must visit place for sure!

The San Diego Zoo is a must whenever you're visiting San Diego; it's iconic! Highly suggest getting here before or at opening to avoid the heat, parking, and the crowds! There's so much to see and do here, but definitely prepare to do a lot of walking. So many amazing animals to learn about!

This is the best zoo I've been too by far. The exhibits are very nice and very kid friendly. The park is large and the staff are very helpful. I highly recommend

The San Diego Zoo is awesome. Parking is free and entrance ticket prices are reasonable (around $69 per adult). We made sure to wear great walking shoes and slathered on sunscreen because we covered a lot of ground. They have a complimentary guided bus tour (which takes patrons to major areas of the park), a Kangaroo Express Bus (that lets you hop on and off at four stops), an aerial trauma and various schedules experiences. There are lots of great signage so you know where are you or where you want to be. The staff are helpful, the bathrooms are clean, and the park grounds are very well-maintained.

Polar bears, penguins and koalas! The San Diego zoo is one of the best zoos in my opinion. At least in Southern California. They have huge animals like Elephants!!!! That is freakin awesome. The elephants are amazing. You can watch them put their feet up and stuff. It's so cool. This is a huge zoo with tons of hills! It isn't an easy walk! If you aren't used to walking much, this will be tough. You will be sore after walking the whole zoo. If you are like me, and don't enjoy walking hills; they have a tram. The tram tour takes you around the entire zoo and you get to see most of the animals. It's a double decker bus. So you can sit on the top or the bottom. And the bus tour driver narrates while you stop at each animal sanctuary. I definitely recommend the bus tour for all of the zoo, and then you can walk to see certain animals.

This place gave me so much anxiety. The enclosures are tiny and the animals are either finding a little nook to hide in or they're pacing back and forth looking all stressed out and restless. We got free tickets and they told us SD zoo is the top zoo in the US but if that's true... please don't let it be true. I understand that the zoo is doing a lot of good for some of these animals, but it's time to expand. The whole experience was more sad than anything.

I have visited this zoo numerous times, and it never fails to captivate and excite me. I have been to other zoos in different states such as the Bronx, Houston, Portland, and Los Angeles (I know, not the best), but none of them compare to the San Diego Zoo! There is a reason why it is considered the number one zoo in the US! I appreciate the ample space provided for the animals to roam, and the zoo's efforts to recreate their natural habitats, which seem to make the animals content despite being confined in a way. The zoo houses a diverse array of animals from nearly every continent, but my favorites are the ones from Africa, especially the baboons and elephants. It's convenient that visitors can bring their own food to the zoo, but dining there is also enjoyable. They offer delicious taquitos and freshly made pineapple juice! It comes with a free "souvenir cup" as they are trying to be more sustainable. The kids meal also comes in a small reusable tote. While the wait for the skyline tram line may be long, it is definitely worth it. It's best to go in the morning before starting your day of learning about the animals! I initially thought the ride would just go in a loop, but it actually takes you to the other side of the park. I highly recommend this zoo for adults and families with children. It's great to visit in all seasons except for summer, as it can be challenging to escape the California sun, even with all the trees.

We had family visiting San Diego and of course we had to take them to the San Diego Zoo. They were staying for few days so that's why we picked the Zoo but the next target is the Safari Park. Nonetheless, we had great time! I took one star off because that printed map they provide and some of the signs is awful and it is the only thing created issues during the day. It is so confusing you just want to go back to start and just count the numbers which what I would recommend but be aware of the hours of certain shows! One of the best things was the all that valley view from the suspended bridge I highly recommend it!