This zoo is arguably one of the best in the world. Large size, plenty of exotic animals, and well put together aesthetically. Going during Covid on a weekday was really a blessing because it was ~30% of normal capacity, according to some of the workers. We especially enjoyed the aviaries, as they had so many beautiful birds.

Lots to do and see, always fun to come around, and quite the experience for someone who doesnt get out much. Exotic animals of all kinds, interactive exhibits, gift shops and stores are expansive, and COVID guidelines are solid. Definitely worth visiting for a couple days!

Beautiful, lots of animals, variety of activity levels. Social distancing and wearing of masks the entire time is enforced, although a lot of people were not respectful of social distancing.Very pricey, $300 for our family of six, 4 kids, and thats with a discount. An Ice cream sandwich was $6, Id recommend bringing your own food and drinks.Oh, they sell beer and some mixed drinks though, expensive but cool if you enjoy a drink.The plants are amazing, I hope to go again when my kids are a bit older and get more pictures.Hopefully they bring back giant pandas soon

Came during covid time on a Friday. The place was pretty safe and they take a lot of precautions. I could walk feeling the safety and my friends were also had a comfortable feeling about the place.And also you maybe also wanna know a little more about this place so here is it: This is a beautiful zoo run by a society that really believes in the educational mission. The grounds are very clean and the wonderful creatures all appear to be well kept.We really enjoyed the zoo it was so fun and also it was a friends Reunion as well and I cant tell how amazing was our timing.

Beautiful park! You can blame Covid-19 for the missing star. There are some well deserved restrictions and you have to understand that. I wont fault the awesome staff at the zoo BUT, no Panda bears?? A red Panda..? Thats it thats my biggest quarrel so their doing pretty well. Beautiful park! We will definitely come back for that fith start!!

The San Diego Zoo was amazing! Lots to see. The enclosures seem nice and most are large enough so its not depressing for the animals. Its a very big zoo but it hardly feels like your walking far because theres lots to see at every turn. Also even the paths and places in between exhibits have amazing plants and trees so it really feels like your in nature.

This is a great zoo and can easily take the whole day to really see everything and read about the animals. The volunteers standing at some exhibits are a wonderful addition, providing lots of valuable and interesting information about the animals there. Some say this zoo is overrated, but I disagree. Its one of the best in the country. The animals really seem to put on a show and the lion was so vocal!

Fantastic experience, great price for value, awesome variety of animals. Most animals were out and active for a fun experience. Kids loved all of it, best zoo Ive visited country wide.

Our recent visit to the zoo was lovely. Its very uncrowded and I felt safe. Everyone was wearing masks and social distancing.

They have done a really excellent job of socially distancing and cleanliness. The restrooms are spotless and there are dividers between the sinks. Some of the interactive exhibits are closed but there is still enough open to enjoy yourself. Love this zoo!

All I can say about this place is its amazing, they have great staff, knowledgeable and the experience is worth the money. Definitely a place that I hope to visit again in the future. Just know that the road to this location is quite bumpy. so be ready for a bumpy ride but its an exciting one

Absolutely incredible experience. I love how most paths lead through one of the many Aviaries. The zoo was clean and beautiful and wonderfully setup and well placed. Wish I was able to take the bus tours but with COVID those were unavailable.

Covid-19 procedures were only followed up to the entrance other than that a good family place with margaritas

So amazing in size and the number of animals. The grounds are incredible with so many trees and other plants. The exhibits generally reflect responsible zoo values, although the polar bear exhibit looked very sad. The polar bear was slumped on a brown pedestal, and looked too warm. Im not informed of whether the polar bear habitat is appropriate, it just looked off.

Its is definitely the best zoo in California. One must go early in the morning in order to tour most of the park. They are taking every precaution necessary for the covid-19 virus. Food although a little pricey is good. Go on have some fun with your loved ones.

I went here on Saturday when it was raining cats and dogs and just had incredible experience!I spent almost all day strolling around animals without any sign of crowds. It was complete peace and quiet. No lines anywhere, just few people around most popular animals like hippo, tiger and, other than that, empty streets.As of Nov 7, many restaurants were open with an option to eat outside.A beer garden got closed surprisingly around 3pm.It was quite cold, so 2 jackets and water-proof poncho saved my day.The zoo is amazing!

This zoo is stunning, especially if youre from the North East and used to the animals being so far away. Theyre very up close and allow you to really immerse yourself in the experience.Even with COVID, they have such a great operation that you feel very safe with temperature checks, health screenings and a strict mask policy. We went on a Monday and it was not crowded at all, but the waits can be long on weekends so plan accordingly.

Unbelievable experience. Highly recommend this zoo. One of the best family experiences I have had in many quarantine months. The Urban Jungle was great with the giraffes and rhinos.

This is an amazing zoo. My family and I will always have great memories from our visit. The hippos were so sweet. The mother was cuddling her young and they were up close for our viewing. The animals are well taken care of and a pleasure to see

This is definitely a must see for any age. There were things that were not available because of COVID and social distancing but you could still get on the aerial tour and they were really good about sanitizing every booth you got into before and after each person. You had to wear a mask the whole you are inside the zoo but it wasnt that bad. All the animals are out and ready for guests. You will not be disappointed and make sure you get there early because you will need the whole day to look around.

Really great location for the family. Exhibits are well kept and social distancing and mask policy well enforced.

Very clean park with super helpful volunteers! One of them even went out of their way to help us! The animals were very well taken care of (except for the polar bear in our opinion, since there was almost no snow in its exhibit), and the variety of animals was super fun to see. I would recommend bringing good walking shoes since there are a lot of elevation changes, but overall very clean and nice.

We went early and there werent any lines. Everybody wore their masks and there was quite a few sanitizer stations. We got to see them feel the jaguars as well.

This is by far the best zoo I’ve been to. Even with the COVID restrictions, you still get the full experience. It took us about 7 hours to see everything in the park. The staff is extremely nice and helpful.

My kid and I had an amazing time...The San Diego Zoo is the so organized and clean.The staff is helpful and the animals were just amazing.Will be going back soon!!

This place is huge but the treatment of animals could most definitely be better! For example the Polar Bear exhibit was isolated with no ice or anything cold like their natural habitat consists of. He was desperately trying to stay cool in whatever shade he could find! It was sad to see! Yet, the employees were nice and were excellent guides! The zoo was also surrounded by trees and flowers which made you feel like you were moreso in their habitats!

Great day. Thank you for your safety precautions. Everyone was being compliant.

The most beautiful zoo in the US. I had to buy a season pass because this zoo is so large it takes the average person three days to see the whole park.The terrain can be challenging at times so I love that I don’t have to rush because I have the whole year to come back. The animal are so amazing and the grounds are just gorgeous. There are restaurants and pit stops along the way if I get hungry or thirsty. Restrooms are all along the paths if needed. They have electric wheelchairs for rent if you are handicapped and need assistance. They have COVID screening as you enter the park. The lines in the morning go really fast. Buy a season pass it’s so worth it!

The San Diego zoo was fun. Due to Corona we had to wear masks which made the experience hot and a bit uncomfortable, however we made the most of it and walked the whole park. Some activities and exhibits were closed and maybe missed out on some stuff but honestly after 5 hours of walking, our feet were sore and we were ready to go. It was hot and some of the animals were staying out of the sun and therefore we could t see them. I don’t blame them as I did my best to find shade along the way too. I can’t say it’s the best zoo I’ve been too, but it’s still worth a stop.

Love this place. Already wrote a pretty extensive review a while back. Some good-to-know info if youre not from here: (1) Some pretty long steep hills or lots of steps in and out of the canyon. (The whole place is wheelchair accessible, but you might consider renting one of their power chairs) (2) Its a BIG zoo: pretty overly ambitious if you plan to see everything in one day even without kids and strollers and rests (3) Thus, 2-4 pm is the crying hour (kids havent had naps, kids throwing tantrums, parents snapping at kids and each other, and its pretty hot May-Oct)

Lots of places to eat with vegan and vegetarian options. They are taking a lot of action to keep distancing in effect; one way paths, less access to high touch areas, mask requirements, hand wash stations and hand sanitizer stations.

Very lovely zoo! The layout is great and you get to see the animals from multiple angles. Be prepared to walk a lot! We walked over 7 miles while there. There are quite a few hills as well.The staff were very friendly and informative. We got to witness a member of staff placing a baby koala in their habitat. She was very enthusiastic and engaging. I wish I could post the video, but am unsure how. They enforced the wearing of masks and keeping a distance of 6 feet or more between park guests.The overall atmosphere was charming, friendly, and personal. I highly recommend a trip to this zoo!

In all honesty I gave it a 4 because of the whole covid situation. In general you can save yourself some time by b purchasing your ticket from the kiosk instead of waiting in the long line. Next the staff are super helpful and interactive. Get a map for starters. If you want to see the polar bears I suggest you take the sky train up and then walk down. Over our experience here was very enjoying the animals are beautiful we had an amazing time. I recommend it to anyone whos curious about it. Check it out the kids will love it.

During the pandemic you can se almost all animals. Most food places inside are open. Even if people do not have kids its the perfect getaway during the pandemic. They do sell beer inside, craft and draft. I would recommend coming in early and star on the monkey trail. Most people take the Australian Outback which leads to the giraffes.

Amazing place to visit wgen come to visit San Diego, CA. Its worth the money but you will need 2 days to do the whole park. Also make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes cause you are going to be walking alot. There are some steap hills to walk as well.

We arrived about 9:20 on Monday and were able to walk in within maybe 5-10 min. The zoo was phenomenal. They did a great job helping keep guests healthy, but some guests would get kind of close in order to see animals.

Had a great time. I think it would be nice if it was open a little bit later.

Perfect get away for the family. Loved it! Employees told us about free october!!!! Were definitely going back! Thank you.

Always a great place to visit! Bring your walking shoes! Lots of walking and hills.

I love this zoo. They are making a huge effort for screening and reduced attendance. However, given the long entry line it would be nice to offer some sort of shade. Luckily we were there in the morning and not too hot. Once inside kids did the best with masks probably due to their excitement and didnt notice. We were able to navigate almost the whole zoo in about 4 hours. I look forward to returning after the kids free in October.

Absolutely amazing zoo. Nothing like it anywhere. Enormous facility that prides itself in the care of its animals. This is a must see for anyone in or around the San Diego area. It is worthy even of a vacation to just see it. Definitely come here and check it out. It will definitely not disappoint.

Let me start by saying, Im not a fan of zoos. Animals arent made to gawk at. However, father of a 2 yo here. Also, they do an amazing job on teaching and conservation.So... Take my money, under the table though.

This zoo is amazing. Lots of animals to see and enjoy.

Very great place to bring the family and help keep the zoo active. Some animals can only be seen at night time (some nocturnal animals) but usually during the month of October and a part of December, the zoo is open late. There is a health screening before you enter the zoo, so be prepared if there is a bit of a wait, it usually goes by very quick. I would recommend, a person that is a resident of San Diego or a person that will be going to the zoo and safari park more than 2 times in a given period, it comes out a bit cheaper to get a annual pass over the course of a year. Its very nice to meet up with people that are members as well and talk about our favorite exhibits and animals we have seen.The zoo is just a great place to spend the day at and enjoy the great San Diego weather.

Best zoo in the world. Had my first visit in over 14 years and it was great to see how things have continued to stay fresh and updated. Great place to kill some hours. All the walkways are very scenic but bring your comfortable shoes to deal with the hills and valleys.

Fantastic zoo, enjoyed walking around for a few hours among the animals as well as trees and plants. Animals seem happy and very well taken care of. Enclosures clean, walking paths well maintained (like new!) And I was shocked how many koalas they have. How cool is that?!

The zoo seemed a bit empty (in terms of animals vitality). It is constructed beautifully, but located right next to the high way, I can imagine how all those animals get poisoned and contaminated by air pollutions. Poor animals. They are not used to living in urban areas, some of them did not seem quite healthy anyways.The stuff was incredibly nice and welcoming.

I love this place,its my favorite zoo. I love looking at all the animals. Also it is a fun place to get some exercise in the morning, because of all the hills. (Photos from 2017)

One of the world most amazing zoos, and the best one Ive ever been to. It is a huge, massive zoo, in which you could spend the whole day in, and barely have the chance to see everything. The enclosures are spectacular and thought to give the animals the best possible habitat. There are so many species to see and chances to learn a lot. The entry fee is not cheap, and even the restaurants in the zoo are a little expensive, but its worth the experience, especially if youre interested in animals.

We hit the zoo this week and had a blast! Their protocol for screening upon entering was answering 4 questions around having a fever, etc which seemed a bit silly given that people could easily not answer truthfully. However, we only noticed a few patrons ignoring the mask rule and getting too close at certain points. The zoo is huge (obviously!) so have a plan of attack and hit the exhibits farthest away first to avoid the crowds and enjoy all the amazing animals.

My family loved it here.Lots of walking but it was clean and there were people sanitizing. Some people near the elephants and other major animals don’t know what 6ft apart means though. We went on a Monday and it was pretty quick to get in. Maybe 30 minutes in line.

The San Diego Zoo is insanely awesome. So many animals to see, the fun never stops. If you want to see the entire zoo, you’re gonna need to do a two day trip. Very fun experience and I hope I get to go back someday.

Big Zoo with few strange animals. The weather conditions was a little bit hot and bears looking like me after a long work day . Beautiful facilities. Clean. Be aware with the social distance. Some people forget that thing. Try to go sport. You will walk more than 3 hours if you wanna seen all the animals. Drink water!

It was great lots of animals delicious food. It was expensive but I think it was worth it.

Easy to spend a whole day there. Lots to see. Presented in fun ways. Love the multi-levels. Zoo itself is doing a great job with safety protocols. Would love to come back to experience all the stuff that was closed when things get back to normal.

A fine outdoor experience during Covid19 times. Almost all guests were respectful of the mask wearing rules. Social distancing was not always easy, especially around the charismatic animals, so be vigilant! Love the SDZoo!

Our second time here. This time we saw everything, we had a great time, Thank you. N

I love it got AMAZING pictures would definitely come here often even though its the corona virus 5 starts all the way the pictures were amazing also

It has been years since I last visited the San Diego zoo, but I was pleased to find it has remained such an exciting place to see! There are so many animal exhibits to see with new areas being added. The park in general is kept in amazing condition that allows for guests to enjoy a fun clean day!

October kids get in for free. The park opens at 9am. Get here at 9am! I showed up at 1pm yesterday a Saturday I waited in line for 3 hours and I was still only just past the half way point. The zoo gets to full capacity since they only let so many people in the park at once. I showed up today Sunday at 8:45am waited about 20 minutes in line. Bring good walking shoes! I walked a total of 6 miles to cover the entire park. There is an app of the zoo layout. Try getting it. We felt lost a few times . My husband and I finished around 1pm [4 hours]. Keep in mind we dont have kids and only stop to rest a few times. Take the little tour bus if you can, bring hat, sun glasses, water and snacks :)

I love animals! And this place had tons of them! My favorite was an owl that was a total of three inches tall called a burrowing owl. Like a real owl but miniaturized. I wanted to put him in my pocket and take him home with me. Wed be the best friends! You should come here this place is great! Bring the kids and the grandparents.

First-time going with my family. Had a good time, my daughter and little sister had a blast. ..very exciting! Zoo is huge so obviously be prepared to do a lot of walking and certain parts of the zoo is going up and down but overall it was fun.

Great experience! Well worth it. CovId regulations are good. Get there early!

The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park have been amazing places to go out during this pandemic. I would recommend it to anyone who can afford the year membership during this time.

Amazing. Well worth the money, though it is expensive. My wife and I are in our upper 20s, and didnt know what to expect, but we were amazed. Something for everyone, grab a beer and walk with it as you see spectacular animals

Zoo was great. They are doing a lot of new construction so baby area is closed. Everyone is wearing masks and keep 6ft distance. Very humid there so take so frozen water bottles and put them in you backpack keep your back cool and it will cold water in no time!

I have been going to the San Diego Zoo since 1979 and if never fails to impress. This is one of the most amazing zoos in the world. The exhibits are all built with outstanding attention to detail. There is a large collection of animals that span the globe and give visitors an unmatched experience. If you only have a single day then take the double decker bus tour of the zoo first. It will provide you with a good feel for the entire park. If you have multiple days take your time to visit each of the unique sections a learn about the animals and their habits, many of which need our help to protect.

Pleasant experience:) Pre-screening questions before entering. Expected long line on a Friday when we visited, but it went surprisingly fast, about 30 minutes. I do hear Sat/Sun is longer, 2-3 hours and once (pandemic) capacity is reached, they dont let anybody else in until people start to leave. Social distancing measures are enforced as much as possible, especially in bathrooms. Masks are mandatory. You can bring backpack with snacks, no coolers. Cant come in and out. Restaurants, strollers and electric chair rentals are open. There are no shows at all due to pandemic. Lastly, depending on how energetic you and kids feel, you can probably cover the entire park in 4 hours. For tourists, make it a day event. For locals with kids and membership, I recommend 2 to 3 hours max at a time. My 6-year old had enough after 3 hours of walking. Either plan to go early AM or when first wave of people leave around 3pm.

Great family adventure with grandchildren. Saw many animals during their feeding time! This is rare. Past trips to the zoo, animals were in dens or hard to find. This first trip with grandchildren we saw tigers, lions, polar bears all eating. Even an eagle eating a rat!

Love the zoo...always have. But in tbe 10 years since Ive been there. Very little change had been made. Gotta love the free kids in October promotion.

Awesome experience. Above and beyond for social distancing and so clean.

So thrilled that the Zoo is still open. The staff and procedures were 1st rate, the visitors were all screened and masked. Easy to find space distancing during the visit. A wonderful open air experience. Some food/drink and shopping is available, all with most careful monitoring of health safety protocols.

I loved the zoo. Had so much fun. No line on the day I went. Slurpees are way over charged 8.99.

This place is HUGE! Great food and drink options. Definitely have to wear some comfy shoes for allThe walking!

The zoo staff was very helpful and everything was modified to be sanitary (because of covid) they did a really good job of making sure people were 6ft. I went on a Monday so there werent as many people which was a good thing!

Great view of so many species of animals. Well taken care of, clean and easy access to everything. Very enjoyable.

Its awesome that there was no fee for parking. The park is very clean and well organized. You must wear a face mask and many different sanitation stations are set throughout the park. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes the park has a lot of inclines. Also you are allowed to purchase and drink alcoholic beverages while viewing the animals. Overall an amazing place to take the family.

The San Diego zoo is a great experience with lots of attractions and plenty to see. Theres a wide range of animals and multiple species. Family friendly environment and a great date, would also recommend for anniversaries, birthdays and other such events. Getting it pass is totally worth it if you live in the area, it gives you an excuse to come back and see everything that you missed the last time. It can definitely be a full day full of fun, adventure and excitement.

Great place for a family trip..bring walking shoes because the zoo is huge and very spread out...they even serve adult drinks and the zoo is even better a night time.....long wait time to enter specially during Covid so make sure you eat before going

It has the largest collection of diverse animal and plant life in any one place that Ive seen. Very well kept and ever changing.

The zoo was nice. There are a lot of animals we loved seeing. It was a little confusing going around just because they are trying to direct the flow of traffic. I would say Most everyone like 96% of the people I seen had masks on except while eating. One thing I didn’t like was the zoo is open until 9:00pm but once it’s dark around 7:30ish you literally can’t see anything. There are few if any exhibits lit up. I thought this was kind of pointless to keep the zoo open if they aren’t going to have lights. I suppose they might bother the animals? But overall we loved seeing the animals we just didn’t get to see much because we arrived later in the day thinking we would have until 9:00 in reality we couldn’t see anything once dark hit. That’s my only downfall of the zoo everything is great tho. Definitely recommend to go early or during day light hours. There were really long lines for the gift shops most people were 6 feet apart. The bubble dance party looked really fun too.

By far, the best zoo in CA! San Diego Zoo has so much to see and do! This zoo is pretty pricey but well worth it! Theres so many animals and this zoo is huge!The staff are all welcoming and very nice. This zoo is well maintained and clean! This is perfect for the whole family. Theres alot of activities and many fun things to do. Plenty of walking here!

This area of this zoo is quite small, but very well designed. The zookeepers were enthusiastic and the animals seemed happy. There was a train you could take to get a tour of the zoo. It was a lot of fun! The gift shop had paper notebooks made out of panda poop, quite a rarity item. And no, it didn’t smell weird. ;)

My partner and I enjoy going to the Zoo every weekend as members. We live only a few blocks away, so we see it as a great place to put in a few steps. We love taking our family when they come to visit, and it’s always so cute to see the cubs and other babies. It’s a great experience for all the family.

Beautiful place with beautiful trees The kids enjoyed the zoo we’ll definitely be going back

OH MY WORD! SO Totally awesome! SO WANT TO GO BACK! The zoo is too big to see in 1 day, unless you arent towing a wheelchair and an old man, then you might be able to see everything in 1 day.

This zoo is huge. The prices are steep 60 dollars a ticket! But free to active duty military. You need at least 3-4 hours to finish the zoo. I really enjoyed the walking.

Good variety of animals. Very clean and take very good precautions for covid-19. Good experience. Must go if visiting san diego.

Beautiful zoo. Wear comfortable shoes, its a lot of walking. The bears were the most entertaining.

They have a covid-19 to ask you questions now and then you get in line to pay for your ticket is very expensive so its cheaper to buy a two day pass and go to the zoo one day and the wild safari park about an hour north or you can do two days at the zoo if you prefer it is a lot of walking bring a water bottle to refill bring some snacks cuz nothing in the zoo is cheap they do close the stores and restaurants early lots of primates big enclosures hadnt been in 20 something years loved it sore the next day from walking they could do better with their signage letting you know where things are and where the exit is

This zoo is beautiful! The animals all look very happy and are well taken care of. Sometimes when I visit a zoo the animals just lay around and are very lazy and do nothing. Not here! They are up interacting & moving around. You could spend an entire day here ️

The zoo is always a pleasure. The skyfari is open, which is great. Pretty good food. Definitely get the collectors cup for cheap refills.

Its too pricey during the pandemic when you cant get the full experience. The rides or benefits that came with the admission are all closed. I walked all the way to the back of the zoo to see the polar bears and they were not out. There were no more giant pandas and they should post which exhibit is not active so ppl wont waste their time going across to it to see nothing. I have a 4 yr old and I thought he was good with walking...nope. Too much walking that he was about to cry because he just couldnt walk up and down anymore and I couldnt carry him; too big. We had to cut our tour around the zoo short. We were 4 hrs into it already so I didnt want to rent a stroller anymore. There are so many paths in every which way. You will get lost without a map if its your first time. No such thing as one route to see everything. Its hard to plan and see everything without going back and forth. Tips: give yourself lots of time, dont rush, take lots of break.

Fun for the kiddos! They loved it. It was awesome that for the month of October the kids get in for free. Some tips before coming to the Zoo, get some good comfortable walking shoes(its a lot of walking, and bring snacks, drinks, food to make to save money).

We visited the Zoo in December. It was not crowded at all. We had beer and enjoyed the zoo.

Bucket list goal achieved! Is it was everything I expected it to be. Such an amazing experience. A great selection of exhibits and the work that this zoo does to protect animals is above and beyond. We can’t wait to come back! Especially loved how spacious and well kept the animal enclosures are! Lots of food options and tons of parking.

One of the World’s foremost zoos.... during the Covid-19 they are keeping everyone very safe

World class zoo. A must see if you are in San Diego for a few days. Great fun for both adults and children.

It was a nice stroll, but many things were closed due to covid-19

Need a better route map. So everything is able to be seen moving in one direction instead of going one way then having to back track to see a different set of animals. And it was pretty hot when we went I think maybe misters being incorporated for days like that could make it more tolerable on days that are hot. Also more covered bench seating to take a break.