San Diego Zoo

• Hours: Open daily
• Reservations: Not required
• Cost: Admission charged but parking is free; read our hints for getting San Diego Zoo tickets
• Location: Balboa Park, near downtown
• How Long: Allow at least half a day, but a full day is better
• Best Time to Visit: Animals are active in the early morning and afternoon, and it's less crowded fall through spring
• See It Now: Photo Tour

Visitors find not only familiar animals at the San Diego Zoo but also little-known and seldom-seen creatures such as koalas, tree kangaroos and komodo dragons. The observant visitor will notice that the San Diego Zoo is also a botanical garden with more than 6,500 plant species, and some of its plants are more exotic than its animals. If you're a plant-lover, you can pick up a special guide near the entrance.

Review

We rate the San Diego Zoo 4 stars out of 5. It's one of the country's top-rated zoos and in recent years, they've managed to get rid of the last of their old, outdated cages and enclosures, but some visitors will object to it in concept.

Others may disagree. You can see what other people just like you think about it, then bookmark this page and after you've been there, come back and tell us what you think.

What do you think of the San Diego Zoo???

• 0 = Yuck! Just say no to this flea-bitten hole of a tourist trap
• 1 = So-So More fun than a night in jail, but you might enjoy a good nap more
• 2 = OK Some people find it interesting, but I didn't
• 3 = Good Go if you have time, but it's not a big deal if you miss it
• 4 = Great I really liked it, and I think you will, too
• 5 = Awesome! It's a must-see sight that I recommend to everyone

San Diego Zoo Exhibits

The Ituri Forest exhibit is a geographically-oriented area where hippos swim underwater alongside monkeys and forest buffaloes (like water buffaloes but without the water). Monkey Trails, which replaced the old cages, offers great opportunities to see the monkeys from a treetop-level view.

The pandas are perennially popular at the San Diego Zoo. However, their exhibit is sometimes closed for the good of these shy animals.

Some of the other popular San Diego Zoo exhibits include Tiger River, Sun Bear Forest, Gorilla Tropics, the Scripps Aviary, and Polar Bear Plunge.

Hints for a Good San Diego Zoo Visit

• WRITE DOWN the location where you parked, or take a picture with your camera phone. After a long day at the San Diego Zoo, it's easy to forget whether you parked near the ostrich or the elephant.

• Save your feet; sit down with a zoo map and plan your route in advance.

• The best way to see the animals is by foot, but you'll walk about 3-4 miles if you see everything in the San Diego Zoo, and some of the paths are steep. Avoid the steepest climbs by walking downhill and using the speedramps or the The Skyfari sky ride. The bus tour (all day with on/off privileges) is a good way to get around with less walking and the guided bus tours are an excellent option for those with limited mobility.

  If you buy a general admission San Diego Zoo ticket, there is an extra charge for the Skyfari sky ride and the tram.

• Refreshments are plentiful but expensive. Consider the excess price a San Diego Zoo donation.

• It is not feasible to visit the Wild Animal Park in the same day as the zoo. It's too far away, and each park offers too much to do.

Getting to the San Diego Zoo

2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, CA
(619) 234-3153
San Diego Zoo Website

The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park. Follow signs from I-5.

If you are coming from downtown, take 5th Street away from the water. Turn right on Laurel and enter Balboa Park. After crossing a bridge and passing through an archway, turn right in the plaza and follow the road around past the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, then follow the signs.

Avoid local tour companies who offer ticket/transporation packages. They can cost as much as $25 per person over the full ticket price with no chance for discounts, and your time is limited. Instead, rent a car from a company such as Fox Rent-a-Car.

If you can't drive or don't want to, you can use public transport. For the impatient, a taxi from downtown runs about $20 which is partly offset by the money you save on parking. Call Yellow Cab at 619-234-6161 Orange Cab at 619-223-5555.