Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - Cincinnati, Ohio

Blake B.

Great zoo, our favorite part was the kangaroo exhibit. You get to walk around inside an enclosure on a path, but the kangaroos are free to roam in that area, too! The only reason I have the 4 stars and not 5 is because some areas were closed and blocked off, so I couldn't explore everything. It's definitely one of the better zoos I have been to.

Raylou W.

I LOVED this zoo and wish I lived closer so I could experience more of the animal encounters they offer! We did the penguin feeding one and had so much fun and learned so much! Our guide was so friendly too. All the animals were pretty active the day we visited so we got some awesome photos too. And I was SUPER excited because they have African painted dogs which are one of my favorite animals! Just love those big, round ears! 😍

Dominique B.

Visited the Cincinnati Zoo with my family, and we had an absolutely fantastic time! The highlight for us was definitely seeing and feeding the giraffe! The giraffe encounter was well-organized, and the animals were so engaging. We also loved the elephant area; the zoo has done an incredible job with the landscaping arpuns that area, creating a beautiful and relaxing space to sit and watch the elephants. The entire zoo is nicely designed, making it a joy to explore. Highly recommend!

Buying tickets in advance or online, they are a little cheaper. Good price to pay for such a great zoo.

Erin P.

My husband & mines first time visiting the Zoo and Botanical Garden. It is truly a must see for yourself. We made a day of taking our time so we wouldn’t miss seeing all the animals, insects, birds etc. I was quite surprised to see Eagles there, Manatees, also love seeing the chimpanzees, penguins were adorable. You are also able to feed Giraffes. So pretty up close. It was a comfortable 77 degrees. So much more. Go and explore!

Sara

The Cincinnati Zoo, currently celebrating its impressive 150th anniversary, offers a delightful experience for visitors of all ages. To make the most of your visit, it's highly recommended to purchase tickets well in advance online, especially during peak seasons. This will save you valuable time upon arrival and ensure entry.

The zoo is, of course, home to a wonderful array of animals, providing ample opportunities for observation and learning about animals from around the globe. One of the undisputed stars is Fiona the Hippo, whose heartwarming story and playful antics continue to captivate visitors. Seeing her is a definite highlight for many.

For those looking for a leisurely way to navigate the expansive grounds, the zoo train offers a relaxing tour, providing a different perspective of the exhibits. Kids (and adults!) will also enjoy a ride on the charming carousel, adding a touch of nostalgic fun to the day.

Beyond the sheer enjoyment of seeing the creatures, the Cincinnati Zoo also places a strong emphasis on education on animals. Informative signage and engaging exhibits contribute to a greater understanding of the natural world and conservation efforts. Of course, no zoo visit is complete without a browse through the various gift shops, where you can find souvenirs to remember your day and support the zoo's mission. Overall, the Cincinnati Zoo provides a rich and engaging experience, blending entertainment with valuable learning opportunities.

David L.

We had a wonderful day at the zoo! Lots of cool animals, fantastic grounds and helpful staff. Especially liked being able to actually walk among the kangaroos. Parking was easy and close by. Lots of activities for kids and adults of all ages. Definitely worth the price of admission. Check it out!

Monica F.

The Cincinnati zoo is one of my favorite places to go in the city! I love that it’s open year round. Going to Festival of Lights is always an awesome experience. They also have lots of other events throughout the year.

Sandra L.

First time here and only day we could go and it was an unusually hot day around 95. So we did expect a lot of animals to be less active. The zoo is big and there is a lot of walking. Wear your tennis shoes. 10 bucks to park. I can only compare this to one other zoo. The reptile exhibit was disappointing. I've seen better. The elephant exhibit was nice and expansive. My main complaint was there was not enough signage to maneuver through the zoo. The app was leading us in wrong directions and you have to pay a dollar for a paper map.

Rebekah B.

First time goers since my boyfriend and I aren’t from the area. Really positive experience. It was really hot out, but the way the zoo was made allowed us a comfortable walk. A lot of vegetation provided shade, there are mist stations to help cool off, and there are indoor exhibits scattered around the zoo that provide air conditioning. There are lots of opportunities to get an up close look at the animals. We really enjoyed that because at the zoo we usually go to we need to pay additionally just to get close to certain animals (like the giraffes). We really enjoyed ourselves.

Thomas L.

I drove two hours from Louisville, Kentucky to visit the Cincinnati Zoo and had a great overall experience. There was no wait to get into the park, and parking was easy to find with plenty of spaces available — a huge plus!

It was an extremely hot day (around 100°), so many of the big cats weren’t out, which was a bit disappointing, but totally understandable given the heat. Despite that, the zoo still offered plenty to see. It’s a pretty large zoo, and it took me about two hours to make it through the entire thing at a comfortable pace.

I really enjoyed the Reptile House — they had a great variety of reptiles! I do think the space could be expanded in the future, but what’s there is impressive. The Insect House actually surprised me — in the best way. It had a wide range of fascinating bugs, and the interactive machine that tells you how many bugs your weight equals was such a fun and unique touch.

One of the highlights of my visit was seeing the Asian elephants playing in the water. It was a sweet, memorable moment that added something special to the day.

Food prices were about what you'd expect at a zoo — not cheap, but nothing outrageous. All in all, I’d definitely come back, hopefully on a cooler day to catch more of the animals out and active. Still, it was absolutely worth the trip!

Raylou W.

I LOVED this zoo and wish I lived closer so I could experience more of the animal encounters they offer! We did the penguin feeding one and had so much fun and learned so much! Our guide was so friendly too. All the animals were pretty active the day we visited so we got some awesome photos too. And I was SUPER excited because they have African painted dogs which are one of my favorite animals! Just love those big, round ears! 😍

Meagan

I've been several times in the last couple of years with different groups of people - just me and my YA son, me and my young niece and nephew, and variations of adults and kids. I have not yet had an unpleasant experience with staff, from zoo keepers to store and food workers-folks have been pleasant and helpful. We've gone on hot busy days, during the holiday lights, and during non-peak times. I enjoy how much folks seem to enjoy working there, it makes a difference! The zoo has so many paths, lots of shade and seating for breaks. There are many opportunities to learn and interact with different animals. It's huge, and should be when you consider what they are doing. There is a wealth of knowledge woven throughout the exhibits and into the landscaping, it is intentional and truly a delight. I always leave tired but so happy we went. They are still getting the hang of mobile ordering, and the main place that shows where hangry families may feel it the most is at the Base Camp. I try to avoid Saturdays and I do have a membership as going more than once seems to be worth that by the time you pay parking, etc. If membership prices stay reasonable I will keep buying and likely go several times a year. If I didn't have a membership I'd buy online ahead of time.

Starr D.

So glad we came to check out the zoo, we had so much fun. This is a great size zoo, with large variety animals to see. We only had 3-4 hours planned for the zoo and that only allowed us to check out about 1/3 of the zoo, that tells how big the zoo is.

The botanical garden plants mixed well and appropriately into the zoo landscape, which definitely enhanced the beauty and ambience of the zoo.

There are mist sprinklers placed throughout the zoo, which are great to cooling down the humans LOL.

Service throughout was very good from friendly staff.

Value: since we are visiting, so only get the daily tickets with military discounts. After enter the zoo only to find out if you want to ride the train, or do carousel or other activities, all will be additional cost. Therefore, for people who live close by, a zoo pass is the way to go.

Parking: there are a lot of parking spaces spread out through the parking lots all around the zoo, depending on distance, they do offer shuttle service to you from the parking lot to zoo entrance.

Highly recommend to pay a visit.