Last week the whole family was in town, so naturally we had to check out the zoo. I was blown away! I have only ever been to one other zoo before so this was a really great experience. \ The greenery and nature along all of the paths and in the enclosures for the animals were breathtaking. Everything was so fresh and green. The zoo was super easy to navigate and walkable, exactly what you need. We stopped for some food at the food trucks and I got a burger and fries. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the burger was. It was thick and juicy with a really good cheese sauce. I don't know how it took me four years to finally go here! read more

What a great zoo! In addition to being a zoo, it is an official botanical gardens, so the grounds themself are gorgeous. We were there in early April, so all the gorgeous spring flowers (daffodils, tulips, hyacinth) were in full bloom. The parking lot is close to the entrance and I like that there is shade for your car. (note it is $10 to park). You enter the zoo by going up an elevator or escalator. It is the same as the Pittsburgh Zoo entrance. One thing to note is that the zoo is hilly. No matter what direction you go, you will have some up and down hills. It is easy to navigate, though. The day we visited, we were very fortunate that almost every animal was out and active! The giraffes were wandering in their yard, the lion was chatty and playful, the zebras were enjoying their enrichment, the hippos were swimming and playing. I don't know that I've ever been to a zoo where so many animals were all active and visible! The signage was plentiful and easy to navigate and everything was well kept and clean. There were plenty of spaces to sit and relax and most animals had plenty of space to enjoy. A wonderful visit to a beautiful place. read more

Went to the zoo on Friday and it was a great experience. It was busy, but not too busy. The animals were all out and very active except for the hippos and lions. They were enjoying the sun. The flowers were starting to bloom. Just wait another week or two and the flowers will be in all of their glory. We are lucky to have a zoo like this so close to home. I feel sorry for anyone in Cincinnati that has never been to the zoo. read more

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Nice Zoo! My 15yr old and I enjoyed our visit. We really got our steps in!! The weather was warm but not Louisiana hot so we were able to take it! We ride the train, which was a short ride. We ate a meal at one of the onsite eateries and enjoyed a pretzel and slushy from one of the carts. There were plenty of animal exhibits and the zoo was clean and well kept. Paid parking was close by. I'd definitely recommend visiting. Good for Adults and children. read more

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I feel like this zoo was good, but a bit over hyped. There were a lot of animals that weren't out. The kangaroos not being out was a big letdown. We're from STL, where our zoo is top tier, so we're spoiled. Also beware this zoo is right in the middle of what looks to be a sketchy area. read more

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - The zoo was loaded with these large bronze animal statues. Great photo opportunities. - Zoos Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

came to see the zoo babies and that didn't work out at all. I walked around for several hours and the ONLY zoo babies I saw were this baby bug sooooo disappointing to drive for an hour each way for a bug. it was some orchid bug that looked like a flower but def not worth wasting the day. I didn't even see the bonobo that is several years old. sighhhh was disappointed but did see a few cool things. I like catching animals yawning and did. I accidentally caught a rated r video of elephants that was ... well unexpected read more

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I mean, it's the best zoo in the country. Do I really have to go into more detail than that? Okay, fine... The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a true gem of the Queen City's crown. Their year-round programming is above and beyond and offers so many truly unique experiences. And only one of those is seeing the world-famous Fiona the hippo! I am embarrassed to admit that I lived in Cincinnati for a couple decades before I finally made it to Festival of Lights. Listen, I don't like crowds, and I don't like waiting in line. You aren't going to find me at Disney. But after doing our own digging on the best days/times to go, and sometimes at the invitation of a donor, I've been able to truly enjoy smores and hot cocoa and the train and the merry-go-round with holly air-brushed onto my face. Even though I can't afford to go to a lot of their cooler events, there ARE other opportunities to win those kind of encounters through raffles and fundraising events. You truly can't go wrong with the Cincinnati Zoo. What are you waiting for? read more

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We showed up late and still barely scratched the surface because this place is MASSIVE. But wow, the lights alone were worth it! Super creative displays, very festive, and not repetitive at all. Every section felt different and there were so many cute photo ops. A few animal exhibits were open too, so we got to see elephants, monkeys, reptiles, and more which was such a bonus! Do not skip the Hot Hippo hot chocolate especially with the souvenir cup. Totally worth it :) Same with the popcorn bucket (obviously an elite snack). Parking and tickets do cost extra, but it wasn't stressful or chaotic. I'd definitely come earlier next time to fully explore! read more

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - jelly fish lights! - Zoos Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

My husband and I spent Mother's Day at the Cincinnati Zoo this year and had such a fun day together. I'm currently pregnant, so it felt extra special and honestly ended up being the perfect way to celebrate. The zoo was beautiful, clean, and full of so many animals to see. We loved taking our time walking around together and just enjoying the atmosphere. The gardens were especially pretty this time of year and everything felt so lively and well cared for. By the end of the day, we both said this will probably become one of our little family traditions before long. Definitely one of the best zoos we've visited. read more

I've gone to the zoo with and without a child and it's always a great time! This summer we experienced the newly opened Elephant area that is beautiful and super big. They have even more exhibits that they are constantly tweaking and adding which makes it a great addition to any visit to Cincy. read more

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - Zoos Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Great zoo that is manageable with a lot of food options, many animals, friendly staff, a playground and a carousel. It's also just really pretty, especially around Halloween time with pumpkins everywhere. A must see when you're visiting especially with kids. read more

Such a fun day at the zoo! Parking was easy to find and could easily get to the front entrance. To buy tickets online, there was a transaction fee. I ended up waiting in line (maybe 10-15 minutes?) and then the ticket price was more expensive than buying online with the fee! This was a little annoying since I wasted time in line but I was able to quickly buy online and have them immediately available. We ended up spending about 3 hours at the zoo and did not see everything! I can't wait to go back and check the rest of it out. There were some areas under construction that will be cool to see once finished too. My daughter loved seeing Fiona and we left with a new Fiona book and stuffed animal! Not too overpriced for a zoo giftshop either (the book was under $10 for a board book and stuffed animal maybe $27) It was fun to be able to feed the giraffes! $4 for one feeding. They made sure the giraffes were ready to eat before charging us too. read more

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Cincinnati Zoo is an amazing zoo. It is huge! With tons to see and do, honestly it is hard to fit it all in one day. There were many exhibits, and it looked like the animals had a lot of space to roam. Some standouts were of course the hippos, giraffes, Roo Valley, red panda. read more

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - Zoos Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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So much to see! Loved that staff was very present and informative. Ended our amazing day finally getting just a few feet from a sloth while it slept. It was a very emotional experience for me personally. read more

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The Cincinnati Zoo has been in place for over 150 years! While several exhibits are under renovation, there is still so much to see in this extremely large facility! The enclosures are setup for optimal viewing, indoor and outdoor. I loved Cat Canyon, the hippos, cheetahs, and pretty much everything I got to see! I did the Twilight admission, which is discounted but does only give you from 3-5 to see what you can see. Easily missed a lot of exhibits due to time constraints, but that just means a return trip will be needed in the future!! read more

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My wife and I were in Cincinnati for a long weekend on our 3 or 4 trips we do to cities we have never been to. I had heard the Zoo in Cincinnati was really good, and I have been to the San Diego Zoo, and I would put it on par with them. We loved the manatee exhibit and the penguins. All of the habitats were naturalistic and beautiful. The place was packed with families and the kids loved all of it. My favorite quote was a kid that that had a penguin swim up to him and he said "He loves me!" It was very cute. The staff was great, my only complaint was that the food was very expensive. It was a beautiful day and we got lots of steps traversing the grounds. If you are in Cincinnati, you have to check it out! read more

On November 30th, my fiancée and I came here as part of her birthday weekend trip. I have been here before in 2018 during the month of November. At both times there weren't alot of animals out due to the weather. Overall, my fiancee and I had a fun time and enjoyed seeing all of the animals that we could see. She really did enjoy seeing the elephants; since she graduated from Alabama. Once again, i did not get to the see the famous hippo, Fiona, due to the weather. :( hoping to be back so we can see more animals. read more

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Incredible experience every time. The food is usually quite good too. Memberships are pricey but worth it if you use them enough, especially counting the free parking instead of $10. The new enclosures are great- something is always in the works here. Favorites are the meerkats and the manatees. RIP Harambe. Long live Fiona. read more

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. read more

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Just an update after a few years. My family still loves the Cincinnati Zoo. We love the new train and carousel. The new Elephant area is amazing! So well done and we love seeing the new elephants. The new Cheetah cubs are so cute! Fiona and family are still a favorite of ours. Giraffe feeding is always a good time. We really enjoy the Galapagos Tortoises hands on experience that happens in the afternoons. We are excited for the new Bear area and Sea Otters to open later this year. The biggest thing we wish would happen is more animals, but we know that takes time from talking to those that work at the zoo. I think they are on the right track with all the improvements they are making. read more

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Loved coming to the Cincinnati zoo a couple weeks ago when we visited they have everything there. It was so nice to see all the animals living happy and healthy. One of my favorite exhibits was the nocturnal cats exhibit where you go into a building which is all dark, but all the animals are out walking around because that's their natural environment. They do have a brand new elephant exhibit that is just opening and it looks amazing. Food and drinks were good and we even stayed for the Zoofari event at the end of the evening. I would love to come back to the Cincinnati zoo another time and stay for even longer to see even more of the animals #RIPHarambe read more

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We visited the Cincinnati Zoo and had a wonderful day!. The grounds are beautiful, and the animal habitats are great. Every employee that we encountered was friendly and helpful and proud to be part of the Zoo. Special thanks to JENNA WINDGATE, the hippo trainer, who took us behind the scenes as she fed the hippo family. It was truly a memorable experience. And ANNIE REDDEN, our tour guide was great, and sent us lots of photos while Hanging With the Hippos.. My husband is a scuba diver, and BRYCE WARD, the Dive Safety Officer, went out of his way to provide information and details about keeping the water habitats clean. We were even able to watch a scuba crew clean the manatee tank. These 3 made our visit to the Cincinnati Zoo something we will not forget for a long time. read more

The Cincinati Zoo and Botanical Gardens is known as one of the best Zoo's in the country. It is located in the heart of the city. Access, parking and ticketing are easy accessible. Although general admission tickets are $28 at the counter, you can purchase tickets online directly for a nominal discount. The Zoo is vast and comprises of many animals, birds, insects that are both unique and common. Fiona the hippo is no longer a baby and is a star at the zoo. Where the Zoo gets high accolades is with several personal touch offerings ie; Giraffe feeding where zoo hosts can actually feed the giraffes by hand, a walk-in Kangaroo enclosure and a few other experiences not to be missed! The botanical horticulture and arborist garden displays are inter-dispersed all throughout the park. It's easy to spend an entire day here and not see everything. There are plenty of refreshment stands and a cafe that offers a variety of food for the entire family. Your own food and beverages into the park is allowable. read more

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After a different hot zoo experience I was dreading coming here for a minute until we got here. It's just a great layout and not insanely big. Plus the spray stations! Yes spray me with some cool misting water!!! read more

The PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens was a great event to go check out. It is a must see during the holiday season. Many creative light displays illuminate the walkways of the zoo. read more

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The assortment of animals was incredible! The habitats had a lot of effort put into the design. My favorite was getting close to the penguins and walking with the kangaroos. Second favorite was the hippos - they were huuuuuuuuge. For the cons, the bathrooms were some of the grossest I've even been too. I literally couldn't walk in one without stepping in a puddle of urine. The food options were also not great. They were out of huge chunks of the items and then the quality was mixed. They also closed the gift shop at the same time as the park. They should leave it open for 30-45 mins past close so you don't have to sacrifice time with the animals. Overall, I'd definitely go back, but I'd bring my own food and hand sanitizer. read more

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Loved it! My experience and day were amazing. I'm worn out. Walked nearly 10k steps. So clean, so beautiful and well maintained. I highly recommend it. So much to do. It's pricey but a lot to maintain and I imagine it's expensive to run a zoo. Truly an asset for our Greater Cincinnati community. read more

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - Zoos Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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11/10. You can easily spend 6 hours here and still feel like you didn't do it all. The amount of things this zoo thinks of is insane. From experience packages, park food, animal enrichment, and social media to animal info, habitat care, and even bathroom locations it's all done so thoughtfully. I love it here. I don't even live in the state and have managed to visit this place 3 times. Which is 2 more times than I've been to my local zoo. read more

It's a w. It's fun to go to. Red panda are cool. You can feed the for like 2 dollar dollar

The Cincinnati Zoo, the second oldest zoo in the United States. In my travels, I try to support zoos. I saw the bald eagles, elephants, red panda, kangaroos, giraffes, etc. The kangaroos exhibit was my favorite because you get to walk through their habitat with no fence. A friend of mine told me about Fiona so I went and met her. She's their famous hippo. Learning about her incredible journey from a premature baby to a thriving adult was awesome. So cute. read more

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - Zoos Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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It was a really hot day. The misters at the zoo brought relief. The assortment of animals was really worth wild to see. The hippos, elephants and big cats were definitely worth the price of admission. Staff was friendly and informative despite the extreme heat. Would definitely recommend. read more

We had so much fun! My daughter, granddaughters, and I really enjoyed walking around the zoo and seeing all the animals. The place was clean and the animal habitats were well maintained. The viewing areas gave us great sights. Even when it rained on us, we still had fun. If I'm ever in Cincinnati again, I'll be heading to the zoo! read more

I received tickets for Christmas from a friend. Neither of us had been. We went on a day that threatened to rain, but it was just overcast and perfect. We had a great time. A month later I had 2 of my grandkids for a few days, so I took them. We got there when it opened and left when it closed. My favorite was seeing Daisy, the baby bonobo. We loved the train ride. It was a nice rest after all the walking. My one complaint is the food is insanely expensive and it's not like it's fine dining. read more

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - Owl - Zoos Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

It was awesome!!! There were so many different kinds of animals. Everything was so clean and family welcoming.

Have you checked out the new elephant exhibit?? This is the push you need to get out to the Cincinnati Zoo this summer! The new elephant exhibit is HUGE and simply beautiful. The brand new bear exhibit is coming soon!! read more

We have a family pass and love going to zoo. I've been going here since I was a kid. Lots of great exhibits and they are always having fun events and renovating or adding new spaces. We went to HallZOOWeen for our daughter's second birthday recently and she had a blast trick-or-treating. I always love seeing Fiona! read more

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The zoo itself was fine - my family and I were having a good time. When we got off the train we went over to the little shack next to the station for popcorn and our nice visit was rained on by the employees at the station. There were three present who would rather talk to each other than to the guests trying to make a purchase. A Diet Pepsi was slid over to my husband without even looking at him. We were not told we could grab the popcorn after we paid for it so when my husband tried getting their attention and was unsuccessful in interrupting their conversation, we got a little louder to ask about the popcorn and were told "you can just grab it, that's why it's there" with the biggest condescending attitude I've ever received from an employee and dismissed immediately. Do better. Be friendlier. It's not hard. We were so patient Until we couldn't be. read more

Amazing workers ask any questions about the animals and they will answer them. great popcorn amazing experiences with kangaroos hippopotamuses is a must just too much walking read more

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We attended the Zoo Brew event. The zoo brought together local brewery's located throughout the zoo with tastings of their popular beers. We opted for the early entry which allowed the group to spread out. I wish there were more animals out, but it was perfect fall weather. The pours were rather generous and I had to be mindful of how much I consumed with 14 pours to sample. After the general admission it got a bit crowded but everyone was having fun. If you see tickets in February jump on them the event sell out fast read more

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - My pass and the fun glasses we got to take home. - Zoos Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Fiona! Fritz!! Adorable! I got there when they did a private tour so I got to see a lot of their activity. Zoo has poor signage, few bathrooms, but is clean and the best cared for zoo I've ever seen. It was raining, so not too crowded. Organized gift shop. Well maintained grounds. read more

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