Was here when I was little and thankful to be able to bring my kids here too. The zoo was as much as as I remember it to be. Lots of animals for them to see and learn about. Got to feed the giraffes as well and the staff was very friendly. Great day in a fun park! read more

We took our grandchildren to the Philadelphia Zoo today, and if you haven't been there lately, put it on your list . It's fantastic! The highlight of the day was the baby orangutan, who apparently believes he's Spider-Man. He was scaling the fencing, swinging around, and showing off for the crowd like he was auditioning for a Marvel movie. Meanwhile, his mom wrapped a sheet around herself like zoo royalty and strutted behind him with all the confidence of a queen on a royal walkabout. You could almost hear her thinking, "That's my child... and yes, he gets his athletic ability from me." The animals were entertaining, but that orangutan family definitely stole the show! read more

Came to an event, it was great weather and great vibes. The staff were funny and helpful, it was late so most of the animals were no longer out. Good time overall. It's a zoo so maybe wear walking shoes and comfortable clothing. read more

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Beautiful zoo! All parts are clean, staff friendly, and the bathroom is maintained. I 6 feel like it was too much walking before seeing another animal exhibit. On a hot summer day, I definitely realized just how much shade they offered, which was greatly appreciated. We ate there and felt the prices were average for basic hot dogs, burgers, and chicken tenders. We did see multiple new food locations being constructed, so, hope for the future. We loved seeing some of the animals using the 360 sky trails they created! Genius! My only issue was parking. We were there an hour after opening, and the garages were filled, parking lots filled, and were sent to some side road to park. Which is fine, except i had to walk a 1/2 mile around the zoo, and they expected us to go inside and pay $17 for that... yeah, no. Not even their private lot. Right next to the amtrak. We didn't pay. It's not happening. read more

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The Zooboo was terrific! So many families enjoying the beautiful weather! Parking lot was full by 10! Get there early!

The first zoo I ever went to. This is a beautiful place and fun for the whole family!

Clean, super friendly staff. Downside was the amount of enclosures that were closed due to construction.

The Philadelphia zoo is still a premier place to visit in the entire world. Yes, I said the entire world. When I travel, I make sure to visit a local zoo and outside of San Diego and Guatemala city. Philadelphia is one of the very best. Tonight I visited illuminations to see all of the spectacular lights and decorated trees throughout the Zoo absolutely fabulous. Although it was cold out, there was no place I would have rather been to see the zoo and lights. I love the flamingo tree and the butterflies something to behold in must be seen in person. When I visited the Philadelphia zoo again? Heck yeah! read more

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The zoo was fun. I always wanted to go but because I cannot walk long distances, I thought I could not go. But the zoo rents sit down scooters for 30.00 for the day. I could take it anywhere and could see all the animals. The zoo is big and has lots if hills so renting the scooter was great. First come first serve. read more

We visited the Philadelphia Zoo as a family, and it was an amazing experience, especially for my kids. From the moment we arrived, they were excited to see so many different animals and learn in such a fun, engaging way. They loved seeing the lions, gorillas, and all the interactive areas where they could explore and connect with nature. The zoo is very well maintained, with easy-to-walk paths and plenty of spaces designed for children to play, explore, and take breaks. Everything is thoughtfully set up for families to enjoy a full day without feeling rushed. My kids had an incredible time and are still talking about the visit. The Philadelphia Zoo is a perfect place to make family memories. We left happy, tired, and already looking forward to coming back. read more

Wow! We had such a fun visit! I thought it was going to be crowded over the winter break week, but it felt like barely anyone was there. There were lots of indoor areas to check out so if it's a cold day you can pop inside to warm up. So many animals to see and a lot of them were very active and playful! They also had some extra decor out for their holiday lights. We didn't go for the lights but it was fun to see the giant penguin and some of the holiday trees and decorations. Almost all of the food spots were closed, so I wish we had brought a snack in. We were able to buy some soft pretzels on our way out. read more

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This review is for the LumiNature holiday lights display. My first time visiting for this event and unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. I wasn't wowed by the displays and for what it was, I felt like $22 bucks was too much for admission. read more

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We went to the Philadelphia Zoo to check out the LumiNature exhibit for Christmas. We never got to do it last year and really looked forward to checking it out this year. Mind you We went 2 days before Christmas, so it was very busy there even with getting there shortly after they opened. Their garage had a long line to get into so bringing your patience is a must. The whole experience in the zoo for LumiNature was amazing! A huge variety of lights and themes, many different costumed performers. They had some food carts there and areas you could enjoy food and warm beverages with heaters nearby. We loved it read more

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I've been to this zoo a couple times and it's good, but not one that I would travel from out of town to visit. Also, as fun as it is to see the animals, the large crowds of people and the relatively small living spaces for the animals relative to what they have in the wild makes it a little difficult to fully enjoy the zoo without a guilty conscience. Regardless, the zoo has a classic selection of animals, my absolute favorite being the giraffes! It's pretty easy to see all of the animals you want to see in one outing and the layout of the zoo is pretty straight forward. Also, the zoo is right off the highway and not too far from Center City, making for a convenient trip. If you drive, paying to park at the zoo is the easiest way to go since there isn't much street parking outside of the zoo. read more

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Very nice zoo. Well maintained and very large too. Overall really enjoyed would definitely go back. read more

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Fun day! Great animal choices. Fun exhibits. I wish there were more snack places open. We were so hungry and everything was closed or limited. We had to park far away but lucked out by finding the South Gate exit which was right near the parking lot where we parked. read more

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We showed up for their Pride Day event and it truly was a MAGICAL day! The weather of course helped with being mostly sunny and only a bit warm but honestly everything was so easy and fun! We arrived about at opening which I recommend cause the parking garage was already filling with families and strollers. Going in was easy with the scanner, security was super friendly and gave easy instructions on bag checks. Our strategy was to push all the way to the back of the zoo first and then make our way forward to avoid the crowds just lingering around the front. This was very smart and we never felt crushed. The zoo definitely seems targeted to kids so don't expect a ton of signs or in depth info, but fun games and decor do add nicely to the experience. What can I say, the animals are amazing, the guides are ready and happy to answer questions and give tips on when to be around. We just kept getting lucky- feeding time for giraffes, turtles, otters. So many animals and experiences! Big cats, amphibians, fruit bats, red pandas, kangaroos, zebras, hippos, bears, flamingos, swans, SO MANY MORE! There's plenty of seating around and the Big Cat area is even air conditioned. They have broken up the space very well for people who want to picnic and again never feel over crowded. There's even a beer stand. The prices are what you expect- not as insane as six flags but not cheap. Just bring some subs and juice boxes if you don't want to spend! Food is welcome! After we took a midday break we were ready to do ANOTHER full round of the zoo, at about 2pm things had started to thin out a bit but we got to see even more animals than from the morning and could not believe our luck. The Pride Day itself was fun, two tables, the Phanatic photo ops, and loads of decorations and signs, plenty of people were visibly showing their Pride and that was great to be part of and almost all the staff were showing their support. But it wasn't really a big deal overall if you wanted a specific Pride party event. If you do have kids I can see why you must get a membership and come back for one of the many events they have. As an adult I got my fill for likely a few years but cannot praise the zoo enough for a great experience! read more

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One of the better zoos I have been to. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff too. They have overhead areas where animals can roam "around" the zoo, but because we came after a day of storms, that was closed. And if you come right when they open, note that they may still be cleaning so not all animals may be out. Those were the only drawbacks. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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Save your money. Went this week. No bears. No cheetah. No otters. No eagle. Construction everywhere. Treehouse closed. The vulture & caracara enclosure includes...one raven. Half the rare animal building is empty. Most of the concessions are closed. No beer garden. I get that zoos need to do construction and remove animals in the winter when crowds are smaller. But they should charge half price for parking & admission. read more

Philadelphia Zoo - Philly zoo goats - Zoos Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Came here today for a family outing and was honestly a little underwhelmed. We parked at the Zoo parking garage which was pretty conveniently located and reasonably priced ($17). It did take a few minutes to work our way into the garage since there was some traffic, but no big deal. It was a short walk to the main entrance of the zoo, and we began our tour! We noticed pretty quickly that a number of exhibits were being renovated and were empty. Add to that the hot weather (which, understandably, makes the animals hide) and the experience was just a little empty. The aviary had some excellent air-conditioning but there weren't many birds at all. I've been to other zoos in hot weather (like the Houston zoo, for example!) where there were many more animals and it was a much better experience. For outside exhibits, there wasn't enough information about the animals, so we were often left wondering about basic details like a given animal's origin, etc. The ticket price wasn't insane but it also wasn't cheap. Honestly, given the headache of driving into the city, I don't think I would come back here, although I understand that it's probably better in colder weather. read more

We came here as a family with a 4.5 year old and a 3.5 year old. There is a wide variety of animals to see and most of the enclosures are nice for the animals. I was really happy to see local food trucks available to purchase food. However, the fire alarm went off at one point and there was no announcement of what to do or if there was an actual emergency so we started making our way to the exit, just because we didn't know. But apparently it was nothing concerning once we found out from staff at the front by the gates. It was a really nice experience and we would definitely come back, but maybe some clarification of what to do in an emergency. read more

Best zoo in Philadelphia Pennsylvania Highly recommend visiting this beautiful place with friends and family. read more

The Philadelphia Zoo is "America's First Zoo." Chartered 1859 as the Zoological Society of Philadelphia. A wildlife refuge and a zoological garden, the zoo has long been committed to fulfilling its public mission. I was almost positive my significant other and I were going to love this place. The price for Admissions was Adults (ages 12+) for $26. It was pretty steep in my opinion, so I was hoping for a fantastic experience. Right after we began our journey, we saw the Colobus monkey and the Red-tailed Monkey exhibit. They were very active. I thought they were in a nice location. The Rare Animal Conservation Center was a building filled with a variety of animals. The Pied tamarin was beautiful, but deemed a Species In Danger, unfortunately. The Two-toed sloth was in the same exhibit as the tamarin. I loved this animal! The Prehensile-tailed porcupine looked very relaxed. I was interested by the physical features of the White-faced saki monkey. It was truly different. The Naked Mole Rat exhibit was complex for sure. They were all over the place! After we left that building, we got to see the Alpaca and Goat area. It was a quick stop, as it was almost impossible to ignore as we continued our walk. The Bald Eagle exhibit was wonderful and I was very glad to see it. The Common Barn Owl display was gorgeous! It was almost a must to see the Chicken exhibit. The Vampire bat display was interesting. There were so many of them and they seemed to be relaxed. The Giraffe exhibit was my favorite! They were such amazing animals to admire. The Southern white rhinoceros and Plains zebra exhibit was fantastic. These animals were large and enjoyable to watch. After I walked past them, I stopped to see the Sloth bear. This animal was in a large area. The Caribbean flamingo display was amazing. They were vibrant! The Sebastopol goose was pleasant to view. The White stork and Trumpeter swan were beautiful. The Emu exhibit was a cool stop to check out. It was an interesting animal. We ended up stopping at The Backyard Kitchen to grab something to eat and drink. I ordered a small Diet Coke for 4.00 and we shared a Philly Cheesesteak for $14. Our order didn't take too long. We sat down at a nearby table to relax. The Diet Coke wasn't too good. It wasn't worth the price at all. The Philly Cheesesteak was decent. For what I needed it to do, it hit the spot. The prices weren't terrible. The service throughout my time here wasn't nearly as good as it should have been in my opinion. I believe every employee should be friendly and grateful to work with these animals. I was sad to see such horrible employees in this line of work. Overall, I'm happy I came here to see what it was all about. I enjoyed all of the animals! I most likely won't go back there, though. Date of visit: 5-22-2024 read more

Philadelphia Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The cost to get in vs what a visitor is a part of in return is sad. The habitats are small, there are few animals, several habitats were empty, and everything was just sad. The entrance was inviting enough, though 3 digital kiosks to purchase tickets moved slow at 1:00 in the afternoon on a Saturday. Employees gleefully welcomed us in and then... sadness. There was a good bit of open space that I suppose was meant for wildflowers, meanwhile the hippos had no pool (just a pipe of running water) and the cheetah habitat was very small and not reflective of the Savannah (but there was no cheetah). The free Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago has so much more appeal and many more animals. For almost $90 for me and my two children under 15-I expected more education (we had to Google facts about each animal like lifespan and such), more ambience, more interactive experiences (like Brookfield Zoo that isn't free in the Chicago area but has a lot to offer for the cost). This is an attraction that is outside of most city attractions in Philly so is an 'effort' to get to and very much needs improvement. Honestly -I wanted a refund. read more

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Took my little cousin to her 1st visit to the Philadelphia Zoo! We were able to experience Boo at the Zoo. It was so cute to see all of the children dressed up in costumes! I was shocked to see so many adults dressed up in costumes as well! The lines to get good stayed pretty busy. We were able to get in a line on our way out near the tigers to get Fries. The fries were just okay. There were a few locations where children could stop to get candy while walking around the zoo. The zoo appeared to be well kept and clean. A great location for a family outing. read more

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Luminature was an absolute disappointment. For the Philadelphia Zoo--considering how much money they make--I expected it to be better organized and a bit more over the top. This was the worst light show I've been to. Almost every tree had two different light colors, as if they ran out of one and just carelessly added another. I expected most trees to be lit, but that wasn't the case. Everything felt sparse and unorganized. A complete waste of money. I've seen far better light shows both in and outside of Philly. read more

Luminature at the Philadelphia Zoo was a cool experience! Seeing the zoo lit up at night with lights and sounds is amazing. There were at least 14 displays of lights and a few displays had performing artist. The tickets for the exhibition are timed although there was not someone their to show you out once your time ticket is up. The tickets are kind of pricey. You can even opt in to purchase parking when you purchase your tickets. There is a concession stand where you can get hot cocoa or adult beverages as well as seasonal treats. Definitely prepare yourself to spend some extra on souvenirs for the kids. read more

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I came here on Friday night in winter - I have been DYING to check out the LumiNature exhibit, which I really enjoyed. The price of the tickets was reasonable but I was a little disappointed with the parking situation - we found parking but at the far end of the street that the Zoo is on because the other lots were full. Anyhow, the exhibit was whimsically, delightful! If I had been able to see the animals too it would've been a spectacular night for me. However, after visiting this exhibit, it definitely peaked my interest in checking out the summer Biergarten that the Zoo hosts. read more

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We took a few days off of work for some fun and we utilized a day as a family outing and brought my toddler daughter for her first zoo experience. The day was sunny and warm but not hot so it was a perfect day to be outdoors comfortably. We arrived around noon and saw a fairly steady flow of people in and out of the zoo parking deck. We were told to proceed into the parking deck without obtaining a ticket and upon leaving were told that it was free for the day, which was nice. Once arriving at the entrance, there were self help kiosks to buy our tickets and we got through the gates hassle free. Although we were there on a Tuesday there was a good amount of people at the zoo, so there were areas where we had to wait a bit to get closer and see the animals. We saw a good amount of animals, and it was pretty exciting for a toddler for many reasons but many animals specifically birds were not on display due to bird flu among birds at this time (including penguins & flamingos). All in all we had a decent day at the zoo but at this time I would advise to walk, not run to the zoo. The reason I say this is because there were limited animals as I mentioned previously and also there wasn't any excitement or entertainment as I remember zoos to have when I was younger. It lacked a bit of je ne sais quoi in my opinion. read more

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Such an awesome light display! The only issue was getting out of the parking garage took over an hour. Needs to be better managed. Lots of beauty though. read more

Great variety of animals and educational programs to keep the family busy all day. Although the food options are decent with a few permanent choices and a section of food trucks, I was so disappointed that the only please that looked like it had coffee options was closed. We even circled back later in the morning with no luck. Nonetheless, it's worth a visit. Tip: they let folks in we'll before the posted opening time so if you're an early bird, it's worth getting there early to avoid the crowds. read more

The Philadelphia zoo was beautiful. I visited while on a trip to Philadelphia and really enjoyed the ambiance. I was not prepared for all the walking so definitely wear comfortable walking shoes. It is a big zoo and I really enjoyed all the nature and all of the photo ops throughout the zoo. They have a good selection of animals to look at and I will say the animals looked taken care of. The zoo did cost around $20 per person, I wish it were a little cheaper but I did have a good experience read more

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This Zoo has so much to offer and really is delightful. But I have one big point to make that hopefully, the managers of the Zoo will see: YOU MUST ENSURE THAT VENDING MACHINES AND WATER FOUNTAINS ARE WORKING! And the staff needs to be trained to handle situations where a visitor is suffering heat stroke. Merely pointing to "nearby" snack stands and management offices is of no help. In addition to fountains not working and vending machines not dispensing the $5 bottle of water, the third vending machine I tried, located in front of a gift shop, actually kept the money. But it's not the $5...it's the fact that I was so dehydrated and dizzy that I had to call an Uber and leave my friends early. The shop manager was of no help saying the vending machines are not his business. A world-class Zoo in a world-class city should ensure that visitors have access to water...to buy it or refill their bottles. It was the first Saturday in May, and beautiful weather. Crowds should have been anticipated. read more