Zoos

San Diego Zoo Tickets

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4.7/5(2,923)

Jack F

Couple
Verified booking
Last week
The San Diego Zoo was by far the best experience of my entire trip to San Diego, and nothing short of remarkable. It is set in the iconic Balboa park and is in close proximity to other amazing places and activities in the park including the Japanese Friendship Gardens or the gorgeous Botanical Gardens. Headout made the ticket purchasing and entry process incredibly easy with not only a seamless and non-confusing UI, but most importantly the ability to access tickets without an internet connection. This eliminated the stress of waiting on slow or unreliable connections at busy ticketing lines, and made my experience at the Zoo much more enjoyable in general. The Zoo is a perfect example of what I think a modern zoo should be, with a great balance of engaging and entertaining exhibits, while making it evident that animals are extremely well taken care. Habitats are beautiful and reflect the natural environments of the animals they house. It is hard to find zoos that feel ethical while also providing the classical amusement park feel of a large zoo. San Diego balances this perfectly with a wide selection of activites, concessions, etc; while maintain ethical standards and clean and proper habitats. My favorite parts of the Zoo were the "Lost Forest" pathways that really immerse you in the environment and make you feel like your really walking through a true jungle. I would recommend wearing capable footwear as the park is massive and is built upon many different hills and cliff sides that brings way for many uphill and downhill walks. However, the park is accessible for those with disabilities as there is a guided 35 minute bus tour that takes you throughout the park and has visible views of the animals, as well. The park also has plenty of food and beverage options for both kids and adults, or individuals with food allergies like myself. I was able to find several gluten free options, most notably carne asada tacos at the sabertooth grill near the elephant habitat. They were delicious and reasonably priced for in-park food. There is also alcoholic beverage stations around the park to really amp up the experience. Overall, the San Diego Zoo is a perfect excursion that is situated in an accessible area of the city and is suitable for everyone!

Stephen O

Couple
Verified booking
3 days ago
Awesome day. All went super well. Clean, orderly and helpful staff. This is a must see for San Diego visitors. We were there from open to close and enjoyed every minute.

Rosa M

Group
Verified booking
Last week
Using Headout was so easy. Purchasirng in advance allowed me to skip the long entrance line and allowed me to utilize all the extra time seeing the animals.

Anderson T

Family
Verified booking
2 days ago
San diego is awesome. Staff were helpful and courteous. I travelled from India to visit San diego and it was an unbelievable experience. Way to go guys

Sonia P

Family
Verified booking
Sep 2026
We had a beautiful day at the San Diego Zoo! There were so many senior volunteers ready to greet, help, and guide visitors. One even helped us with purchasing our parking ticket, and once inside the zoo, we continued to encounter helpful volunteers along the way. The zoo was clean, well maintained, and had plenty of shade along the paths as we made our way around to see the animals. And we saw SO many animals! The three children in our group ranged in age from 1½ to 5 years old, and we truly had the best time! It was a wonderful day for the whole family, and we can’t wait to go back. 🦁🦒🐘

Ayswarya K

Family
Verified booking
Sep 2026
Had a great experience with Headout! The booking process was quick, simple, and hassle-free. Everything was well organized, and the tickets were easy to access and use. The experience was smooth from booking to entry, and it made our family trip much more convenient. I would definitely recommend Headout to anyone looking to book attractions and activities easily while traveling. Will definitely use Headout again for our future trips! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    • Experience wildlife up close at the San Diego Zoo with over 3,500 animals, guided bus tours, Aerial Tram rides, shows, and interactive encounters.

    • Come face-to-face with a polar bear at the Conrad Prebys Polar Bear Plunge, and ride the Skyfari aerial tram, providing a downhill perspective of the exhibits.

    • Your ticket includes a guided bus tour, giving you a whirlwind introduction to this world-renowned sanctuary.

    • Interact with nature’s most fascinating creatures, from petting Galápagos tortoises to hopping on an Arctic research helicopter; it's all part of your day.

    • Unlock more wildlife encounters with the 2-visit pass, granting access to San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park or a return visit to one.

    • Entry to the San Diego Zoo

    • Kangaroo Express bus tour

    • Kangaroo Bus guided bus tour

    • Skyfari Aerial Tram

    • Access to all shows and exhibits

    • Kids-Free October: Free admission for kids aged 11 and under at the Zoo and Safari Park (only valid during Oct) (max 6 children per paying adult)

    • San Diego Zoo & Safari Park 2-visit pass (as per option selected)

  • These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

  • 2,923 reviews

    How do we collect reviews?

    These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.

    2.3K
    419
    105
    11
    20
    Mexico
    Canada
    United Kingdom
    France
    Costa Rica
    Austria
    Australia
    Spain
    Switzerland
    Colombia
    Mexico
    Canada
    United Kingdom
    France
    Costa Rica
    Austria
    Australia
    Spain
    Switzerland
    Colombia
    Guests from Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom and over 32 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Jack F

    Couple
    Verified booking
    Last week
    The San Diego Zoo was by far the best experience of my entire trip to San Diego, and nothing short of remarkable. It is set in the iconic Balboa park and is in close proximity to other amazing places and activities in the park including the Japanese Friendship Gardens or the gorgeous Botanical Gardens. Headout made the ticket purchasing and entry process incredibly easy with not only a seamless and non-confusing UI, but most importantly the ability to access tickets without an internet connection. This eliminated the stress of waiting on slow or unreliable connections at busy ticketing lines, and made my experience at the Zoo much more enjoyable in general. The Zoo is a perfect example of what I think a modern zoo should be, with a great balance of engaging and entertaining exhibits, while making it evident that animals are extremely well taken care. Habitats are beautiful and reflect the natural environments of the animals they house. It is hard to find zoos that feel ethical while also providing the classical amusement park feel of a large zoo. San Diego balances this perfectly with a wide selection of activites, concessions, etc; while maintain ethical standards and clean and proper habitats. My favorite parts of the Zoo were the "Lost Forest" pathways that really immerse you in the environment and make you feel like your really walking through a true jungle. I would recommend wearing capable footwear as the park is massive and is built upon many different hills and cliff sides that brings way for many uphill and downhill walks. However, the park is accessible for those with disabilities as there is a guided 35 minute bus tour that takes you throughout the park and has visible views of the animals, as well. The park also has plenty of food and beverage options for both kids and adults, or individuals with food allergies like myself. I was able to find several gluten free options, most notably carne asada tacos at the sabertooth grill near the elephant habitat. They were delicious and reasonably priced for in-park food. There is also alcoholic beverage stations around the park to really amp up the experience. Overall, the San Diego Zoo is a perfect excursion that is situated in an accessible area of the city and is suitable for everyone!

    Dora S

    Couple
    Verified booking
    3 weeks ago
    We covered every inch of the Zoo. Staff were courteous and helpful. Exhibits were well-laid out. The animals knew we had waited for decades to see them 😉 and were awake and active. What a great visit!

    Martin C

    Couple
    Verified booking
    3 weeks ago
    The entry was super fast we didn't have to wait we just scanned and walked right into and amazing zoo. I came across Headout on google and it was super easy thank you.

    Rosa M

    Group
    Verified booking
    Last week
    Using Headout was so easy. Purchasirng in advance allowed me to skip the long entrance line and allowed me to utilize all the extra time seeing the animals.

    Brandon G

    Solo
    Verified booking
    2 weeks ago
    I went to the San Diego zoo and also the safari park it was amazing I had a lot of fun and seen a lot I of animals recommend 💯.

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