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    Denver Zoo

    4.0 (910 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Denver Zoo Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Denver Zoo

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    Susan L.

    Really like the Denver zoo! We got in for free for some event and lined up. Easily 1000 people can get in. Line wasn't too long and they let us in 30 min early too. Most of animals were awake and easy to spot. They had booths too which gave out free goodies and snacks including cotton candy. Thats just for the event that day but otherwise not bad for a zoo!

    Charles R.

    I always love the Denver zoo. Fell in love with it when I ran a race that finished through the zoo. The food is super delicious the beef bowl I got was super filling. It was nice to see the animals and the park is super adorable and clean.

    cute penguins
    Tina H.

    Amazing! We normally hesitate to come to this zoo as the one down south always feels so much cooler. Last time we were here, last year, there was so much under construction, so many animals missing (traveling/moved, etc), and a lot of the enclosures were needing maintenance -- dirty/scratched glass, etc. We came during Fall Break and while it was busy, it wasn't crazy at all. We loved the Wild Fall theme and pumpkins and decor all throughout. Our first stop was to see the brand new 4 lion cubs who just turned 8 weeks old. The staff was so fantastic at keeping the long lines moving and informed, and you could tell they really loved their jobs. The lion cubs were so adorable, and we were treated with some up close views right against the glass! We were pleasantly surprised to see new signage and murals all over the entire zoo. The artwork is beautiful and so well done. Even our friend who we came with, who is a member and comes all the time, was surprised and impressed with how much was new to her that visit. We didn't notice a lot of animals missing this trip, which was so great. We got to ride the carousel which was a lovely treat, and the girl working it was so friendly. Overall, we were impressed and will definitely return again!

    The animals were out and about while we were at the zoo
    Karlee C.

    The Denver zoo was awesome! We had 4 adults and 4 kids in our group, they had stroller and wagon rentals that were great for smaller kids or even just all the purses and kid gear. The staff was super helpful and the facilities were clean and well taken care of. The animals were happy and healthy looking. We had so much fun while we were there. Lots of options for food and drinks and of course great gift shops.

    Taylor T.

    The zoo is so cute with all the decor for Glowing Wild! Spring time is the perfect time to go especially with little ones. Denver zoo is pretty large so there's lots of room to walk around, or have your little one go play off one of the figures. Best highlight was seeing the baby orangutan! We took our 4 month old and she loved it! I carried her in my carrier for most of the time where she especially liked looking at the glowing wild decor. The animals were far away but she enjoyed the animals close up like the penguins! The Zoo has stroller and wagon rentals but most families can bring their own. Wagons looked to be best fit for toddlers. We can't wait to go back!

    Home to Roost Small Plate at Scratch
    Lindsay S.

    Great zoo, very large and well done! We liked the kiosks at the entrance where you can purchase tickets - it helped speed up the process. Every employee and volunteer we encountered was extremely friendly and helpful. The animals looked taken care of and healthy. They have an interesting tropical building with reptile and fish exhibits together, something I usually don't see in a zoo. They have arrows painted on the pavement throughout the zoo that are meant to help direct traffic flow (I think) but it seemed like we were always walking in the opposite direction, although we definitely weren't the only ones. That part was a bit confusing. Also we had lunch at Scratch, the chicken food truck. It was great but we were highly confused: my husband ordered the Old Bay chicken tenders and it was literally just 2 chicken tenders, nothing else, for $11.99. I ordered the Home to Roost small plate, which was an order of tater tots topped with shredded chicken and a relish/sauce for $9.99. I absolutely LOVED my order and it was a lot more food for $2 less. He enjoyed the chicken tenders, but it was just odd for me to get more food for less. Also, the lady we ordered from said we could've shared my order (the Home to Roost small plate) but I regret to inform everyone that I had no trouble finishing this order myself. Very nice gift shop at the end of the visit was a nice touch. Highly recommend this zoo for anyone visiting Denver!

    Melanie T.

    The Denver Zoo is consistently updating and remodeling making better places for the animals. I've been here during the daytime and night for the Denver lights during the holidays. I have enjoyed my time through it all. Compared to other holiday lights that I have been to, the Denver zoo does a nice job of organizing everything where you have ample space to wander around even if gets crowded (we went the weekend before Christmas). They spread the lights out pretty nicely so you get your steps in. The lights lead up to animal exhibitions that were open such as elephants and the giraffe and the fish and reptiles. Definitely wear comfy shoes. We easily spent at least 3 hours here during the night walk. Also take time to read and learn if there are new baby animals. We saw the baby sloth and it was so cute and chilled above the crowd. There's plenty of parking spaces from underground to the large outdoor parking lot as well.

    Penguin
    Terry C.

    A nice zoo but doesn't offer reciprocity. Large group of managers walking around and blocking exhibits without care to the folks trying to see the animals.

    Bri V.

    My son and I enjoyed our time at the zoo. The staff were all very friendly and helpful with any questions we had. I really enjoyed that they offer shows. We watched a show about caring for elephants and it was very informative. We loved the elephant exhibit. It was very large and had lots of elephants. The only downside is they do not have many indoor exhibits like our home zoo. It was getting hot and we needed a break from the sun. But overall we enjoyed our trip to the zoo.

    Sloth?
    athena z.

    Came here on a Friday afternoon which they close at 4 pm. I bought my ticket which was pretty expensive on a kiosk near the entrance. When I first went in, they have a lot of paper maps to take which was extremely easy to understand and very useful. I highly recommend grabbing one and finding the animals you would like to see. I decided to do it clockwise so I can see everything and not take shortcuts. I saw so many unique animals, the alligator turtle is something I've never seen before! Almost all of the animals were on display and playing which was super enjoyable to see. The monkeys on the rope and gorilla playing with clothes were the absolutely best! The zoo is also very interactive, the lorikeet exhibit and the kangaroo exhibit you could go inside and be near the animals as long as you stay on the walking path. The shade was limited so I wore sunglasses the whole time, wear sunscreen. The workers were very kind and answered all the questions I had. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting though.

    Anthony R.

    We visited the Denver Zoo while in town for the Metallica concerts. This was one of the highlights of our trip and I would say is a must see. I was surprised at how big the Zoo was but it was very easy to navigate. It took us about four hours to get through the entire zoo seeing just about everything outside the live shows. If we are ever in town again we will definitely be back.

    Amy B.

    It was quick/efficient to get into the zoo for zoo lights, and while the night was fully booked, it didn't feel too crowded. There were lots of options for pricy food and drinks. The lights were fine--nothing too crazy, not animated or complicated, just simple and nice. Zoo lights is an unnecessary event--many of the animals were sleeping or attempting to sleep. It seemed like maybe the zoo put something warm near the cage wall where spectators look into the tiger's cage, since the tiger was sleeping right up against the wall, even though the tiger probably wouldn't have done that otherwise due to the noise and lights. Some of the enclosures don't seem big enough. "Enclosures" is a euphemism. They're really just cages. See the picture below of the giraffe cage. Let the animals sleep!

    Julia B.

    1/6/26-renewing my 1 star review. This time the restaurant by the elephants had been converted to a qr code only system. They didn't have the website posted on any of the marketing, which any graphic designer worth their salt, should know because not all phones have qr code readers. We made a complaint that we were blocked from buying real food at the seal Cafe where they only have snacks. The worker said that she was a lead and that the other location should have had a regular register system to serve customers. She said it was due to the SSA group and how they are running the food. This set up leads to horrible customer experiences and horrible customer service. They need to return the elephant Cafe back to a normal food station and stop doing things that make the experience worse on customers.

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    4 months ago

    My family and I had a great time at the Denver Zoo. The staff was amazing and answered questions we had. Great day for the family.

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    Denver Zoo Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Denver Zoo

    Is the food and beverage package worth it? I see it is an add on when buying the tickets but there is no additional information.

    You can bring in your own food and beverages if you want to save a few bucks. The food and beverage pack is from the cup and cone restaurant. Here is the menu https://denverzoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DZF-CupandCone-Menu-July2022-R2PM.pdf

    How is the zoo in the winter? Are the animals active? Worth the trip?

    Many of the animals were not active, zoo was pretty empty as far as people and animals. I would recommend waiting for spring .

    Do they rent out electric wheel chairs?

    Yes they do.

    Would this be a good zoo to visit if it's a little rainy out?

    I like that when the weather is a little bad, the zoo is less busy. Some of the animals may be outside but most of them stay in their enclosures. The indoor exhibits will be open, but you may not see all the animals at the outdoor exhibits

    Can I take a small dog on a leash to visit exhibits?

    Hi there! Unless you have a certified therapy dog, no animals are allowed on Zoo grounds.

    Does anyone recommend purchasing the city pass for this establishment? Do they have a good section of just elephants?

    I'm not sure what the city pass is... However, the elephants at the Denver Zoo are great! They rebuilt all these areas a few years ago and also offer educational sessions with live elephants throughout the day (at least they did when I took my niece… Read more

    Does anyone know if the "up-close animals encounters" and "animal care and training experience" that the zoo offers are worth the extra money?

    Definitely! I've done rhino, elephant, and this past weekend tiger. You learn a lot about zoo operations and get a close up view of some amazing animals. Don't think I'd pay for an encounter with an animal i wasn't very interested in though.

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    Review Highlights - Denver Zoo

    y! Super knowledgeable, personable and an enthusiastic caregiver to all of the creatures in Tropical Discover

    Mentioned in 15 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Denver Zoo - zoos - Updated May 2026

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