Reviews of Calgary Zoo (Tourist Attraction)

Amy W

Great zoo, Animals exhibits resembled natural habitat. Tons of cool Animals to see and the zoo is very compact so it's perfect to take even small children too. Very clean and well maintained. All of the exhibits were open.

Kelly Edwards

We love the zoo!! A must membership to get if you've got kiddos of any age.

Dennis Deis

LOVE THE ZOOO 1000 ???? from my family and they offer special needs bags information on there page and very handicap friendly

Edielyn Bernales - Verdadero

We have been Zoo Members since the kids were young, and still love going to see the animals on a regular basis (my wife LOVES the Red Pandas). We have started attending the "Adults Only" events over the past few months. They're licensed events, so you can wander the facility with your favorite cocktail, while looking at animals, and playing a game. Beers and bears- what a great idea! The first two were "Locked Zoo" themed, where we had to find clues and solve puzzles to "free the animals". No, there were no free range lions once we solved the puzzle, though it would have added a whole new level of excitement... Our most recent adventure was a "Murder Mystery" and progressive supper, which combined interviewing various "suspects" (amazing acting, BTW everyone) with incredible food stations at each of the four indoor stops. Did I mention the food at these events is always really delicious? In our experience, always well worth the price of admission!

M-A Leger

Very expensive, between food, water, entrance fees and the gift shop expect to spend around 400-500 for the day (we are a family of 6. 2 adults, 4 kids ages 3-9). BRING YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLES!!! Their fountains are currently closed (July 2021) so you cant even refill your own water bottle, so stock up at the grocery store and bring them with somehow. Water bottles there are 3.75 per bottle. Also, bring a mask. Last time we were there, their indoor exhibits required it. The experience was incredible otherwise. We go every year. The pens are Clean, animals seem happy, its a great experience for kids.

Katlin Strand

This review is of a private party/function at the zoo. We attended the Calgary Chamber of Commerce event and private viewing of the Pandas. When I first saw the event advertisement I wondered how it would work with a networking and the Panda showing. Well, what a brilliant idea. People had the chance to really relax and have some childlike fun. It really was something to experience. Then we went back to the event tent and were treated to gourmet food and drink. Well done! This venue us perfect for your next office party, family function or when you want to do something to make a memorable impact.

Slick Serpent

World class! I've been to quite a few zoo's over the years and come to expect very little but this one is worth checking out. Very well layed out with exhibits that seem appropriate for the animals. All the creatures seemed happy and playful. Good mix of exotic vs native animals as well. Had a blast watching the wolves play and chase each other around. Highly recommended.

Maxwood

Its probably great place but not with small children and not in summer time. Next time we gonna come and visit Calgary zoo in May or September and when our children grow a little

Sherry Ellis

A little pricey at roughly $30 a person but considering it is a world class zoo it's understandable. Parking is $10 so bring ten loonies for the machine or a credit card. I rented a wheelchair for mom. It was $20 but you get $10 back when you return it. Electric wheelchairs are $25 but you get nothing back. The tropical house and butterfly room is amazing, don't miss it if you go! The gardens and grounds are beautiful. We go every three years or so. Well worth the trip.

Art Tetrault

We went in December. They doesn't have many animals because of the cold weather i guess. We watch penguins and hippopotamus. Zoo is well maintained.

Sofia H

We went a couple of weeks earlier and it was a nice hot day. Even though all indoor exhibits were closed and the Dinosaur area was under renovations, we were not disappointed. Most of the animals were visible, it was awesome! (Although there is always mixed feelings when going to a zoo.) Got our annual passes and looking forward to checking out the Dinosaur section on our next visit.

Julie Peters

Wow, we were so impressed by the zoo. Lovely walks, and I got the sense the animals are very lovingly taken care of. Lots of entertainment for kiddos ans all the cafes have been and wine if you want that! Lots of coffee and food options as well.

Natasha Ogirisen

No wait

Christina Snyder

Yes

Richard Lyall

New Dino exhibit was really fun to walk though! Some were damaged though unfortunately.

Eloise Leroy

Weekday

Ernesto Dela Cruz

The Calgary Zoo is a great place to spend the day. My personal favourite is the Canadian Wildlife exhibit. Though it seemed to be under renovations or something of that nature and were shifting some of the habitats around so much seemed missing, especially in the Asian exhibits. The staff and volunteers are very friendly and helpful though.

feeteoee

You can't tell me that this place doesn't give you any type of nostalgic feeling. I remember the first time I went here, I was maybe 3. The food there is great, although it took a lot of time to receive it. Love it so much, and every time we visit Calgary, we always go to this wonderful, nostalgic zoo! Overall, this zoo earns my 5 stars!!\\

Jessica DeCoste

Went here with my family and we saw a lot of animals! Saw mountain goats, bison, deer, tiger, snow leopards, owls, pandas, and red pandas too! The zoo is wide so you better come when it opens or else you won't be able to see all of the animals. The animals have a big space so they don't feel like they're caged up. We also saw different types of penguins! River otters as well. Amazing experience. I've seen so many animals i have never seen before!

birdhunter9999

We are members of the zoo, and my family of 5 visit very often. My kids love the animals. The design of the zoo is very easy to learn and navigate. The new eating facility and crocodile exhibit are fascinating. I love the kids area as well, allows the kids to run and play!

Brian H

You know sometimes when you have a day or a trip planned for a while and you're so excited, you talk about it all the time and you get all hyped up and then it becomes a huge dissapointment. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS TIME!!! I cannot express how much I enjoyed my day at the Calgary Zoo. I did have a plan for activities to see and attend within the zoo that day but that didn't really work out because it doesn't matter which area you are in, it is AMAZING. If you try and plan your day practically down to the minute, don't bother! You'll be rushed and then a tad exasperated and then that is no fun for anyone. Just go and walk around and just be there and you won't regret it. I also thought being the huge animal lover that I am I may get upset about the fact they are not living in the wild where they were intended to be and I still believe that but when I saw how amazingly well they were looked after and saw the trainer's one on one with the animals (tiger and hippo especially) my heart had a perma smile. If I could change something in the observation areas it would be the amount of children with loud voices. Don't get me wrong I love kids and I get excited too but I felt for some of the animals during these times. My tips/advice... - Get there right when they open, you can easily spend the whole day there. - Don't go on a stupid hot day, overcast and cooler is best because that is when the animals will come out, otherwise you won't see many animals at all. - Eat before you go and bring in your own water. - Wear the most comfortable shoes you own. - Make sure your battery is charged to the max on whatever device you use for pictures. - If you are going in the Botanical Gardens wear a colour the butterflies would like.

Garon Baxter

We always enjoy going to the Calgary Zoo. In fact this time we went on both Saturday and Sunday and on the Sunday we bought a membership. On both days we went and saw the penguins and the giant pandas. There were one child under three and one aged nine and there was plenty for both them and is to see. Only wish is we could have benefited with more places with hot drinks throughout the park. However we will know to fill up once we get in the park.

Tina Moller

The penguin walk was so much fun. The staff at the zoo are incredible! Using my AMA discount of 20% off, the total for my family of 5 was $113 (including $12 for parking).

Ivan Chavez

We have been purchasing zoo passes since my son was born, he's now 7. We love popping in for a short visit and for full days. Great place to go for a walk and enjoy the outdoors. Sometimes I forget we are downtown. We miss the automated dinosaurs, hopefully they are back one day. The playground is wonderful also. There are so many things to do and to see year round . It's definitely worth return visits!

Matthew

The Calgary Zoo is great. The events they have every so often are really cool, for example the locked zoo (puzzles in the zoo that you solve by going around and finding clues, think escape room). The zoo lights in winter are something special. I like being able to support the animals. It's a shame the Panda's had to leave ???? but the red pandas are so super cute.

Eric Prothero-Brooks

The Calgary Zoo is absolutely awesome!! It is very well managed, maintained and taken care of. With incredible scenery, a fantastic layout and very educational experience. The staff are excellent, friendly and trained very well. The animals are very content, and who wouldn't be with this set up? The nice thing about the zoo is that the entrance fee and memberships are very well priced and very affordable, ample pay parking and the food is excellent! Or you can bring your own food and beverages which is also a nice option. Located very conveniently off of memorial Trail on the west side just off of Deerfoot and Inglewood, it is a great day, albeit a full day is a very full day, but with a membership, even a two hour stroll is fun! Also the zoo lights are incredible. The Calgary Zoo does a great Job!! We are very lucky to have this facility in Calgary. World class zoo forsure!

Travis

This was our first time returning to the zoo since it has reopened. I was a little nervous wondering if it was going to be crowded or not or how well people would follow the public health guidelines. To be honest, I was absolutely amazed with how well The Calgary Zoo has adapted to the pandemic. I've always loved each experience and this one had to top it off. It was kind of like a VIP experience because you weren't fighting people to look at the animals, everyone was keeping there distance and... NO LINES!! The staff was so friendly and very informative of the new rules. There are plenty of signs around to help with following guidelines, and many arrows and paws on the ground showing you where to go. I'm very impressed. Not to mention, the new Bugtopia playground was very impressive! The kids loved it! Thank you to The Calgary Zoo for their hard work and dedication to the animals!!!

Leigh Johnson

I loved the zoo. Best place to be with family. Zoo is pretty clean and well maintained. Highly recommend????

Jamie Palliser

First experience of Zoo Lights was a nice night out, especially this year. The weather was very cooperative the evening we went Friday Nov. 27, 2020. I appreciated the fires ???? spaced throughout that gave you a change to warm up if you wanted. The Missing Reindeer ???? QR code scavenger hunt was a nice interactive component. A selfie with Santa ???? was also a very fun idea! ????The Zoo staff were friendly and I appreciate that they were mic'd. However I did expect more crowd control in regards to social distancing I felt it was definitely busy and I really did not feel as though we were staggered in our start time as our tickets would suggest.

Matt Folkerts

The calgary zoo is an absolutely awesome place to go either as an adult or with your kids. So why the 3 stars then? I can NOT believe the price of food there. The price of food or even coffee (which is less than mediocre) is not just high... It's a flat out rip off. A coffee after my membership discount was $3.15 (more than Starbucks!!) and tasted worse than nabob from a can. The chicken strips were almost $6 for only 3 and tasted bland but at least they were crispy. Other than that.... Go see the animals! Friendly staff make it a great experience too!!

Sanna Ma

Hadn't been in the last 15 years and I was smiling the entire day. I had a blast ☺️

Natasha Beauchamp

Great zoo with a variety of animals. We love going first thing in the am as we find that all the animals are awake and active. Lots of playgrounds at the zoo for kids. Wide walking paths with lots of room for everyone!

carla perry

An amazing day, always something new to see and do!

Tony Smerychynski

Great place to see live animals! Lots of parking but you might have to walk 100 meters to the zoo. Staff were friendly and helpful, there were several nice places to sit down and enjoy a break and some food. Getting through all of it takes several hours, so you might want a stroller or wagon for small children.

Aeryn Lynne

Zoo lights is an awesome, family friendly experience. The displays are beautiful and they have some camp fires in various locations to keep you warm. You can even go skating. The lights are gorgeous and well worth the price of admission.

Laura Vulcano

25th Anniversary. Vey well done. Spectacular.

Omar Khedr

Great place for a family visit with the grand kids (or kids). Dinosaur park is unfortunately closed during the winter but all the live animals are accessible. Very well kept zoo with conservation at it's heart. Great value for family.

Melody Kaya

I get a membership every year. If you plan on going more than once it's worth it to get a membership! There is so much to see, and it's also a really good walk in some fresh air. Forewarning the dinosaur park is closed in the winter! …

sara mason

Good to visit with your family specially the kids. For sure they will enjoy the animals here. Us, we really want to see the Pandas first before they will be moved to China. Well, some of them as I heard ????

Maddi S

Always love the zoo, been 3 years since our last visit. Much has changed, new exhibits, impressive habitats, and new improvements. Pandas, penguins, giraffes, sea otters, and snow leopards were highlights. Perfect way to spend Father’s Day. Even if you have a love/hate for zoos and animal theme parks, you can rest easy as this zoo is one of the few that does it right! Animals are well cared for, facilities are world class, and conservation and education are paramount. Definitely must see!

Alexander Le

Zoolights is a beautiful annual tradition here in Calgary. We are most fortunate to have such a gorgeous lights festival each and every year! Especially during Covid19 it is great to be able to walk around and take in the sights at the zoo. Santa Clause is here for the kids to speak to and meet (in a socially distant manner). Even after Christmas it will continue into early January. So if you are looking to get out and do something before you go crazy, this is certainly going to be worth your while.

Axel Witt

Zoolights 2021 season was beautiful! It's very worth it despite the temperature being -25 celsius. Don't forget to wear snow gear, even the pants or you'll freeze your a@# off like I did.

Bee Ginning

Definitely a great place both for adults and kids.

B M

Zoo lights is always so magical. We go almost every year! ????

Aia

Wait time

Ashley Crane (native little fox)

Out of all the washrooms I saw only one had automatic doors. I didnt feel like it was very handicap friendly. The family washrooms are also extremely small, I could barely fit with my single stroller, toddler and myself. The smaller park by the tigers was full of ice. Lots of the animals were out and my kids had a great time!

Mandy Winter

One word "HIGE !!!! " we were there for hours and still didn't see everything . love this place and the animals. The butterfly area was my favorite!!

Adam “Bison Court” D

Didn't like the zoo except for the giraffes ???? Half of it was closed at the time of our visit. Playgrounds were pretty and outstanding in terms of themes so kids would enjoy. Overall the planning/ routing of the zoo is such that it makes you walk like crazy with hardly any animals to see. Walking area is bigger and tiring. Parking charges were exorbitant... Winnipeg Zoo is 100 times better and beautiful than this with free parking!

Scott Akkermans

Pricey, discount with AAA membership, cannot be bought in advance with discount-at ticket booth only. Lots to see, pack a lunch and drinks to make affordable ($5 for an ice cream cone!). They have eating places but the prices add up if you are a family larger than 3-4. Playgrounds, approx 4, for kids to expend energy and all of them are different. Wagon rentals available. Zoo experiences are immersive as possible while giving space too. Beautiful gardens and greenhouse, don't miss the butterflies! Cool down in hot weather by visiting the Penguins. Have peacocks roaming the zoo but not many that I've seen compared to previous years we've been there. Lots of fun, you'll get you 10,000 steps without knowing it. Plan for 3 hours if you're a couple visiting and plan for 6 max if you have kids. Zoo staff and volunteers are knowledge and friendly. If you are stopping by or passing through Calgary, this is one stop you must make and not miss. One of the best zoos to see in all of Alberta and Canada.

Abdullah Mamun

The new dinosaur exhibit is awesome! If you haven't been to the zoo in a while now is your chance to check out something new.

Karen Turner

Amazing place to go on a walk and see all the different animals! The facility was very clean and all the animals were well cared for which is always a concern with Zoos. The zoo lights in the winter time is also a great event where it turns into a winter wonderland. Pricing was fair and nothing was unreasonable.

Christa Bax

Probably the best zoo we have visited. It is huge, you will definitely spend the whole day here. You get right up close to so many animals. Loved the pandas and the butterfly area The dinosaur part was a nice end to the day

Doug Cosenzo

Probably just unlucky day/ the wrong time of year to have visited, but was a little disappointed. Several sections of the zoo were closed. Many of the animals were really hard to find and see in their enclosures. Also very lethargic. Still it's been a long time since I'd been to a zoo. The grounds are pretty nice, it's a decent size. It was interesting to visit and see the animals they had. Would probably try visiting again, but pairing the visit with something like their nighttime light show or sunday brunch etc.

Thiery Bouvier

Amazing place to enjoy a great day or weekend with your family, with your kids or with your friends. The place is really big, My advise is to get early and be prepared to walk a lot. This is the only zoo where I saw you can lend wheelchairs and trolleys to carry your belongings around or even your kids.. The weather was pretty cloudy most of the day but we made the best of it. The park is well kept and the staff are friendly. Many things still closed because of Covid, but anyway the place is amazing! I've visited three times and still been a trip that can't be missed on summer. - A lot of picnics areas. - A lot of thing from kids. - Is allowed bring your own food and drink. - Is allowed take your Water cam or phone in the water zoo! All in all, a really nice place to visit.

Craig Fields Williams

Most amazing zoo I have ever been too! They have everything there! Also very clean, very well organized and the workers there are so energetic and always giving information. The penguins and the pandas are a must see! Don’t forget the hippos and giraffes!!!

Gary Singh

No

Brandon Vanbeek

Did a quick mini vacation to the Calgary zoo with our 2 year old and our 1 month old baby. Very clean park, Sanitizer stations through out. People respected each other’s bubble which was nice. The animals looked very well cared for and were very active. The Dinosaur exhibit was amazing. My little guy was blown away. I would highly recommend taking your children here. They will have a blast!

Tim Joseph

So much to see in one day! It really is an amazing place to see, it's like a world trip in an afternoon. My kids loved hearing the hippo's grunt, the little gorilla playing with them at the glass, the bison chewing grass. It all was so captivating! The pandas were really amazing to see, chewing bamboo, sitting... they dont really do much but what do you expect! It is really amazing how much work it is to keep them, having to fly in the bamboo and everything. The food and snacks are fairly overpriced, but it being a world class destination, I'm ok with paying it. It tasted good anyways! I love how well done the entire park it. It flows from one area to the other seamlessly, we never really wondered where we should go next. We decided to rent a wagon to pull the kids in when they got tired, for 10 bucks and 2 bucks back when you return it it was really worth it.

Greg Adams

This is our 2nd time here. Recently we spent 4hrs looking and exploring the other side of the zoo as we werent able to see d whole area thefirst time. It was all worth it. Plan to be here the whole day to see d beauty and appreciate the different areas inside. Its nice to just pause, stare and enjoy the nature and animals while walking,plus d beautiful garden from one place to another can really stop you to take photos.???? line up is really quick at the entrance. If you have little fellas better to bring your own snacks as there is plenty of space for you to eat and chill.

nomad_paul

I think the price is too much if you’re just gonna be there with a fellow adult. But we get it, we’re paying for the conservation of wildlife and maintenance of the zoo. And I think it’s really worth it if you brought the whole family or if you have kids who loves animals and Dinosaurs. The price is $36+ but we have AMA membership, so it went down to just $29+. We also paid for a day parking that costs $12. We should’ve just parked our car downtown for free (Sunday) and then just use the CTrain that links to the entrance of the zoo. There were lots to see here! Penguins, Massive Hippos and Giraffes, Bisons, Moose’s, Lions & Tigers, Aviary, exotic plants and flowers, butterflies and robotic dinos. We didn’t really enjoyed our tour that much cause most of the animals are inside their private spaces and we didn’t really saw them outside. There were a lot of outdoor playgrounds for the kids and a few food/drink stores. You can also rent a wagon for all your stuff, or a makeshift bed if your kiddos are feeling tired and droopy. It’s a family attraction that is best experienced with kids. Not a good place to have a date.

Danielle Lank

The dinosaur park and the penguin section were amazing amongst other sections of the zoo.

Amal Afroz Alam

Wait time

Doug Wong

I love the Zoo! I've been going there since I was a kid and I applaud the changes and improvements that have been made over the past six decades - especially in terms of animal enclosures and their conservation programs. Although the Zoolights are a popular event, I really miss Illuminasia and hope they bring it back.

Mitch McKiel

Went in winter, and it was still fun! Animals look healthy and well cared for. Will return more than once to support. A must if you are in the Calgary area. Enclosures are very visible for seeing all animals.

Edward - MamaYeh RV Park

Always a fun time at the Calgary Zoo.

Van Pham

Fantastic experience! Each individual section of the zoo has a distinct feel that suits the habitats the animals come from. Very easy to spend the day here. It's a bit pricey, but some of the admission costs go towards conservation efforts so it's worth the time for me.

Amber Dehod

Weekend

Em Vee

This is an awesome place to come! It's much more compacted than some other zoos, meaning everything is within walking distance. Yet at the same time, there are still lots of animals and things to do! It is a bit pricey, but is well worth it if you are a member.

Nour Jarad

It was awesome and the exhibits were well taken care of. Will be back again on a cooler day and hope the exhibits that were closed will be open

Niera Jan

I took the kids to the Zoo and they thoroughly enjoyed it. I was saddened to see the giraffes caged up in a very small enclosure. The stress and the lack of movement and closterphobia must be very hard on them. Management should perhaps consider the possibility of enlarging their enclosure and allow for more greater liberty of movement to these wonderful creatures. Thank you.

Len M Lagman

Amazing Zoo lights! I love huge the park. I like the Dino and skating ring lol. And they also serve snacks ❄????

Adedamola Ibironke

Lots of animals to see, never able to see everything in one day. The price is high to get in for the day, but okay to go once in awhile.

Hostion Ho

Best zoo in Canada. Toronto zoo is a close second but the charm and the size of the Calgary zoo trumps the "big one". 100% recommend a trip to the Calgary Zoo and find out which part is your favorite.

Jaclyn Bell

Nice to see animals from a variety of places around the world. Lots of places to see animals very close up. Quite a few playgrounds that are large and fun with some age limits so adults can only play if they are supervising a child (one enclosed slide specifically says a certain age limit). I was sad that there were no elephants or orangutans; and the pandas had gone home to China early. The lemur exhibit looked really neat but it was mostly closed for some reason. AMA discount was very nice. Suggestion: make a playground for adults. ???? Make it clear which exhibits are closed before purchasing tickets so informed decisions can be made; offer discounts when multiple exhibits are closed.

Vishwanath Raju

Calgary Zoo - Penguins and Prehistoric Section. This visit was on a Thursday. The sun was hot and the crowd was not bad. The Penguins were nice to see. Took a walk through the Prehistoric Park and it was the same as it has been for some time. I remember the statues from back in the day. There are some children friendly play areas and a theater. There is a treed area which gives you shade from the sun and you can sit and cool off on a bench. There are signs along the way explaining subjects. As you exit the section these is a T-Rex skull slide for the children. Went further into the zoo to locate Dinny the Dinosaur. A statue of a brontosaurus which was around in the early 90s when we took the kids on a Dinosaur tour of Alberta. Unfortunately Dinny was blocked off by a construction fence. Turns out Dinny will be getting a $200,000.00 makeover. Nice! Built in 1935 by sculptor John Kanerva, Dinny is the last remaining statue from the Natural History Park, which was renamed the Calgary Zoo and Natural History Park in 1937

Tom Gath

Truly amazing seeing a Hippo for the first time.

Dave Woeckener

We love Calgary Zoo, Always something new. Staff super friendly and answered any question we had about the Pandas or any animals. Always clean. Big parking area and clean Also we had a 50% discount when we presented our zoo membership from Houston

Katrina Lucyk

We were so happy to have a 'normal' activity to do with our kiddo during all the Covid madness. For the most part people were aware of restrictions and we felt safe. However, there were areas where people were all bunched together and there were no staff to break people up. Also, the gorrilla viewing area that you actually have a little stadium style seating spot was overwhelmed with people not distanced or wearing masks and the staff member did nothing to correct it. I know that you can't police everyone all the time, but in certain areas where there is already a staff member assigned to be there, things should be enforced. We found the signage a bit confusing at times, but overall the experience was excellent and we highly recommend the zoo.

Jim Fisk

The Calgary Zoo provides an exemplary service in the industry of observing exotic animals. The animals are exceptionally well-cared for, and the educational facilities were sublime. I truly enjoyed the program they offered on the reproductive systems of great apes.

satya pasupuleti

My 10 year old had lots of fun throughout the day looking at different animals even though we couldn't see any indoor animals.

CBVM CHBORI

Better than I expected. We went for my husband's company kids party at the Zoo. Mostly main things is to pick up the gift. It was perfect weather for outside activities even in the evening. That's why so many, too many people and very crowded. I never ever seen this many people at the zoo. However we had great time and experience.

Nicholas Quintillan

Visited on

Laurie O'Dell

I have visited here many many times and never tire of seeing the Calgary Zoo! It is a manageable size; one can visit all areas of the zoo in a day. The environment is one of trees, shrubs, pavilions, photography spots, paths, various refreshment facilities of all sizes, and several larger attractions, such as the Horticulture building housing butterflies and many tropical plants. The Bow river surrounds the zoo, and a pedestrian bridge connects the main area to the dinosaur park (where dinosaurs move and roar!) Of course, the animals and multitude of other creatures are the star attraction! Washrooms are plentiful along the various routes and the food is excellent at every stop. Visit Calgary Zoo - you will not regret it!

Sandra

Brought a small group of kids. Was so much to see! Better than expected

Ingrid Blessed

Lots of animals, lot of parking and staff had good knowledge of their animals. Went it February 2022 in the weekdays and many thing were closed (prehistorical section, lemur's bridge, some restaurants, some souvenirs shops and else). Was a great experience, first time seeing penguins, amazing creature.

Shelby Wright

One of my favourite places to go. Went to the zoo lights again this year and they were amazing.

Dana

Such a lovely zoo! It was a beautiful day. Lots of walking so wear comfortable shoes!

Tricia Leger

Can't really blame the zoo. But nothing is open nowadays because of covid. No indoor building are available. So bring the sunscreen. Still fun. But not worth the price since we can't see more then half of the usual animals.

Stuart pretzlaw

The Calgary Zoo lights are very grand and modern. Was improved a lot after the 2013 flood with a new wall protecting from the Bow River. Practically the whole zoo is on an island and there is now a Panda Exhibit and a walk through Lemur Exhibit. It has improved dramatically and is now really organized. It is a little pricey but a fun experience.

Chad Hayden

We’re so incredibly lucky to live in Calgary and have the zoo in our backyard. As our kids have grown we visit the zoo about once a month and we love checking in on our favourite animals. The zoo is well laid out and the kids are always exhausted when we climb in the car at the end of the day! The food sucks but packing a lunch can be great as there’s so many awesome spots to take a break.

Veronica

What an amazing one Calgary Zoo is! Highly recommended. If I live here in Calgary, I definately will buy an annual pass to see the hippos often. The giant hippos are super cute. Hippos are unique that I’ve not seen elsewhere. I felt their happiness living there. They were much relax. I bet they are the most popular animals. In the butterfly garden, the butterflies were flying around us. Owls are the creatures of wisdom to me. I had wished that I could have the opportunity to get close and watch owls. Finally, I got the chance to be in the big cage of Great Grey Owls and had them around me in a short distance in Calgary Zoo. I could felt the whole zoo was operated and maintained with a group of dedicated people. ❤️❤️Love it.

Gaurav Dhadwal

Not very well organized and also misses a small train or wagon kind of conveyance for elderly and people with kids as the zoo is huge for long walks. It gets tiring and eventually you start skipping animals. Just a regular zoo. Nothing special otherwise.

Amanda Strasbourg

Wait time

Fahd Khan

It's a unique experience. They are currently doing timed visits and it's only the outdoors which is open. That being said they are doing a good job managing it. I will say that it's super busy. Well with covid still being a thing people don't really have much other activities to do. I would say pack your self a lunch and make it a day time. It worth it. Take you time and have fun. I am talking 1 star ???? away due to the lack off full access. Otherwise honestly an excellent experience.

Daniel Kocsis

We had a great time at the zoo, all the animals are in great conditions, look healthy and adapted according to their natural habitat. I'd like to thank to all the staff for taking care of all the creatures. I love animals and they deserve to be treated great. The comodo dragon and the pandas are super adorable! ????????

jude Abanobi

I took my three kids for a boxing day visit to the zoo. We had a great day. Got to see the penguins being fed. Friendly staff at the penguin exhibit too. Gorillas were very active and fun to see. The baby gorilla was playing actively and very entertaining. First time to see a panda for us and they didn't disappoint. One came for a drink and checked us out through the glass from only a couple feet away. The panda habitats are well done too. We stayed late to take in zoolights. The array of lights around the zoo is impressive and festive. Overall a great way to spend a day during the holidays, especially with kids.

ImPurpl3

Was a great experience compared to smaller zoos! The animals were well kept and they had a great variety of them. They also had very cool greenhouses and plant exhibits. I would probably go again when and if I have the chance!

Noopur Date (Noopur Date)

Beautiful zoo, got to see so many fall colors and of course the animals. For kids make sure you rent the wagon after entering the main entrance. If possible get food from outside as not many option available at the foodstops in between. All in all a great experience.

Sean M

Went once, and I have to say that it's a truly world class facility. Definitely worth the membership or the tourist visit. We went on the May long weekend with the first introduction of the Pandas, so peak people, and we had no issues with anything including washrooms. Core clientele are dates, families and strange old people. Really loved it.

Ivan Zhao

Great place to spend for the weekend with kids. We ended up getting a year pass after our first visit. Animals are not hiding like the Toronto zoo in Ontario. And... this zoo has dinosaurs! You will have "The Jurassic Park" experience which …

Jashanpreet Singh

Drove all the way from Edmonton and stayed in Hotel overnight just to find out that the zoo is closed early for a staff event. The information was placed poorly on the website. Moreover, I paid for the full day parking. There was no sign before the parking kiosks saying that the zoo is closed. Poor Management

Josh Saunders

The zoo in the winter is so beautiful ????????????????

Alvin Bolano

It was amazing to experience the Zoo in a whole new perspective; taking my 2 year old for the first time ever. The exhibits are well kept and spacious and the revamped Dino park was cool. Though it scared my little guy. Also loved that they have wagon rentals for $10, we underestimated the amount of walking and my little guy wouldn't have survived. So many awesome playgrounds and picnic spaces all throughout the grounds mean that even on a super busy day (Monday of August Long Weekend for our visit) that there is always somewhere you can go to escape the crowds

Angela Velasquez

Great day out with family. Big zoo. Fun experience and many to animals to see and explore. A lot of activities going on the weekend. The highlight was the penguins, so many of them, and they are so active. Enjoy my day at the zoo. Definitely will be back again.

Leah S.

Too bad the pandas are gone; and because of covid all the indoor exhibits are closed. Pick a day that's above 10 degrees and the gorillas, hippos and giraffes will be outside. Can't wait for things to go back to normal, then it will be 5 stars again ????

Ateka Hussain

This was our first visit to Calgary zoo, appreciated the covid measures taken at the zoo. But due to summers and heat most of the animals were not in their respective areas. Comparing it to the emirates zoo in the UAE it lacked at many areas like activities, feeding the animals etc hence only 3stars. Due to summers animals didn't quite look happy :(

Sul Arm

Zoo lights!!!! Hands down, beyond anything I ever expected. Came out from Vancouver Island to visit family for my first winter since I moved away in 1987. Heard about zoo lights and decided to take the chance. The line up was huge, it was a sold out night. Can't say enough about how efficient it was to get in. The line up moved along so quickly. Very organized. Once inside, wow. Just. Wow. Everything. I felt like a kid in a wonderland of lights and all things winter, even the prehistoric park was epic!!! I will now have to fly out every year to go again and again. Thank you Calgary Zoo!! You killed it!!!!

Abike Hassan

It's always a pleasure to visit this place. Animals have good conditions, everyone is so friendly and ready to help. Indeed worth getting a membership card.

Margarita Niszcz

Smaller than Toronto zoo but so much fun! Didn’t get to see the pandas unfortunately as they are temporarily back in China, but the penguins made the day. All animals look healthy and well cared for.

Alex Currie

Lots of area closed for renovation and most of the animals are away for vet check. It would be great to know in advance.

Xavier Brunet

The zoo with no giant pandas but all gift shops are LOADED with only giant panda items still at fullprice. Some exhibits are closed but charging FULL price for admission. The new playground in the Canadian section was pretty cool though. Happy to see something fun in that part of the zoo

Erin Gargus

Loved that the animals looked healthy. The Panda passage is a must visit! For someone who has only seen pandas in videos, this is a real dream come true. They also have a land of lemurs experience where you can experience being amidst lemurs. This was a fun experience for sure!

Nicholas Cameron

Visited on

David O

Im biased...any place in YYC you can visit animals is #1 in my books. The zoo has somthing for any age. From a place to walk your baby during the day to educating children and adults alike. The improved dinosaur park is also worth going for a visit. New playground for kids too

kishan suthar

Nothing was open. Most of the animals didn't show up for work. If it wasn't for the penguins, butterflies and giraffes we would have been severely disappointed. I understand they are raising money for conservation which is good - however if you take a little one there with the hopes of seeing animals you might want to just put on YouTube.

Hazel Chan

I’m not a huge fan of these animals in small cages so I have a mixed review. If it doesn’t bother you that these animals are in small enclosures and don’t look overly healthy then you’ll probably enjoy your day. Seeing the gorillas and how sad they appeared ruined my day and I wanted to leave. As well, the prairie dogs (AKA gophers) are incredibly over weight! I’m shocked the zoo even keeps them locked up. Not a lot of good places to eat. We were repulsed and shocked at what the gorilla was doing. I can’t even tell you, I’ll just venture to say, they are certainly not happy with the behaviour we witnessed. The Pandas were an incredibly huge let down when I saw how small their enclosure is and the hippos and giraffes have no room at all. It’s very sad

Rich Grof

There are far better things you could do with your $30 plus $10for parking IMO. The zoo used to be a great affordable place to spend an afternoon. Now it is looking rundown, constantly under construction and losing mm ore and more attractions that are worth going for. Panda enclosure is tiny, lemur attraction is underwhelming.

Darshil Shah

Calgary zoo is very huge and best for with Kids family, little ones will enjoy a lot. One thing most people don’t know, You can rent power chair for accessibility it’s $25/day. Many of the sections were closed, no programs were ON. Lemur and Panda area was closed. Apart from that, butterfly sanctuary, ENMax conservatory, African section is a must see!! Over Ll beautifully maintained.

Christina P

No wait

Stephanie Bierkos

Typical big city zoo. Needs something to replace the panda exhibit. The play areas for kids were great, especially the kinsman one. The dinosaurs were a hit with our kids.

Param Gill

So many animals to see in (their) like natural habitat. Plenty to see in one day. Penguins place is the best of all. Fun place for every age especially kids.

Kim Legge

Maybe it's the time of the year, Halloween day, that makes our experience less awesome. We went to every daily activity and it was fun but would be more interesting if it was more interactive. Nothing to do with the animators. I still appreciated my experience. Would be interesting to know a bit of history on the animals in the zoo on the information panels. I enjoyed the pumpkins in all feedings since it's Halloween. Happy birthday Hippo! ???? Almost a 4 stars, but had to go with 3.

Shamas Arshad

An amazing oasis, a world class zoo, you need more than 1 day to appreciate all the zoo has to offer!

Bernadette Langenkamp

Excellent zoo. My family took 6 hours to do the zoo. Very friendly and helpful staff. Only downside was the gift shops, only sold panda stuff (the zoo does not even have pandas). Great variety of animals and well laid out. Lots of walking.

Clodagh Henderson

The penguins were amazing but apart from that I felt so bad for the lack of land and habitats that the rest of the animals had ???? the giraffes were inside and the zebras had very little land. It made me sad compared to Dublin zoo at home where they re create their habitats amazingly. More effort should be made for the animals habitats to be recreated, it wasn’t well kept at all, looked like a back garden or a park that wasn’t well kept. I hope a renovation is made for these animals especially for the giraffes and hippos ????

Kathryn Podgurny

The dinosaur park and the penguin section were amazing amongst other sections of the zoo.

Martha Hergert

This is my first time at this zoo and we had a great time. The penguins were our favorite place. We had an amazing time.

Howard Runningaround

Visited on

Al-Karim Walli

Best young family go-to in the city IMHO. Annual passes are a must. Was surprised in my last visit by the additional security fencing and limited access (for example to the lemur area) - discovered this was because of not enough research on covid and animals. Hopefully this gets resolved as we transition from pandemic to endemic.

Robert McKenzie

As usual the zoo has done a fantastic job with zoo lights, They have worked really hard to keep their doors open and keep it safe for everyone during the pandemic. We have been members for years and have loved the zoo and appreciate it. Please go check it out and support them if you can and check it out.

NATALIE ROBINSON

In the past few years I have only been to the Zoo with either day camps or school groups and they do a good job of managing a high volume of people through the gates. The price for large groups is still affordable for us to visit as a school. The Panda Passage wasn’t super busy either which we were worried about, and the kids loved seeing them!

YIEN CHEN

I moved to British Columbia so it's been 20 years since I was here. They were also affected by the flood. It was a perfect day. We got to see all of the animals this time. The penguin habitat is fantastic. I can't wait for them to finish the upgrades. If you have kids you should buy a season pass. You won't regret it.

Scott Chambers

There was almost no line for the giant raccoon exhibit. The place is simple enough to see in a day but a season's pass pays for itself in two visits. It seemed that if you had cash your life would be easier. As is the case with most days that cost 150 dollars, the kids were happy to have an ice cream and play in the jungle gym area. There are no elephants or rhinos, but there are only four rhinos left on earth and ricky Gervais has one of them. The hippo exhibit was the best I've ever seen and if the penguins aren't too busy it's pretty cold and amazing. Plus you can watch people not be able to figure out the doors which is amazing.

Shruti Dewan

My toddler had loads of fun here. We only toured half the zoo. Penguins kids love. Africa- hippos were huge, lions weren't interested in us annoying humans. Lions enclosure is quite small- was sad for them. Apes were fun in the tropical jungle/ forest Asia (saw the pandas). Coming back to finish the rest

Eric

I know a zoo is expensive but for $30.00 an adult then you have to pay for parking. Thinking these is better value, elsewhere.

Ayum Soumah (Profits Heavy on YouTube)

What a wonderful facility. We came here one day even in the rain to see some animals. Because this zoo has a good mixture of indoor and outdoor facilities, we still had a lot of fun without the large lineups. We were very impressed with the new Panda exhibit and were able to see all the animals. One of my favourite parts of the zoo is actually the butterfly exhibit. I highly recommend to check this zoo out. Staff are extremely friendly and welcoming.

Ayaa Speaks

Came from out of town with a 12 year old. Was a perfect way to spend time together and outside. Was a sunny winter day so all the animals were out and enjoying the sun.

Moinur Rahman

This zoo never disappoints! The volunteers and staff make the experience so much better (my kids would like to give Josh a shout out for his great penguin info & lemur jokes).

Brody Jeffs

We love to visit the zoo. If you live in the city and have children, especially young ones, invest in the membership and go multiple times/year. With a membership I never feel pressured to finish everything in one day. If it is busy, or the weather isn't cooperating, or the kids get fussy, we just leave and come back another day. Even during a pandemic, the Zoo has done an excellent job of accommodating their guests and members. Cant wait for our next visit

Edel Lopez

Fun at the zoo. It’s a great place to spend your day with family and friends watching animals from across the world. To add to its already long list of animals, birds we have the most adorable Pandas too.. just be sure you have the legs since there is a ton of walking.. All worth it at the end of the day though..

Jeffry Gardner

If you want to get away from traffic and go for a walk without crowds then get a season pass and go during off peak hours. Lots of bathrooms throughout for older people with incontinence. *special Note if you hide behind the trees, sneaking from tree to tree at the west end of Tiger enclosure they will stalk you.

Coffee Maker

We were so happy to have a chance to see the pandas! It was useful to book times for that exhibit in advance (either online or at the front entrance, when buying admission). Every staff member we talked to was super knowledgeable and made us feel very welcome! There are lots of places to buy food and the gift shop had many neat, unique items. Be prepared for a full day of walking! We were there from 9am-5pm and missed the prehistoric section and only stopped walking for food once. Some of our favourite memories were the butterflies, the carousel ($3 per single ride), and the free-roaming peacocks.

cindy posada

I think we may have went at the wrong time of year (nov) I thought there would be more 'animal talks' or shows. They also have Panda pics on all their advertising and the gift shop is full of panda stuff yet the pandas were sent back to China we were told. They do have the red pandas which are cool and we did see a lot of animals! They also have tons of play areas and playgrounds if you have little ones..this would be awesome!! Overall we had a good day at the zoo, but didn't feel the wow factor that I was expecting.

Audrey Jestin

This zoo was great! It's beautifully situated in local flora and is pretty reasonably priced for a big-city zoo. I liked the meal options and all the informative plaques. The red pandas are friggin adorable and the penguin exhibit is pretty amazing. I'm sure we'll be back!

Javan Wang

Small-ish zoo but a great time nonetheless. Very friendly and caring staff across the board, and you can tell the zoo staff put great care into maintaining the health and safety of guests and animals alike. A beautiful park even if there are no animals, tons of really nice sceneries and rest spots around the park. The butterfly greenhouse is a must visit, they are only active when it's sunny however.

Greg Domville

Great zoo, well spread out and enclosures not crammed together - nice to really between them and lots of greenery between. Good variety of animals who all seem happy, reasonably sizes enclosures for most. Lots of information about the conservation too. The bear and Tiger 'training' they do each day (until the Bears start l go into hibernation) is a must see, not seen anything quite like that. Penguin enclosure inside also unique, although they don't have a great deal of space compared to UK zoos. Seeing the Pandas also a highlight. At this time of year, most of the food outlets were closed, but still a few to get snacks/drinks. Overall it's definitely worth the entry fee, we spent over 4 hours and could have easily spent longer.

Ian McKenzie

Spent 6 hours in Calgary Zoo! So much fun. ???? Why my friends said it was boring? ????

Ashley Linfield

I went for the pandas and fell in love with the penguins and lemurs. This will likely be the only time I get to see Pandas and other animals in person. The lemurs were really cool, they came down from their ropes and patrolled the perimeter. I didn’t take pictures of the hippos because they were so adorable with their little ears I was distracted. The penguin volunteer lady was full of knowledge and chatted with us about the penguin quirks. I wish the golden eagle had more room but I don’t know his story he may be injured I’m not sure.

Wade Tywoniuk

I'm a big fan of the zoo and I really enjoy all the programming they have for adult nights. I've been to a few in the last year and they're so much fun - The Brews at the Zoo, the Locked Room, and the Pub Trivia St Patty's Day event. A fun way to learn, and the food was great too!

Cathy A.

My kid loves the zoo. As a family we also love it. Although without Pandas, it lost its charm a bit but a very good place to spend time with kid. We have annual membership so will go again.

Carrie Cemka

We love the zoo! It's always very clean and this is a great time of year to go as the Canadian Wild animals are all out and roaming. The tiger exhibit is hard to see as they have barriers up to protect the animals from covid-19 but we still got a great view from the viewing window.

cheyenne frei

Always so much fun to go to the zoo! We are members and really enjoy going!

Rainya H

Wow just the most amazing zoo. We come from Winnipeg and are members to the Zoo there and our zoo is nice but not even close to this zoo. The staff were so nice. The gift shop lady was so friendly and helpful the guy who let you in and out of the penguin exhibit was funny and made jokes he asked little trivia things on the way out and I learned something I didnt know before. The exhibits are clean and all the animals look so well cared for. This zoo is doing animal conservation perfectly. Perfect way to spend a day.

Rachelle

The Calgary Zoo has an amazing variety of animals with really great, expansive exhibits for them to reside in. There is a lot to see, as well as lots of shows usually happening, so it's easy to spend the whole day here. There are also plenty of restrooms and opportunities to stop for refreshments along the way. Perfect for animal lovers to take pictures, learn about the animals and enjoy the environment!

Amber T

We went for Zoolights. We haven't been in a few years, and they were absolutely amazing. Unless my memory is failing, they are better than we had seen in the past. And with all things considered that has happened over the last couple of years, it was a welcomed delight!

Changel Eliswa K John

Such an amazing place. Although it is getting colder and some of the animals are not as visible the interior habitats are still very interesting. The penguins are my favorite. I spent many hours standing and watching them. The staff and volunteers are very knowledgeable and can answer any question you throw at them. It is also very accessible from both the airport and downtown Calgary.

RyuJin

My degenerate friends and I had such a fun time here. It felt like a field trip (Which usually never disappoint). I did not expect how modern and how new everything felt at the zoo. Every exhibit or like “zone” we enter showcased a bunch of …

Osira

The panda attraction was super cute. I haven't been to the zoo in a very long time. Very educational. Will definitely have you kids passed out on the drive home.

José Miranda

A very manageable sized zoo that can be covered in half a day or less. It's a well maintained zoo and the animals look healthy, well kept. The zoo has four major parts: pre-historic, Asian, African and Canadian wilds. One of the exhibits our little ones wanted to see what closed on our recent visit and we wish there was a slight discount given when exhibits are closed. Advise to call ahead to check if there are any closed exhibits

shlok shah

The pandas are amazing! Make sure to get a stuffed one in the gift shop. So cute! This is one of the best zoos we’ve been to. Tons of animals and they were all out and active. The dinosaur section is fun too for the little ones. Pandas are a must see as is the dragon. Super clean and tons of things to eat and snack on.

Carrie Friesen

I get a membership every year. If you plan on going more than once it's worth it to get a membership! There is so much to see, and it's also a really good walk in some fresh air. Forewarning the dinosaur park is closed in the winter! Definitely check local website to see what's open and closed. The zoo is amazing for all ages, with or without kids!

Patrick Corbett

I had a great visit to the Calgary Zoo. The animals seem healthy and have nice habitats

Reaz Murshed Masud

They have four major parts in the zoo. Pre-historic, Asian, African and Canadian wilds. The zoo is well maintained and the penguins are awesome. The collection of animals could be better and not too many snakes or lizards. There is enough parking and great for a day with children.

Crackmacs

Love the Calgary Zoo! It's such a pleasure to visit during normal hours when nothing is happening but they also host all sorts of events too. ZOOLIGHTS is one of my favourites ???? The food and drink events are also awesome. The annual memberships pay for themselves in just a few visits - and it'll be different every time you go there. Go!

Chellsea Jensen

It's been years since I've last been to the zoo and going back nearly 6 years later, it's as good as it was when I was younger. The walking was refreshing, not the least bit tiring. The prehistoric park was the highlight of my visit, a great section of the park that most zoos don't have. I highly recommend going if you've been overdue for a visit

Brittney Lalonde

What a great place to spend the day. Really enjoyed the dinosaur walk. Who wouldn't like the penguins? And what a great place to cool down on a hot day. Enjoyed a bite to eat at one of the many park areas- bring your own picnic or buy something there. Bathrooms are numerous and clean. We were fortunate to hit feeding times for some of the big animals. 3 large as areas for children. Great time!!

Leo M

Loved this place! A great sanctuary for wild life. I love the work they do and all the educational programs they are running. They have three cute pandas and more important, they are already using paper straws! Highly recommended place! ❤️

Charlize

Great place to visit with family.

Abdi Mohamed

I always have a great time viewing the live animals here. Granted, not all of them are around to pose pretty for pictures every time, but hey, that's life. The Calgary zoo has never disappointed as far as seeing presenting fascinating examples of some of nature's coolest creatures and beasts and I admit: there are times I want to take a few of them home with me. It's also a neat bonus seeing all the visiting families with kids getting a fascinating kick out of viewing the zoo residents too.

Brandon Hui

A magical place for kids. Our 2.5 year old loves it here. Can easily spend the whole day here. New animatronic dinosaurs were a real hit. The Penguins are so much fun!

Diana Boyd

No wait

Jaclyn Costley

It was good But now i'm not friends with the person i went with lol

Neha Singh

We had visited Calgary zoo to see the lights. Calgary zoo lights, indeed stoop upto the mark of beauty and popularity. The lights were just fantastic and really beautiful. This is one of the best places to experience lights during Christmas. And also you can enjoy some hot chocolate with fire pits in between to warm yourselves.

Brittany Valentine

Great zoo. Lots of walking so be warned if you have kids. Go early in the morning when it's cooler and the animals will be more active. Bring you're own cooler of drinks and snacks. They have many venues for drinks on site but super expensive. Parking is also added to the bill. But worth the investment for a great family day adventure. We did 3.5 hours today and were totally spent because if the sun. We did everything but one theme section on that time frame

G Brooks

New Dino exhibit was really fun to walk though! Some were damaged though unfortunately.

Brandie Sunley

It's a terrific place to visit at any time of year. Lots of places to explore, lots of animals to observe. Zoo lights is better a little later in the pm rather than around dinner time /dusk.. It tends to thin out after 6:30 - 7.

Lara Ghrawy

A very interesting experience for all - youngsters and adults. We saw so many types of animals and the place is very clean and well maintained. The restaurant is closed for covid reasons. But there are other 3 snack shacks to buy from (nachos, hot dogs, dessert, drinks and coffee). The gift shop has some nice items though it’s a little expensive. The most attractive animals to see were: the lion, bears, giraffes, the zebras. We couldn’t see the panda though (it was hiding)..

Alistair Currie

Really is worth a visit, especially if you've never seen a bear up close. We had a fantastic visit even though it was pouring with rain. Would happily visit again

Maher Jebara

I had sooooooo much fun. Lots of animals to see and the city did a great job on placing areas to sit and have a picnic. Very clean and well organized. There are some exhibits that were closed. So call before going if you want to see a specific animal

Linda “changing lives” D

We enjoyed "zoo lights" First time. Recently celebrated 25 years for the lights.

Bridget CapitalBusiness

We have a toddler, and have been going to the zoo almost every weekend, for about an hour every time. It's been perfect, and we've really taken advantage of the membership :)

Agnesse777

Was a great experience! Got christened by a penguin (haha) and swarmed by butterflies. Lots to see and appreciate

Kristen Ingram-Cotton

So much fun for all

K M

Although I visited numerous Zoos in and off the country but Calgary Zoo stands out from the crowd, easily. The place is huge and covers a lot of animals' species. What makes it different, too, is having some animals that you do not usually see everywhere - lions, giraffes and pandas (though pandas are going back eventually to where they came from, China). On the flip side, no elephants or tigers. Adult daily pass is $36.70 but well worth the experience. I would say the average time a family would spend there is 3-4 hours. Highly recommended!

melanie ross

We love the zoo. What a great place to take the kids. Honestly even just adults going is awesome too

Melissa Dewar

Totally in love with this place. The zoo management should get appreciated. They are doing a great job in keeping the surroundings clean for the animals and as well as the people going to visit the place.

Gaëtan Trellu

The zoo is really big, plan for a full day if you have a young kid. Most of the animals were there. As usual it's better, healthier and cheaper to bring your food.

ERIC LEE

Child friendly, average stay two to four hours. Hotel packages available to save on Zoo entrance fee. Free admission for children < 3 years old. Park divided into Prehistoric, Asian, African, and Canadian animals, as well as a Garden. Directional route marking is largely meaningless, sometimes contradicting and generally not followed. Parking is additional $12/day. In person self-serve kiosk available. Online ticket purchase available.

Mr Lorain

Last time we were there was about 3-4 years ago. They changed quiet a few things and added new parks . Super fun for the kids!

Kirk Dewhurst

It's hard to over-praise the Calgary Zoo. Pick up a yearly membership and take advantage of the opportunity to spend time with different animals. Heading there and not trying to rush through the place but instead just take a half hour to an hour with a few creatures will really let you see how they behave and what they're like. It's also a great place for walks, and nice places to sit and enjoy a pretty day. Well worth it.

Tina G

Good experience. Family friendly. Two play areas for little kids. Its fun to walk around the zoo.

Mario Bertrand

A nice place to experience the wild right at the heart of the city two train station from the free far zone of the Downtown. A variety of animals from the African rainforests, African Savannah, the Amazon and Canadian wilderness among others, are on display all year round. It boosts clean and beautiful walking paths and offer good view of the animals. You should go experience the outdoor Zoo Lights festival at Christmas. It is stunning.

Michelle Kang

Had a wonderful time at the zoo. The staff were all super nice and helpful when we applied for our membership and when we needed help finding certain animals. Also, it’s absolutely breath taking in there, the plants and vegetation are all very nicely maintained! The animals were adorable too of course, we are excited to go back!

Dilendra Wanigasekara

I love this place and come here over and over again. This is one of the must visit places for Calgary in my opinion. I feel what's best about this place is that your money is put to good use. They help save endangered species and what they have accomplished is commendable. Its great for everyone, from kids to adults , you will love it

Akshata Valsraj

Absolutely fantastic. Didn't get to see every animal because of the winter visit. But really enjoyed it anyways

Emily McRae

The best penguin exhibit I've seen. My son had an amazing time, and there were plenty of staff around to educate and answer questions. The safari brunch was delicious!

Thibaut Monrency

Well maintained and interesting zoo. There is plenty to see and learn about the animals, as well as playgrounds and rest areas for children, including a shed and hut. Eating places can be found and toilets well maintained. Businesslike service. There is walking, so you should be prepared for it.

Somayyeh

A very fun place to spend a day,,especially with kids. The enclosures were modest. I wish there were bigger but overall a good experience.

Erica Unknown

This is a great place to spend your day. My whole family had fun when we visited this zoo. Come as early as 9AM if you'd like to see most of the animals. They hide in the shade and will spend their time in those shades. Also bring a stroller or wagon for toddlers because it's a lot of walking. You'll enjoy this place.

Selena Grcic

Beautiful and worth every cent. Great for family outing and 1st hand education on wildlife.

Rodney Linehan

Great place to take the family. All animals were easily visible, and the zoo is well laid out for easy navigation through the different sections.

Rami F.F

Love this zoo! Having been to a lot of others I feel that this zoo is among the best of them. The yearly pass is the way to go. It covers your parking, gives you some early access and allows you to revisit in case some of the animals are sleeping.

James Scrapneck

Had bad experience with parking. Designed only for local people it seems. No proper pointer to know where is the main gate unless you manage to park close to it by chance. Exhibits were fine. Overall it was good experience at the end.

Stavros Konstandinou

Everyone should go to the zoo at least once a year! It's always evolving, and they take such good care of the animals and the grounds. There's indoor and outdoor exhibits, food areas, play areas for children, ample areas to rest, rentals for aide items, lockers for items, etc. You can spend all day there, and if you want to save a bit if money, they are fine with you bringing in your own food and drinks... Just be respectful and use the many garbage containers throughout. Parking is a bit away, but it is plentiful. There's always coupons to help with admission costs.

Ria Kihee Kim

A place where you can enjoy watching many animals with children. There are benches everywhere so you can rest. It's a pity that the zoo closes at 6pm.

Zac Wells

A great place! The calgary zoo is big on conservation efforts and animal care research. They are constantly upgrading their facilities and making sure things are as nice for the animals as for the people viewing them. I'm sure that covid was epically hard for them, and unfortunately couldn't keep the pandas due to difficulty getting bamboo for them to eat. Get out there and show them some support while the weather is still good.

James H

Amazing zoo to watch the animals from all latitude, altitude and time. It is perhaps also a reminder that we live in a shared world.

CY Siu

We went for the photography event. We got to go in after hours and see special feeding events with the animals. All the staff was incredible. Super helpful. It was really fun and we are going back for sure. It was a bit pricey even with our passes but worth it in my opinion. Great time!

John William Wade

Awesome zoo! Love that they have little information sessions and training viewing for the public too. They use only positive reinforcement and you get a sneak peak into the lives of the zoo keepers and animals. Penguins, red pandas, lemurs are all adorable and you can get pretty close to the animals too (without disturbing them too much of course). Buy tickets online in advance to save a few bucks and the train comes directly here too!

Kat Hansen

Haven't been there don't know how long but lots of charge. The zoo is really clean. Saw so many different animals and the penguin is the best. I guess pretty good crowds today so they also up and do a lots of activity to show off. My granddaughter has lots of fun today and thank you to all the staffs to keep this zoo clean and fun.

Lizzete Aranda

First time at the Calgary Zoo. The place was well organized and clean. Lots of space to walk around and the whole facility is quite big. The workers were very friendly and accommodating. Lots of parking as well Nice place!

Gon Freecss

Typical big city zoo. Needs something to replace the panda exhibit. The play areas for kids were great, especially the kinsman one. The dinosaurs were a hit with our kids.

Justyce Kearns

This zoo is so big I've never made it around the whole place in one go! Nice staff, a couple sad looking animals but most of them seem well taken care of.

Jadin sauer

The staff is knowledge, friendly and helpful. They are very invested in animal conservation and educating the public. We have had annual passes for the last three years and will continue to do so.

Patricia Parliament

Saw several animals that we have never seen before! Was just a little disappointed because there was so much construction and the dinosaur section was pretty run down. But you can't make things better without the said construction! Can't wait to see what they do.

Peter Liwyj

Love to take our kids here, but because the zoo won't accept you without a vaccine passport we will no longer be going here. Additionally, they will not refund our memberships, which we just bought. If you value freedom don't support this zoo!

nsimpson

This is definitely one of the best zoo's, with more on the way as well. There is a lot of ground and animals to cover. A great thing about this zoo is that it is very kid friendly & suitable for grown ups. The prices are a little odd I find which is 25$ if you do it online (30$ at the gate) for the day, 55$ online for the year or (60$ at the gate for the whole year) there is a 5$ dollar discount online per transaction. Problem with that is, unless you're completely infatuated with animals, you most likely won't be that interested in going all the time. SEE PICS!

Martin Guidotti

I recently purchased a yearly membership to the Calgary Zoo, I purchased the connect option. This pass gives you admission to the zoo and is priced at $64.95 for adults . If you need parking and are interested in discounts on shopping and food the second pass called engage would be a good option for you this pass costs $84.95 for adults. The third season pass option is called Inspire, this pass is priced at $139.95, this pass includes parking, discounts on shopping, food , birthday parties, zoo lights, special monthly morning tours with many of the animals, and admission to Devonian Wildlife Conservation Centre. Children’s seasons passes are available for $34.95 at the connect level, and $89.95 at the Inspire level. To give you a perspective, if you buy a membership it will be paid for in 2 visits, basic admission is $29.95/ visit, a child youth price is $19.95/ visit. On the day that I went I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I got to see the penguins, flamingoes, Kamoto dragons, and I was treated to seeing 2 of the baby pandas, and the momma panda, received an up front look at 2 African tigers, the experience was incredible and I was able to walk clean through for 3+ hours, fantastic experience and highly recommend spending some time at the Calgary Zoo. The only area that could use some improvement is the food service attached to the gift store. I found the food to be cold, minimal options are available, and the prices were too high. There are other food options available in the park, I haven’t had the opportunity to try these options as of yet. I wish you all an wonderful experience at the Calgary Zoo, which is available to all 364 days/ year.

Sylvio Neto

Love this zoo. Sad that pandas are leaving but it was still a fun day out! I haven’t been in over 2 years and now they have this cool play structure for kids called Bugtopia, definitely worth checking out if you have little ones with you.

Lys Hogg

The lights were beautiful ..... however, the crowds were horrific and the lineups for everything were obsurd. Even though we all had tickets, it was 45 minutes in line to get in with absolutely no social distancing! A total super spreader event!! I am in a wheelchair. It was a totally inaccessible venue! Between the crowds and snow covered paths, I was unable to get around with any ease at all!! Never so glad to get out of an event!!

cherry varghese

Best place to spend a day inside the city. I liked watching penguins the most. It was like you are in a entirely different world. Watching bear accumulating leaves for making himself warm was an encouraging experience. Lions were all …

Julie Schmale

It was really nice going to this zoo. First stop at the penguins was such a delight. Too bad we were not able to see the panda because they are already in quarantine and about to be shipped back to China. It was still nice to see the other animals there.

Steven Schmale

Awesome displays! They are so accommodating for families and there are bathrooms everywhere. The Bugtopia playground is a lovely place for the kids to play while adults rest their legs. The Dino display is quite cool. My personal favorite is the Penguin area.

Sar J

I went here last week! It was a nice trip. I saw the penguins first then waddled my way all over the exhibit. I was hoping to see the lion, pandas, and zebras but unfortunately I didn’t! However I do recommend you go visit in the morning …

Roan C

Family friendly, and fun on your own. The zoo is full of animals and dinosaurs. It's a wonderful place to go.

Dane Dillon

My wife and I are new Calgary residents and decided to check out the Calgary Zoo as I had not been before. We ended up buying memberships so we can go regularly because we enjoyed the exhibits so much. We were disappointed that some of the areas were under construction and that there was not any pandas but with our annual membership we will just go back another time when things are open and maybe they will get pandas again. They have pandas branded everywhere and even have a store to sell panda products so their absence was noted. Overall, the rest of the experience was great and both the staff and volunteers alike were very helpful. We were unsure how to find an exhibit and when we asked we were given clear and helpful instructions. When we had questions about the membership they were helpful and accommodating. The animals appear to be well taken care of and the enclosures seemed to be an adequate size.

Jacqueline Rolen

The staff there are very informative on all the transitions with each animal and how they go about their day. I felt that they truly do care about each animal there. It is a great day trip for any family. It is also a great way to learn about the different types of animals and which ones are in more danger than others.

Danilo Cecilia

A membership or a one time visit is really worth it here! Some highlights and things to see: - The penguin exhibit - The butterfly enclosure in the ENMAX conservatory (very warm) -The giraffes and hippo in Africa -Tiger and ant eater in Asia For kids, there are two big outdoor play places: one in Africa and the other in North America. And in the summertime they have really fun animatronic dinosaurs in the prehistoric exhibit! Some places are starting to show their age but it’s a great way to spend an afternoon walking around and seeing amazing animals! Also they have a very decent Sunday brunch from 9:00- 2:30 p.m. Chocolate. Fountain. ????For members it’s about $27-29. For non-members it’s $45 which includes admission.

Paula Rosvold

Love the zoo! A pass is a must have with kids. We go and just spend a 2 hours at a time. It's really well layed out. The highlight is the penguins.

Yu liu

Love the Calgary Zoo! Always a great time, whether going for a full day or going for a couple of hours. Lots of things to see and do for the young and old alike. The improvements and upgrades they've been making are also great!

sayar samanta

The zoo was well kept and was easy to find my way around, do bring a pair of walking shoes. Lots of animals. This zoo will be tons fun for the whole family!!!

Michael Davis

Loved the zoo despite the current requirement/ recommendation to wear a mask inside public buildings. Like elsewhere these days, be aware of fearful people will look at you weird if you don't follow the lines on the ground or get a little too close to them for their comfort, yes even though you're all outside, some folks are like that. But it's still great because you're outside for almost 100% of it, and there are some washrooms that are accessible from the outdoors directly. Overall, loved going during summer time, the animals were more active and could get some great pictures.

Jazmin Kharmina dela Cruz

A highly recommended place to spend a couple of hours. Very family friendly with plenty of locations to get snacks but also to consume your own food in pick-nick areas. My personal highlights are the covered tropical areas with beautiful plants and gardens

Joshua Ivan Bonilla

The Calgary Zoo is great because it is clean and there are tons of staff around to guide you. The are super friendly and answer questions. There was so much too see, I will definitely go back again.

Shannon Weiss

Very good place for a family walk. Lots of playgrounds for kids. It is certainly an opportunity to show children an elephant or a lion live. A small but impressive breeding of amphibians and fish. In the garden you can see crocodiles, monkeys and giraffes. You definitely need a few hours to see the whole thing. Lots of places to buy food, sweets, ice cream and drinks. There is also a place to sit and have a good coffee. Really nice place for a family walk. Few toilets and I did not come across a toilet suitable for young children.

Andre Zhang

This place is always a blast! Do yourself a favor and follow these two types for an optimal zoo experience: 1) You need to be here at the zoo when it opens. That's Right... 9am is when it's prime time to see all the animals moving about. By then, the weather hasn't reached it's daytime high and it's cooler for our animal friends. If you're coming in the afternoons, get ready for animals laying in the shade and doing squat all because it's too hot out. 2) You need to get a membership here and I recommend at least the "Engage" option allowing you 365 days unlimited visits, free parking, and 10% off discounts for food and gift shops. Two visits a year pays for itself so you're throwing money away with only purchasing the single admission.

Rey Tomas

Was here for the Heat of the Night Valentine's Day event. Fantastic event. Food was delicious and the entertainment afterwards was very good. I would definitely recommend for first timers in next years event.

Emmanuel Ibidunmoye

Worth the money. 2-3 hours of walking. The animals are gorgeous and well taken care of. I wanna come back! No penguins though, I am not sure where they went.

Selena Meeks

Always a fun family adventure to the zoo. We got to see all the new dinosaurs and freshly repainted ones as well. We loved seeing the komodo dragon its one of my 6 year old favourites.

Williams Bonneau

This has to be one of my favorite zoos! Beautiful, spacious enclosures for the animals. All the animals appear happy and healthy. Their enclosures are clean and well kept. The park is very clean. The food was great and reasonably priced. The staff are all helpful and courteous.

Rick M

Located in the center of the city with plenty of parking. The zoo is currently hosting pandas from China. The zoo is filled with informative animals exhibits where staff is available to explain certain animal behaviour. There is a great Sunday brunch that you can buy as a combo with the entrance ticket, great family outing.

Sophie Wu

Love it here! We go as often as we can, the only reason I am giving 4 stars instead of 5, is because of the condition of the Prehistoric Park. It is in need of some TLC. The rest of the zoo is just awesome! We are members and have already gotten our money's worth in two visits! All photos taken by me. I have so many more but my child is in most of them and I will not post those publicly. I used to go in the morning but found most of the animals to be sleeping/hiding. These pics are from our recent visit that was from about 1pm to 5pm. Lots of action ????

Darryl

Amazing place for the family! We have a 2 year old toddler and have been taking him here since he was 10 months old. There is a lot to do and it's actually quite large that being able to see the whole zoo in one day can be quality feat! I recommend getting a season pass and doing it in numerous visits. The best thing is the pass gives you access to many special events that it's totally worth it for the price! We love all the special events they offer such as exclusive previews (e.g. Pandas) or the Penguin walk! Its a great place for winter and summer as well so it's not just a one/two season type of place. In the summer we go for the green spaces, parks, playgrounds and in the winter we go for zoo lights, penguin walks and animals that are displayed indoors! As a family we love it and our toddler loves it. It's great to expose my child to these animals so that he can learn and at the same time help in the conservation effort of these animals and their habitat. The Calgary Zoo is also a not for profit organization too and that is great!

Laura Jensen

The Zoo is amazing!! They have taken so much time to make sure that there are social distancing protocols due to COVID19. The animals are amazing and very well taken care of. If you want a family outing this an an awesome place to go!!

Steen S

We had a wonderful time viewing the Zoo Lights. Make sure you dress warmly and allow sufficient time. The cafe has food and drinks and is a good place for a break and to warm up if required. The Conservatory is another good place to warm up.

Maria Mateo

Always a great experience. Construction underway in some parts to expand the park. Particularly liked the hippos and giraffes

Kirsten Cowie

We love the zoo. Perfect size for a day trip. Worth getting a membership just to walk around with my little guy almost every week.

Lana Robertson

This is a very well maintained and lovely zoo with great care taken for the animal habitats. The Zoo is a rescue zoo as a priority - the animal welfare is first and foremost. Admission seems expensive but it's well worth it!

Red Starr

Really great zoo with lots of animals I haven’t seen in other zoos. We liked the penguins at the entrance and of course the panda. The bisons, bears and the butterflies are great to. There are a few daily activities like the tiger training which was nice to see just because the tiger moves and doesn’t just lay in the sun:-) To see everything you have to arrive early because it is really a big zoo with long ways. We spend a hole day here. Parking is another 12$.

Jake Whittaker

Literally a world class zoo. This place is spectacular, and if you live in Calgary and have never been, you NEED to go. So many animals to see it would take far too long to list them all. My kids of course love the Prehistoric Park but we found enjoyment in all areas of the zoo. Strongly recommend the zoo to any and all, locals or travelers. The Calgary Zoo is worth your time.

Katie Keen

Absolutely love the zoo. Just got the Christmas catering package and it was delicious! One of the best turkeys I have ever had.

Justin Pywell

Reservation recommended

nkemdi uwaezu

Excellent zoo that is well maintained and cared for animals. The zoo has undergone extensive renovations subsequent to the flood and also introduced new exhibits including the pandas, penguins and also the lemurs exhibition. Clean, friendly staff, and easy to navigate. There's lots to do and see inside, you can easily spend a whole day here.

Neil Alexander

The weather was perfect for a full day at the zoo. Impressed with the cleanliness of the park and the professional, friendly and informative staff. We were fortunate to see so many of the animals on such a warm day.

Alex Narsing

Great indoor and outdoor spaces for the animals in the African area of the zoo. I definitely plan to return to see other theme areas. Very interesting and educational.

Colleen Randall

Not many animals to see......... .however , the layout was great and kids loved the dinosaur section.. Gift shops were great.

Johnathon Allen

The Zoo is always a fun time. A full day of serious walking to get it all done. The Pandas were neat to see but they were just eating inside so it wasn't as cool as the Gorillas. Hearing the hippos' making noises was pretty awesome too.

Nicole Stiopu

Great to spend a weekend day out. The zoo has different zones and now with timed tickets it's also less crowded so good to watch animals in your own pace. It's well maintained and the animals look healthy. There are few options to eat inside so you can rest and grab a bite too in-between the zoo venture.

Melissa Browett

The Zoo is huge. 5 hrs to get through every exhibit. Take your time Lots to see

Archana Arun

Omg, we loved the calgary zoo. We just can't finish in a day. We spent like 5 hours and covered as much as possible. Parking is vast and easy, then you start walking to the kiosk to buy your tickets which was really convenient than standing in a line at the counter. As you enter the zoo it starts with beautiful penguins and there is a staff who has maps which is really helpful. I would say this place is a must visit.

Wendy Peciak

The Calgary zoo is full of fun and interesting animals. It is well set up and they have done well with adjusting to Covid protocols. I wish we could have seen more. We were sad the pandas are gone. It was a good day!

Jerin Soman

Wonderful experience, it will take almost half a day to go around and see everything. The zoo is very clean and maintained well. There are wash rooms and cafes around. It’s worth visiting the place if you are in Calgary. Panda pass is a must visit.

Anuradha Batabyal

Wonderful as always.The hippo's were getting their teeth cleaned and doing barrel turns in the water. The soft ice cream is the best... butterfly's WOW...the kids loved the dinosaurs..

shevy willing

Went for the first time, tried out the Sunday brunch in the African Safari Lounge and I must say my expectations were blown away. Considering the price was only $15 more than a regular admission, it was worth every penny and then some. The service and food was amazing. I would go back again on Sunday just for that. The zoo itself was easy to maneuver and we must have came at a good time because all the animals were out and about. They do a good job of replicating natural habitats rather than just a cage. I thought the Prehistoric habitat was a fun addition as well.

Shawn Pulsifer

This is one of the most special places on earth for me. Ever since I was a small child I've been coming to the Calgary Zoo. I've seen it's evolution for the last 40 years and every time I walk through the park gates I feel the same excitement about it as I did when I walked through the first time. I've been here for weddings and Christmas parties and to entertain my kids as I eventually had some of my own. This place isn't just great fun. It's one of our most important landmarks.

Kevin Hu

This zoo is awesome. Went here recently and was very impressed. The day pass was affordable, and it seems as though the annual passes are as well. Directions to each area are well marked, and a digital version of the zoo is available for download. The animals were really active, which made for an enjoyable day. Plenty of washrooms and food options as well.

John Beaver

In my religion we believe in freeing animals and respecting their wishes. I do not condone this inhumane treatment of wild animals nor do I support giving my money to this organization.

marinda texmo

The Zoo has been a staple for us since our little guy was born. We have annual passes and try to go at least once a month when things are full at home. They have done really well with their signage and social distancing for COVID, however I did take away one star for the experience we had at zoolights this year. With the dark, signage was not really visible and there were barely any staff around maintaining directions and distance between households. On top of that, the other guests were, mostly, not doing their part to maintain distance either which really put a damper on the evening. Overall I think the Zoo is great and we enjoy our time there.

Luke Schueler

Always a great stop! We spent 4 hours here. It was the perfect amount of time. ????

Gashaw Fetene

Went to the Zoo during winter time before. It’s definitely better during the summer time. More animal to see. The Zoo is really big, definitely need a whole day to go through everything. If you are in a rush. You can skip the dinosaur area, really not that interesting.

Clint Williams

This is not a zoo to visit quickly and leave. There was more than enough to fill our whole day. From the well laid out trails and sections, to the beautiful gardens, diversity of wold life and the prehistoric area, we left feeling absolutely satisfied with our day. We walked throughout our visit, and didn't realize how much we had traveled on foot, until we got home, sore footed but with loads to recap on after the awesome adventure. The Food at the Cafe was not bad and we were glad to use our meal break to relax. Despite our best efforts to see everything, we still missed a couple of the animals we planned to see at the end of our visit. Advise: Go early, take your time, enjoy the gardens, carry a picnic(???) And plan to spend as much time as you need...this shouldn't be a rushed visit at all. Also it's very family friendly

Marlene Henley

I enjoyed my time here, reminds me of going when I was a child. Nice to see they've kept up on the overall look of it. A tid bit expensive yes. But if you're an ama member you can get 20% off ticket price. It was awesome to see the penguin exhibit up and running!! If you're new to the area I really recommend seeing the largest zoo in Western Canada, it's a good days venture to go through and see each exhibit. My favorite part is the dinosaur park, they've definitely added more things to it from when I was a child!

Bridget Kohle

We extremely enjoyed here. Our kids was so amazed.

Aisa Chin

The first year with a season pass in a very long time. Every visit has been a great experience. The pass has definitely paid for itself. The penguins are my personal favourite.

Emily M

I love going to the zoo as often as I can & am happy the old panda exhibit has reopened & tho the pandas are gone they have crazy active gibbons and as fellow patron called it a "beast" (tapir)

Anatolii Dudko

Amazing experience for Calgary Zoo Lights. # Place for kids and adults #Must carry your gloves n caps #To get closer parking spot reach early ????

Em Gee

We enjoyed visiting Calgary Zoo. It's my favorite place. I usually bring my friends and their kids when we visit Calgary. We missed the Pandas this time.

sukhmeet kaur

Been my times. This last adventure was Zoo Lights... The lights are lovely and they are trying to follow Covid protocols. However, it was a crowded , tight, mess. Too many bodies in one space. And it highlighted the inconsistencies of Covid. Bah! It was not a happy stroll, more of a trip over children filled march. I enjoy the zoo and will likely return, just never again for Zoo Lights.

Nichole Story

This place is awesome. It has so many different varieties of animals. From animals in Africa, to Asian animals, prehistoric park, and Canadian wilds.

Snow Leopard

Zoo anywhere in the world is amazing but at Calgary it’s special because it’s natures delight. We had so much fun going there that we can’t even tell anyone of you. Let me post pictures and make this cut and sweet for everyone of you …

Christine Toews

Was my first visit in almost 10 years and it did not disappoint. There are tons of COVID rules out in place but it does nothing to take away from experiencing the zoo. The top zoo in Canada I would say, a definite stop for anyone.

Brittany French

The zoo is the second largest zoo in Canada. It’s big but due to COVID people need to line up to get in some of the exhibitions. Depending on which exhibit you’re going, the wait can be 10 minutes or more. Panda is not longer visible. The new playground Bugtopia was awesome. It’s only about one year old and kids had so much fun.

ekatah cyril

Just went yesterday and it was pretty awesome! It's clean, the staff is nice, there are many things for kids to do, but most importantly the animals are in great enclosures and from what I can tell are in very good care! I love seeing animals and this zoo allows you to get close and see the animals from a good distance. I have been going to this zoo since I was very young and it always meets my expectations and keeps me entertained! The new pandas are very cute and thankfully you get a very good view of them! I definitely recommend this zoo for any person or family looking to have a fun day in Calgary!! :)

carma mahoney

Lovely zoo and very well maintained. The animal habitats were clean and the animals seemed to be well cared for. The zoo is large and there is a lot of ground to cover, so give yourself plenty of time to explore. We saw the Giant Pandas and had fun playing on the many playgrounds at the zoo. There is a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the zoo, so make sure you grab everything you need before heading in.

Ewa Bsldas

Wait time

Laurelle I

Love the zoo! Born and raised calgarian and have been going here since I could remember. Animals are well taken care of and the staff are friendly. It is pricey but worth it. I do wish they would include parking with the admission. Penguin March at 10am is always a treat! In the summer I highly recommend getting a screamer. Its a mix of soft serve ice cream and slush. ????

Christine Pedersen

Best time to be had at the zoo. I enjoy my yearly membership very much and go often. Includes free parking. Great place to walk and enjoy nature and wildlife in beautiful settings. The Penguin Walk in the winter is so fun.

Genevre Mousseau

Even with COVID restrictions it’s very enjoyable - just be a little flexible as not everything is open. The staff we spoke with were all helpful and most importantly the animals seemed well cared for. Remember that zoos are not pure amusement but also about conservation and wildlife advocacy and the Toronto Zoo is involved with many programs which was good to see. If at all possible, come early in the morning when the animals are more active before it becomes too hot. Prepare to do a lot of walking and drink plenty of water and juices to stay hydrated. Will definitely ✔ come back again.

Nyelon S

No wait

M

Zoo lights! Fun time. It is guided this year starting point, pathway to ending point. Tend to get caught up in droves, didn't really bother me. Dinosaur area lit up this year with sounds. I saw some people going the opposite way ... Because in the beginning the path is empty. I wouldn't recommend that though because at the halfway point the people who went backwards are going against the current (the droves.) They have zoo people kind of guiding it but they are not hard policing it. Also get there right at 5 ... We got there at five faced just a normal lineup getting in took idk 10 minutes or so. We finished up naturally in 2 hours (two adults 4 kids) And when we left the line up of people waiting was all the way down way into the second parking lot and the cars coming in were backed up so far we couldn't even see the end when we left ... We went the way towards spark instead of to memorial. Was good. Just some tips :)

Thomas White

Was a very nice place to visit. It was some what easy enough to find but parking for our camper was a lot more difficult, wish there were more signs for the North parking lot! Besides that the zoo itself was very nice, lots to see and never a dull moment. My only other company would be that the are lots of paths within the zoo that make it hard for someone like me (and my crazy OCD) to keep track if making sure where you're going. Also that the people, visitors - not workers, were extremely rude.

GW

It is a wonderful place to go with family and friends. I was a little disappointed because some Canadian, African and penguin sections were closed. Also I expected to see more animals. Many signs pointed that you can see giraffe or other animals that weren't there. Also the food sections weren't open to buy snacks or coffee.

Lisa Krenn

Came to the zoo for ZOOLIGHTS with the wife. She loved all the sparkly lights and we even got to throw some axes. Lots of little activities and fire pits strewn about to warm you up. A must for a solid date night.

Versatile Anu

Great place to spend couple hours with family and friends.

Juanes Cardenas

They do some really amazing conservation work and the commitment to ensuring the animals quality of life is top notch. Every time I visit I'm amazed by how close I can get to the hippos. Plus, it's basically your only way to see pandas in Western Canada. Make sure you put on your sunscreen in summer and dress for the weather since 90% is outside. It's just honestly fantastic, you can walk into 2 different bird enclosures. And all the wild birds are there because they sustained injuries that prevent them from being able to live in the wild.

Christian Woern

That was our first time in Calgary august 2019. We visited and we planned to make visit to the Calgary Zoo. And I was surprised by the maintenance of the zoo and also to all of the animals. It is one of the most busiest zoo in North America. And it is a worth visit to see the Zoo. Here I am attaching some of the images that I have taken. Hope this will be helpful to others. Have a great day ahead.

Victor Law

We have membership at Calgary Zoo for years now. It started as a suggestion by a mom friend to take our oldest. We loved bringing her to see the animals and see her eyes light up with each animal. Then, when the pandas came along, it was an exciting chance to see pandas on person. We went so many times. Often, they were asleep but a few times, they were awake and eating. Since the pandemic, the pandas have gone home but the regular residents of the zoo are fun as well. We now have the other little one to experience all the wonders of the animal kingdom. Watching them both get excited over the animals and the oldest asking to see certain ones create happy memories for all of us. For the admission price of 2.5 visits, membership is totally worth it. We hope to be visiting for many more years to come!

Patricia Giles

I really enjoyed my visit. There was plenty of information in each section. The animals looked relaxed, enjoying the warm day. There was also information about different events happening around the city through the day, like the feeding times of some animals. That's very useful: I was able to listen to some interesting facts during the feeding of the tigers and the brown bears. You will definitely have fun and learn!

Allison Tobias

Best place on earth. The goat who lives in the Canada section is a champion. I am not sure how a goat got that big but I found it to be very impressive.

CrazyEyedGinger

Our family had a lot of fun on our visit. My kids loved the themed attractions.

Collin Elms

Possibly one of the best zoo's that Canada has to offer. The butterfly ???? garden was particularly wonderful to experience.

Paula Sheehy

I personally am not a fan of zoos, I don't agree with animals in cages. That being said for a zoo they do a good job. The park was clean, the animals seem healthy, and the kiddo loved it. I would recommend taking snacks as they did not have much open for food and was a little disappointing that some sections were closed. Overall if a zoo is something you enjoy, you will have a great time.

Melanie La Chance

Came during the enchanted dinner event and had the most magical time of my life. Please consider doing it again! It was a hit!

Bob Lee

Wonderful experience at the Calgary zoo. There was lots to see and we loved the informative signs outside each enclosure teaching us about the animals. Missed seeing the big pandas but at least there were red pandas! The meerkats were so adorable.

Irving Santana

Visited the zoo the day after I severely injured my ankle. Not only were we made aware that we would need vaccine records as soon as entering the parking lot, but the process to check them was extremely efficient. Staff were all extremely patient with me and my crutches, never hurrying me. The lady who sold us our tickets took the time to connect and relate with me as she herself was injured, and kindly explained where we could rent a wheelchair to avoid discomfort throughout the day. Renting the wheelchair was a very simple process, and the staff were kind enough to store my crutches for the entire day. Be prepared for a long trip, we were there for almost 4 hours. Some exhibits are temporarily unavailable due to COVID, so be aware of that. There were extremely well educated staff and volunteers explaining the care and behavior of certain animals on exhibit, which was fascinating. Calgary Zoo is doing everything extremely well. Thank you guys for an amazing experience!

Arthur Agar

Had a particularly epic day at the Calgary Zoo. I was shocked at how easy it was to get to. 10 minutes and $3.40 from downtown with light rail transit meant that we were at the zoo's ticket counter in under 30 minutes after deciding to go. (I'm used to the Toronto Zoo, where you have to plan ahead and go early because it's tough to get to, especially if you don't drive.) So many different animals from around the world to learn about and admire. Walking within the aviary with a few owls just hanging about was an incredible experience! And I really enjoyed seeing the penguins. For whatever reason they make me giggle just watching them waddle around. ????

Colleen B

I really love this zoo, the layout, the ease of access to a wide variety of wildlife. My only complaint is that when the west gate is closed for the winter, it's very difficult to get my toddler anywhere past the Rainforest, so mostly we just go to Canadian Wilds and Penguin Plunge. Which is fine! Really! I just would like to see the Asian animals sometimes.

Brandon Corbeil

It was fun it's one directional it's pretty much 2 hours of walking so make sure wearing comfortable shoes and take a lot of stops.

Dumitru Ionuț V.

My name is Patrick. This review is a project of my 4th grade homeschooling. I visited the zoo on September 9, 2020 and took notes on animals, parking and tickets. To enter the zoo, you need a ticket. Usually, the ticket booths are open, but due to Covid-19, they are all closed. You can get tickets online for a specific date and time. The parking is easy, but it costs $12 if you are not a member. This is a Park Plus zone and there are pay machines about 40 feet away from the entrance doors. Once you arrive the staff will scan your ticket through plexiglass. Masks or face covering is needed upon entry of buildings. There are arrows to help direct you. Hand sanitizer stations are located outside most enclosures. First you will see the penguin enclosure.The penguins were diving for fish outside the enclosure. The mountain goats were big, strong and furry; they can scale almost vertical surfaces and can fall 10 feet and be unscathed. The mountain aviary was closed. I do not know why. The bison were all asleep and covered in what looked like hay. The moose was near the wolf enclosure and in both enclosures was a sign that said the moose was not present at this time, ignore the sign and have a look around. The moose was very curious. There is a new playground called Bugtopia. It is a big fortress that has bridges that lead to towers that have plastic slides and a climbing wall. There is a spider net and a teeter totter. Also there are bridges that let you enter the fortress. Bugtopia was built out of fallen/dead trees. The bears had lunch at 12:15 and they were very excited; they stood on 2 legs and pounded the fence. They were each thrown a large animal bone, and loose fruit was thrown by a launcher all around the enclosure. The grizzly bears were like boulders. They are massive and their claws are like 5 inches long. Make sure you have a good look around because like I said they look like brown boulders. The lemurs were fun to watch doing flips and spins. If you hear a loud screech do not be scared, the lemurs are simply communicating. The lemurs have 2 tongues and eat fruits and vegetables. The second tongue helps them groom each other. The snow leopard has a cub and they were resting in a small cave. The lions were all laying down in the shade because it was really hot. The meerkats were digging and playing in a bowl while an older meerkat stood guard. The hippos were snuggling together in the sun outside. You can also see giraffes, zebras, turtles, snakes and more. There are animals for all taste. Overall I recommend the zoo for ages 3 to 100. I recommend weekdays as they are the least busy. I also recommend getting a membership. It gives you advantages such as free parking. I hope you enjoyed my review.

Karen L

Amazing zoo with an outstanding crew of zoo keepers & volunteers were outstanding with their information and their passion. I do warn any one who GOES ESPECIALLY elderly and parents w/ kids to bring walking shoes. As well as to not skip out on the penguins as honestly they are the most interactive exhibit.

L Bie

Everyone should go, this is definitely a full day event area.

Cherry Mangla

Took our yearly trip to the zoo and the kids loved it. Only complaint would be with the gift shop prices but I guess thats to be expected with these places. Besides that, it was lots of fun. Clean,well laid out,lots of concessions and bathrooms. We'll be back next year!

Bernadette BTS

Reservation recommended

Kelly Corneille

It was good but should have printed out maps and there were a few animals that weren't there anymore which would have loved too see like the panda bears and elephants

Julie Hagner

Great zoo Plenty to do for adults and children alike . Two parking lots and very accessible. A lot of good food options. Make sure you have enough time to see everything. There are plenty of washrooms and they are kept clean . Also various spots for people who smoke. Great place to spend the day .

Robert LeBlanc

It's a great zoo. We always have a good time here. It's quite a long walk, so make sure to bring a stroller, especially if you have younger children. There was way less to look at in the dinosaur area this visit. If you are looking to pick and choose, I would save it for last. There are certain times they feed the animals which is fun. If you have a favorite animal, ask what time they feed it, and show up early. The lions have always been packed, and can be hard to get a good view. I love that they feature new animals, and have lots of things to involve the kids, with no extra charge! I've been to other zoos that charge for every activity, and even just to see some of "rarer" animals. You can also bypass the gift shop here which is great. The upkeep of the zoo is always top notch it is one of our favorite places in Calgary!

Emily Michelle

It was a lot of fun. Despite all the covid measures in place, the staff were super friendly, and it was fun to follow a path through the entire zoo. Basically guarantees that you're going to see everything.

jay yanko

Was great. Happy to see it open due to covid. Some exhibits were closed understanding of that but overall was still a great time. They happily are taking this time to work on the maintenance and improvements they can!

Travis K

Weekend

Farsin Derakhshan

We went to Zoo Lights and it’s pretty awesome to see the zoo lit up and after hours. Only complaint is the huge lineups and crowds of people, so it’s clear that this is a favorite for many a Calgarian.

Thomas B Sparkes

First time seeing a wild animal and it’s felt amazing ???? a huge zoo and environmental friendly place.

nicole byng

It was a beautiful walk around the park. All the staff was really friendly but we were disappointed that alot of the animals were not out and about. Probably only got to see 30 percent of animals.

Karen Brick

Amazing zoo for kids and adults. Online ticket for entrance is mandatory now as no on site ticketing facilities due to Covid. Parking ticketing booth is besides the entrance.

Carolin Staats-Binder

I very much enjoy the Calgary Zoo. It's one of my favourite places to visit in the City. Often, I drop by just to visit my most beloved animal, the snow leopard. Today, my visit ended in immense sadness on my part. Like the last time, I only saw one snow leopard. During my last visit, she was sitting on her rock deserted and teary eyed, which caused me to ask a zoo employee where the second snow leopard was. The employee confirmed there's two. While I wasn't quite convinced about the statement, I stopped being concerned. Today, again, one snow leopard... I stayed a while, and witnessed the most dreadful crying sounds a cat like this snow leopard could ever make. I had never heard sounds of such sadness. I asked another employee who confirmed that the snow leopard female is now on her own. The male was sent to the zoo in Toronto to be bred with a different female because this - now lonely - one miscarried multiple times. I was at a loss of words for such an indescribably inconsiderate human decision of separating a bonded pair of five years like those two. Maybe procreation is a reason. I wouldn't doubt it since this cat is a highly endangered species. However, nowadays even shelters avoid separating bonded pairs of cats and other animals when adopting. Animals have feelings. It may take the snow leopard female many months to get over her loss and the emotional pain attached to it. This separation will mark her for life, and is a clear case of animal cruelty. We as humans want to help nature and the animals but an example like this shows little support for them and their emotional nature. This realization is leaving me heartbroken. If anyone responsible at the Calgary Zoo reads my post, I would be grateful to hear about what's in store for the devastated, lonely snow leopard female. I will keep her in my prayers for improved circumstances in her current lonely life. And I could still hear her cries at the gate when I was leaving...

Marilynn Barnes

Lots of walking very crowded on a Sunday new dinosaur display great most animals hot in the shade or looking to escape

Anna Doubinets

My family and I decided to go on a whim and we were all thankful we did! It was an absolutely marvelous time. The volunteers were very friendly and knowledgeable, the enclosures/habitats are well built and it was great to see all of the incredible animals from all over the globe. I am very much looking forward to our next visit!

Rebecca Barry

It was good But now i'm not friends with the person i went with lol

Kim Clerk

Extremely professional and friendly service. I really liked the way that everything was organized due to covid-19. I definitely felt safe. However, I have seen many people not following the regulations and there were some feeding the animals. I was very dissapointed to see that... PLEASE do not feed the animals...

Tuyet V

Has alot of offer, keep the kids well entertained. My daughter loves all the animal here. It's alot of walking around though.

Dominic Evans

A wonderful way to spend a day in Calgary. But quite disappointed that the panda's are gone. All in all an enjoyable day, one of the best zoos I've been to. I don't understand why they feel as though charging 4 bucks for a water is in any way acceptable (they lost a star for their highway robbery with regards to food and beverage prices). But other than that a great experience

Ca Ca

Reservation recommended

Wanda

This zoo is organized very well so that you dont miss anything. The enclosures for the animals are decent in size and are very clean. The staff is very knowledgeable and caring of the animals in their care. There were lots of staff around if you wanted to ask questions. The zoo is organized so that it is accessible for young children, seniors and persons with disabilities. Ramps in all areas are great for strollers, wheelchairs and scooters.

lisa lisa

Visited on

Kar Ortega

I recommend going on Penguin Walk days, to get a close-up look at the king penguins is an amazing experience.

Matthew Stonhouse

Had a great Sunday Brunch at the zoo today. Picked this for my birthday “dinner” and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We have annual memberships to the zoo and enjoy visiting. The brunch was great, the food was well prepared with a good selection of items. The server looking after our table for beverages, etc. was attentive and helpful. Would definitely recommend for a brunch experience.

Scott Sterling

It is a beautiful place! All the animals look healthy and well cared. Unfortunately, the Panda sector was closed in May/21 when I visited it. I strongly recommend it.

B C

Penguin walk...worth it all! Its not often you see places that offer that. It is a good size zoo with 5-6 distinct "worlds". On my own, minus one prehistoric area that was closed for seasonal maintenance, it took me 4ish hours to get through the entire thing. Everything is well displayed and varies between indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Brian P

I loved it the kids loved it even more, well organized and properly laid out, with thoughtful information about various animals and places. Nice.

Ben Brown

My little animals love the creatures here. The dinosaurs were amazing. Great layout and a good walk. A little congestion but fun. A seasons pass is in our future.

Jac R

Beautiful place, the staff and volunteers are incredibly helpful. It was my first time ever here with my family and we all loved it! Accesible food prices, and lots of fun for kids of all ages

Allie

Going to the Zoo during quarantine make very little sense. Almost everything is closed so people gather around very few points of interest and making big crowds. You are lucky if you will see more than 5 animal species. Geez were probably the most interesting animals in the Zoo. And just look at this " large" ice cream for 5$ it's just smaller than a small one at other locations. If you are from Europe you will be probably a little disappointed but for Canadians it's Ok as they believe that this zoo is one of the best. But in reality even in much smaller european cities (like for example Nyíregyháza) Zoo might be better or same. And just look at this " large" ice cream for 5$ it's just smaller than a small one at some other locations.

Allyson Fletcher

Animals seem well taken care of and the exhibits are clean. Saw a lot of different animals, even in winter. The zoo is big, expect to spend around 2.5-3hrs here. A lot to see.

Freweini Neraio

I had such a good time with 3 of my boys. We drove all the way from Edmonton to go to the Zoo. It was beautiful and big, a lot to see then Edmonton zoo for sure. My kids love it. There was out door garden and butterflies in this beautiful garden house. There was penguin in this cold big room and swimming in the water. It was so much fun. Lots off ppl. Lots of animals to see. And more. Fast food and washrooms are everywhere. Big kids park as well inside. Oh yes.. there was also a show. Must see!!!

Johnny Choi

We had an amazing time here! Lots of animals to see and it was a great experience overall. We love the atmosphere here and will be back for sure. Would definitely recommend if you're in Calgary!

Seb Cross

Amazing Zoo. We visited on a hot and sunny day, so the lions, leopards, and tigers were all napping in the shade and were difficult to see. The penguin area was nice and cool, even though the doors were broken. Staff were very friendly and helpful and there were a number of spots to cool off in the summer heat.

Matthew Blake

One word "HIGE !!!! " we were there for hours and still didn't see everything . love this place and the animals. The butterfly area was my favorite!!

Jenn Lange

New dinosaur area is great, Panda gift shop was amazing as everything is buy one get one 1/2 as a blow out. Food at the zoo reasonably priced, main gift shop quite expensive, good selection of animals though some main attractions were not there. Entrance fees reasonable.

Brayden Martens

Such a great zoo. Huge variety of animals and the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. The new dinosaurs are also a treat. The seasons passes are affordable and you definitely get value out of them for kids as there are a bunch of great playgrounds in addition to all the animal exhibits. A top Calgary attraction.

Tyler Snodgrass

Great zoo, unfortunately Covid has had some significant impact on walking paths, delivery of services, etc .. by no means any fault of the staff The Panda's are unfortunately going home Love love loved the penguin ???? exhibits

xplore withjs

Calgary zoo lights. Very good experience. Kids enjoyed the visit. Proper guidelines and marking for everything. Was busy but everyone was nice. Get ready for weather with proper clothing if you want to see millions of bulb combinations, it will take time. Late night during lighting festival not many zoo animals were seen but lighting experience was great. Definitely coming again in day time

Peter Beam

Love the zoo!! Pandas where adorable! Penguins are my favourite. Great zoo lots to do. Easy parking and lots of places to eat.

Sarah G

I spent the day at the Calgary Zoo for my birthday! so much fun :)

Summa Lai

How a great zoo for family. educational, friendly staff, lots of species from the world. even with a wonderful playground for kids. Should not be missed.

Sandy Koroll

We went there to see the Christmas lights. It was incredible. I loved the different themes around the zoo. There were campfires to warm yourself up while walking. There was lots to do from axe throwing to face painting and ice skating. We paid $20 for admission and $10 for parking. I would go there again.

Matt Stel

New park in Canadian Wilds is awesome! I attached pics of the new park only. We have been members (on and off) for 15+ years now. Not every year because kids need a break. It's a beautiful (and typically quiet) walk any time of year, and a …

CJ McBride

One of the best zoo’s in western Canada. Went to see the pandas when they were there. Didn’t take many pics, enjoyed the moment with the family. Well laid out, lots of area to cover, bring your good walking shoes.

sonia lata

It was awesome and the exhibits were well taken care of. Will be back again on a cooler day and hope the exhibits that were closed will be open

S S

Great place to spend with the family. Alot of walking, be prepared. The price was a little steep and also need to pay for parking. Able to bring your own food inside. The animals are great to see and in an adaptive environment. The staff ard informative and helpful.

Jon and Rachel Huizing

Great zoo, saw it all in 1 (long) day. I liked all the extra hand written white board signs that gave status updates on some of the animals (for example if one was hurt or why there was an extra fence around an enclosure). My only complaint is that the children and infant shirt selection was very limited and even then not the greatest.

Brittany Emery

If you love animals than this zoo is the place to go! It’s spread out with multiple buildings and walking paths to spend the entire day observing endangered and local animal species. There is giraffes, gorillas, bison, penguins, lions and much more! My favorite was the hippos and penguins! Only $29.99 for a adult day pass which is reasonable for a day full of entertainment! Check it out if you’re in Calgary!

Holly J

Good zoo but very crowded with large wagons that people pull their kids and belongings in. They tend to leave the wagons in the path or clip you in the foot which isn't fun at all. The butterfly exhibition is delightful.

Michael Schuelke

Absolutely loved it here. There's so much to see and explore. It's a great place to hangout.