Fantastic place to spend some beautiful times with family and see varieties of animals. They divided the zoo in different areas: Canadian, African, Asian, Prehistoric (which is really nice) based on the animal categories. Specially, the penguin place is really awesome. African rain forest is also great. Those who are interested in dinosaurs, the Prehistoric area is a must visit. Ample of parking on the north and west side of the zoo. The north parking lot is divided into three lots: A, B, and C. I think lot B is closest to the entrance. However, the north lot has a fixed daily rate of CAD 12 (which is good for people who plan to spend whole day, might not worth for people who spend only few hours). The west lot charges hourly rate, which might be good for people for short visit.

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 sleeping but it was very near to the watch glass as it was just centimeters apart. Watching gorillas playing each other was another wonderful experience. The tropical climate setting for the tropical animals is really amazing. Overall really nice experience 😎

I love what they have done to the zoo, expanding the outdoor wild animal area with a beautiful large area for the polar bears, and a beautiful large indoor and out for the different penguins. There is a separate light show after 5 pm this time of year for Christmas that looked like it would have been beautiful to see if I had more time. I definitely would purchase a year pass if I lived here. All construction is completed and the garden areas are now just two instead of the 4 or 5 areas they used to have.

Every year I make sure I get to come to this great zoo. It's well-maintained, very clean and organized. This is great for adults especially for kids. You will learn a lot. Having fun while learning. So many varieties of animals that are being showcased here. I always have fun whenever I come here.

It was a wonderful zoo. We really loved the penguins... We had a great time. Animals were active. So much to see and do. The dinosaur exhibit is fantastic. The kids LOVE it. Reasonably priced. Lots of parking. Clean restrooms. Highly recommend the Calgary Zoo. Great way to spend the day... Enjoying nature. No matter how many times I see the animals, I marvel at their beauty, ability, and strength...

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.

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 reading my review. The animals are so friendly and the staff are always watching them. They are shows at the zoo so kids enjoy going to the zoo all the time. Make sure you go and enjoy the zoo in Calgary because it’s one of the oldest ones in canada 🍁

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.

I love it here, it’s the only place that I’m actually happy in Calgary. I could spend all day in the penguin building when it’s not crowded! The staff always speaks to me about the animals, which I love! If I ever have a question about the animals diet, behaviour, etc. they are always right there with the answer ready!

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 few decent playgrounds for the kids to burn energy. The guest pass is great so my family can bring my kids free or kids bring a friend free. Pandas have moved out, they still have lemurs (but outdoor exibit closed for winter), Penguin exibit is still very nice, dinos closed for winter, and pretty much everything else has been the same for years.

We enjoyed the penguins and got a great view of the polar bears! Definitely less busy in the winter. Volunteers were VERY knowledgeable and offered up facts on the spot without being asked - very enjoyable in that regard. While it is apparent effort has been made to ensure the outdoor animals have lots of space, we do feel like the indoor animals' enclosures could use some expansion. Hopefully that is in the zoo's future.

Absolutely wonderful time. Exhibits were informative and viewing so many unique animals was a great way to spend the day with my son and friend. The Zoo was clean, bathrooms were accessible everywhere and well maintained. Food was great and staff were very friendly. Looking forward to our next visit.

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.

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 wonderful and unique animals as well as a fascinating display of architecture with the well designed pathways and buildings throughout the zoo. Unfortunately we weren’t able to spend all our time there, however when zoo lights come around we will be back!

The Zoo is wonderful, specially the Penguin Walk, to look up close at the king penguins it's a delightful experience.

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 is a plus. Note: The dinosaur area is only open during summer. The year pass is worth it if you love animals.

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 rather than later in the moon so you can spend more time going everywhere and seeing all the animals. Had lots of fun! The cafe was also open which was nice!

Unfortunately many exhibits and buildings are closed due to Avian flu precautions. This was a true lazy Sunday. Not many animals moving around. Through no fault of the zoo itself, this was a lackluster experience. Any area with birds were closed. Gorilla and Otter pavilions closed. It's been years since I had been to this zoo and if seemed that many animals were gone and it was not as great as I remembered. This zoo used to rival Toronto zoo for the overall experience. It has Fallen backwards in recent years.

Pros. Able to see the animals well. Animals looked cared for. Clean, pathways , very well kept park. Easy to navigate. Food was delicious for what it was and reasonably priced. The Calgary Zoo Prehistoric Park was great and highly recommended if you have a little one. Cons. Small. The prices for gifts, well, let's say they make up for the food prices on the gifts. If your visiting Calgary and like zoos, stop by and check it out. WAY better then The Toronto Zoo.

World class zoo that we're lucky to have in this city! Great facilities, animals and experiences to explore. Favourites include the gorillas, walk through lemur exhibit, penguins, hippos and giraffes. Definitely recommend getting an annual pass as it's a great value and nice to stop in for short visits (as well as full day ones). You also get free parking with the pass!

This was a really enjoyable experience. Great habitats for all the different animals, and a great variety. The gardens and butterfly house were exceptional too. We would have paid to see them on their own. So much shade, plenty of places to eat or picnic, many playgrounds and kid friendly exhibits. We caught the train from downtown. Very easy and quick.

Best place to spend a day inside the city. I liked watching penguins , Alpaca lions and many more animals 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 sleeping but nice. Some Sparrows 😍actually it was my awesome trip with my family ❤️parking lot also wider.

Super fun for both kids and adults. The animals are well taken care of. My favourite part was the butterfly enclosure! There were so many gorgeous butterflies all throughout the conservatory garden ranging from different stages of life. I'd highly recommend visiting on a weekday early in the morning if you're not a fan of crowds, as this place gets extremely packed super fast.

What a amazing way to spend a day!! 😍 This place is a must visit for any and everyone. The zoo was beautiful with lots of animals. The Dorothy garden was especially very beautiful. Make sure you have an entire day to spend here as the zoo is pretty big with lots of walking. We went there at 9am in the morning on Heritage day and it was just beginning to get crowded, so we were able to view a lot the animals relatively without much crowds. But by the time it was mid day there were a lot more people there, so make sure you plan accordingly. Overall this was an amazing experience and I am waiting to go back here once again.

Calgary Zoo is a pretty good zoo. We've been to a fair amount of zoo's in our travels and this was one of the best for a lot of things. There is a lot of walking but you can view exhibits pretty much the entire time you are walking whereas some zoo's have long walkways between exhibits this doesn't. There are a bunch of interactive areas for the kids, bathrooms are easy to find however food is easy to find but it's busy and only located in a couple places. We did the Sunday brunch package which had a buffet. Extremely well worth the extra 10 or 15 bucks per person I highly recommend it.

One of the best places to visit in the city, and easily one of the premier zoos in North America ( I would know, I have visited more than 50 of them.) Lots of parking, great membership value, excellent food/dining options, huge repeatability factor with a different and new experience each time. There are parts that are certainly under utilized and feeling aged/run down (namely as of Nov 2023 the Asia section), and the dinosaur area seems like a weird space filler that could be better served with real animals, but other regions are stellar. The 2 big Africa Houses are simply fantastic, as is the penguin house, and the brilliant Wild Canada section. At the time of writing this review, there will even be polar bears in just two weeks. In short, this zoo is great all year around, for all ages, and I’d highly recommend visiting

So lucky to have this wonderful zoo in our city. You can tell they care greatly for the animals and the people visiting them. Some of the monkeys could have a bit more greenery in their habitats but maybe they'd just consume it? I know the zoo cares and does what's best for critters. The African birds are very fun to hang out with and watch. Love the penguins and looking forward to the Canadian Wilds reopening. Great place to spend a couple hours with kids; big and small. Seasons pass with free parking is a great deal.

We went for the first time to the zoo lights and meet family there. Everything was done up so nice. The lights were gorgeous. It was a bit disappointing not seeing the polar bears 🐻‍❄️. But the zoo was magical. I have been going there for 48 years and finally got to see it light up. The kids were so excited to go skating they didn’t even want to see Santa. Lol maybe next time. It was fun watching the boys throw the axe. Just a very nice relaxing evening with family. Would highly recommend it :-) Gets you in the Christmas mood :-)

My partner and I visited to see the Polar Bears and also enjoy the Christmas lights. It was as calm as usual though more exciting this time around with new animals. I loved the Mountain Goat (they sure looked stubborn as hell)😊 Unfortunately there wasn't anything much to see in the Asian axis and I wonder what the space is actually for. Overall, it's great for anyone seeking to refresh by walking and learning a bit more about the wonderful creatures we have around us.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This zoo is wonderful with a great selection of animals (even in a COVID environment). When the park is fully open, there are plenty of activities and eateries to make sure your day is full of fun. The Calgary Zoo is especially great for children and families. You can certainly spend several hours or even a full day here without getting bored or running out of things to do or see. There are plenty of opportunities for education, extracurricular activities, and other amenities to check out. The zoo even has room for banquets and functions. I’ve often seen weddings or corporate business parties onsite. Highly recommended winter or summer.

We felt comfortable going due to timed entry, but the zoo was over crowded and hardly anybody wore a mask inside. Despite signs saying social distancing was enforced, it clearly was not. Also despite signs, everybody crowded around and touched railings. Would not go back during the pandemic. Nobody seemed to care about precautions at all. At the very least, masks should be required. While they do sell timeslots, there is nothing to enforce capacity or make sure enough people have left. Having the indoor spaces closed is exacerbating the problem at this point.

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.

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!!!

Spread out. Clam quiet place. Staffs are helpful.. but animals are very few

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.

We really enjoyed the walk through. I feel the animals are a little laid back at this time of year. Though it was reasonably quiet still on a busy day. The parks are a fun time for the kids. When you decide to take a leisurely stroll it works well. Grateful we had the opportunity to take the kids this year. :)

One of the best place to spend a day in this beautiful place. Lots of things to see & explore. Great for all ages. Very well maintained. There are some playgrounds, cafeteria, carousel & gift shop inside the park. You can book a spot for Birthday Party or any other events. Parking is paid parking & the parking lot is very big.

A wonderful zoo, a place to lift your spirits. Numerous animal species in spacious and well-maintained enclosures. You can spend hours watching amusing meerkats and agile monkeys performing acrobatic stunts. The penguins are particularly noteworthy, being the highlight of the zoo. You can observe them up close that you won't even notice the partition of the enclosure. In winter, you can also witness a paradoxical spectacle - pink flamingos amidst the snow. It's hard to imagine, but the beautiful combination is truly amazing, and it's incredible they don't freeze.

The Calgary Zoo is an absolute delight for animal lovers and nature enthusiasts. With its expansive grounds and diverse collection of wildlife, it offers an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. From majestic lions to playful penguins, each exhibit showcases the beauty and diversity of the animal kingdom. The zoo's commitment to conservation and education is evident throughout, as they provide informative displays and engaging presentations. The well-maintained habitats and interactive experiences create a sense of immersion, allowing visitors to connect with the animals on a deeper level. The Calgary Zoo is a must-visit destination that combines entertainment, education, and appreciation for the wonders of the animal world. I think my favourite is the baby gorilla it’s so cute!

Always a wonderful adventure! The penguin enclosure is super fun; you can get super close to them and see them outdoors, inside, and underwater. The entire zoo itself is organized into different zones (Asia, Africa, Canadian Wildlife, Butterflies, Dinosaur trail etc.) There are always employees and/or volunteers to help you with map directions or give you interesting info about various animals. I highly recommend the fathers day brunch! It's a fabulous meal & zoo admission at a great price!

Best zoo in Canada 🇨🇦!!! Superbly variety of special animals in this zoo, it’s really worth to visit at least once. 👌 Entry ticket 🎟️ charges is $35 per person. Parking 🅿️ 🚙 charge is $13 for whole day. Penguins 🐧 section is the best one ☝️ Usually 4-5 hrs can be spent here but full day is preferable. My kid really like it. It’s increasing the feather in the crown of Calgary in terms of tourism sector. 👍

We really enjoyed the zoo! Loved the wolves, tiger, lemurs all of it was really nice! Lots of kids, unfortunately there was an exhibit closed missing 6 animals which would’ve been nice to see. 68$ for two adults it was a nice walk and lots to see. This was my second time going, i recommend going if you’re in calgary and want something fun to do! Bathrooms are clean and food if you’re hungry. Had a good time thank you!

My love for animals takes me to popular zoo visits very often 🤩 Honestly, not a huge supporter of caging the wildlife but they are good source of inspiration, information and entertainment for all ages. Canada’s second largest animal zoo was quite enjoyable! Despite the cold late December visit, zoo attracted 8k visitors which is a popular summer number! My favorites were penguins, chimpanzees, polar bear, tiger and Hippo 😍 the zoo has more than 200 species and they are very well kept. Didn’t realize how I spent the whole day visiting variety of animals, aviaries and butterfly sanctuary. Grabbed a quick snack at the zoo cafeteria (their revenue supports the zoo animals 🙏) and strolled through whole zoo in Christmas lights and decorations for another couple hours! Mesmerized by lightning and music, didn’t feel an inch of cold! Could also plan for a bubble/glass gazebo dinner in advance for a romantic dinner ✨ A Must to do list in Calgary and earn your share of memories ☺️👍

Its the Zoo! Honestly with Covid going on before the second lock down it was an amazing place to go. The zoo lights are always a great time. looking forward to next year when hopefully the conservatory will be open to warm up in.

Went for the lights this time around and was NOT disappointed! Lots of lights in trees, of course, but the star of the show were the shapes - mostly of animals. Some "animated" scenes, too, which were awesome (swinging monkey, hopping bunny, etc.)! Didn't get to see any actual animals, but that makes sense - it was past their bedtime. lol

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.

We took our granddaughter to this zoo on our way to the airport on our way home. What an incredible zoo! The grounds are beautiful and the set-up is well organized. The whole zoo is great but our favorite exhibit was the butterflies.

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.

I went for lockdown zoo experience. Could not go inside although most of the animal were outside. They kept lots of signs for high touch and don't touch areas, the amount of people in the park was regulated with care, the Chinook and the outdoor experience is just what me and my family needed to escape the confinement of home, but still feel excitement that is typically reserved for none pandemic. thank you Calgary Zoo

Loved Zoo Lights this year as a way to get outside during the pandemic. The staff kept all the guests moving, so it was easy to stay physically distanced, and there were lots of reminders, too.

Zoo lights is a great family tradition. Lots of idiots ignoring distancing and mask etiquette. Staff were great.

Amazing place. The penguins are the most funny of animals. I say, take your time and watch how the behave ! Also, zoo lights every year never seems to disappoint. Even during Covid

Best light show i seen in years and my lil ones really loved it

Zoo lights is always great!!

Had a fantastic time walking through the grounds it was an amazing place to go but the Panda is not longer visible There was lots to see and we loved the informative signs outside.

They did a wonderful job with Zoo Lights this year, despite all the difficulties and restrictions. Didn't mind having to pre-book a time. Parking is crazy expensive as usual, but if you don't want to pay, you can always take the train. Staff were working hard, but still friendly.

Zoo lights was great but don't waste your money at the concessions. Over $8 for 12 mini donuts is pretty steep, but when they are cold and soggy it's a real disappointment. Eggnog hot chocolate was closer to cold than warm. Regular hot chocolate was good.

Beautiful way to spend a night with family

Such a nice place to walk around with family and see the animals. Playgrounds are fun for the kids.

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.

Zoologist is amazing. The caretakers put a lot of effort in the beautiful lighting. Worth a visit.

Wore a mask, yet froze my fingers off, grabbed some hot coco, seen a lot of lights and burned a crazy amount of calories. Tired the kidlets out for bed, all in all not a bad zoo light year to end this crazy unpredictable year 2020 has been

Zoo lights are always a hit!

Calgary in all it's glory viewed from the Zoo

Always a out of this world experience.

Very beautiful Christmas lights this year! I can tell it took a long time to plan and execute this event. Thank you for working so hard!

I love the Calgary Zoo. Zoolights were so beautiful this year, I ended up going twice! Glad there is still some traditions being upheld during this pandemic.

Zoo lights was kind of disappointing- I would say acceptable but... some displays were like they just threw lights on some bushes. It was my first time during covid so not sure if that impacted the experience but I probably won’t go back unless I have kids and want to tire them out. The kids that entered were excited so maybe it’s more for the kids. I’ve been to Victoria and Vancouver Christmas light events and I was expecting that caliber of displays. I didn’t take photos because it wasn’t really worth it.

Zoo lights was amazing! The staff went to a lot of effort to ensure everyone was as physically distant as possible and the lights were great... really got us in the spirit of the holiday

Through Christmas month you really need to pay a visit to the Calgary Zoo. There must be millions of lights and so very tastefully done to decorate the Zoo. Take the family so all will enjoy together

Zoo lights was spectacular. Impressed with staff, all polite, friendly and cheerful. Mostly one way paths. Social distancing observed. Limit spaces available, with a time slot for entry. Masks required. Definitely recommend.

Good lights!

I really enjoyed the Calgary Zoo at night. I can't wait to come back! Thanks so much!

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.

The times tickets make the visit amazing! But only if you have a Membership because ALL indoor spaces are closed.

A gem in our city

Nothing really special/spectacular for zoolights this year. Its the same as lastyear and any other year. Its disappointing. Its not really worth the price

Zoo lights was well done this year. They did a great job.

Great time could've had better directions inside

Calgary Zoo has been maintained very well over the years. Very professional staff. I wish them luck to get past this Covid season

Went to zoo lights, lights were beautiful! Sadly it was crowded and people were not good at following directions. I didn’t think that keeping to the left was so hard but oh well...

Zoo lights surprised me! So beautiful! So much pride and work put into hanging 2 million lights. Had a fantastic time walking through the grounds. A fun Christmas event during a year with not many activities available.

Zoolights was very organized. People were directed with social distancing, everyone following a specific path. And having limited patrons allows you to enjoy better the activities. It's just a shame Enmax Conservation Building is closed.

My words are less to describe this picture.

I was extremely disappointed with this zoo. Animal cages were small compared humane zoos.

To many people. No social distancing practiced whatsoever. Shut er down.

I’ve been several times with my daughter and we never see the entire park in a day. Lots of exhibits. A great variety of animals with lots of indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Been a member at the zoo for several years now, and been very impressed with their covid protocol. It is not the best in the winter months, but during the summer they have come a long way with the lemur habitat, and more entertaining animals for families. Suggest they you bring your own food though as it is pricy for simple food.

The Calgary Zoo is always fun, love the penguins the most!

Went to zoo lights on the last night. Weather was great. There were quite a few burnt out lights in areas. Overall an enjoyable evening.

I love the Zoo in Calgary. We are season tickets holders and come here not only for our regular walks around looking at all the animals but also to attend the various events around the year, ie. Zoo Lights. Always a great time!

Love this place.

Definite must to see the penguin walk. All indoor enclosures are closed due to covid but once spring comes they will be out including the flowers and blossoms. Great place to spend a good part of your day.

Nice place for kids to visit and you will see almost all kind of animals

Penguin walk is great, kids loved it! Not lots of people, very clean.

Great place to spend the day

It was my favorite Zoo to me but last time we went in December 2020 we found out that 90% of it’s places were closed for the season and no washrooms, or cafes were open, at least you shouldn’t have charged us full tickets, only few animals outdoors that were allowed to be visited, you wasted our time and money for nothing interesting, never visit it during Winter as there will be signs mentions:(closed for the season)

Only the outdoor containments were open for viewing. However the animals and fowl are always a treat to see. We missed the pandas. The penquins were amazing. Only one kiosk for food so recommend you take snacks if any allergies or limits on what you can eat. Covid guidance is everywhere on sight. We wore a mask about 50% of the time outside! A great experience!

They do such a great job with Zoo Lights! Wonderful way to spend the evening. The weather was good while we were there. Hopefully they have the axe throwing again the next time we go, as didn't get a chance to do it this time around. Didn't expect to see any animals at night but the tigers were out in their yard. They look even more scary in the dark!

Good place to visit with the family.

I liked it

Amazing

Awesome place with friendly animals.

Nice zoo and there were a lot of animals

Poor animals

Staff were quite rude and disrespectful, the well-beings of the animals were TERRIBLE also they wrongfully displace the prices and what the food is. (They said a Mayo sandwich for 3,99 to later be revealed as a Mustard Sandwich for 5,99)

Always love going to the zoo with the family

Great place for the family!

I always have such a great time at the zoo. My son and I went to the penguin walk for the first time and absolutely loved it! They're so cute. Staff is always friendly and helpful.

Good experience with the family

Great zoo experience. Beautiful well maintained grounds and exhibits. And even a terrific time travel to the Jurassic area. Well worth the day to visit.

Despite social distancing measures, still plenty to see and do! Having timed tickets really eases the amount of people one can run into. Always a great experience!

TERRIBLE! I was just trying to go to the washroom and they kicked me out for NO REASON!!!also the staff are very rude and mistreat the animals. If you want to see animals go online don't support this HORRIBLE place!!!

Was great to walk through the zoo lit up with beautiful Christmas lights. Had a mulled wine and enjoyed the sights

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.

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

It was really cold (-27c) but so great they had the coffee shop open. It was warm and nice, clean and organized...recommended for taking kids during this pandemic

(Translated by Google) Panda Panda Panda (Original) Panda panda panda

Very fun zoo dont remember much but it was fun.

Our kids love this beautiful zoo. Pandas, penguins, etc. A lot to see. We have been there for three times. Each time was a fun memory.

The zoo needs to open up the indoor exibits. If you can go to Wal-Mart and Costco, I'm sure the penguin and gorilla exhibit is fine.

Love this place. But when I went today everything was closed except the Canadian wild park. Save the 60 bucks and go to canmore!!!

Best time with the penguins

This place was great! Very beautiful

The gift shop did not have cash for change; my son had $20 to spend, he bought a gift for $12 and was told no change. We were still in the store when he told me what had happened. I went back to the checkout and asked for the money back. There were notices on the perspective screen but nothing anywhere else in the gift shop stating that they were not carrying any cash change.I paid with my credit card, and got his money back but it was 'because I had not left the store ".

Visited in February, too cold to walk. Most of the animas inside shelter due to -30 temperatures. Would come back in summer to try it out.

Its a great place to visit on summer but in winter and wuth with all the restrictions of covid19 not really too much to see

Ww were the only people on the property. It was -40. The animals didnt care and we saw a lot of activity in the morning.

I’m sure it’s way better during normal operations, but paying $30 to see maybe 10 exhibits/animals is a little disappointing. Just be prepared there isn’t much going on because of covid. Also, totally my own fault, but don’t make the same mistake I did. I didn’t have a credit card to pay for parking and got a ticket in the mail from city of Calgary for $40. All in all a very expensive zoo trip for what it was.

can't wait to see the animals here, took pictures before i went

Always great, but we really miss the indoor exhibits

The zoo comes alive between 0 and -10! The lions were pacing and roaring, the leopards were up and about, and the even the tigers were playful!

I'm not a fan of zoos but my granddaughter loves to go. They're doing their best considering Covid-19 restrictions. We have a pass to so price to value is good but, single admissions are way to high. I wouldn't recommend it.

Really nice facility but the majority of it is closed off. Wait till the summer and when COVID restrictions are lifted to visit. Majority of the animals will be out then I went recently and the Canadian side was the only thing open. Plus the additional $12 for parking? Parking is free at the edmonton zoo...

Fun for all ages! My wife and I visited Calgary Zoo for the first time to see the Festival of Lights two years ago, it's a pity that due to Covid we did't have the Festival. Hopefully in 2021 we will have this beauty festival again. Highly recommended!

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.

VERY impressed with kennedy from guest services who went out of her way to get additional tickets for my cousin and his kids because we are from out of town and had limited availability. GO KENNEDY WOOOOO

👍

Great place to spend a few hours with the family! Lots of interesting animals to see, large pathways so doesn't get too crowded. Of course the penguin walk is great for getting super close. Membership definitely been worth it for my family over the last few years.

Even in winter day still awesome, they deserve all support for their work

This Place is amazing Animals are too friendly i love to spend time with them

i was in a relationship with one of the penguins we loved to talk to eacther everyd ay!!! im so sad when they took my favotrte penguin out i cried for 3 days

Love seeing animals. Very friendly workers.

Great fun!! Love the animals cant wait to go back . the mask wearing sucked but it will get better :)

It is disappointing how the Zoo has decided to handle crowd control during COVID. It was WAY too busy to be considered safe and respectful of COVID protocols. Almost no one was masked and were clustering in groups, as if simply being outside makes them immune. No one was enforcing crowd control—including at the bathrooms. School groups were arriving as we departed early. Don't ask for a refund—youll be quoted the terms and conditions to which you agreed. Long time members, no longer.

Go see the penguin walk by mid March! It is totally worth it.

Lovely staff, great parking and a great experience even during covid. Can't wait to return!

I am a Calgary zoo member. So are my children. You have to book days in advance to be able to use your membership. They only allow so many spots for members and give the rest to paying customers. However if you pay you can go any day, any time. I am very frustrated and would not recommend buying a membership. Its a disadvantage having a membership. Its false advertising that you can go any day. Today I could go if I bought tickets but I can not go using my membership. This is wrong. I have been a member for years and I am very disappointed in the zoo. They only care about new money, not members.

We had such a great time. It was so informative, and the kids loved it. The playgrounds are amazing and a great break.

I found that the animals are most active in the morning when the temperature is 5-10°C

Always a great experience.

Very nice place for child.

Definitely coming back here during summer, hopefully more animals will be out and about and out of hibernation. Good selection and a lot to look at and great pictures to take

Always a great time! It’s clean and the animals look happy.

Had a blast! You can't go onside anywhere but as long as it's a nice day it's definitely worth it

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!

Always a favorite spot for the family, reasonably priced season passes have us going multiple times a month even with the partial closures and covid mandates. Enjoying the less busy version & love seeing the active animals. A great place for an interesting mid day stroll with the kids

Great experience 👍

My family and I are big fans of the Calgary Zoo, that's why we are annual pass holders. However while last year we felt safe with the controls and enforcement the Zoo had in place for COVID. That was not the case on our last visit just this last weekend. It was such an uncomfortable experience, that I felt obligated to write this review in hopes the Zoo will notice but also to warn other people who may be wondering. I noticed some other reviews pointing this out as well. There are signs and staff pointing out the social distancing and mask rules around the zoo. But almost no one was wearing masks, not a big deal outdoors (as it's not mandatory) until you realize that everyone is congregating in large crowds around the exhibits and high touch areas. The staff are there, the markings on the ground are there but there is 0 enforcement. We won't be back likely until they allow indoor exhibits to open to spread out the crowds but also to promote mask usage.

Unfortunately you can't see many of the animals due to barriers around the habitats and buildings being closed not a great value!

Great service, a lot of the exhibits are closed due to Covid 19 restrictions.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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)..

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.

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

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!

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!

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 :)

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.

We have such a good time here we have decided to just buy the memberships. We come here often once a week or every other week. The staff are super friendly the park is kept clean. The bathrooms are clean and the food is decent and not over priced. We love getting a gift (every time) from the gift shop. We love their mini doughnuts and there ice cream slurpees. Our favourite animal here are the monkeys! Such a great family place to come and make memories.

Very fun and cute experience. My niece and nephew loved it. Price are reasonable. The park is clean. Animals are very well taken care of in their habitat simulation. Overall it was a good experience. Will recommend to anyone.

Zoo was a lot of fun. Staff and volunteers are awesome and quick to give information about the animals they care for. The food for the visitors could be much improved, but it was pretty typical of amusement parks and zoos in my experience. Overall completely worth going! If I was closer it would be worth the cost of a membership.

Haven't been here for over a decade, but wow what changes. Fewer animals overall, but the enclosures are now quite impressive. Parking lot was packed for long weekend, but crowd was ok once inside given the size of the zoo. It is clear they are taking all precautions due to Avian Flu risk, but most animals still visible if you really looked around. A little patience at some enclosures was rewarded with animal sightings and activity that others would miss if not immediately visible. Few people were using the machines to get tickets prior to entering, so that was super quick and avoided line.

Went with the family. Tickets are $34.95 for adults and are worth it if you take your time to enjoy all the animals and read up on all the educational signs. Overall, a great place for kids, animal-lovers, or adults looking to learn more about wildlife. PS: Your kids will love the dinosaurs.

I found my visit to be very estatic. The zoo is well managed and organized. Nice mix of animals. It would take a minimum of 4hrs to experience the entire zoo, but if you have kids it would take more. The cafeteria is wonderful, lots of places to take beautiful photos and lots of places to sit and relax and catch your breath.

Has to be one of the top notch zoo's anywhere. Great for adults and kids. Lots of food places placed through out facility, you can even get a beer or wine if you want. Great parking. Exhibits are amazing. You can see the attention to detail and the care and love that went into to making it a top attraction.

We always have a blast at the zoo. Their newest playground area is so big and entertaining for the kiddos. I wish it was easier to know when will they feed the animals as it's such a cool.experience to observe. We've had the safari brunch and most times it has been great but for some reason last father's day brunch wasn't as enjoyable. Please upgrade the penguin area, it's one of our favorites but its just so narrow that people get crazy in there to watch the penguins. If you come to Calgary, you need to come to the zoo. It won't dissapoint. Arrive early or after lunch to avoid the crowds and expect a lot of people in the summer.

Calgary best place to visit non local animals. I don’t need to buy my ticket in advance as the cashier is free up. They have two gates, North One and West one. North gate is connected with c train and have more parking space. West gate has less parking but near the paddle station. It is better to go on weekday when all the children back in school. Amazing zoo in Alberta and it is worth it to take a membership to revisit.

What a nice surprise! Probably the best zoo we've been to so far in terms of enclosures. Animals tend to have large and clean living areas and you can get REALLY close to the animals! Bears, lions and you can just be one glass wall apart. The penguin section was lots of fun. Again, penguins are swimming right in front of you, so close that they are within reach (do not touch the penguins though!) We are also happily surprised by the Dorothy Harvie garden and the butterfly conservatory--both made us feel like we are not in a zoo but in a botanical garden. Definitely recommend going there in early mornings. Most animals were active and moving around.

A really amazing place to bring kids and enjoy the outing. The zoo is kept clean and well maintained. Volunteers help guide to near exhibits and explore zoos in the best possible way. Don't hesitate to ask them. Cafe options are limited but they do serve good food. Overall we enjoyed it a lot and will definitely revisit

Had a great time at the zoo with the kids. They loved it. There are slides for the kids and a lot more interesting things to do. There are penguins and you can even walk with them. The flowers are so pretty reminds me of summer. Highly recommend visiting the zoo.

Loved it! Give yourself lots of time to explore, I tried to do it in 2 hours and it wasn't enough. I loved visiting the penguins, you get so close to them! The butterfly area was also a favourite! I missed some animals because it was such a hot day they weren't out, and signs at the park note that cooler days are better for seeing the animals.

In calgary Zoo, you will find The penguin zone is just after the entrance, and you will be directed to two main zones: The Asian zone and the African zone .You will find covered rain forest area in addition to butterfly 🦋 protected zone. It is better to go on moderate to cold weather as in hot weather animals will be most time hiding or sleeping. You will also fond drinking water supply and some coffee ,food and ice cream..... Beautiful scenery, and you will need at least between two to three hours to visit the zones. Parking spaces are available for 13 cad for full day. There are lots of adventures and lots of fun. You must visit Calgary Zoo . Enjoy the holiday.

What a special and spectacular all day experiance. Took the family ans we arrived at 10am and didn't leave till 5pm. So many unique and beautiful animals from around the world in habitats that look very well cared for. They even have some really exceptional restaurants on site which we stopped at for lunch and were not disappointed. Absolutely a must see while in Calgary. My only complaint is the price, or was a little expensive but once you realize the overhead of maintaining such a massive facility you kind of forget about it.

Beautiful and clean!! Love all the presentations and the enclosures are nice and big for all the animals! It’s unfortunate that the parking is quite expensive but if you’re planning to go all day then I guess $13/day isn’t too bad. They have such beautiful landscaping too! So pretty that there were 3 weddings being held the day we went! Wonderful zoo!

We were glad we went early in the morning, as when we were leaving (mid afternoon) it was getting busy and there were line up’s for some things (penguins). Bathrooms around the zoo were kept clean. You can bring in your own lunch/ food. Parking was great and plenty. I recommend parking lot B- it seemed closest to the entrance.

Beautiful place, it will be great to have more spaces for animals. Like open areas for Africa. The penguins were great! The dinosaurs are great! They are renovating the Canadian part. Now… all the workers have megaphones and sometimes they are using them too much. Things that they can tell you personally they use de megaphone. I put 4 stars because of this. Thanks!

As a family we visited in august 2023. We arrived when they opened, to make sure we didn’t get caught up in crowds and also because the day was set to be a scorcher at 35 degrees. We started with the penguins, which was worth the entry price alone! You can get up close to them, and we enjoyed getting splashed as they swim up close. We walked around prehistoric park afterwards. We were all impressed with this. A great walk with animatronic dinosaurs and lots to read and learn. We stopped for our packed lunch, then went round and saw the animals. The zoo doesn’t have hundreds of different animals, they seem to have fewer than other zoos I’ve been to, but they give large areas for the animals to live in. Obviously a good thing. So if there’s a certain animal you are hoping to see, best check the website so you aren’t disappointed. We were at the zoo about 4.5 hours in total, and ended the day with an ice cream from the shop, which was massive and a very fair price.

What an amazing place. We had such a great time here, the flows through each exhibit are very efficient and thoroughly thought-out. The zoo is well-maintained and very convenient to get to. Are kids love how there's so many "resting parks" for them to play at everywhere. Makes it easy for parents.

We had a great day at the Zoo. Big enough to have a variety of displays. Small enough to make it easy on those of us that don't want to walk 10 miles to see all the animals. Good food, clean bathrooms and priced fair..

A very magical and special place to visit. The exhibits were captivating, and the staff’s knowledge and passion for conservation were evident. The zoo’s well planned layout made it easy to explore. The African and Canadian exhibits were the highlight. I highly recommend a visit to the Calgary Zoo.

Purchasing a zoo pass has been one of the best things I did. I’ve been to the zoo several times already and love it more each time. There’s so much to see and do, great for the whole family. The staff and volunteers have always been courteous and helpful. Even my teenagers love going with me.

The absolute BEST zoo I have been to so far!! It is jam packed with awesome animals with a good variety of common and unique species. The whole place is all about wildlife conservation. I loved the immersive penguin and lemur exhibits. Food stalls are abundant around every corner and my partner got a root beer float which they loved and didn't expect from a zoo! Also really enjoyed and appreciated the effort put into the non-live exhibits like the garden and dinosaur area. They were both equally as exciting as any other exhibit. MUST VISIT if you are passing by Calgary!

It’s a fabulous lights display in the Calgary zoo! Totally enjoyed the bright lights & displays🎄 1 million lights no kidding 🤩 Staff were very helpful. Had quick stops for coffee/snacks ☕️🍿

The zoo is great! It is very clean, elegant, the animals are well-groomed and active. The animals make every your visit a holiday. Huge gratitude to the staff and volunteers for their hard work. I love the Calgary Zoo! See you soon!