It’s a great zoo! I love the hiking option instead of the escalator. I do wish the animal exhibits were a bit bigger and they would focus on more education around our oceans. Otherwise, they have a great amount of programs and special events that I love to attend and I’m a member of the zoo. There’s always something happening there! I like that they have selections of craft beer and they’re starting to have more food from around the world. It would be nice if 1-2 nights a week they opened later and closed later like 11-7 in the summer months, but I understand that probably throws the animals off their feeding schedules. Photos are from multiple trips.

This is a great place to go with family. I especially enjoyed the elephants, although I am sure they regularly change their exhibits. If you go, plan on bringing extra money for drinks and food. A bottle of Aquafina was $5.35. You could also opt to bring your own water and snacks, but make sure you follow the rules. Today when we checked into the gate, we didn't have anyone check our bags. But always follow the rules they have on their site. It took us about 3 hours to walk briskly around the Zoo. If you want to take your time, I'd give it 5 hours and plan on eating. For those with walking troubles, you can rent a scooter in advance or rent a wheel chair. There are lots of hills to plan for, so make sure you have a good pusher for the chair. It is a wooded area, but sunscreen is still a good thing to have. Most of all, have fun! Hope this helps.

Worth the $26 price of admission just to walk around. There’s always two things you should bring to a zoo trip. Message me if you’d like to know what they are. Not very crowded and even in the cooler temperatures, the animals willfully engage with us, come to meet us at the fences or gates, getting as close as they can.in my opinion, one of the best times of year to visit the zoo

Not a big zoo but it has everything a zoo can exhibit. Most carnivorous animals(Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Lynxes...) were pretty active in their exhibit areas. You can see they are well taken care of. Aquarium is a bit small and the outdoor activity area was so vacant. I only see 3 seals swimming there. Hope to see more on my next visit!!

What a lovely time I had a the Pittsburgh Zoo with my family! It was so nice seeing children, enjoy themselves while looking at the animals. All of the animals seemed very happy, well fed and generally, well maintained. The animal enclosures were very tidy and there were trained staff who appeared to sincerely, care for the animals and treated them very well. The Zoo was laid out very nicely and clearly labeled maps were given to visitors. There is a lot of walking to cover the grounds so the use of comfortable shoes is a must! You can feed a small amount of the animals but most are strongly prohibited. There was lots of information for visitors to read and learn about the animals. There is also a giftshop on the premises and a touch pond located at the front. This is a great place for Children as well as, adults like me who LOVE animals❣

I like the new part of the zoo. A lot of the animals were not visible or in their enclosures. The enclosures seem really small compared to every other zoo I've been too. This zoo is not accredited anymore by the AZA and that is concerning. There is a huge lack of employees which can sour the experience. I recommend using the hiking trail as opposed to using the elevator or escalator. With a little effort, you can easily push a stroller up the hill. It's pressed down dirt and not too steep, most (healthy) people are able to do it easily. Definitely get yourself some Dip N Dots 😋 they are a must have and a family favorite. They have a few gift shops to explore and scooter rentals. They have food options and you can also bring your own lunch. The food is outrageously priced and often sits under a heat lamp all day.

just did the private encounter with the male giraffe. IT WAS AMAZING!! it was a 30 minute encounter. it is only limited to a 5 person group but 2 people didnt show so it ended up being private for us. highly recommended! he was the sweetest animal! you get to be up close and personal with the animal. you get to feed him. they don't let you pet him (for obvious reasons - he's a wild animal.) they do let him smell you though. the zoo keeper was very very nice/ informative. so worth the money. plus the money goes back into animal care which is a plus.. definitely doing the red panda encounter next! overall I'd say spend the money and do a once in a lifetime thing!

I love the zoo! I've been coming here for years. It has a nice easy walk through so you don't really get lost. We recently attended the Asian Lantern Festival and it was such a cool experience! The adults and kids both were amazed.

Family friendly and the animals are well-kept. They have some exotic cats, penguins, and a polar bear. Overall a nice zoo.

This is a small zoo, but quite frankly, I loved it. We were able to get through the zoo in about a little over an hour! 🙌 I’d wear good walking shoes though, lots of hills in the park! I am a BIG souvenir fan, and I was underwhelmed by the gift shops. 🥲 YOU CANT MISS the aquarium! It’s the best attraction in the zoo! Overall, a fantastic experience and definitely affordable! 4 ⭐️s only because there was some confusing walkways and were weren’t sure how to get to a specific place in the zoo. One of the staff was trying to help us, but they too were confused 😐

A fairly average experience overall. There is a lot of very well designed scenery/foliage sections throughout the zoo, although the enclosure decorations and foliage are often a bit lacking. Was surprised to see the relatively small size of many of the exhibits, especially for animals with roaming habits, as well as the large amount of dirty glass. There were a few main exhibits that had no animals, but this was likely due to both time of year and maintenance. The aquarium was quite well done for a zoo, with both good set design and exhibits.

I love the way the zoo is laid out. The paths are easily walkable and shady. There are several viewing areas for each animal that allow you to get up close and personal with all of the animals. We even got to watch an elephant get a bath by one of the caretakers. The photos I'm posting are from my cell phone. It is a great way to spend a day in Pittsburgh, and I strongly recommend checking it out!

LIGHT SHOW EXPERIENCE Really cool experience. We did the drive tour towards the end of the light show dates. Looking forward to next year. Possibly do the walking tour on a cool night. Recommend for family fun night.

Always a very nice zoo! Especially for the price. This time specifically went for the Asian lantern festival. Which usually runs every year on select nights between August and the end of October. It was very creative and artistic. There is things for both kids and adults to enjoy. The live performances from the Asian musicians and dancers were very well done. The predetermined time slots they had helped with the flow of people; which was another plus.

This is a great zoo. Plenty of shade for super sunny days. Animals seemed happy and were out showing off for the people. Not too crowded and easy to maneuver around.

5 star zoo, however, space for animals removes one of them. I get this zoo is shoved into the middle of a city like most, and they try to maximize availability and attractions to get as many people as they can to visit. Walking through this zoo, seeing the animals, we did not feel like they all had the correct space and living requirements as they should have. Visiting many other zoos and always seeing some of the same animals, the spaces for them here were much smaller than others we have visited. Food and drink like usual are the same normal prices. We grabbed drinks from one of the small quick service stands and the guy working was kind of rude, but wont deduct for that as everyone has their days. Others were nice so that balances it out for me. Aquarium was a bit of a let down. Nothing in the underwater tunnel walks, and the penguin area was so fogged up you couldn't see them. There was also a water leak near it that kids seemed to enjoy jumping into getting everyone else wet, but kids will be kids. We were not there at night to see everything light up, but i am sure it would of been awesome. Overall, 2 hours here. This town is odd driving through as every road goes in a circle, literally.

We've been to the zoo many times before and have always enjoyed it. We went last night to the Asian Lantern Festival, it was a BEAUTIFUL and WONDERFUL experience!! If you have never been to it, I would highly recommend going at least once. We had an awesome family night! Here's a couple pictures but I'm not going to ruin the experience by posting all the one's they have.

I've been coming to this zoo my whole life and I still love it. Some of the exhibit signage is looking a bit dated at this point, like decades old, but they've been working on improvements to a lot of areas. The new section called "The Islands" is really cool. Major downside is it's built on a giant hill so there's very little flat space. If you have mobility issues I highly recommend bringing an electric wheelchair if you can and if not there are electric scooters you can rent, but they do cost $35 so be prepared. If you want to actually read all the information about the animals it will take at least 4-5 hours. There's a fun kid's section with some cool giant slides. It tends to get crowded on weekends so if you want it a little emptier go on a weekday during the school year. The bathrooms aren't very handicap accessible unfortunately, some have a regular push door to get in and most are just very tight for a wheelchair. I think they don't anticipate many wheelchair users due to the very steep hills. But overall definitely a fun time where you can spend the entire day. Also recommend the yearly Lantern Festival. Great performances all evening by different groups, like dancers and Taiko drummers.

Nice zoo, very clean. Pretty busy for January with small children, can’t imagine how busy it would be in the summer. Not American so the lack of space the animals have to roam is very odd to me, I hope they have more area to roam when the zoo is closed.. since the enclosures are so small, there’s not a lot of walking and we got through the entire zoo in a couple of hours. Most of the exhibits were open in the cold weather.

The zoo lights were a little pricey even as a member. They were nice but for 30 minutes not alot to offer for $60 and 40 if you have a membership.

Really enjoyed my visit and look forward to seeing the whole zoo once warmer weather is here. I'd like to thank the zoo for allowing military veterans free admission. I was very surprised and excited to see they had red pandas there as well.

Always a great facility to visit. The animals are well-cared for while also being visible in fun environments, the staff are friendly throughout the entire park, and there's always great events going on. Right now, their Asian Lantern Festival is truly spectacular. Wonderful trip to make any time of year. I highly recommend visiting.

We made a spur of the moment day trip up to the Zoo with our 5 yr old and she had so much fun. They’ve expanded since I last went, and it took us a few hours to get around the whole park. She enjoyed seeing all of the animals, got to watch a show at the seals exhibit, fed a rhino, pet a sting ray, and a goat. We enjoyed stopping to play at the playground and there were plenty of places to rest, eat, drink and take nice family pics. Overall a nice fun day. We will definitely be going back soon!

Nice zoo to spend a few hours at. Almost all of the animals were out with the exception of one of the bird enclosures and the polar bear. We got there early enough to see everything while it was cooler outside but by the late afternoon a lot of the animals weren't viewable as it was quite steamy out. I'm assuming they were hiding from the sun, which I can't blame them for! Though I do wish that the glass that the animals were behind was cleaned more regularly. Also some of the enclosures seemed quite small, especially the Orangutan exhibit. I love how the layout is linear and you don't waste time trying to navigate enclosures. The aquarium was a nice end to the day but I wish that the tanks were a bit more clean/clear. Also with the skylight in the main area the reflections made it practically impossible to take photos. All that said if you like visiting zoos this one is nice overall.

So I went on a day that was gloomy and lightly raining. It was awesome! Most people don't want to walk in the rain, so I was able to see the animals in peace and quiet. I also got to see each animal by myself with no one else around or fighting for a spot to see the animals. I spent probably 30 min watching the tigers with no one bothering me. It was serene. The layout of the zoo is awesome because it is just a huge loop that allows you to see everything. The only downside to going on a slightly rainy day is some of the animals aren't out in the exhibits but they are in their enclosures. You can still see them and I think get closer because it's just glass separating you from them.

Decided to spontaneously check out the zoo on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Was a little worried because there was what appeared to be a large line, but it was just a school trip that they quickly got through the gates. Pricing was fair and there was a lot to see. Animals seemed active and happy. I'm not a zoologist so I can't claim to know what the proper treatment of animals is, but most everything seemed in order. There was an eel and a picture of an elephant that I had questions about, but otherwise no complaints. Only a few exhibits we're closed, still plenty to see. Large kids area with tons of activities. Not sure if we'll be back, but we did enjoy our day there.

The zoo itself is beautiful. Lots of lovely plants around. The animals however, coming from a couple who's loves animals and knows quite a bit about them, some of the enclosures looked a little small and some of the animals looked EXTREMELY bored. They were also not very clean, which was a little sad to see. We got lunch here also and the food was cold when it got to us and it wasn't great, the bacon on our burger was burnt to a crisp. There was a few animals I was looking forward to seeing and they weren't in there at all. Be prepared there's also A LOT of uphills walking, my partner and I are disabled so it was a bit difficult. Overall, it's OKAY. But far from the greatest zoo I've ever been too.

The Asian Lantern Festival was amazing! A lot of work put into it and something you just can't miss. Live shows, food, drinks, and merchandise to purchase. I bought a lantern for 20 dollars, it is beautiful. Something fun to do with the whole family. Purchase tickets online in advance and pick a time helps you save a little. Also, don't go expecting to see many animals. There are very few viewable, but you won't even care about that. There is also the merry go round running for 4 dollars.

It was a nice fall day when we went so it wasn't very crowded. The Asian Lantern Festival exhibits was a nice added touch. It just didn't seem like we saw a lot of animals though. A few of the animals such as the polar bears were not out, so we wish we would have seen them. Some of the exhibits did get a little crowded, so it was hard to see. It was an overall enjoyable afternoon though

Perfect size zoo for a day with the family. The exhibits are beautiful and large enough that the animals look happy but not so large you can't see half of what you're there for. My kids always enjoy a day here. Asian Lantern Festival and other activities are a huge bonus.

My family and I had an amazing time! There were a few exhibits that were closed and we were disappointed to see that the glass hadn’t really been maintained and trash in some of the exhibits, even behind the glass. But the experience was still really cool. The hippo was something we’d never got to see so close at other zoos and there were a lot of cool features around the park. I think Covid-19 just kinda dampened some of the other cool things not being offered at this time.

It's a nice zoo, very nice animals. Vending machines don't work that well but all together it was nice. We biked 6 miles from our hotel to get to the Zoo. Honestly it was a great experience and a nice reward for the journey. Thank you

The Pittsburgh Zoo is a fun and wonderful day trip. Took my two grandsons and had a blast! All of the animals are in their natural habitats. We were able to see them all as they wondered around, interacted with each other and ate. The boys really loved it! The aquarium and aquatic part of the zoo has a vast variety of fish, corals and other sea life. Love, love the penguins!!!

We had a great time! The kids enjoyed seeing all the animals close up! We had our dog (who is my husband's service animal), and because of him, all the animals wanted to come close to the glass or fence. He made good friends with the male tiger too!

It was honestly really fun. I haven't been to the Zoo in many years. It wasn't too crowded overall. Once in the aquarium it was pretty packed though. My partner and I wore our masks indoors. They had the huge lanterns out for the Asian lantern festival, even though they were not lite they were so fascinating and made the experience more entertaining. The Zoo is an awesome way to spend a Saturday for a great price.

I love coming to the zoo. It's always a fun time. Today they had the majority (if not all) of the animals out. The Aquarium was open. All the gift shops were open. The food venues were open. Even then smaller drink stands around the zoo were open. Sometimes (prior to the pandemic) these smaller drink stands were not open. Also, walking the zoo is great exercise 🙂. For those that want to get their steps in, you can do that while taking in the sights and sounds of the zoo.

Turns out late Sept or early Oct is a great time to visit. All of the animals were up and active all day in the cooler weather. Also, the whole park was decorated for the Chinese lantern festival which looked awesome. However, many of the food stands are closed this time of year (reduced staff like the amusement parks) so skip the souvenir cups since there no real opportunities to refill them, unless you backtrack.

I have not been to the zoo in years. I have not been there since the updating. We loved it so much. It really is a beautiful zoo. It had Disney animal kingdom vibes . I loved eating lunch outside with the view of the giraffes, elephants and zebras. My kids want to go again tomorrow haha.

Loved the zoo part so much. Such a nice selection of animals to view and they were all out and about (not something we see at many other zoos). They also had a bunch of fun facts about them as well, definitely one of the best zoos we’ve been too and you can tell the zoo cares for their animals. We got to see a gorilla for the first time, tiger perched on his mountain, tigers interacting, elephants interacting, and penguins up close when they’re swimming. Aquarium was ok. It’s definitely hard to compete with others we have seen like the Boston Aquarium. The stingray section where children and adults can go to pet them was a nice touch! I definitely recommend this zoo:)!

This is a wonderful zoo for a school feild trip. The student had a blast! Very educational. Paths were easy to navigate with several animals to see. Loved the aquarium. Students could see the fish up close. It was exciting for the student to get close to the Kangaroos in the walk. Definitely a must. Two different outside play areas and discovery center there. Definitely worth the trip.

This place is fantastic. Took us almost 5 hours to walk the entire thing. It was all so pretty. Such fun for only $20. Loved it.

Great place we loved all of the animals. Very educational trip! Lot's of walking so bring your own water container and wear comfortable shoes, cause the minimum cost for a drink is $5.00 The aquarium is small but never the less some cool species. Enjoy your trip!

Extensive zoo with a wide variety of animals. The African elephants are a particular highlight, as are the gorillas and the Arctic seashore mammals. The layout is easy to follow, though there is a fair amount of walking. Some of the enclosures are beginning to show their age and many signs and even whole buildings have not had updates in decades, but there are also some great renovated exhibits and a whole new area (as of spring 2023).

Really enjoyed our visit today. We had fun with all the exhibits. Seeing all the animals out and in view was exciting. Love the free parking. They honor military service members, active and veterans too

The zoo was nice. They do not advertise it but military personnel with ID can get in free. They do accept credit cards. Although you may not receive a receipt paying with a credit card. The new hippo was on display but the enclosure is designed in a way you can't see him in the bottom corner. Many guests of the zoo are rude and ager to see the animals. This does not stop at children being excited. Adults have no common courtesy. There are no longer discount tickets to the zoo. So spur of the moment trips cost you more. The only way to get a cheaper ticket is to plan ahead. The animals seemed hot but cared for. The bathrooms and walkways were clean. Trash cans were not overflowing or gross. It is easy to spend the entire day there.

I normally have a great time at this zoo. Normally, they have some sort of educational event going on. This day all of the animals were out, many were sleeping but you could still see them. A few times I was able to interact with their animals. Highly recommend this zoo

This is a good zoo built into the side of a large hill, there is tons of parking and the entrance fees are reasonable. There is a lot to see animal wise including some larger ones like Elephants, Rhinos, Lions, giraffes, Tiger... The aquarium is also very cool and there are lower levels that look up into the tanks which is super cool to look up at. In regards to food there is a large food court with a lot of stuff on offer but you will be paying elevated prices for run of the mills food. There are a number of festivals and events at the zoo with the Asian Lantern festival being a real treat. My favorite part is you have three options in regards to entering the zoo. You can either take the elevator, ride a very long and steep escalator or you can take a trail which is the way I always go.

Nice zoo, some habitats were smaller than what animals get at other zoos. This feels like an older zoo. But had lots to see with great viewing opportunities. We enjoyed our time here. Traveled with a 1 year old and all had fun.

We go to the zoo often and love it. This was our first time we went with the Asian Lantern Festival going on though. All the decorations were amazing!

Zoo Boo Days Sunday 9am-3pm family fun for everyone. The Steel City Ghostbusters were there taking pictures and handing out candy 🍭. It was great to see families in costume trick or treating. Everyone of all ages especially enjoyed the parade and many other treats. 2023

My son (9), wife, and I went for the day and it was a fun time. Due to the heat some of the animals weren't very active during midday, but that's to be expected. The aquarium is a great place to refresh if you need a break (air conditioning). The price wasn't bad either, but I guess it changes based on their capacity.

One of the best places in our city. We did the Asian Lantern Festival and it was just amazing. Highly suggest it not only for children, but adults as well. Beautiful display of Asian culture. Colors are so vibrant and yet so unbelievably calming. It's a must see!

New to area and wife took me for day off. Lots of interesting animals. Though a few exhibits were empty, or closed. They are expanding the zoo, and remodeling exhibits. Still plenty to see and get up close to even during the pandemic. Great place for family and kids.

I was a little disappointed with the zoo it was pretty small. They don’t have any animals compared to other zoos I’ve been to. I felt like the animals don’t have a lot of space from what I could see. Some of the animals they did have were either asleep or not there at the time we passed their enclosure. I really wanted to see the Polar bear but he wasn’t there. The one tiger at the zoo was beautiful and the Red Pandas were really cute.

Awesome time. The zoo and aquarium were amazing. Great day out. Beautiful weather. Great family outing. Clean facility and amazing staff.

We got a personal christmas lights tour because our "vehicle" was too long to drive thru..... It was a limo. But Allen drove us through in a golf cart so the kids wouldnt miss out. It was the best night ever for my kids. Thank you Allen the Australian! It was awesome!

Gorgeous location in Pittsburgh. Decent social distancing set up with one way paths except for the Aquarium, which is due to its design, so as long as you're careful it should safe. Animals looked happy and well cared for.

Absolutely give this place 5 stars! Their exhibits were keen with creative though;.the animals appeared healthy and active. Even the walk through the zoo.was well spaced and clear and clearly you you in a circle that didn't seem too long or.too.short. Loved the fact that the zoo also included an aquarium. We a great.duetic idea! Truly phenomenal and so glad I went!!!

Pretty cool. A lot of hills be prepared to get your walk on. Animals seem to be very close to you so you are able to get get pictures. I would recommend paying them a visit. Either get there early or catch a Uber the parking looks like a headache.

I absolutely love the zoo. It's always clean and everyone there is always so nice and helpful. I can not stand the prices of food (38 bucks for a pizza?) But I guess that's just par for the course when you have a captive audience and can get away with gouging. But even considering that I still give it 5 stars because they deserve it. It is a wonderful experience especially if you have children.

I loved it during our visit in like 2017?/18? This zoo is the best zoo in pennsylvania.

The red pandas are so cute

The Christmas light drive through was truly well put together. The staff are a joy and the zoo is well kept. 😍

Great staff with working knowledge of animals.

Zoo Light Display I understand you probably haven't had the foot traffic so charging 60 a vehicle recoups some money, however I just wish for the money there were actual displays. There are a ton of blank areas. Imo wrapping a few trees only goes so far. Where is the Xmas themes, where is some charm, some heart, some warmth? A few scattered animal Light displays all a carbon copy of each other is it ? And some wrapped trees? I just feel it is about as mediocre as it gets. How about creating some actual displays that create memories as opposed to random trees wrapped with lights. We visited shadraks and it was the same, just very bland, no warmth, just lights slapped around. I'm sorry to those who still hung these as I'm sure that took work but it feels very lackluster. As I tell anyone, head to Clinton Pa Light displays to see how you do a true warm, light display. Sorry to have to write this but we all thought it was quite a let down.

Great zoo!

Lights were cool 👍

Very disappointed by the zoo light drivethru. We drove 2 hours to the zoo for a family Christmas trip and it lasted a whole 20 minutes max. The FAQ section on the website clearly said it takes 60 minutes to drive thru, but it wasn't anywhere close to that. I relied on previous reviews that this would be a great light display, but that was a mistake. While the lights they had were pretty, it was nothing in comparison to other light displays I've seen. At a whopping $126 JUST to get in, this event is not worth it.

Zoo lights were awesome

Best zoo for having fun with Kids

It’s a zoo, it’s fine I guess, nothing too exciting

We went through the christmas light show and it was beautiful.

Winter lights were fantastic, well done!

Zoo lights was so cool!!

Awesome Christmas light display. The staff was so friendly and our kids loved it.

Very nice light show

Zoo lights drive through was amazing !

Christmas lights were beautiful.

The Zoo Lights drive through was fabulous! To see so many of the animals we visit at the zoo rendered as beautiful light-up art was wonderful! My 6 year old son was excited to spot each new animal as we wound our way though the zoo. We were also able to listen to the Zoo's audio program which only enhanced the experience! We had brought our own cookies and hot cocoa, but there were also plenty of treats available for purchase. Must see!!

One of the best and kids always have a good time here

Amazing job with the zoo lights!

Great as always❤

Fabulous place to take a date or the kids

I love this place and the membership is worth it

Went to see Christmas Lights they were fantastic. Very well put together for the drive thru. Everyone was very nice.

Zoo lights were so beautiful and amazing! Well done!! Well definately put this on our list for next year!!!

Went to the zoo lights. It was well done and a fun experience.

Favorite pittsburgh destination

Zoo and aquarium combo ! Due to COVID you are required to wear a mask for safety. You are able to purchase tickets at location and online . There’s also a discount on tickets for active military and Veterans.

Incredible environment for learning, exceptionally clean facilities and friendly staff.

We really appreciate that this is still a place we can go to during this time of COVID. However, I do wish that they would work a little harder at reminding customers to utilize their masks when indoors or in crowds. We had two separate incidents where this really could have been addressed by their staff. Once in the aquarium where a group of men were walking through without any masks and once when there was a crowd around the sea lions at feeding time with a staff member right there.

Good for a short trip.

Awesome zoo

Great place to spend the day. Definitely wear your walking shoes, and comfy outfit. Better to go in the cooler months.

Highly recommend going when it's a bit chilly, that's when the animals are most active.

It's okay. I personally felt like it could be a little cleaner. On top of that they weren't like the absolutle worst but some of the staff could of been much more helpful and informative. Its still worth going for the children to be in awe at the animal's

Alot of construction but still fun time

Such a beautiful park. I love that everytime we go back they have something new being added. They made the best of the quarantine process. Still required to wear a mask but they don't bother you if you take it off after walking past security.

Fun zoo and aquarium. Different animals. Has a peacock roaming around by the seals!! Clean friendly zoo. Lots of things to do. You go up huge escalator or use elevator. Its pretty neat.

I was weary because it was almost $75 for 4 people. After over 4 hours, 4 miles walked, and 10000+ steps I am happy to say it is definitely worth the price. Be prepared to walk, A LOT. The enclosures are up close and personal. Animals were very active. Food needs to be ordered ahead of time which we passed up on. Sorry, but $37 for a pizza is too much, even for zoo pricing. Souvenir cups are available to purchase for $5 and are cute. Otherwise you pay $4 for a medium sized soda with no lid or straw. We are from NY and were in Pa for the weekend. Definitely was a nice side trip for us.

I haven’t been to the Pittsburgh Zoo since I was a kid, I just decided to go back and enjoy a day out with my family during these crazy COVID times. It was a blast and the animals seemed to be enjoying their time! I was really impressed by the aquarium as well. They have a decent number of food options at the food court area and plenty of fun things to do for kids. I would definitely recommend going here, especially during these times!

I love this park and how it’s set up, especially with the glass to make you feel like you’re underwater. I love seeing sea creatures swim directly to my side and I can tell my kids love the glass tunnel too. This park is just overall amazing!

Fun zoo and aquarium. Different animals. Has a peacock roaming around by the seals!! Clean friendly zoo. Lots of things to do. You go up huge escalator or use elevator. Its pretty neat.But The food they sell was to much pricey.

It is a really great and beautiful zoo. Great for kids. There are various animals including lions, tigers, cheetah, leopard, giraffe, zebra, flamingos, and monkeys. There is an aquarium but it is small and it does not have a vast variety of fishes. There are several restrooms there and they are almost clean. Also, there are several restaurants with many food options. I did not try them but many they were busy. There are a few beverage vending machines but they are cash only.

Absolutely loved all the animal figures throughout the zoo for the Asian Lantern Festival. Was happily surprised with the recent changes to the enclosures. Sad there were no polar bears out for the day but overall most of the animals were awake and moving around. We had a great time.

I've always enjoyed visits here. The upgrades have been great. I do miss the bears. The Lantern Festival is beautiful!! I greatly appreciated the descriptions that explained the meaning of each. Big cats are big favorites. And the joyful otters!!!@

They had the lantern displays out. They were beautiful. Really enjoyed the day at the zoo, it was peaceful and relaxing. Will be going back for the lantern festival. I'm sure it will be a great experience. What more can you ask for.... lantern displays, a animals and gorgeous flowers on display!

The zoo is always a good time. But, go see the Asian Lanterns while they are there this year too! Spectacular sights. Little crowded, but not awful in that regard. Some pics for a tease I have added. But there are so many more to see and the pics don't do them justice. Go see for yourself!

Always loved the zoo. About to experience the Lantern Festival🐲UPDATE: The Lantern Festival was incredibly beautiful and so much fun! We even saw a Karate performance. I had such a great time🐉🎏

Recently visited with my family, wife and 3 daughters (3, 7 and 9). We loved everything about the place. It's nice to see such a variety of species in a Zoo, all in 1 day. The enclosures seemed comfortable for the animals and in most cases the animals were easily viewed. The Aquarium is a decent bonus to the Zoo itself. Not the biggest but it does show a decent number of animals in the smaller space. There was adequate shade and places to take breaks from the vigorous terrain that the Zoo occupies. Really tough to get around with a wagon, and I would imagine wheelchairs and strollers would be an equal chore. It was a great day all in all, the only issue we had was finding decent parking, took about 15 minutes to find a spot. Maybe adding a parking garage in the future might help.

The entrance into the actual exhibits was long. But once you make it to the animals it was fantastic! They did have the lantern display along the way and that was pleasant! The number and variety of animals was really good. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit!

We've been to several zoos and this one is our favorite so far. The park had a great variety of animals in enclosures that made it easy to observe and learn about the animals. There were fun activities along the way, including these cool swings. Having an aquarium too was a great value for the money. While we didn't go at night, the Asian lantern displays were amazing and worth seeing in the daytime. The food was extremely expensive and they only had one register open. Getting food took about 15 minutes and paying for it took another 15. Our fries and pizza were cold before we could eat them. Once we got lunch though, we were able to watch the giraffes and zebras while we ate. That was pretty cool. Aside from eating, the rest of the trip was awesome. Just so you know. Getting into the zoo meant riding an escalator that was extremely steep. My daughter was too afraid to come down it. They have an elevator but we opted for a walking trail. It was also steep, but manageable when dry.

Nice zoo. I really wish the polar bear exhibit was open when we went. It looks really nice. The penguins were awesome.

We went to the Asian Lantern Festival! It will be there till the end of October. It’s great for Everyone! If you can’t go this year make sure you go next year. It’s spread out thru out the Zoo. I am reviewing the event only.

The PZ was a great place. Loved every minute of the 4 or 5 hours we spent there. Little disappointed that we didn't see the polar bear. We tried twice to see him and it was a no show. I'd recommend the zoo to place signs out when animals are not going to be shown during the day for whatever reason.

My children and grandchildren took me for my birthday as a surprise. It was Very Beautiful, Bright and Big. We loved all the sights, well done attractions. Someone got married had their reception there. Only problem was the ticket lines, the 1st step to entry sucked up to 6lines whether tickets was prepaid on line or not, just wasnt organized clearly at all.

Had a difficult time finding something worth going to in Pittsburgh but this place was great. The weather that day was perfect which made the experience even better. I loved my time there.

The Pittsburgh Zoo had numerous programs throughout the year and offers many seasonal delights; one of which is the "Asian Lantern Festival." All of their programs are aesthetically beautiful sand very entertaining. Every time that I have gone I thoroughly enjoyed myself. . .as did everyone with me! Check out their website calendar for special events, programs and features so you don't miss out! The Zoo itself has beautiful meandering paths and many benches upon which you may rest as it is a long walk. Most of the paths are easy to traverse, however, for the infirm, aged, and physically challenged (of which I am one) there is one moderately steep, long, straight path that can be difficult because there are no benches along this inclined path. I advise that those who tire easily, have lower back problems, or have physical infirmities, to rest for 15-30 minutes at the base of this pathway before beginning the incline. Please don't let the aforementioned paragraph scare you off. Most of the zoo is easily navigated, save this one stretch of walkway. Take a look at my photos of the "Asian Lantern Festival," which I recently attended. It was a magnificent display — absolutely mesmerizing — that entertained everyone in our party, without exception. If you have toddlers who still use strollers. . .bring them! Parents who didn't, regretted it halfway through the zoo. Little ones will tire if walking. Children ages 10 and up have no difficulty. There are several places where you may buy snacks, drinks, souvenirs and more along the paths. I'm a diabetic and ALWAYS thirsty. I brought a stainless steel mug, filled with ice and tea, and there was no problem. Restrooms are clean and plentiful. The Pittsburgh Zoo is well worth your money, time, and effort! Make a special memory an GO! ENJOY.

Absolutely loved this zoo and aquarium!! It is very well kept, updated, not run down at all! Lots of animals, and the lantern festival is amazing! Great area for kids to play as well! They allow you to bring bags in, including lunch/water which was great! Very educational as well, as there are multiple signs with information about animals!!

The zoo was nice. Seemed a little smaller than our zoo back home. The aquarium was not impressive. But, they do have some larger sea/water animals, like sea lions, otters and a shark or two. We did the animal encounter and I definitely recommend it. Drinks were $5

You can tell they really take care of the animals there. All around a great experience. Great value when you consider the aquarium and zoo are all in one location for the same price.

Went during the Chinese Lantern festival. Was so nice! Great zoo! Very clean. Lots of hills and walking

Went on a Tuesday and there was barely anyone which I enjoyed. I am from California and this is by far the best experience I had. No wait and not crowded so I was able to take my time and see all the animals with barely anyone around. Bathrooms were cleaned!

Nice day, my boyfriend and I decided to take his daughter on a Sunday and it was not crowded which was our preference. I remember taking my kids when they were little so I was kind of excited to see how things had changed since I had been there last which had been many years. There were some sprinkles that we thought were going to show up and make things sketchy but it turned out to be a very nice day to visit. Overcast and a little chilly but not too bad overall. It was the take down of the Chinese festival so we saw the last of the exhibits. Wish that we had actually come to see it when it was up because what we did see looked pretty cool. The one complaint that I have is that for the price of the tickets there were a lot of empty animal exhibits. I feel that if there weren't going to be that many animals available to see then they should have at least offered a discount to the tickets. We did get to see the lions, rhinos, giraffes, elephants, seals, flamingos, monkeys, bats (which were really stinky 🤣), the aquarium and sting rays that were really cool were probably my favorite. Overall a decent thing to do instead of sitting in front of the tv on the weekend but I didn't think it was worth the cost of the ticket, sorry Pittsburgh zoo. I think you need to amp up your game compared to what you used to have for us to see. Btw, where was the polar bear??

Went on a school field trip with CCA it was a nice clean zoo. Not all of the animals were out (,assuming it's too cold for them) I would definitely take the 3 1/2 hour drive to see it again with the whole family!

It's great to take the kids to a quick zoo trip and some lunch in downtown. We drive from Wheeling and can do the zoo in 2hrs. We love the aquarium side!!

Had a wonderful day. The Lions were so vocal today. The animals were very active. Love our Pittsburgh Zoo.

I have visited the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium several times over the past several years. Of course, during the summer months, more animals are outside in their exhibits, and during the winter months, many animals are inside buildings and cannot be seen by visitors. Nevertheless, I have always enjoyed walking around the paths and seeing up to several thousand animals. Prior to the pandemic, this zoo had really fun animal encounters, and I hope that those are brought back in future years. Some souvenir shops and restaurants are available. Tickets are reasonably priced, and parking is free.

Very clean and way more attractions and animals than we anticipated. Price for entry was very reasonable for everything included. Didn't see a few animals, but the sanctuaries were great. Tons of actual plant life and not fake terrarium plastic plants. Highly recommended for families.

Such a neat experience in winter! The penguins were on parade! The African animals minus the elephants were not on site. The staff was pleasant and there was no crowd.

My boyfriend and I were visiting from Buffalo and it was relatively a fun time and we loved seeing all the animals they had out. A few exhibits were empty either for renovations or it being too cold or something, but it was still really enjoyable. It was a lot bigger than our zoo and the aquarium was super cool, especially the big tank that covered both floors. The only thing that wasn't great is that most of the food places there were closed so we had to wait for like 45 minutes before we were able to get anything to eat.

If you like all kinds of cats, here are a lot of big cats! You might see lions, tigers, lynxes, cheetahs, Clouded Leopard, and leopard cats. When season changes and the weather becomes warm, you'll see more animals from Africa. Just spend whole day here and enjoy!

The Pittsburgh zoo is always fun. They are expanding on to the aquarium and it is going to be amazing

We went for the Chinese Lantern festival. The display was beautiful. Especially after dark. Be forewarned it's a lot of walking. Up hill and down. You can reserve a scooter,but they go fast .So if you need a scooter reserve one asap. The only disappointment was the were supposed to have food available, Chinese food. But it was at the very top of the hill of the zoo.But by the time we were able to make our way to the top of the hill it was closed( we were the first group admitted in for the event that night. ) Some of the other food booths that were supposed to be available were also closed. There were a couple open at the entrance and beer and popcorn at the top of the hill. All in all we still enjoyed the event. The staff was nice and they had some nice souvenirs.

We came for Father's Day as a family since my dad and I had free entry. We had a great day. All the animals were out and about, the food wasn't too expensive for a zoo, and our son loved the aquarium. It was really busy so parking was a bit difficult, but staff were helpful and friendly and the zoo was extremely clean and easy to get around.

Zoo was ok. Not as good as expected. Granddaughter loved the aquarium. Lots of walking. Various places to buy food and drink. We went to the Grill and the Chicken basket was actually very good! Chicken was in large pieces and moist. Beware the escalator is very high up and jerky so hang on! The elevator was also jerky. I did not notice regular stairs or i would have taken them. There are several slides for kids; 2 for younger and 2 for older but the ones for older kids was closed. And they lacked any other place for kids to play.

I was super impressed with this zoo. It was larger than many other zoos I've been too and each exhibit had multiple viewing points for guests to see the animals. In addition to this, the animals were all very active when we were there. The food prices ranged between 8 to 14 dollars for lunch items but the food was filling. Definitely worth the visit. And near the end of the zoo there is a huge kids playground with climbing nets, numerous slides and tunnels.

Overall felt this was a disappointing experience. The zoo felt quite limited with very few exciting exhibits, especially so when compared to other big city zoos. The aquarium was a little better but also paled in comparison to many full sized aquariums. It's fine if you're in the area but really not worth traveling to otherwise. With all that being said, there were a few cool exhibits and the price was cheaper than I paid for some better zoos so it's not bad from a value standpoint.

I love a good zoo but was super upset when I went this time around. They took out the stingray and coral feel tank in the aquarium which was one of the most interactive exhibits at the zoo and they had no sea turtles or polar bears out either. The best part was seeing the baby gorilla with its momma.

Be prepared to walk up hills and down hills. Tram runs every 20 to 35 minutes for those with walking issues. Great zoo and aquarium. Was an overcast day with off and on showers, but the wildlife was out and about. The cats were especially playful. I especially enjoyed the aquarium. Lots of different fish from all over the world with pictures and relative facts. Fair price at $26 for non-members and $24 for senior citizens. Great way to spend the afternoon.

Very nice Zoo & Aquarium. The price if admission includes the Aquarium. It has a few slight hills to climb. After all, we are in the beginning of the Appalachian mountains. I saw my first blue lobster in the Aquarium. The animals are very well cared for and are in as natural environment that is possible. There is a kids zoo section that my Granddaughter really enjoyed.

This is such a good zoo, plus the aquarium is such a big bonus, it could be a stand alone park. I loved how the zoo was a big loop so you don't miss any exhibits. Being able to pet kanagroos and wallabys is just icing on the cake.

Pittsburgh zoo is a nice place for families or a day date. The exhibits are nicely taken care of. I wish some of them could still be bigger for some of the animals. Walk ways are nicely taken care of. Eating areas well kept. One negative not alot of variety of food, but you are allowed to bring in your own food.

We had a great experience at the zoo. The kids area was unexpected but a lot of fun. In addition to animals, there was an playground/climbing nets. They put a lot of active animals in the kids area. There were great good options and it came out quickly. It was even served on ceramic plates. Be aware that it is a hilly zoo..staff were very friendly and it seemed well maintained

I have been here 3-4 times, and live 4 hours away. It is a great zoo. Very well maintained with plenty of animal exhibits. Something for everyone! A lot of *free* (well, you pay admission) activities for kids to let them run out some energy.

Great zoo! I underestimated how much time we'd need. It's definitely large enough to spend a full day there. We got here around 1:30pm and ran out of time when they started closing up around 5pm. Had to skip the kid discovery/reptile area. Kids loved it and there's a decent variety of creatures, all well kept and clean.

THE BEST ZOO I’VE EVER BEEN TO! I think I was more excited than my 17 month daughter. Very clean and many Aninals to see! This is a great time for family’s or couples.

We took our two daughters here and had a wonderful time. What a great place!! Plus, the polar bears are super fun and love to put on a show! We saw one that was walking back and forth with a big smile on his face for all, I loved it!!! And, the sting ray loves to see people too!

I came here with my family and we had a good time. Lots of animals to see and plenty of stuff to do if you choose to see their educational talks and feedings. My favorite part of the day was watching the sea lions get fed. I also really enjoyed watching the otters swim around. They are just so cute. The reason I gave a 4 star rating and not 5 is because, in my opinion, the eel did not have an adequate enclosure. It was way too small for such a large fish. Other people passing by thought the same thing. The tank was way too small for that eel. I also wish they wouldn't let people tap/smack the plexiglass enclosures. I feel like that annoys/stresses out the animals, and it causes fingerprints everywhere. Overall, it was a good experience, and my family and I would come back again.

I thought an afternoon at a zoo for 2 young men visiting from Nicaragua, would be a new adventure for all. This was my first visit to the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. We arrived early Saturday afternoon. Purchased tickets online, allowing rapid entry. Beautifully decorated. We were able to see everything before the 5:00pm closing. Will definitely return and possibly join !

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is an exceptional destination for animal lovers and families alike. The variety of animals from around the world is captivating, and the enclosures are designed to provide a comfortable and natural habitat for them. Walking through the exhibits feels like a global safari, with informative signage enhancing the experience. The combination of a zoo and an aquarium is a unique feature, offering a diverse range of aquatic life in addition to the land animals. The underwater tunnel in the aquarium section provides a mesmerizing view of marine creatures swimming overhead. One of the highlights is the commitment to conservation and education. The zoo's efforts to raise awareness about endangered species and the importance of preserving their habitats are commendable. Various interactive activities and keeper talks provide valuable insights into animal behavior, habits, and conservation efforts. Navigating the zoo is easy, and there are plenty of spots to rest and enjoy refreshments. The well-maintained grounds and friendly staff contribute to a pleasant and educational visit. Whether you're an animal enthusiast or just looking for a fun day out, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium offers an unforgettable experience for all ages.

I'm from California, and we visited the Pittsburgh Zoo, and I will say it's rather small, but what I did like is that I can actually see the animals. Comparing this to the San Diego Zoo the enclosures are quite a bit smaller which gives you more access to visibility in terms of the animals, but it also led to us indulging in the scents of the animals a lot more as well. Most of the cat exhibits you could noticeably smell their urine and the other Dynamic of the smaller exhibits was the fact that they were just smaller and so it was kind of sad in certain circumstances that the animals didn't have as much roaming grounds, but that's not to say that they didn't have enough I suppose. Also, everything was closed, it seemed like. Most of the snack stands were closed some of the gift shops were closed and it just added to this overall kind of down feel to the park which in some ways was amazing because obviously it was not very busy at all and very chill and relax, but in other ways it's just inconvenient. I would still absolutely recommend this Zoo to anyone going to pittsburgh.

Wonderful place to spend the day. If you take your time, you can easily spend the entire day here - especially if you go when they have something special, like the Asian Lantern Festival. If an animal isn't out when you first stop by, just come back later. This was especially true for the Polar Bear, who would go back and forth between being outside and going back inside.

We went to the Chinese lantern festival in October . It was fantastic, fun for the whole family. It took about an hour and a half to walk through. If you have never been to it before, it is a must-see. And it was not too expensive . And no, you don't really see any live animals there... but we could make out the Giraffe's in one viewing area because of the lighting. It really was beautiful and we had a great time.

We went to the Asian Lantern Festival at the zoo and if you've never gone, put it on your things to do list! Exceeded my expectations! Had a blast. Lots to look at and lots to eat 😉! Tix were 20 a piece but worth every penny.

The Asian lantern festival was amazing. The lanterns were beautiful and enjoyable for ALL ages. They had a few performers which were intriguing to watch (I wish there were more throughout the park). I’m so happy I went and would definitely return in the future.

We attended the Asian Lantern Festival and it was beautiful! Even in the rain it was worth the walk around. Highly recommend if your family enjoys Christmas lights or similar activities.

We visited the Pittsburgh Zoo early October 2023. The last time we visited was in 2018. I was particularly interested in the Asian Light Festival and went for that reason, upon entering the park, I soon realized that was a separate ticket all together. I had assumed it would have been included with our ticket purchase. In comparison to our previous visits, the park now seems run down. I noticed areas that were in need of repair, but the park was doing its best to keep it operational. I am guessing that just like everywhere else, they were short staffed. Food places were overly expensive. For two kids meals and two chicken tender meals, we paid $80. Quality was mediocre. Going in the fall has its benefits. The animals seemed more active. The cooler temperatures were likely the reason. I would suggest going when gates open if you are wanting to see feeding times. Those experiences were over by the time we got there at noon. Overall, I gave an average score. Prices were high, but that is necessary to keep the animals fed, park maintained, and staff paid. Not all animal exhibits were open (no bears, no petting area with sheep or goats, areas roped off in afternoon for wedding there, etc.). It is still an enjoyable outing with family.

Went to the Asian Lantern Festival and it is Fantastic! I highly recommend this event. It's a lovely walk through the Zoo at night with all the beautifully lit lanterns in some really spectacular scenes.

My family and I love the zoo. This was the first time taking my son to the Pittsburgh zoo, and it wasn't what I remembered. Granted, it is late in the season and getting chilly outside. It was sad to see a lot of the exhibits empty, and most of the on-site businesses closed. We will not be going back this late in the season again. I would highly recommend going in the warmer weather months. The animals that were out were awesome. I was mostly upset not to see the polar bears. They were the main attraction we went to see. We will be trying again in the warmer months.

We loved it! Quite a history and cool grounds. Had a little playground and a neat aquarium that you could watch sea lions swim over you! We also loves the big cats! They were all very active while we visited in November. Can be a little hilly, but I saw a nice lady with a walker making it so bring a stroller or your scooter! Check it out!