Houston Zoo Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Houston Zoo. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, this is the best tour available right now:

• Houston CityPASS®

Houston Zoo tickets currently start at US$24 for adults, US$19 for children ages 3–12, and are free for children under 3. Senior (65+) discounts are available. Military veterans and active-duty service members receive 50 percent off. Prices vary by date due to flexible pricing, and all tickets must be purchased online in advance.

designed habitats. The expansive zoo is home to thousands of animals, including elephants, giraffes, sea lions, and big cats, as well as penguins that live in a Galapagos Islands habitat. It's easy to spend half a day wandering the grounds and the zoo's many immersive exhibits. Opting in to the Houston Zoo on a tour is a smart upgrade, as the zoo is one of the city's top attractions.

Per one customer who booked the Houston CityPASS, "After a very busy 3 days, my family and I have nothing but good things to say about the Houston CityPASS. We visited the Downtown Aquarium, the Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo, Kemah, and NASA! The pass option was affordable and made it very easy to find family-friendly attractions without having to look. The lineup of places to visit is great and worked out perfect for my family of nine 💙 We would definitely book again on another Houston trip."

The Houston Zoo does have regularly closed days. The zoo is open seven days a week, all year round. It does close on Christmas Day (December 25) plus January 10 and January 11, but is open on all other major holidays. Some exhibits may close early for special events.

As with other family-friendly attractions, the Houston Zoo can get very busy on the weekends, particularly during school vacations. Visiting at 9am (right when it opens) offers the best chance of beating the crowds. Some animals are also livelier early in the day, and animal encounters generally happen in the morning.

Yes, you can bring a small backpack to the Houston Zoo. Many people bring smaller packs with food, drink, spare clothing, sun protection, and baby items, but larger bags can be a burden. Note that there is no luggage storage a the zoo.

Yes. Although the Houston Zoo has on-site dining venues, you can bring food and non-alcoholic drinks to the zoo, in a cooler if you’d like. Note that glass bottles, plastic straws, and alcoholic beverages are not allowed on zoo grounds. The zoo’s food and beverage outlets only accept credit cards, not cash.

Yes. The Houston Zoo occasionally closes early or cancels the Houston Zoo Lights due to extreme weather, be that freezing conditions, heavy rain, or thunderstorms. When this happens, you can transfer your unused ticket to another date.

A Houston Zoo ticket includes admission to the 55-acre (22-hectare) zoo and a look at its more than 4,500 animals, as well as access to keeper talks and many shows and displays. The wildlife carousel, animal encounters, and giraffe feedings cost extra, as do stroller and wheelchair rentals.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Houston Zoo. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Houston:

• Space Center Houston

• Houston Museum of Natural Science

• Downtown Aquarium

• Market Square Park

• Daikin Park

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Houston.