Is the San Francisco Zoo worth it?

Yes, the San Francisco Zoo is worth visiting. It's home to more than 2,000 exotic, endangered, and rescued animals and multiple gardens of native California plants, flowers, and trees. Visitors can see grizzly bears, check out an African savannah multi species habitat, and ride the historic Dentzel Carousel.

Do you have to make reservations for the San Francisco Zoo?

No, reservations are not needed to visit the San Francisco Zoo. Tickets are available for purchase online or at the booth at the main entry gate. However, the zoo can become crowded on weekends and holidays—in these cases, booking admission ahead of time is advised.

What is the best time to visit the San Francisco Zoo?

The best time to visit the San Francisco Zoo is mid-morning after the fog has likely cleared and before larger groups arrive. Check the zoo website for feeding schedules to see penguins, grizzly bears, and other animals chow down during your visit. Note that the last entry is at 4pm.

Do you have to pay for parking at the San Francisco Zoo?

Yes. Visitors must purchase a voucher on-site to park in the San Francisco Zoo parking lot. Fees vary on weekdays, weekends, and holidays; valet parking is available for an additional fee. Free street parking is available along Sloat Boulevard and in adjacent neighborhoods. Visitors arriving by public transportation receive an admission discount.

How long does it take to walk through the San Francisco Zoo?

On average, visiting the San Francisco Zoo takes two to four hours—possibly longer with kids. That's enough time to ride the carousel and see most of the animals and gardens. However, visitors should plan on staying longer to see presentations, animal feedings, educational programs, or after-hours events.

Can you bring drinks into the San Francisco Zoo?

Yes, guests may bring drinks and food inside the San Francisco Zoo. However, glass containers, alcohol, straws, and disposable lids are prohibited to ensure zoo animals and other guests are safe and comfortable. Guests may eat or drink at the Lemur Café and Playfield Lawn or on park benches.

San Francisco Zoo Tours and Tickets

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San Francisco CityPASS®

9 days

4.5

(367)

from $90

Go City: San Francisco Explorer Pass: Choose 2 to 5 Things To Do

1 to 30 days

3.9

(58)

from $89

Member Pricing

Our very unique, immersive adventures are the only ones of their kind. We, unlike other companies, provide your very own remote, interactive, live host to assist and encourage you along through your phone. We are an Austin, TX-based global custom event design company offering scavenger hunts and other events in 300+ cities in North America and beyond. Our specially hand-crafted adventures are equal parts tour, creative challenge, detective hunt, and social experiment! Guests get to discover in an alternate reality our favorite hidden gems off the beaten trail and creatively interpret fun art, history, and culture clues - for points! They get to enjoy fame and glory while appearing on our website’s international leaderboard, no matter what their score. They get to essentially race other teams in other cities, even if they don’t have competitors who have signed up in their city that day. Get ready to discover unusual oddities, laugh out loud, and make the experience your own!

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San Francisco Frenzy Scavenger Hunt

2 hoursFree Cancellation

Avoid the hassle of buying individual tickets and juggling entry fees in San Francisco with an all-in-one attraction pass that simplifies sightseeing. Instead of planning each stop separately, you can move freely between museums, family attractions, and seasonal experiences based on your schedule and interests. It’s a flexible, cost-conscious way to explore the city without constant ticketing logistics.

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San Francisco Pass: Save up to 50% - Includes Big Bus Tours

1 to 5 days

3.6

(77)

from $109

What are people saying about San Francisco Zoo

San Francisco CityPASS®

kL_M, Sep 2026

Fantastic Deal & Flexible Pace

This pass is a fantastic financial deal! I love that it gives you eight options to use over nine days, so you never feel rushed. It also gives you the flexibility to choose exactly which attractions you want to attend. One tip: skip the Aquarium of the Bay. It is tiny and not worth it. The California Academy of Sciences has an epic aquarium—do that instead! We also really enjoyed the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor. The de Young has an amazing observation deck and courtyard, and the Legion of Honor is directly across the street from the Academy.

San Francisco CityPASS®

Gary_S, Oct 2024

Excellent offer.

Excellent offer with lots of choice and savings compared to purchasing the various activities etc individually. Would highly recommend.

San Francisco CityPASS®

kim_f, Jun 2024

Fun attractions

The cityPASS was fairly simple to use and allowed us entry into multiple attractions. We had a lot of fun exploring the city

San Francisco CityPASS®

Christine_R, Mar 2024

Harbor ride

Boat ride was fun. It was rain a little and the wind made it cooler, but we enjoyed the trip. Took lots of pictures.