The Bronx Zoo in New York

The Bronx Zoo in New York is the world’s biggest metropolitan zoo. It opened in 1899 and houses about 4000 animals, representing around 600 different species. A number of these species are native American animals, which are very impressive to see. This New York zoo also features areas of the zoo dedicated to animals from Asia, Africa and Madagascar, among others. The Bronx Zoo is a great place to visit with kids. It’s also a perfect attraction for everyone who would like to leave hectic Manhattan for a few hours and enjoy nature.

Buy your Bronx Zoo tickets here

Available now: Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights

Bronx Zoo Tickets

All visitors to the Bronx Zoo need to purchase a date-specific ticket in advance, so be sure to book your Bronx Zoo tickets online. You can arrive at the zoo within one hour of your selected entry time. Once you enter, you can stay for as long as you like. Children under 13 pay a reduced admission price. Children under 3 years old can visit the Bronx Zoo for free, so no ticket is required.

Your ticket to the Bronx Zoo includes unlimited access to all the exhibits that are open during your visit. Please note that some seasonal attractions, such as the Children’s Zoo and Butterfly Garden, will be closed during the winter months, but there is plenty to see at the zoo. The Bronx Zoo also hosts some special exhibitions during the holiday season.

American animals at The Bronx Zoo

What’s really unique about The Bronx Zoo is that there’s a large selection of animals that are native to the United States. You not only see the classic zoo animals, like zebras and giraffes but there’s also a herd of American bison, some (rescued) grizzly bears and even bald eagles. If you’re in doubt about which New York zoo to visit and you’re looking for the most impressive animals, you should definitely choose The Bronx Zoo.

Bronx Zoo when it rains

On days when the weather isn’t at your side, it’s good to stroll around JungleWorld; an imitated Asian rainforest, including corresponding temperatures. Animals like otters, tapirs and gibbons all live in the same space here, just as in nature. Or visit the 4D cinema. The 4th dimension of the HD 3D films shows special effects like wind, mist, light and fragrance.

Bronx Zoo with Children

When you’re wondering what to do in New York with kids. The Bronx Zoo is a very good choice. Their special Children’s Zoo is something you cannot skip when you visit the Zoo with kids. It’s like a mixture between a playground and a petting zoo, where children learn how to live or move like animals, and where they can feed lambs or llamas.

Also Madagascar! part of Bronx Zoo will put smiles on their faces, especially with kids who know the movie. At Madagascar! you will not only find the animals that belong on the African island – you will find them in an environment that is a perfect imitation of their own surrounding.

How to get to The Bronx Zoo

Coming from Manhattan, the quickest way to get to the zoo is to take the express bus BxM11. You can hop on at one of the bus stops at Madison Avenue, for example, the one at the corner of Madison Avenue and E 39 Street, and pay with a Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard or Apple Pay on your phone, connected to a credit card. You can get off at the stop named ‘Bronx River Pkwy & Bronx Zoo Entrance’. The Bronx Zoo opens at 10:00 and closes its doors between 16:30 and 17:30, depending on the season. As the park is quite big, I would recommend you have a look at the map and plan your route beforehand.

Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden

Next to The Bronx Zoo, you find the New York Botanical Garden. These two attractions are therefore great to combine. I would recommend starting at the Botanical Garden. You can easily get here by taking subway trains 4 or D to Bedford Park Boulevard and from there walk in about 15 minutes to the north entrance of the garden. If you visit the garden from north to south, you can exit at what is actually the main entrance. From there you can walk to the Belmont entrance of the Bronx Zoo, which is located at 2348 Southern Boulevard.

Practical Information

• Location: 2348 Southern Boulevard, The Bronx
• Opening hours:
  • 3 November 2024 – 4 April 2025:
    • Daily: 10:00 to 16:30
  • 5 April – 1 November 2025:
    • Mon – Fri: 10:00 to 17:00
    • Weekends & holidays: 10:00 to 17:30
  • Animal exhibits close 30 minutes before the park closing
• Children under 3 visit for free

Buy your Bronx Zoo tickets here

The Bronx Zoo tickets are included in the Sightseeing Flex Pass