This post is about the Bronx Zoo, including what you can see there, how to get there, and the cost of admission.
We also list many ways you can save on ticket prices or even go for free on Wednesdays!
- About the Zoo
- Tickets and Hours
- Discounts and Ways to Save
- Getting There
- Things to Do in NYC with Kids
- Things to Do in NYC
When is the Bronx Zoo Free?
Visit on Wednesdays when admission is “Suggested Donation Day" or pay what you wish. Learn more.
You must make reservations for your Bronx Zoo free tickets online in advance, and they are general admission tickets.
According to the Bronx Zoo's website, "The Wednesday Ticket Store opens on Mondays at 5:00 pm for that Wednesday".
Premium exhibits and rides will cost more. That said, you can get the equivalent of an Unlimited Experience ticket for just $9.95 on Wednesdays!
We have many other suggestions for free or pay-what-you-wish days at other popular NYC museums and attractions (click here).
We also have a post on free things to do in NYC.
TIP: If you can't manage to get Bronx Zoo Wednesday tickets, the New York Sightseeing Pass includes admission to this attraction at no additional cost.
BRONX ZOO TICKETS PRICE
Hours
Hours change seasonally. They are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, New Year's Day, and Martin Luther King Jr Day.
High season with extended hours runs generally from April through October.
April 2nd to November 5th
- Monday-Friday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (17:00)
- Weekends & Holidays 10:00 am - 5:30 pm (17:30)
November 6th to March 31st
- Daily 10:00 am - 4:30 pm (16:30)
Note: Animal exhibits close 30 min prior to park closing and 4-D Theater, Bug Carousel, and Zoo Shuttle are open until park closing.
Bronx Zoo Admission Price
There are two types of tickets: Limited Admission and Unlimited Experience.
Each of these is a reserved ticket, which means it will be valid during the time you select during purchase.
The Bronx Zoo's Limited Admission Ticket is included free for holders of the Sightseeing Pass, a tourist discount pass.
Limited Admission Ticket
- Adult $26.95
- Child (3-12) $18.95
- Senior (65+) $24.95
- Children 2 years and under are free.
Purchase online, at the gate, or order the Sightseeing Pass.
A general Bronx Zoo admission ticket includes the following areas:
- Tiger Mountain
- Madagascar
- World of Birds
- African Plains
- Himalayan Highlands
- Sea Lion Pool
Unlimited Experience Ticket (Apr-Oct)
- Adult $33.95 - $41.20
- Child (3-12) $23.95 - $31.20
- Senior (65+) $26.95 - $36.20
- Children 2 years and under are free.
Unlimited Experience Ticket (Nov - Mar)
- Adult $30.95
- Child (3-12) $22.95
- Children 2 years and under are free.
Can be purchased online or at the gate.
Goldstar usually offers a regular discount of approximately 30% on the Unlimited Experience ticket.
The Unlimited Experience ticket includes everything that the general tickets include plus several premium areas that cost an additional $6 each if you only have the general admission ticket.
Guests will have unlimited access to the following attractions and areas:
- JungleWorld
- 4-D Theater
- Bug Carousel
- Congo Gorilla Forest
- Butterfly Garden
- Wild Asia Monorail
- the Zoo Shuttle
Can you purchase Bronx Zoo tickets at the gate?
Yes, this is an option for their paid ticket options.
Wednesday reservations will need to be made online, but if you're coming on any other day, you can get your tickets at the gate.
DISCOUNT BRONX ZOO TICKETS
1. Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
The Bronx Zoo's General Admission Ticket is included free for holders of the Sightseeing Pass, both the flex and all-inclusive versions of this tourist discount pass.
Tourist passes work by bundling together popular attractions and tours and selling them together for a lower price than i you purchased them together.
Likewise, tourist passes often included skip-the-line privileges, which can save you lots of time, particularly in the busy season.
There are almost a dozen tourist pass options to choose from and we review each pass here.
And these NYC tourist passes include following attractions:
- Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
- Empire State Buildings, Top of the Rock, or One World Observatory
- Madame Tussauds
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- American Museum of Natural History
- Museum of Modern Art
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Ferry
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
2. Coupon Codes
The Zoo's own website often has promo codes listed at the top of the page so keep your eyes open for those.
3. Discount Sites
Try Groupon and Living Social, which often offer 20% - 50% off entrance to the Bronx Zoo. It's worth a look.
Goldstar usually offers a regular discount of approximately 30% on the Total Experience ticket.
4. Bronx Zoo Free Tickets
Visit on Wednesdays when admission is “Suggested Donation Day" or pay what you wish.
Wednesday's reservations must be made online beforehand in order to get free entry. Sadly, guests can't just show up and walk in without a ticket, even if it is free!
We have many other suggestions for free or pay-what-you-wish days at other popular NYC museums and attractions (click here).
5. AAA Discount
AAA members save up to 20% on admission.
Use code AAANY when purchasing tickets for the Wildlife Conservation Service, which also gives discounts to AAA members at other zoos in New York City.
6. Military Discount
The Bronx Zoo offers year-round discounts to any active duty or reserve members of the U.S. Military and veterans when they present a valid military ID at the admissions gate.
Discount includes: free Total Experience Ticket or General Admission ticket and 50% off discount for up to three family members included on the same admissions transaction.
Discounted tickets are available at the admissions booths only, not through the online ticket store.
7. Facebook Group Deals
Try this Bronx Zoo Coupons Facebook page. They are not affiliated with the Zoo. Occasionally they have coupons or codes that do work.
8. Bronx Zoo Student Discount
Free Limited Admission to New York City undergraduate college students. Eligible students must be:
- attending an NYC college (must show a valid college ID from an institution within the 5 boroughs of New York City;
- NYC resident, attending non-NYC college (must show valid college ID and proof of NYC residency).
9. Become a Member
Like many zoos around the world, the Bronx Zoo offers membership options that allow you to pay one flat price for free access to the zoo throughout the year.
Prices start at $90 per person and $180 for families. Learn more here.
10. Combo Deals
There are several combo packages that include admission to the Bronx Zoo and at least one additional activity at a discounted rate.
The discounts for combo deals typically range from 10% - 20% off.
Bronx Zoo + New York Aquarium
- Adults - $57.51
- Children - $44.92
- Purchase this combo package or learn more.
Bronx Zoo + New York Botanical Garden
- Adults - $65.50
- Children - $37.00
- Purchase this combo package or learn more.
Bronx Zoo + American Museum of Natural History
- Adults - $55.76
- Children - $35.96
- Purchase this combo package or learn more.
GETTING HERE FROM MANHATTAN
The Bronx Zoo is easy to get to with the New York City Subway. From Times Square, it is approximately a 1-hour ride on the 2 train.
Use our interactive Google Map for directions to the zoo by public transportation or car.
If you are new to the subway system, then be sure to read the following two posts:
There is also the BxM11 express bus, which runs along Madison Avenue in Midtown Manhattan ending at the zoo's Bronx River entrance.
If you are considering a tourist hop-on-hop-off bus ticket, do note that none offer stops at the Bronx Zoo, but you can get to the zoo easily from most Harlem stops.
Where is the parking lot at the Bronx Zoo?
You can also drive here, and they have parking on-site.
There are two entrances with parking lots available to visitors and members at the Bronx River Gate and the Southern Boulevard Gate.
It will cost $20 to park at the Bronx Zoo.
What are the busiest days at the Bronx Zoo?
Wednesdays are the busiest times to visit due to the fact that they offer free admission on those days.
It also gets pretty popular during weekends and in the summer, so the quietest times to visit would be every other weekday but Wednesday.
Year-Round Exhibits
With more than 7,000 resident animals showcased over 265 acres, The Bronx Zoo is the largest city zoo in the country!
Visitors will see a vast array of animals and habitats including the Monkey House, Jungle World, the World of Darkness with bats and other nocturnal animals, the Congo Gorilla Forest, and even a Children's Zoo.
Be sure to catch a Sea Lion and Penguin Feeding! There is also the Nature Trek.
Seasonal and Special Events
The Zoo often has additional activities aligned with the season of the year so always check their events page to see if anything special is going on when you plan to visit.
For example, in September, they put on a Harvest Festival that gives the kiddies a chance to dance to bluegrass music, participate in apple tasting, learn about composting and pressing flowers, and other activities relating to the fall harvest.
TIP: The Bronx Zoo is within walking distance of what some New Yorkers believe is the "true" Little Italy: Arthur Avenue.
Check out our Self-guided Food Tour of nearby Arthur Avenue for some of the best Italian food in all of New York City!
You also might care to read our post on visiting the Central Park Zoo.
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