Bronx Zoo | Free Wednesdays and Other Discounts
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!
- 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
Bronx Zoo Free Day
Visit on Wednesdays when admission is “Suggested Donation Day” or pay what you wish.
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.
ABOUT THE BRONX ZOO
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!
You’ll see a vast array of animals when you visit the Monkey House, Jungle World, the World of Darkness with bats and other nocturnal animals, and the Congo Gorilla Forest.
Be sure to catch a Sea Lion and Penguin Feeding!
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 some Septembers, 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.
HOURS AND TICKETS
Hours
Hours change seasonally. They are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, New Years Day and Martin Luther King Jr Day.
March 30th to November 3rd
- Monday-Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (17:00)
- Weekends & Holidays 10:00 am – 5:30 pm (17:30)
November 4, 2018, to April 5, 2019
- 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.
Tickets
There are two types of tickets: General Admission and Total Experience.
The Bronx Zoo’s General Admission Ticket is included free for holders of the Sightseeing Pass, a tourist discount pass.
General Admission Ticket
- Adult $22.95
- Child (3-12) $14.95
- Senior (65+) $20.95
- Children 2 years and under free.
Can only purchase at the Gate – unless you order the Sightseeing Pass.
A general admission ticket includes the following areas:
- Tiger Mountain
- Madagascar
- World of Birds
- African Plains
- Himalayan Highlands
- Sea Lion Pool
Total Experience Ticket
- Adult $36.95
- Child (3-12) $26.95
- Senior (65+) $31.95
- Children 2 years and under free.
Can be purchased online or at the gate.
The Total 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.
- JungleWorld
- 4-D Theater
- Bug Carousel
- Congo Gorilla Forest
- Butterfly Garden
- Wild Asia Monorail
- the Zoo Shuttle
DISCOUNTS AND SAVINGS ON TICKETS
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 option to choose from and we review each pass here.
ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS AND COUPONS
Goldstar usually offers a regular discount of approximately 30% on the Total Experience ticket.
Try Groupon and Living Social, which often offer 50% off tickets. It’s worth a look.
Visit on Wednesdays when admission is “Suggested Donation Day” or pay what you wish.
We have many other suggestions for free or pay-what-you-wish days at other popular NYC museums and attractions (click here).
The Zoo’s own website often has promo codes listed at the top of the page so keep your eyes open for those.
AAA members save up to 20% on admission. Use code AAANY when purchasing tickets on the Wildlife Conservation Service, which also gives discounts to AAA members at other zoos in New York City.
Military Discount
The Bronx Zoo offers year-round discounts to any active duty or reserve members of the U.S. Military 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.
Try this Bronx Zoo Coupons Facebook page. They are not affiliated with the Zoo. Occasionally they have coupons or codes that do work.
Student Discounts
Free General 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).
GETTING THERE
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:
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.
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About the author
Courtney is a lifelong New Yorker fascinated with the city’s history, culture and cuisine. She loves exploring the world, as well as sharing her travel expertise with others.
She joined the Free Tours by Foot team in 2011, first as a guide and then as a writer. She has a law degree, a teaching degree and a worn-out passport. Her motto is “Have backpack, will travel”.