Lincoln Park Zoo Reviews

Thomas Pettiti, Esq enjoyed the many Lions which they had a lot of this time! It was cold and raining but that didn’t stop the fun! We took the L from Midway to the CTA and had no issues. Recommend the giraffe for nice pictures!

This isn't the easiest review for a couple of reason. To start with I visited in late November, kinda the off-season. So for the most part the animals weren't outdoors. Also I made my plans month previous. I had done research though and it stated that in November the Zoo was open till 5pm. However they closed at 3pm due to a light show till January. I didn't know that and got there a few minutes before 2:30pm expecting 2 1/2 hours. Instead I had 30 minutes. I hurried through and saw the tigers and the Apes, including the great Apes. Plus a Zebra and some deer. That was about it. I saw maybe 30%. All in a rush. There really wasn't a reason they had to close early. Lastly there really weren't very many animals, in a lot of the areas just 1 or 2 animals. I enjoyed the layout of the part of the zoo I saw.

Overall a 3 star review. Would have been 4, but the time issue isn't forgivable to me. The lights were set up already, so why did they need to kick people out? However that being said it is a free experience. Would I return? Yes it's free and some very interesting animals to see.

What an amazing zoo, landscaping was out of this world, very clean and the animals were well kept. We had a peek at the polar bear...what an amazing creature

One of the best zoos I’ve visited. Highly recommend it. All the animals were out. The grounds are beautiful with many plants and flowers in bloom. It’s free admission which is nice.

We were told the "other" zoo in Chicago was the better choice ... We chose this one and GLAD that we did! Being from out-of-town, this zoo was even bigger than our local zoo at home AND it was free to visit!
So many animals, so much to do. We did not get to spend as much time here as we wanted as we had a hard time with transit, but I think we saw most of the exhibits!

We love this zoo, especially at Christmas time. We were able to see the animals and the lights. So pretty! Going back again this year!

Quite good for a free zoo but many of the animals were off exhibit, part of the zoo was closed off and some of the animals we did see were pacing and seemed stressed. However, other parts of the zoo were great especially the gorillas and lions. Be warned the merchandise is exceptionally expensive.

This zoo doesn’t have a lot of animals but it’s still a great zoo. It is free to enter but they take donations. We saw reptiles chimpanzees and a couple of lions. Great for a day out with the kids

Our family met here with a total of 11 people. We were there December 23rd to see all the wonderful lights and music show that they had. Went on a family night and 2 of the 5 rides were free....being sponsored by partners of the Zoo. Very festive and entry to this place is ALWAYS FREE.

I’ve been to zoos all over the uk and on my travels and this is hands down the closest I’ve been to zoo animals!
They throw the food out so the animals are seen. Lots to see.
It’s a free zoo so I donated and bought from gift shop!
Great place! Made my holiday in Chicago!

This is a great Zoo to visit if you have the time. It operates much like a park. Gates are open to all for FREE. The zoo has donation boxes in different areas where they ask for small donations to help keep them running. Animals are well cared for. Viewing areas are large and easy to see through. Staff is helpful and friendly.

Animals belong in the wild. Period. And exclamation point! This being said, I believe the caretakers do their best in this unfortunate scenario.

This is the best little gem in Chicago. We walked from the loop which took about 90 mins with breaks and was a lovely stroll. The zoo was brilliant. We spent about 3 hours there and saw all the big animals on our list, including black and polar bears, mountain gorilla and lions. They looked well taken care of and healthy and the enclosures were a good size. I can’t believe this was free! I would definitely recommend this place to everyone.

It's well maintaimned! Great layout. Wonderful gift shop! Certainly a nice place to visit with anyone. Great for picture taking as well! A nice way to relax for the day.

What a gorgeous Zoo …can’t believe it’s free to visit. We were very lucky seeing a lot of the animals and the new lion enclosure gets you very close to the lions. The seal house allows you to view from under the water, saw so many Gorillas. Saw the Giraffes, Lynx, Red Panda, Zebra…ate in one of the restaurants- served a very nice grilled ham & cheese sandwich. An excellent 2-3 hours spent there.

The zoo was great! It was well worth the trip up here, especially since it’s free and there is cheap parking nearby. We spent hours walking around and reading about the animals they take care of. One of the exhibits I was really looking forward to was closed for renovations, slightly disappointing, but I am glad to see they care about their animals and keep their enclosures safe and enriching for them. I can’t wait to come back when the tigers and lions are back.

This zoo is amazing for being a free admission zoo! But theres a reason... your parking will be steep BUT not bad for not paying admission! They have an awesome gift shop and an amazing observation hall to see the sea otters. The monkeys are so adorable!

We enjoyed the Lincoln Park Zoo very much. The polar bears were especially entertaining☺ We spent 3 hours there. Everyone had a great time.

A wonderful zoo downtown that’s free! Always a spectacular array of animals on site. They look healthy and cared for…..

Was told about this place by our tour guide from Big Bus.
Free zoo, thats right, a zoo normally charges you admission, not here you pay what you would/can afford to.
Donations help keep park going.
Seals/Monkeys/Giraffe/Gorilla/Rhinoserus/Pink Flamingos/polar bears are found here.
A little off the beaten path, had to take bus 152 which runs north on Madison Ave and will drop you off right at steps of the zoo

We really enjoyed this free zoo in the city. You could get up close to the animals. The zoo keepers didn’t hesitate to feed the animals while we were watching, and that made for a memorable experience. The layout is pretty easy to figure out , and the surrounding grounds around it are pretty. They have a food court, but it’s not super cheap. We would definitely return here again.

The up close views of the animals in their habitats were better than those I've experienced at larger zoos. The variety of exhibits are plentiful, with great signage to direct you along the way. We were fortunate that the animals were quite active during our visit.

We couldn't believe that the zoo was free. We took a cab to the zoo but its very accessible by public transportation. There are restaurants and pubs within walking distance. Definitely enjoy the nature boardwalk near it. A lot of animal exhibits were not available. We enjoyed the ape exhibit the best. Watching the interactions was amazing experience. We loved the giraffe and zebras as well. There are eating options inside the zoo.

As part of our bucket list weekend we had to get this one in. What a complete joy. The zoo did such a magnificent job.We spent nearly two hours in the cold to get it all in...Great displays, fun music in the background, lots of happy people...

Whole family came last December and enjoy the festival of the lights. View at night was amazing. We picked one of the last free entry day. Weather was unbelievably amazing like for the Winter in Chicago. We will never forget this visit a specially we may not have an opportunity to come again...

This attraction is located in the heart of Lincoln Park--one of the most beautiful places in Chicago. It is both adult and kid friendly. Lots of different animals and learning about them.

What a wonderful surprise!! Not at all what I expected. The ape house is fantastic. The apes and chimps were out and about . The lion exhibit as well. Lovely nature path adjacent to the park. Just a great visit all together cannot believe it’s free!!!

We love this zoo, especially the many events they put on for each season: Zoo Lights at Christmas, Boo Lights at Halloween etc. completely free and great for families and couples!

First of all, I believe this is one of the very last free public zoos in the US (please feel free to fact check this;)...)
While the old school "Urban Zoo" model has fallen into deserved disfavor, Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo has take incredible efforts to transform its old cages into wonderful habitats...given their real estat33 limitations, they've done a phenomenal job.
Please make sure to take advantage of this place, especially during warm Chicago months.
But even in the midst of winter, make sure to take advantage of their "Zoo Lights" during the holidays!!! (They turn on a beautiful light show at 4:30 pm and stay open till 9:30 or 10:30, depending on the day...)
They've also got artists turning blocks of ice into wonderful sculptures...with power tools (which you can see while at work...).
It's an enchanting walk in the park...enjoy!

I couldn't believe that it was free but it certainly is. I only saw a couple of places where you could make a donation - i was expecting more. Anyway, I did make a donation, spent some money in the gift shop, and had some food.
It was a ridiculously hot day when we visited - yes, in October but that's Chicago for you - but we had a really good time. I don't know what to say about a zoo really: lots of animals, well laid out, animals looked well-cared for, and it was as clean as it can be. Good day out.

Been here a few times now. Always had a good time. Parking can be a pain but hey it’s free to get in so can’t complain. The zoo is payed out well and it’s clean when I’ve gone. Overall a great trip.

I can't believe this was free. What an amazing experience. A short visit since I was only in Chicago for a day, but the variety of animals and the cleanliness of the place really blew me away given there was no charge to enter. I live near Busch Gardens in Tampa and would say this tops it. Thanks Chicago!

Quite nice & Free! Great gorilla & chimpanzee exhibits. A few empty exhibits. Good for families. If a free couple hours & ok weather go for it.

This park is free. yes its free. Now you might have to pay to park,but this is all free. Kept up very well,clean and peaceful environment. We love coming here when we go to Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinders,its right around the corner. The gorillas are our favorite ,but many great indoor and outdoor exhibits. Stop here from 1hr to 8 it is enjoyable free way to spend the day.

Lincoln park itself is beautiful, but what can make it better…. A ZOO. And not just a small underwhelming zoo, but a nice size beautiful zoo with pretty much any animal you would want to see. I thought I would spend an hour or so there but ended up spending over two hours there. If it wasn’t for the hot summer day I may have stayed there even longer. Also, it’s FREE! How many things are both free and great to do. Not many, but this is definitely one. The zoo is easy to get to. You can rent a bike or take an Uber/Lift (which wasn’t that expensive) so there is no excuse to not come to Lincoln Park Zoo when you are coming to Chicago.

How sad to think that some mane of the species at the zoo will be gone before our children's lives are over. How glad to sit and marvel at their integrity as they look back at you and ask...who really is the human?

That's right - one of the very few zoos in the country that does NOT charge any admission. However, PLEASE consider donating a couple of bucks to help keep the zoo free and the animals well cared for.

If you like primates, this zoo has primates. Most primate species can be seen here. There are also penguins and seals which I don't typically see at other zoos.

However, the Lion building no longer houses lions.

And finally, I was actually impressed with the quality of the food they served. One of the food court areas had a choice of Mexican, Italian, Off the Grill and Sandwiches. I had some chicken alfredo from the Italian station and it was actually really not bad!

This is a great place for the kids, and the fact that it costs no money to get in is a big bonus. That's more money you can spend on souvenirs. :)

We had some spare time in the afternoon of our last day so I thought it would be cool to check out the zoo since I’ve heard pretty good things and it’s free. I’m a firm believer that you can’t really be disappointed by something you didn’t pay for but I was still pretty underwhelmed. The best part was a seal trick demonstration that was happening as we walked in. Granted it was early November but it seemed like a ridiculous number of animals were missing (even for that time of year). It was a pretty good size for being a free zoo. They have a gift shop but prices on everything are significantly marked up. I was between this and the aquarium and went for this since it was free but looking back I probably would have just paid for the aquarium. Wasn’t a completely terrible (and free) way to spend a couple of hours though.

Lincoln Park Zoo needs to get a better company for their security. I was parked in their parking lot next to police camera and lights. Someone smashes my window and stole my purse that was hidden. They also broke out my son’s car window and 4 other cars that night (that I am aware of). Security did nothing. We will not be returning to this zoo.

Free zoo in Chicago, great for first time visitors and locals alike. Came here on a Sunday around noon and there was a fair amount of people there visiting the zoo as well as just passing through during their runs/walks. There are donation boxes at the entrances. There’s a carousel ($3 for a single person) and kids’ train available as rides. There are also cafes for light food/drinks in the zoo. We opted for street parking (which took some circling around various blocks) but there’s also a parking lot (which was full). There’s a fair amount of shade but I would recommend wearing your sunnies and some sunscreen since it’s all outdoors, except for the reptile and small mammal exhibit.

It was alarming to see some people taking flash photography in the reptile and small mammal exhibit, but when I informed an employee, unfortunately she seemed rather disinterested and I’m not sure if that situation was resolved. Otherwise, the animals seemed to have a fair bit of room to roam.

This zoo was so fun! There are many animals all around the park. My favorite was the HUGE silverback gorilla. There could be more restrooms around the park. The gift shop was fairly priced especially since the zoo had free admission. Definitely go here on a rainy day!

Loved it here :) and amazing that it’s free! You do have to pay for parking if traveling by car but it’s worth it.

Despite the rain shower, it was an enjoyable visit. The African exhibits are amazing, especially the lions and gorillas. There are plenty of indoor exhibits as well.

If you happen to be in it then by all means look at the animals ... for such a big city this is not a great zoo. The enclosures range from ok to small the signage is almost non existent... it is free though

We decided to check out this free zoo at the last minute so we only had an hour to go through it, not enough time. But, we did get to see some of our favorites like the gorillas and giraffes:). This zoo is one of the few left in the US that is free, runs on donations only….amazing! The zoo is nicely laid out with lots of signs to direct you where you want to go. I did notice a restaurant, gift shop and snack bars. They do encourage wearing a mask which we did.
It’s on the other end of town where we were staying so we hopped on a bus to get there. Great idea that worked out well for us was buying the Ventra card, which was on sale for $20. It is unlimited rides on the train and the bus system. Very easy to use!

We came when the zoo opened at 8:00am. The lions and polar bears were on full display. We walked around but there were very few animals available to watch. The buildings weren’t open until 10:00am

A wonderful resource for families. So much to see. Very well done. And its free!! Definitely a fun way to spend an afternoon

Since we can't give half stars I bumped my review up to 4 but I would really like to give 3.5. We visited the zoo twice during our week in Chicago. The first night we went to Zoo Lights which was really neat! It was a warm night for December and it was massively packed. The lights were cool though, and we even saw a few animals inside and the zebras outside.
The next morning we went back to the zoo to see the animals in the daylight. The zoo was much less busy and the weather was cold and windy. We saw more animals than the night before but still not a lot of them. We were surprised to see no big cats of any kind. If they do have them there they were not out. We also did not see any bears, just one gorilla and one rhinoceros, and the much smaller indoor animals. Then we walked along the boardwalk area and suddenly it was blocked off so we had to backtrack to get to the barn. Because there is no signage we went the longest way possible to get to the barn area. Normally not a big deal but it was really cold out. Since we've never been here we went in every building in the barn section. When we entered the building that has the big tractor there were a couple families with small children who were glaring at my husband like we didn't belong! Again, no signs so we had no idea that it was a children's building, but that shouldn't matter as we are allowed to go wherever we want and look around. We also walked through the conservatory and that was really nice. The Christmas room was very pretty. It is nice that a city so large has a free zoo but it does need a lot of work.

We stopped in as part of a tour and didn't have very long to look around, but we saw very few animals. The flowers were wonderful though, and it's so nice that it's free. It's a combination of botanical garden and zoo.

Loved the Lincoln Park Zoo! What a treasure for Chicago residence and visitors, and it's FREE! We spent an afternoon walking around the park, and got to see all sorts of animals. I especially enjoyed the various species of apes and gorillas. It was quite the entertainment. We were 2 adults without children, but If you bring kids it would be a great family outing. It appeared that there were all kinds of amusement rides and vendors to keep everyone happy!!

We had a couple of hours to kill before a show on a rainy spring afternoon, so we decided to have a walk through the Lincoln Park Zoo since it was free. For the price, this a great little zoo, although some of the exhibits feel a bit dated. There were too many cement-based enclosures and not enough naturalistic habitats for the animals to live in. Animal sightings were a little spotty given the weather, but what we did see was varied and interesting, our favorite being the sloth (because sloths rule!).

Loved this zoo. Plenty to see and do and it’s all free! There are lots of refreshments venues and maps to find your way around. It was a lovely sunny day and was quite busy but didn’t stop us seeing the animals we wanted to. Great for everybody of all ages.

I would recommend you visit this zoo especially instead of the Shedd Aquarium which is not worth a visit.

Didn't expect much but we were pleasantly surprised! Zoo was clean and well-maintained. We saw a large variety of animals and came away feeling like we had learned a lot. The primate building was especially awesome. I could've stayed there all day watching the gorillas and chimps. Best of all, it's free!

This is one of the cleanest and most well-maintained zoos that I have ever been to. The admission is free, but they do get you for parking. Parking was $30.00 for approximately two hours. Fairly standard for Chicago.

Given it’s free to enter it’s hard to complain about much and while not massive there’s plenty of educational elements to make passing a few hours easy. There’s a large cafe facility in the centre of the complex and plenty of attractions on the weekend we visited, so it’s bound to be a hit with most families. A good option to add to an itinerary while in the city.

Hate to complain about a free zoo, but it failed to meet even our limited expectations. Simply stopped in on our way from Diversey to the beach to the south and thought maybe it would be worthwhile to walk through. Nope. Very few animals visible, and most of those we saw seemed miserable.

During our world travels we have seldom come across such a lovely attraction that is free. Easy to get to location, well laid out, good environment for the wild life. A real treat for the residents of Chicago and visitors to the city. Certainly worth 2 or 3 hour visit, we loved it

We thought there would be more open but unfortunately not yet. Very trying as you needed to know ahead of time which buildings were going to open and close at the various times during the day. Recommend taking a picture of the map so that you can navigate to which are you want to see before it closes.

We visited the zoo right after it opened (just after 10:00 AM), and it was nearly deserted — both of people and animals. While it's impressive that it's free and in the middle of the city, it felt a bit desolate, possibly due to ongoing seasonal maintenance.

After about an hour of slow wandering, we left — but as we were heading out (around 11:30 AM), the park was already becoming livelier, and more animals had emerged. We’ll definitely give it another try next time, just later in the morning!

Enjoyed our short trip to the zoo. It was cold but many different buildings to explore to see various animals. Saw the zoo lights, which were very pretty. Would like to come back in warmer weather to see more animals.

This is a free attraction which is wonderful. There is a chance to donate as you enter, but no pressure to do this. The zoo is well maintained and has a great variety of animals. Worth a visit!

It feels like it's not bouncing back from covid times.
Also, data starved, they force entrance at 11am unless you give your personal data / become a member.

North-west facing entrance still closed; kids climbing space still closed. Lots of fences to keep peole distant from one another lay abandoned in some areas of the zoo.

The upgrade for the Lion area came as major upset. Key points:
1. seeing the lions without a glass or a net in between is no longer possible.
2. along the main corridor between the Lions and the shop, where the used to be lion-view open areas there is now a big broun storage facility. Awful and atmposphere-killing.
They completely changed the lion-watching experience and brought it back to what you get in most zoos around the world: they're locked up, away from viewers.

I am very disappointed to see this major attraction downgraded.
It remains a wonderful garden, full of attraction, but its gem is lost.

I absolutely love the Lincoln Park Zoo. It is small and manageable but has enough exhibits and docents to make it very interesting. The zoo is very walkable and accessible. The park also hosts during the winter holiday season - Zoo Lights. The zoo is free to the public (except for perhaps zoo lights- check before venturing out and tickets are required.).

My favorite part of this zoo is that the volunteer docents are quite knowledgeable and told many stories and interesting facts about the animals and their habitats.

Just amazing! Very well structured public zoo. Extremely organized, comfortable with awesome facilities and well preserved habitats for the animals. Just superb. A must go in Chicago

Organized lines, decent prices, little to no parking, clean, easy directions, felt safe, good food choices, wide range of selection of merch

Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is a fantastic destination for animal lovers and families alike! The zoo is beautifully maintained, with a diverse range of animals from around the world. The exhibits are well-designed and provide an up-close look at the animals in spacious, naturalistic environments. The best part? It’s free to visit, making it an affordable option for a day out. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere was relaxed and inviting. Whether you’re a Chicago resident or a tourist, Lincoln Park Zoo is a must-visit spot for a fun and educational experience. Highly recommend!

The title gives away my review, but we had a phenomenal time at this zoo. I have never before seen so many male lions together. Clearly, many were young and likely siblings, as they were playing like my dog does with her dog friends. All the enclosures for the animals were great, providing lots of room for those needing it and mimicking their natural habitats to the extent possible. The polar bear was pacing right in front of the glass, so we had great views of him, and the gorillas (there were a lot of them) were pretty active while we were there. As always, the seals, meerkats, otters and penguins were charmers. There were many more animals there, but these were some of our highlights.

We went on a mini vacation for spring break!!!
We went on a cold day! But it was still popping!
It was free to get in! Which was awesome!

Cost to park (we parked inside zoo) cause there’s 3 of us!!! So it was still worth it! So we didn’t have to hike at all to zoo!

We were so impressed with this zoo. We went with our 2 children (6 & 9) and we all had a great afternoon. It is easy to get to from the city centre, we went on the bus. The seal talk was informative, the animals all looked well cared for and the place was clean. Our highlight were gorillas which were incredible, it was great to see them so close up, you could touch them if the glass wasn’t there! There is a lovely gift shop too. We could happily have filled a couple more hours here but had to leave to get to the basketball. I highly recommend it for people with or without children!

We enjoyed our trip to the zoo today! Amazed that it is all privately funded and has no admission cost. The apes and giraffes were amazing! Fun for the entire family.

The zoo was free for everyone but didn't have that many animals. Helpful people gave advice as to what to see since we only had 1/2 hour or so.

Nicely laid out. Easy access. Great place to visit for a couple of hours. Clean, used COVID 19 protocols

Very nice and interesting zoo. It’s well organized, clean, with a large variety of interesting species. The staff is friendly, the animals look treated well. There are educational events, like seals show while creatures are fed and checked.
Add to all this the fact of free admission - and the place becomes just marvelous. What a great gift to the citizens and visitors of Chicago!

We visited the zoo for a few hours one afternoon - it is an amazing zoo when you consider that it is free. Lots of animals, very clean - definitely worth a visit!

Beautiful! Very laid-back atmosphere - pathways allowed for meandering and conversation! Some buildings were open - good for a quick warm up. Hot chocolate and some snacks were available, ice sculpturing demonstration was happening. Music in some areas with LED light show. Reasonable admission, disadvantage was parking was EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE!

The zoo is really nice for being free. Zoo lights was awesome, gorgeous displays all animal themed. It was really special bc the gorillas were all sleeping near windows so seeing then up close was amazing.

The Lincoln Park Zoo is a 35-acre zoo and botanical garden that was opened to the public in 1868. It is the fourth oldest zoo in America and one of the last free-entry zoos in the country. Opening hours are 8am to 5pm daily.

The zoo is organised into themed areas where visitors can enjoy over 200 different species and around 1,100 animals, including big cats, monkeys, reptiles, interesting birds and rare species such as a couple of beautiful snow leopards, African painted dogs, rhinos, Asian camels and a polar bear.

The zoo has a gift shop, eateries as well as a Nature Boardwalk just outside the main southern gate. The Boardwalk encircles the South Pond providing a direct experience with local bird and wildlife in the heart of Lincoln Park.

It is a good little zoo and hard to beat entertainment or families with little ones looking for budget friendly things to do while in Chicago.

We visited this zoo on a rainy day. It is located just outside the center on Lake Michigan and is easily accessible by public transport. This zoo is free to visit, is generally very neat and has a nice variety of animals.
Because quite a few cages can be visited indoors, this is the attraction on a rainy day.
Disadvantage: many schools come to visit this free attraction.
Definitely worth a visit and allow about 3 hours to take a look at everything.

Couldn't believe that this zoo was FREE! My family and I had a great time enjoying the sights. We will come back for sure!

I have been to this Zoo hundreds of times throughout my life, but I never made it to Zoo Lights before a few nights ago. I went with my family and we had a great time. The light displays and shows were unique, especially the light and audio show on the one set of port-a-potties. Hot chocolate and beer are available to warm you on a cold night. I would definitely encourage this event to folks! It makes for a fun family outing and would be a great date idea.

Up there with one of the better zoos, very well kept, gardens weee in full bloom and very picturesque. Lots of animals to see but we visited on a hot day so quite a few wee sleeping or taking shelter from sun . Quite a few gift shops and places to eat / drink. Was a very pleasant few hours . Can’t recommend enough. And as everyone says it’s free - no idea how but most enjoyable

This is a must do in Chicago. The fact that this is free, it cannot be missed. We saw loads of animals including lions, monkeys, rhinos, wolves, penguins, seals, a dwarf hippo, plus many more, they looked well cared for, in well maintained enclosures.

This is one of the best city zoos in the world, and it's fantastic that it can be accessed free.

The kids love going back for the cheesy fries at the restaurant, and the somewhat steep prices for food and drinks don't seem too bad when you've not had to pay admission.

Easy to get to on the bus.

A pleasant surprise while walking the Riverwalk we came to Lincoln Park Zoo. It is free but we did donate $5. We saw zebra, kangaroo, tapir, primates, flamingoes while we walked around . We were heading to a cubs game so we didn’t stay long so I’m sure we missed a lot but hey it was free! There was a nice restaurant there to have lunch and vendors with face painting , ice cream.

We couldn’t believe that this was free entree !
There was so many animals here from otters to polar bear!
This was a highlight of our trip to Chicago .
The animals all seem happy like they are being well looked after very spacious.

We went for a walk & took in the zoo. It was free! Having seen the Field museum earlier in the day that was overpriced & half the museum had an up charge, this was a welcome change. Loved the variety of animals. Worth seeing.

The zoo was really fun! They had it decorated for the holidays and the animals were very active and happy. It’s a good place to walk and explore with friends or family. Staff were friendly too! My favorite part was the swan lake.

I generally don't like zoos. I don't go to them. But this one is unique. And not beacuse it is free of charge (the only zoo I know free of charge) . but because it is located in amazing Lincoln Park nearby the Michigan Lake .

We went on a beautiful October day, took 3 of our grandchildren. Very nice place. We didn't see many animals so that was disappointing and a lot of the buildings that held animals to see were closed too. We will be going again when it warms up. What we did see was worth the trip. Not many people were there so we didn't have to battle the crowd. We can't wait to go back this spring or summer

This was our first visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo. It was a great experience. There was nearby parking and admission is free. The grounds are easy to walk and provide accessible views of the animals. There is plenty of shade and indoor venues to avoid the heat as needed. The primate exhibition was amazing. The zoo has a big gift shop and available snacks and drinks onsite. Plenty of clean restrooms are inside the zoo grounds. This is an amazing place in the middle of the downtown Chicago area.

Great what can be visited here for free! The zoo is in no way inferior to other big zoos that cost a lot of admission! It is a sprawling complex with an incredible number of different animals, interesting for both children and adults! Gastronomy and small shops or stalls are also available, but then at zoo prices so correspondingly expensive. But that's fine then, somehow money has to be raised here!
We were absolutely thrilled what there is here and how well maintained it looks.
Even if no zoo in the world can offer a wildlife a species-appropriate keeping, of course you have to refrain from that.

The zoo is free and pretty, but the signage for directions is not good. We wore ourselves out trying to find certain animal exhibits. There is no paper map to help you, just an occasional map on some corners. It wasn’t just me. Other people couldn’t find their way. I wish they had signs at intersections pointing the way to exhibits or stamped on the paths. That’s all I would suggest. Thanks.

It can get pretty crowded on warmer weekend days but this free zoo is excellent. Lots to see. Highly recommend.

The zoo has free admission; however, if you drive, parking in Lincoln Park is $20 or more, depending on the time parked. When I visited an online reservation was required (I did mine in front of the entry and got immediate admission--there is a sign showing how to do it). The zoo has dining and a gift shop. The paths are slightly hilly but well paved. There is a good amount of shade but a summer visit might be uncomfortable. During my visit I saw giraffes, a polar bear, zebras, a takin, peccary, ostrich, cranes, flamingos, and more. COVID-19: The employees were masked and visitors were expected to do the same as well as maintain social distancing. A further precaution was arrows on the ground to guide the flow of traffic. Indoor exhibits, like the bird house, were closed.

We found this little gem while searching trip advisor for attractions. Being a free zoo we didn't know what to expect. The exhibits were very elaborate and well kept. The park was extremely clean. They had/have an amazing array of different animals and mammals. Very glad we visited.

We came here twice within the same vacation. The first time it was OK but many of the exhibits and animals were not on show. Because of that we spent time in the Gorilla house and African Savannah buildings which were nice to walk through.

The second visit 5 days later was on s particularly cold snowy day but this time we got to see the Lions and Polar bears which was a real highlight and totally made the second trip worthwhile.

The Zoo is free of charge surrounded by beautiful Lincoln Park so I'd definitely recommend at least one visit whilst visiting Chicago.

Free Tours by Foot Architecture walking tour.

This tour was an excellent introduction to the city of Chicago and it's amazing architecture including the birth of the skyscraper. Although you can appreciate the awesomeness of these buildings just by looking at them getting their history, purpose and aesthetic choices of the architects involved is priceless.

Our guide Mitch was knowledgeable, friendly. I would wholeheartedly recommend booking a place onto this tour.

horrible! The animals all seem so sad ! We saw a animal and it was in bad shape. the popcorn was stale!

Winter cold was present but there was SO much to do! I loved walking amongst the animals and going into habitat buildings. This place is a real gem. If I lived in the area I would come here to walk and just be with the wildlife. I hope to return when warmer out to see the difference. Parking was not too hard to find. I parked along the roadway (Sunday) and walked right in. FREE! There was a nice gift shop and a place for food and drinks. No food to feed the animals that I could find. Understood. Real gem. What an awesome place to all who love animals or just to walk.

I could not believe this zoo was free, and with it being free I will admit I was sceptical. It was fantastic, I was so pleasantly surprised. Lots of different species, and some really cool ones to boot! We spent a couple of unexpected hours at Lincoln Park Zoo and enjoyed it immensely.

This was such a wonderful surprise for our 1st visit with a 7,4,1 year olds. They absolutely loved it and had so much fun that they didn’t want to leave. We’re hoping to go back again.

Great Zoo! Love coming here all the time! Zoo lights is really fun! The polar bears, rhinos, gorillas, ape house, cat house, bird house, Africa expedition house, and reptile house are all fun to visit! This is a great date spot or just a fun activity to do in Chicago! The green house is cool too!

The zoo is not very big but he died have a pretty good selection of animals and decent exhibits. Large park food court and gift shop plus its free!!! Which is totally awesome

When my mom, sister, aunt and I arrived in Chicago on a Friday afternoon from Canada, my mom mentioned wanting to see Christmas lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Admittedly, I was a little skeptical, but since she wanted to go - we went.

We took public transit to the zoo (one bus - it was super easy to figure out) and when we arrived I was IMPRESSED! As an adult, I thought it was gorgeous and incredible that a free zoo could pull off such an amazing display. It was really cool that you could see some of the animals too!

Things to remember/consider:
- Dress warm since you'll be outside
- Wear good walking shoes
- Bring a thermos with a hot bevvie to keep you warm (or purchase on site)
- The buses are the best option to get you there -- the cars looked like a gong show & I was grateful for public transit
- Great for all ages... even skeptics like me. I would return again.

Had an absolutely amazing visit with my partner to this zoo. Spacious, open and free! Normally not a huge fan of zoos but the animals seemed to be well looked after and exhibits well maintained. 10/10 would recommend. Barb at the gift shop was an absolute dream as well helping us pick out gifts for friends and family as well as some emergency sun glasses as we were ill prepared for the changeable weather of Chicago.

Killed an hour or so here before a business meeting on a Thursday and was pleasantly surprised by the experience. Some excellent exhibits, active animals, and clean bathrooms. I entered right at opening and had most of the place to myself. Field trips started to trickle in as the day went on but I got to see most of the zoo in an hour and a half. Admission was free but donations are appreciated.

Good zoo especially for a free city zoo with plenty of exhibits and well staffed. Space to move around/walking paths and plenty of restrooms. Easy to get to on public transportation and near other things to do.

All attractions at the Lincoln Park Zoo are very well explained. Diverse selection of animals, climates... Plus it is free!

This is one of our favorite zoos. Here's what makes it better than other zoos and why you should come here while visiting Chicago (with or without kids)
-It is free
-It is in Lincoln Park right by the Lakefront path and the lake
-This means anytime you're close by, you should stop by. You will see joggers and bicyclists who come through to take a break, old people here for daily walks who have favorite animals and can tell you anything current to pay attention to in the zoo, couples of all ages on dates, families of all shapes and sizes, well dressed people/wedding parties taking photos with beautiful skyline background and or attending an event at Brauer Cafe. It is a wonderful representation of Chicago.

I have a 5 year old son who loves animals, and we live in the City. We go to a zoo at least once a month, and we came here at least 10 times last year and will likely be the same for this year.

-Lion Exhibit is amazing
-Sea Lion exhibit is cool, go up top for a better view
-Reptile house is great, the first half is dark with nocturnal animals, the back half is bright with high ceilings. Animals in the water lower down and monkeys higher up in the exhibit. And a caiman. This is my son's favorite exhibit.
-African house is great. I love that the zebras and giraffes are outside together in the same space.

-Food at the zoo is acceptable quality and a bit overpriced but goes to support the zoo. We normally eat on the patio at Cafe Brauer; it's outside, has a lovely view of the pond, has good food (albeit more expensive).

-Campout at the zoo- This is amazing. In the summer and Fall there are some nights you can register and pay to sleep over night in your tent in the grass by the flamingos. We had a great time. My 5 year old was so excited to see the snakes and animals in the reptile house moving so much, when we went inside there in the evening. S'mores, evening snacks, and basic breakfast were included in the price. And the gorillas sleeping were so cute! We will definitely be doing this again.

Parking pricy starting at $25 but great place. Love the primate exhibits. Also the staff explaining and answering questions. A great place place to spend an afternoon or full morning.

Lots of reviews on this one so I'll keep it short. As zoos go I would give it a solid B+. Easy to traverse. Large, diversified, clean, and wait for it ... FREE! Well there is a donation box which you should probably hit up. Dined outdoors at a lovely restaurant whose food is good and cocktails better. This gets the max 5 stars from me. So glad we did this as part of our trip. Also reached it easily from down town via a city bus.

This park is free and is near of downtown. Despite it is huge you don't get tired easy, it seems that the pleasent landscape and the clean air do their job in relaxing while you watch the well conserved animals. We couldn't reach the light show but we know is wonderful. In the middle of the park there is a foodcourt where you can spend some time or could it be outside as well. This visit worth the price (only what you paid in Uber). There's also a souvenir shop right in the entrance. If you go to Chicago this is a must go place. It's free and very interesting especially de primate seccion.

My family and I enjoyed our time at this free attraction. Not up to the level of the Bronx zoo or the Philadelphia zoo, but those zoos are not free. Everything is well designed and clean in the animal habitats are humane. Worth a visit.

Brookfield Zoo in west suburban Brookfield is much larger and houses many more species of wildlife than Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. But Lincoln Park Zoo is more celebrated, thanks to its location and its historic TV exposure. And because I live within a short walk of Lincoln Park Zoo, I visit the 49-acre property almost daily, weather permitting. Located at 2400 North Cannon Drive, at Fullerton Parkway, off DuSable Lake Shore Drive, in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, it is one of the oldest zoos and one of the largest free zoos in the United States. In 2019, it became an accredited arboretum. Oh, the elephants are gone. But the zoo, which opened on 1868, is home to nearly 200 species from around the world and more than 850 plant species from hydrangeas to 100-year-old oak trees, creating an urban oasis for native birds, frogs, turtles, fish and insects. Open from 8 to 5 weekdays and 8 to 7 on Saturday and Sunday and holidays, it is free and open to all every day of the year. First-timers should start at the Visitor Center at the East Gate entrance, off the parking lot. Visit the Farm-in-the-Zoo, Primate House, Swan Pond, the most popular of all Seal Pool, Bird House, Reptile House, Lion House, Arctic Tundra, Waterfowl Lagoon, Penguin Cove, African Apes, Birds of Prey and Children's Zoo. Stroll along the Nature Boardwalk that encircles the South Pond. See African lions, gorillas, python, polar bears, pygmy hippos, seals, black rhinoceros, Jamaican Iguana, bald eagle, giraffe, black bear and Aardvark. Take a break at the gift shop and have lunch on the patio at Cafe Brauer overlooking the South Pond and Nature Boardwalk or the Park Place Cafe featuring Mexican and Italian food or Eadie Levy's Landmark Cafe for Chicago-style hot dogs or Bird's Eye Bar & Grill, an open-air rooftop setting overlooking the Main Mall.

This was a very fun activity for our group to do when we were in town for a conference last year, particularly since admission is free. Despite being free, the zoo does not feel like a place that's underfunded and it looked like all of the animals were well-cared for and healthy. We particularly loved the gorilla exhibit and the polar bear as we love gorillas and we had never seen a polar bear in real life before. It's a really nice place to visit and I would recommend it!

Before I moved downtown in the 1970s, within a short walk from the sea lion pool, my only recollection of Lincoln Park Zoo was watching director Marlin Perkins' popular TV show that highlighted activities and animals in his domain. Now my wife and I take weekly strolls through the zoo, which recently reopened to one and all. Located at 2204 North Cannon Drive, in Lincoln Park, adjacent to Lake Michigan, it was founded in 1868 and is the fourth oldest zoo in the United States. It also is one of the few free admission zoos in the country. The 35-acre venue is home to 1,000 animals and 200 species. Sadly, the elephants are gone. But the physical plant is more beautiful than ever and work continues on the lions' and tigers' outdoor habitat. Visitors are privy to the Farm-in-the-Zoo, the primate house, the lion house, the children's zoo, the sea lion pool, the bird house, the small mammal and reptile house, the Center for African Apes and the expansive waterfowl lagoon and swan pond. Exhibits include big cats, polar bears, birds of prey, penguins, seals, gorillas, reptiles, monkeys, flamingos, rhinos, giraffes and zebras. Be sure to visit the Regenstein African Journey, a 60,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor exhibit that opened in 2003 and simulates four distinct habitats from the African continent--rainforest, rivers, savanna and kopje. And don't miss the burr oak tree that dates to 1830, three years before the city of Chicago was organized. A stroll through Lincoln Park Zoo is always stimulating, never boring.

I have been to lots of Zoos. None were free and none were batter than this one. The enclosures had indoor and outdoor access to see the animals AND they were not so big you couldn't get a good view of them. It was worth the travel north of the city to go. We spent about 5 hours seeing everything. The park around it was beautiful and had areas to walk or sit or tour the many bronze statues. don't miss it.

We went to Chicago's Zoo Christmas light show, gerting our tickets way in advance. It was interesting and a very popular family activity: many children, parents and grandparents strolling throught the Park. Lighting is interesting, music is fine, but it is fairly small. We visited all in twenty minutes.

My husband and I walked the whole zoo and we couldn’t believe it was free! So many animals & not just giraffes but displays for reptiles and sea lionsand more! The gorillas were amazing to see. Can’t believe the size of some of them! If you are in Chicago - don’t miss this zoo!

The ticket is free! And there are a lot of different animals. Highly recommended and you can visit in whatever season.

For free this is a great Zoo, plenty of animals to see (we missed the Lions and Polar Bear bur plenty there).
It's easy to get to using the L as long as you don't mind a little walk (20 mins).
The restaurant and toilets etc could do with a little update but considering they are free it's not an issue.
The walk up and the park are nice for chilling out to.

We chose to visit this zoo vs. Brookfield zoo because it was free. I expected that we would visit for 2-3 hours and that it would be just ok. We were VERY pleasantly surprised at how much there was to do and see here and ended up spending 5 hours! I think if we lived in the area and visited more often, our visits would be shorter, but we were not disappointed with our decision in the end. I strongly suggest getting there right at open because, as you would guess, it only gets busier as the day goes on. You'll also be more likely to see the animals being active rather than napping in the mid-day sun. We were lucky enough to see the 3 lion cubs come out to play with the rest of the pride and that was a highlight of the trip for us. There are several places to eat, though they are pretty overpriced. You'd be ahead to bring a lunch in. There are many places throughout the zoo, including indoors, that you can eat it. I visited both Chicago area zoos many years ago, and definitely remember the Lincoln Park zoo as being the "lesser" of the 2. That said, if you're on a budget but still want to enjoy seeing animals in very nice enclosures, pick this zoo to visit!

Disappointed we missed the lights which started nov 29th 4.30-9.30 I think the times were. That’s going to be excellent so go if you can. We saw seal training while there. Staff feeding them while teaching them tricks. 15 mins max. Doesn’t seem to be a programme of events, but it’s free entry which I’m surprised about for the quality of the experience. Inside and outside so great in any conditions apart from rain I’d imagine. We spent 3 hours. We did read the signs and stop to look at some animals longer than others. We walked broad walk too which was pointless at this time of year. All vegetation dead. Gift shop / toilets and easy 151 bus ride from downtown for us in 10 mins.

This zoo is very nice. We did not see a lot of animals the day we went, it seemed they were hiding or inside somewhere but the ones we saw were great. The zoo is free and the grounds were very nice to walk about. Variety of animals were impressive. A great place to walk around and enjoy the surroundings.

I’d give Lincoln Park Zoo a 3 out of 5. It’s free to enter, which is a huge plus, and most exhibits are open to explore without extra cost. My husband and I visited at the end of April, during cooler weather, between 3:30 and 5:00 PM. It was surprisingly quiet — maybe 100 people throughout the entire park — making it a calm and easy visit.

Unfortunately, many animal enclosures were empty, and the few animals we did see looked thirsty or underfed, which was heartbreaking. I also felt as the cement, concrete enclosures were so far from anything natural for the animals. For a zoo with such a big reputation, it didn’t live up to the hype.

Still, I’d recommend going. The animals and the zoo rely on support. Buying a souvenir or making a small donation can make a difference. Even a little help goes a long way.

Busy but a nice trip. Animals are in small cages so I found it a bit sad to see. Monkey’s were lying bored on the floor
Also, a lot of the animals where hided so we did not see that much.

Nice visit, we saw a good selection of animals even tho it was cold. Love that it's free admission. We took lyft, because it was about a mile from the train and we had walked a lot that day already.

Wow! We had visited Chicago before, but never Lincoln Park Zoo. Why? I couldn’t tell you because this place is INCREDIBLE! And…FREE!
My wife and I couldn’t believe that we were walking around such a vast, well maintained place, seeing Gorillas and Giraffes and Zebras and Hyenas up close without having to pay a penny (or a dime!)
It was a great experience! Seeing the Gorillas was a highlight for me!
If you’re ever in Chicago, this place is a MUST SEE! Visit here before anywhere else!

Twice during my visit to Chicago I came here. The Holiday Zoo Lights are AWESOME. One of my favorite parts was the indoor bird rainforest building. It was snowing and about 20 degrees outside when I came here on 12-31-19 around noon. It’s neat going from a cold Chicago morning to an indoor rainforest. An employee driving a GMC plow was doing a GREAT job plowing the walkways. An employee in the gift shop was really nice and gave me a map. There was also a really nice employee by the monkeys helping children learn about primates. I usually don’t comment on employees, but the workers were doing an OUTSTANDING job keeping the place open after a semi-major snow fall. My photo shows a zoo employee touching the glass giving the monkey a high five. She was giving a presentation for children. Visitors are not allowed to touch bang on the glass.

Nice displays but no animals. The zoo allows the animals to be inside or out but all the inside exhibits were closed so the animals, being animals, stayed out of sight. That is nature, but the staff should have said something. Little directions or help by the staff. Perhaps the zoo will be better once covid restrictions and construction end, but for now, not worth the effort. We have visited many zoos over the years and this experience is at the bottom of the list. The park, however, is quite nice.

When visiting Chicago, everyone goes to visit the Willis Tower, John Hancock Tower, Mag Mile and Navy Pier. But seldom mentioned is this gem of a visit. Located just a short Uber ride from downtown, you will find the Lincoln Park Zoo. Open 365 days a year it has a great selection of animals both indoors and outdoors including primates, reptiles, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, lions, penguins and more. Staffed with many helpful docents and zookeepers, they are readily available to answer your questions, or tell you about the animals. Best of all it is free, yes no admission charge, It is run on donations and grants. The zoo is clean and not overwhelming in size. Plus you get a close face to face experience with many of the animals. Plan on spending 2 -3 hours here!

Great activity to do when visiting the city with family. Wonderful volunteers who are knowledgeable and helpful. Kids had a great time.

Was pleasantly surprised by this free zoo. It had a lot more animals than expected and a lot were ones I had never seen or heard of before. It is well kept and has a few interactive things. I really liked how close you could get to the animals as well. Some zoos keep you farther away from the animals' habitats but this one puts a glass (maybe plastic) wall between you and the animals so you can get up close to a lot of them.

That is my favorite zoo, nice and cozy. Its great place to hang out with family and the location is pretty good. After the zoo you can always visit downtown or Lincoln park restaurants to relax after the walk.

I've been to better and worse zoos. The atmosphere here is reasonable, the layout sucks. It is really confusing to get around. The animals seem to have really small enclosures. They do have some rare animals, staff/volunteers are rude. Children run wild here.

Just ten minutes by cab from the city. We went on Columbus Day when the weather was very good, so not all the animals were out. However, the scenery and the animals that we did see was very good. They have one of the best and cheapest gift shops that I have ever been in.

This was my first visit to the zoo, and I left disappointed as I expected much better than it actually was. 3 stars because it’s free and the flowers/gardens were lovely. The animals are in old exhibits, and many weren’t out because the animals are given a choice of being inside or outside. I do respect that choice & care being given to the animals. The penguin enclosure was disgusting and tons of algae covered the glass below the water line. The polar bear exhibit was also quite dull and had very minimal space for swimming.
Given all the wonderful attractions in Chicago, this should be at the bottom of the list. If you’re looking for amazing zoos in the Midwest, the Detroit Zoo, Binder Park Zoo or the Columbus Zoo are much better than this.

We visited here with friends on a beautiful sunny Monday. Nice exhibits. Walk in - no fees. Indoor and outdoor. Nice grounds surrounding. Right on lake shore.

Our family comes every year for the zoo lights.

Reservations are required to be made online and the cost is $10 per person. This is normally a free zoo.

We do drive in and there is plenty of parking. The lot is very long so you may walk a bit to get to the entrance. The parking fee is around $30.

We love coming to the lights and this year there were more than ever. If you are coming to see animals, most are not visible during these times. Actually very few are visible at all and we are early with a 5:30pm entrance.

Snack shops are open and there are many vendors selling coffee and hit cocoa. There is also always an ice carver towards the main entrance which is fun to watch.

The walk around to see all of the lights takes maybe 90 minutes. The main indoor restrooms are open as well as some portable ones located throughout.

The zoo does get busy at times during the lights but it is not overwhelming.

As mentioned we come every year and will continue to do so. Always a fun time with the family.

It's real nice spot in Chicago and it's free to get in. It's fall time not all the animals will be out ,but a good to see and check out . I like monkeys .

Spectacular! The grounds open at 8am, hardly any animals out. We tried to avoid the hot miserable weather. But the grounds are amazingly gorgeous, clean and every flower, tree, shrub and grass is placed perfectly. And it’s free!

Fun day at the zoo. Free is always good but i recommend leaving a donation so it can remain that way for years to come.

We are fortunate to live within a short walk to the zoo. Honestly it’s been a while since I’ve visited this gem. I read that it had reopened, we decided to make a reservation (easy) and visit this FREE zoo. Although there were some exhibits closed, these was plenty to see and the grounds itself are magnificent. All the employees are super friendly and made us feel most welcome as we make our way through this challenging time. Chicago is a great place!!! Get out there and enjoy it!!!!

We went on 27th December to see the Christmas lights and it really was beautiful - with the added bonus of seeing the animals at night time

it's a very nice and free place, a little greenery in the city, you can walk around and see animals, it's top

Chicago is a beautiful city with many areas to visit, steep in architecture and blues music. We purchased the city pass to 5 attractions. John Hancock building best visited between 8 and 9pm. Wilson tower early viewing recommended. River boat and river walk are great to visit. Lincoln Zoo is one of the best I have visited and only asks for a donation to enter.
Cubs wriggley field tour is good and great to take in a game.

What a great zoo. When we heard the zoo was free we thought it would be small dinky. On the contrary! It was a full-size zoo. The day we went was a little breezy so a lot of the animals were out and active. If you’re looking for something to do outside the city and not expensive, this is the place! Even though it’s free, please consider making a donation so it stays as it is!

the FREE admision but NOT the expensive parking......RIPOFF.........parking TOO EXPENSIVE....would not go back there again.should go on the bus

A fine – and free! – urban zoo located in the southern portion of its namesake Lincoln Park. I really enjoyed my visit to this zoo, and I’m sort of amazed that they’ve been able to keep admission free for everyone even after all these years, considering how large their operations are. They have the usual crowd-pleasers, like lions, giraffes, rhinos, zebras, gorillas, polar bears, seals, and penguins, and lesser-known animals on top of that in many different enclosures. One of my favorite things about this zoo is the Nature Boardwalk, which recreated a typical local marsh environment in the park and now functions as a “living laboratory” for urban environmental management. Pro tip for photographers out there: the Nature Boardwalk offers really nice views of the Chicago skyline. Like the rest of the zoo, the boardwalk is free. One important note on the notion of “free”…admission is free, but parking is not! If you can take public transportation, do it. Parking on-site will cost you what you’d typically pay for admission to a zoo: $20-$35, according to the zoo website.

We visited in April and it was very chilly but the visit was worth it. The lion kittens had recently been born so we saw both adult lions at different times. The birds were not on exhibit because of the recent bird diseases that had come into the country. Hope to see them on my next visit in July.

I realize zoos are controversial..... having been on safari in Africa I’m even more conflicted but education and conservation are at the forefront of what Lincoln Park Zoo is trying to do, along with trying to present the animals as humanely as possible.

The revised habitats with family units are excellent..... and some older units will likely be remodeled as time and money allow. The penguins, apes and mole rats kept the little ones enthralled and amazed..... along with the adults!

Well worth spending half a day or more here.... and today’s weather was lousy.... but that let us have the place to ourselves!

I was in Chicago for the marathon and was looking for a few things to do in my downtime. The zoo is free and is very well kept. I really liked the gorillas exhibit, you get very close! Also, some nice restaurants nearby for lunch!

What can I say, A zoo in a park with free admission 😳 this would normally be unheard of, this is a awesome zoo with so many animals and such a ease of getting around, anybody visiting Chicago must go

The Zoo is on the northern part of Chicago by the lake. There's spaces to park but to be honest its easy to get to either by foot, taxi or bus. Whilst the Zoo has the top part of the park, there is a large lake to the south side of it which you can also stroll around. On the north west side there is also the Lincoln park conservatory which is free and worth a visit if you like exotic flowers/plants/trees.

Entrance is free, which considering most zoos charge with the fees going towards feeding and looking after the animals, this was a bit of a surprise to us. There are 4 entrances/exits so you can come and go as you please. We went in via the north east gate by the lakeside and departed out the south west gate towards the city.

Maps to get around are free and available from the shop. They also have large ones dotted around which are easy to navigate from. There are plenty of toilets and resting places dotted all over so no need to rush anywhere. Food - There is two main buildings with seating available inside and outside. There are also various snack bars about.

The zoo itself isn't that big compared to others we have visited, but it will still take you around 4 hours to walk around it looking at everything ( talking photos and a 30 min rest for lunch). The paths are wide so easy access for wheelchairs etc. There is a main shop which sells products, proceeds do go to good causes. What was impressive was the bracelets and shirts that are made out of plastics etc. which are either recycled or cleaned up out of the oceans. Cuddly toys are only $20.

The whole Zoo is very clean and tidy which was nice to see. On a down side we did think some of the enclosures could do with being bigger. E.g the Polar bear could do with a much larger area to swim in, he was showing signs of stereo type behavior in his swim pattern.

Over all - The Zoo is well worth a visit. It will take about 4 hours to get around if you relax and enjoy it.

If your inclined - We walked back to city center, it only took us 50 minutes.

As a personal plee whilst I would rather animals were out roaming free in their natural environment - As sad as it is if it wasn't for Zoos and the work they do throughout the world, there would be a lot less animals around today. So thank you to the staff and all those who support the Zoo.

Nice zoo. Not many animals out, but still a pretty environment. Glad it as free— definitely not worth an entrance fee. We won’t visit again.

This is a great thing to do for about half a day which is free. Lots of animals to see, in a beautiful setting.

We love zoos, and this one was free; you get what you pay for !
Convenient to get to but bus.
Almost NO animals were on display; wouldn't recommend.

I recently visited the zoo and I thought it was amazing! I can't believe there isn't an admission fee, its incredible that anyone can come enjoy the many animals! There were a couple new gorillas who were 3 and 4 months old, absolutely adorable! The polar bear and rhinos were also a couple others I enjoyed seeing

This is a wonderful zoo in the heart of the city. Very well laid out and easy access to all exhibits. Polar Bears, Lions, Gorillas, Zebra, Giraffes, you name it and you will find it. Did I mention the Free Entry. Just walk in! We found street parking a couple of blocks away so we visited the gift shop on our way out. We can always use a hat and t-shirt. The animals are very well taken care of, lots of detail went into the habitat.

We heard from a friend who used to live in the Chicago area that this was a nice zoo. "Nice" is an understatement. It is a wonderful zoo. Lots of animals. Clean. AND IT IS FREE! That makes it even better. I would have paid to get into this zoo. We have one here in the Pittsburgh area that is nice, but this one blows it away. And the Lincoln Park neighborhood is so nice. Do the zoo!

This was one of my all time favorite zoos to visit. Nearly all the animals have inside viewing areas. We have never been so close to many of the animals we saw. The giant silverback gorillas walked right beside the glass. What an amazing view! It’s really beautiful to walk through, even on a cold and rainy day. If I ever return, I would go again.

Our family goes to a lot of zoos as we travel. The Lincoln Park Zoo was top notch. It was clean, the enclosures were interesting, the educational material was well thought out and the animal selection was great. Not the biggest zoo but enough rare animals like the Gaboon Viper mixed in with crowd favorites like the Zebras makes for a fun day. And it’s free.

We had an afternoon flight so thought we would make a quick visit in the morning. The good thing was it was free but given the month a lot of the animals were tucked away. Enjoyed the botanical plants in the greenhouse.

I went to Lincoln Park Zoo on Sunday, June 25, 2023.
My best guess will say out of the 50 or so exhibits, I only saw animals in 20 of them.
And I am being nice when I say 20. It felt like an April Fools Joke.
Very disappointing. Free admission is nice, but parking was $30.00.

We came here on Friday afternoon as it was walking distance to our hotel. Really great zoo. It wasn’t too busy the day we came. There are a great number of animals and birds and reptiles there . The enclosures and habitats seem very well done and they look to be well cared for.
We spent about 3 hours here which is enough time to see everything I’d say. The grounds are very well maintained and there are lots of nature friendly areas, wild flower meadows and ponds with boardwalks.
This is a must see and I would definitely recommend it. It’s also free to get in.

My wife and I are very fortunate. For more than 40 years, we have lived in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. Every day, weather permitting, we enjoy a stroll through Lincoln Park, the city's largest public park, that includes an obligatory visit to Lincoln Park Zoo. Located at 2204 North Cannon Drive, west of Du Sable Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan, south of Fullerton Avenue, it opened in 1868 and is the fourth oldest zoo in North America and one of the few free admission zoos in North America. The 35-acre property is home to 1,100 animals from 200 species, including big cats, polar bears, penguins, gorillas, seals, monkeys, reptiles, swans, flamingos and giraffes. Remember Marlin Perkins, the director of Lincoln Park Zoo from 1944 to 1962? He hosted the popular TV programs Zoo Parade and Wild Kingdom an gave wide-spread exposure to the zoo. The zoo features many exhibits, including Farm-in-the Zoo, the primate house, the children's zoo, wildlife center, seal pool, bird house, small mammal and reptile house, the center for African apes and the large mammal house. Perhaps the two most popular exhibits are the seal pool and Farm-in-the-Zoo. The seal pool, one of the oldest exhibits in the zoo, was established in 1879 and renovated in 1999. It features three main viewing areas, including an underwater viewing gallery. Training shows are presented twice a day. Farm-in-the-Zoo was designed to give Chicago kids a chance to experience a bit of the country in the city. Cows, pigs and horses are on display and visitors can pet and feed the animals. Each day cows are milked in public and the staff explains elements of farm life. The elephants are gone but we are always in awe of the polar bears, lions and tigers.

A big city can be dangerous only if you don’t choose right! Lincoln park is a paradise for the arts, formal and informal, a tremendous place to be entertained with humans, animals and art everywhere, even in a snack bar. We explored it for two days and could have done more.
Next year, I’ll be back, just wait.

Absolutely gorgeous. Great exhibits and a good way to spend some quality time with the family. All of this for free!

We like to go to zoos. We have been to zoos in seven states, some state several zoos. Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the best we have gone to and it was FREE! We really enjoyed the Gorilla area. They gift shop was nice and all staff members were friendly.

My little girl loves animal and she's always asked to revisit this zoo. It's fun big beautiful and educative👌♥️

I can’t believe admission is free. It’s a very clean zoo, my wife and 2 young kids enjoyed spending a few hours here.

It’s a great way to kill time even if you are not a zoo lover.

Having been to so many zoos across the country - Dallas, Bronx, San Diego, DC etc, this is relatively small and didn't cut it for me. Not many animals to see. The bathrooms was stinky (ended up not using it). The polar bear was no where to be seen..seriously?! We spent less than 2 hrs here. Parking is free for the first 30 mins and then $25 for up to 2 hrs. So while they don't charge you for tickets - you end up paying for parking. I would not recommend this for zoo lovers like me who don't miss visiting a zoo in a new city. If your kids have not been to one maybe a good starter for them.

My teenage son and I felt like little kids searching for the animals on a hot day...they were all in the shade or indoors...except the polar bear! He was swimming!!! Great zoo and we enjoyed our stroll among the flowers!

My husband and I like to visit zoos where ever we go. This was a wonderful zoo! The habitats for the animals were top notch. The details that went into each exhibit made you feel like you were a part of it. The best part is that it's FREE! What?! We supported by eating at the zoo cafe.

I think they should charge a couple bucks and use the money to make bigger habitats for the animals. That being said, I've never seen so many baby animals in a zoo. Lots of new or very young animals.

Major drawback for me was that there were no paper maps. I understand everything is digital nowadays, but for people caught unawares, aka me, makes it easy to get lost.

Time spent was about 5 or 6 hours to take it all in. Some habitats didn't have animals as they were inside, but taking a second look a short time later was a good way to find the others.

Check out the barn area to see goats and cows. Staff were very hands off with visitors (again, aka me) so it wasn't too engaging.

In the gorilla enclosure and another one (near where the polar bear is, the name escapes me) are one way through the buildings, but they aren't well signposted until you're standing at the wrong door!

Also in the gorilla enclosure be aware that some of the gorillas will bang and make themselves seem a danger. Lot of people caught unawares. You can purchase coins here, 4 designs depicting different types of gorillas.

At the gift shop they offer you to round up your purchase to the next dollar amount to help the zoo. As expected almost everything is exorbitantly priced (individual post cards .25 cents; pack of postcards makes them work out at .35 cents each). Not everything is clearly marked. Hoodies etc run at around $50-60. They have toys, magnets, tshirts etc.

A lot was closed this time of year. No train, only 1 gift shop. Not sure if any eateries were open since I brought a packed lunch.

Inside the reptile house there is a video about the zoo which plays for a little bit. Good place to get off your feet and learn about how the zoo has evolved.

I couldn't believe it was free to visit, but it is! Huge areas for the animals and it looks well kept and maintained. Bigger area than it appears, check out the daily shows. Obviously being colder some animals just didn't want to come out and who could blame them?! I would have prefered if they said if things were empty and not to have to walk all the way around to get into a building wouldn't have been nice. I liked the place and if i was a local I would regularly visit

The zoo employees we came across were all courteous and helpful. Bring your walking shoes! There are plenty of places to take a seat if you need a break.

Zoo was awesome. Only downside was lions exhibit was down for upgrade.

Entry was free

Concession prices were appropiate

Restrooms were very clean

The garden and park area was very well kept and nice. My real issue is that they do not provide enough shade while walking around the zoo. AND the polar bears seemed extremely unhappy and racing back and fourth. This is the second time I’ve been to this zoo and seen the animals not happy with their enclosures that are WAY not small and appropriate for them. The Rhinos looked depressed. It was honestly sad. But other areas of the zoo seemed better.

Who doesn’t enjoy a zoo? Especially when it is completely free. This is a nice zoo to spend a couple of hours in. The zoo is compact and just the right size for families with little ones. Definitely worth the visit.

We recently stopped by the zoo on a sunday afternoon and were disappointed that so very few animals could be seen. Of course it is free, so hard to complain, but we have been going there for years, and this is the first time I felt disappointed. Even the polar bears were not out on a winter afternoon! Needless to say very few mammals were out, we detected only one sea lion. It is a neat zoo and worth going, but maybe in warmer months?

I've visited several free zoos worldwide, but none of them is so well maintained and interesting to visit. Mostly, they're small and animals are cramped within them.
Contrary to that, Chicago's one is large, animals are well cared for and as an added bonus you have great city vistas from the grounds. Great job and must visit.

Went to Lincoln Park Zoo this past Saturday and, as always, it was fabulous. Even got to see and hear the big lion roar very loudly! Very cool... It's always free and a Chicago treasure. We visited from Dallas.

First of all: THIS PLACE IS FREE!!! I thought for sure I was being fooled but sure enough you can go and the entrance is free! I’m being tough on the rating because of the fact that the place needs more cleaning. I much rather pay a small fee if it means the place will be taken care of more. Don’t get me wrong is not BAD. But compared to other zoos there is more to see, more cleaning being done and I think is a gem that could be brighter. Zoo lights was fun and the ambiance was fun and compare to my Zoo in Texas this event was WAY better. Drinks were between $4-$10, snacks between $5-$10. Their cafe really had a variety of food. We did not eat there but the people that were there seemed to enjoy it. The gift shop was just as any other GS compared to prices and things you can find. We purchased to support the Zoo.

It's a beautiful zoo and it's still free to visit. Great exhibits and buildings are also very nice. Great place to come with your kids but it's a nice place for adults also. There is cafe for lunch but it's a bit pricey. Plant life, animals, friendly staff, gift shops all were perfect.

My expectations were low--much too low it turns out. Just a great zoo. Surprisingly easy to get to (and now that we know where the parking lot is, it will be easier next time). Love seeing the Chicago skyline in the background. I thought the farm area was disappointing, but I'm over 50 and it wasn't designed for me (it is completely a children's play and learn area). Great living spaces for the animals. This "little" zoo is on a par with much bigger zoos across the country. Just a gem!

Really enjoyed the lights and synchronized light show. We went on Friday night after Christmas and it was still very crowded. Just a note... if you're not from the city please drop a donation into the box. This is free zoo.

The zoo has a lot going for it. It is very convenient to public transportation and it is free. The exhibits are well maintained and clean. The animals seem comfortable in their surroundings. Some of the animals were indoors and others were outside. It is an easy walk from exhibit to exhibit.

Love the lions and the Pygmy hippopotamus. Lots to see, easy to get to by bus. Bring your lunch and spend the day.

This is a wonderful small zoo that you can visit by simply walking from the Lincoln Park trails into the zoo and there is no admission fee!
The compounds housing the animals, birds and reptiles aren’t big as in some zoos which may concern some people. However, it does mean that you can see the residents fairly close.
The docents and keepers are wonderful. Very knowledgable, very pleased to answer questions and will tell you stories about the individual personalities of the animals.
We had never even heard of a takin before, let alone seen one and they are wonderful to look at - go to the zoo to find it.
We were there for about an hour and only saw a small part of it. As it is free, you can visit it over and over again.

The zoo is hit or miss. I feel like I hardly see any animals there. It's free so you can't complain too much. That said, if you pay for "Zoo" Lights don't expect any animals. Don't get me wrong, the lights are really cool, however I made the mistake of telling my child that we were going to the zoo to see lights and animals. There was not one animal to be seen. The most frustrating part about it that they keep the primate and cat building open which gives guest the impression that when you walk through there you are gonna see something (and you don't). It builds false expectations for kids and it's a waste of time walking through there. Kinda makes for an awkward conversation with a two year old when he has hopes of seeing an animal in the zoo and the only animal we saw the whole time was a service dog from a zoo lights guest.

6 girls in knee but Lincoln Park makes it a very easy and relaxed experienced. You just have to follow them because they are absorbed by seeing the different animals, a variety of monkeys, big cats, large animals, spiders, pretty much anything. One of the bigger better zoos in the world and you can't be free.

A very nice zoo and it's free. Visited the zoo after spending the morning at the Aquarium. Animals were very active in their environment. A fun afternoon!

What a great zoo free to get in amazing animals,staff are so helpful and knowledgeable about the animals telling you all about there backgrounds and feeding habits it was a wonderful place to visit

Wow, what a fantastic free city zoo this is. The only cost really is for parking ($25 for two hours and up to a max of $35, circa Sept 2019). The zoo is compact and a delight to walk through. One can enjoy the various animals and creatures, admire the historic architecture of their buildings, as well as see scenic and nearby downtown Chicago in the background of certain spots. The crowd here is also diverse, mostly city dwellers and tourists, and a pleasant, friendly, and well-behaved crowd. I would say 2-3 hours is a good allotment of time to see this Chicago gem, but you could always spend more.

Lovely zoo. The animals were healthy and well taken care of; with pens all clean and no smell. We couldnt believe this zoo was free entry. It’s the first free zoo we have ever been to and we were impressed with the variety and welfare of the animals. The architecture was also enjoyed. The animal merry-go-round and train ride were not functioning. Maybe cause it was still chilly outdoors.

We entered at the West Gate; the lady at the booth was very friendly and offered us a QR code for the zoo map. She made us feel welcomed.😀

We had a little visit at the Park Place Cafe. Good place; not too expensive. A good place to warm up on a crisp day.

This place is such a great place for the family. It is well laid out and landscaped beautifully. They do not charge admission. However all the food items and souvenirs are really overpriced.

The whole feline section has been closed for a while now but overall the place is still amazing (and it's FREE!), the hot dogs at the concession stands are extremely tasty and the primate pavilion is still the gem of the place.

The Lincoln Park Zoo has thoughtful exhibits and is beautifully landscaped, making it a flowering, wildlife-filled oasis in the middle of one of the country’s biggest cities. The zoo has done an amazing job guiding visitors through all of the exhibits without getting jammed up by using directional arrows and clear signage. Best of all, it’s free! They are limiting the number of visitors due to COVID-19 and requiring reservations to help manage numbers. You can find the reservation link on the zoo’s website.

Not sure what makes a zoo an essential destination anymore, we visited on last day of our stay in the city and enjoyed it although there was nothing particularly exciting. Catering was particularly uninspiring. However the animals seemed to have lots of space to move around in and there were a number of zoo staff walking around giving information.

Very disappointing!! There were more exhibits closed or empty than not. Signs everywhere said things were closed due to Covid. If you can’t offer a reasonable amount of things to see, then close. I am sure there were many disappointed children!

I absolutely love that this zoo is free, and I’m very impressed with the amount of animals they are caring for. It doesn’t seem like you’re in the city, while you’re in the zoo. This place is amazing, so nice that in the sprawl of urbanization, they’ve found a way to connect to nature.

The ZooLights festival at the Lincoln Park Zoo is quite spectacular. You must buy timed entry tickets on-line. The $5 entrance fee and the amazing number of holiday lights on display make it a great option for families. Although you will pay for parking and “ride” tickets.
The only reason I did not give it a 5 star is that driving and parking can be a bit of a challenge. We found a space underground nearby at History Museum ($32) Also, leave time to get through the security check (took us 20 minutes) at the entrance.
While you buy your entry Tickets online, tickets for the Ferris Wheel, Train and Carousel are separate. Tip: to avoid the long line for “ride” tickets at the Ferris wheel, buy your tickets at one of the other ticket booths. Views from the Ferris Wheel are fantastic.
It’s a lot of walking, but totally worth it!

Can't belive this place is FREEEEE to visit, it's way better than London Zoo imo, great staff, amazing animals and the enviromets looked really well kept and plenty of space, there is also a really good place to get a Chicago Dog just to keep you going.

You can give donations which of course we did, amazing place.

Lincoln Park Zoo is a wonderful place and one that one might expect a little more of if one had to pay admission to get in. But you don't, so what you do get is pretty great. Located in a park near the lake and with a lagoon right next to it and an unparalleled view of downtown that is iconic,

The facility needs a fair amount of work and the animals are often not on display but it is clear work is being done and the future of Lincoln Park Zoo, like its counterpart in Central Park in NYC is critical. Lincoln Park Zoo excels in its programming like the concerts and other activities in warm weather as well as the super popular Zoolights at the holidays. All visitors to Chicago should make at least a brief stop to the zoo and also to Cafe Brauer for drink to enjoy the surroundings and one of Chicago's treasures.

Our tour group was planned to visit the Lincoln Park Zoo Lights event , but from the downtown area (the Loop) our bus was literally crawling through heavy traffic on that Saturday evening, we came to the park rather late (it was after 6: 30 pm), so we couldn't even find the parking for the bus. It was awfully dark everywhere, the zoo was submerged in total darkness, and we could just see the decorative lights at a distance. I understood, that the zoo itself was closed by then.

As we could see (from the bus), other visitors were trying to find parking places for their cars on the road sides - overall, that dark evening didn't have a happy feeling about it at all. Our bus turned around - and drove us back to the hotel.

I'm not a big fan of zoos in general, but we were passing by and heard someone say that it was free to enter, so we decided to pop in for a while. We ended up spending a couple of hours here, such was the wide variety of wildlife on show here. As with most zoos I've been to in the past, it was the smaller, less well-known creatures that I enjoyed the most, especially those in the bird, reptile and small mammal houses. Larger ticket animals such as the rhino, gorilla, giraffe and especially the polar bear, were less enjoyable and just seemed sad in their small, concrete cages, pacing back and forth. Note that the lion house is currently closed for renovation work and the animals have been temporarily moved off-site. The site also has a boardwalk that runs through an area that has been allowed to grow wild, encouraging local wildlife to move in. On the whole, I was really impressed by this place and would suggest it would make a great, low budget day out.

The Lincoln Park Zoo is quite beautiful. Unfortunately, many of the animals weren’t seen. Either they were sleeping or hiding inside. What we did see was great. I especially enjoyed watching the flamingos being fed. It was very hot and sunny. Next time, I’ll be sure to bring a thermos of water because most drinks were expensive.

We went at the beginning of a cold snap when it was snowing so some of the animals were choosing to stay tucked up inside (which is completely understandable!) but we still got to see a lot of animals & the whole facility seemed to be really well set up. The staff we interacted with were friendly & knowledgeable, one even went out of her way to draw our attention to a viewing window we had missed so we could see a snoozing otter (so cute!) It was easy to get to on public transport. Would definitely recommend this zoo to anyone visiting Chicago!

The Lion House renovations are complete. It's been renamed the Pepper Family Wildlife Center and will open to the public October 14, 2021. Renovations were a delicate balance of retaining the features that make it a national historic landmark and updating it to comply with ADA requirements as well as creating a good environment for the animal residents. I'd say they did a splendid job.

The entire north side of the building is now devoted to African lions, a gorgeous dark-maned male and 3 females, with big viewing window from both inside the building and outside. During our visit, the 4 big cats were making full use of the space and coming right up to the windows, to the delight of the spectators. The outdoor enclosures on the south side of the building house 2 snow leopards in separate exhibit spaces, 2 red panda siblings and 2 Canada lynx sisters. They may or may not be visible; the snow leopards are especially good at hiding in plain sight, so it helps to know where to look. On the day of our visit we saw one of them resting in a small cave area at the tippy-top of the enclosure. One red panda was front and center and one lynx was roaming around her exhibit before settling down to nap on the ground.

There are new accessible restrooms on the main floor as well as completely remodeled restrooms with nice fixtures in the basement. The interior is now carpeted and air conditioned.

The landscaping around the exterior looks beautiful.

This is one beautiful park, even if you don't want to see the animals. Small, but well-curated, you can spend a nice afternoon here, soaking up the sights and learning quite a bit about the animals. It's not as large as Brookfield, but sometimes, you don't want that. It's also a good bit easier to get to, and right near the lake. A lovely place to see with a variety of food options, if the little ones get hungry. Or bring a picnic and enjoy it by the lake. Also fairly close to Old Town for another food option.

Lincoln Park Zoo was a beautiful attraction and the animals here seem to love to staff and their habitats. It is perfect for families and small children and during Christmas time they have a lights display at night! There is also a bar & grill on site as well as a big retail store.

This is a great zoo to just walk around and enjoy the weather. Although the buildings are closed due to Covid-19, there are many animals on display outside. Walkways are labeled showing direction of traffic and there are clear entrances and exits throughout the zoo.

On a small winter vacation here in Chicago. Absolutely loved this zoo. Loved how active the lions, seals and wolves were. 5/5

The zoo grounds were in full bloom and with a 70-degree day everything looked great. Just walking the zoo itself with the plantings was a good experience. Throw in a zoo and you have a nice outing. To those not familiar with Chicago it lies near the lake just north of Michigan avenue, so it is definitely in the city. We got there not too long after it opened and parked out front on the east side of the zoo. It was very convenient to the zoo. I have gone to this zoo since I was child and have seen it change over the past 60 years. The older zoo buildings where the animals were housed for so many years have been repurposed and not necessarily for the better. The cat house is vast empty expanse looking into the outside lion enclosure. What's the point? The day we visited the aviary was closed - no reason given. The children's zoo was under renovation and when we went into it was saw exactly one animal - a tortoise. The rest was murals, empty cages and a climbing apparatus for kids that was fun to watch. It was a zoo exhibit in its own right. Many enclosures were empty with the animals choosing to stay inside. A modern zoo wants to give animals more enrichment but if they want to spend all their time inside a concrete box that's okay... As a consequence, there's lots of large empty exhibits. This is not specific to Lincoln Park as many other zoos are the same. We wanted to visit the Garfield Park Conservatory which in next door but that is now closed every Monday and Tuesday. It has always been open for every prior visit in my life but no longer. There was a lot of school groups there on a Monday morning but I like kids so it didn't bug me. The only large "typical" zoo animals we saw were polar bears, zebras and a side view of a lion seen through blurry plexiglass. The reason it's a 4 star review is that I think too many things were closed during our visit and not enough animals out in the exhibit area.

We have really enjoyed visiting Lincoln Park Zoo in the past, but not much of interest to see today. Due to covid restrictions, free entrance tickets must be reserved in advance, so we took the 4:00 entrance time. The one high point of the visit is that we saw 3 wolves actively moving about their exhibits. We even heard them howling back as a fire truck siren drove past. Unfortunately, not a single animal exhibit building was open. Many of the buildings are under construction and the animals have been moved to other zoos. On the south side of the zoo we saw a few zebras, 2 camels, and an ostrich. On the north side of the zoo, we saw only a sleeping polar bear. It was also a hassle to wear a mask throughout the zoo even though we were entirely outside and crowds were small. It was a depressing environment. I recommend not visiting until tthe buildings reopen and animals return.

Hard to believe this is free!!! We spent 3 hours here today with our two preschoolers but could have stayed longer. There is a wonderful walking path on the south side of the zoo and lots of animals to see. Not a lot of bigger animals, but really nice exhibits!! Will definitely be back!

Beautiful and almost every animal was present, at 10am! I didn't see the gorillas or lions until that time. And, they feed the lions at 10am...I have never seen that. The zoo is FREE! There are plenty of bathrooms and things to eat, again, most things opened 10am or after. It was safe, clean, well spaced, and a great walk.

The Children's Zoo portion of the Lincoln Park Zoo has been mostly closed due to the nesting Black-crowned Night Herons. I live a block from it and visit frequently. If visiting, the mornings are when the animals are most active.

I've caught the staff lying numerous times when you ask why some animals haven't been seen in months. Anyone seen the Gibbons since 2019? or seen the Penguins in the water since 2019? Or seen the Gorillas outside even 15% of the time? (or even once before June of this year?). They've been trained to reply, "oh, they were out earlier, you just missed them." They used to say the same about the Elephants before they all died of cold-climate related illness or depression from living in a window-less garage for 6-7 months per year. It is time for a change in the management of this zoo and our understanding of these animals complex inner lives spent confined in tiny plexiglass cages.

This is a must-visit Chicago location. We spent almost a whole day here, and it's free! (Donations are appreciated). Easy to get to on public transport. We thought all the animals looked alert and happy (in particular the lioness who was playing with a football) and their enclosures were clean and thoughtfully designed. In fact the whole zoo was clean. We ate in one of the cafés and the food was tasty and reasonably priced. Healthy options too. Lincoln Park itself is also well worth a visit.

We are in Chicago for a few days and my daughter chose to visit this zoo. It’s FREE and a wonderful place for locals and visitors alike. It was busy but not too crowded when we visited. We managed to walk around the whole zoo in 2-3hrs, including stopping for a drink. There are plenty of places for picnics and for buying food/drinks (although these are quite pricey). The zoo is mostly on the flat, with small inclines so is easy to walk around. It’s not a full day out, but an enjoyable few hours!

This zoo is what you would expect it to be. It is free, but they do ask for donations. No complaints! Great option for kids!

Wow, what a gem for Chicago! We went to check out the zoo lights at night - spectacular! There is a music and light show in the center which was very entertaining! we also enjoyed going into some of the buildings and viewing the animals, especially the new baby ape! The best part of all is that entrance is completely FREE! This visit was the highlight of our trip!

I recently spent a winter's day afternoon at the Lincoln Park Zoo with my granddaughter. It was a cold day, but we kept moving and made use of all of the indoor exhibits so did not get chilly.

We especially liked the lion exhibit. The male lion was prowling the area right in front of the glass wall, it was thrilling staring into his amber eyes. I could read his thoughts "If it wasn't for this wall . . .guess what. . .you humans are NOT at the top of the food chain!" There was ample viewing space in the lion house, where we were able to view the 5 or so lionesses were lolling about on the rocks.

Other highlights were the zebras, several varieties of ducks, geese, monkeys, rhinoceros, and seals. We didn't see the whole shebang as we decided to head home to warm up, but we'll definitely be back! (3 yo granddaughter has short legs!)

Snack Bar: We ate at the Park Place Cafe. We only had the French Fries & a popsicle, but I would definitely go back to sample one of the many offerings here. Seating is ample & the variety is great. Their French Fries are delicious! Staff are wonderfully accommodating.

Very small, old zoo that is free to enter. Beautiful park setting but when we visited many of the animals were not out and large sections of the zoo were closed off to put up zoo lights. Probably a good place to visit if you have kids or are looking for something affordable to do.

Rather dull visit where we go to see a zebra, two wolves, 2 camels and very bored monkeys. No polar bears not much else. Really should close for winter

Speaaking as a life-long Chicagoan, I was embarrassed. What was once a world class zoo is now little more than a small town menagerie. Two-thirds of the enclosures were empty, the few that were had one lonely animal. The one lion was not on display, due to a "special event". No pachyderms, no birds. The one bear was barely visible, hiding behind a rock. The only thing worth seeing was the Great Ape House. Admission is still free, but parking costs an arm and a leg. Save your money for Brookfield.

I am not sure why everyone seems to love this zoo so much. Maybe it's because they haven't been to better ones? I am not sure. But when we visited it was so sad. The animals conditions were not great. Especially the poor polar bear who only had a tiny pool of water and a pile of ice in almost 90 degree weather.

I am not going to pretend I am an expert on animals, but it was concerning and a lot of the animals were either missing or looked miserable. It was an unsettling feeling. Maybe some signs to educate on the care the animals receive or their living conditions would be helpful. And if they aren't up to code, maybe some better care for the animals there.

We had a fantastic day here, with sightings of every animal we attempted to see (except the polar bear -- but no surprise, it was hot). Compact enough that we didn't exhaust ourselves. Easily stepped out of the park for lunch. The staff hanging out near the exhibits gave us fun informational tidbits about the animals. The gorillas were a highlight -- they have two troops, one of bachelors and one family. It was cool to see the different way they interacted. Big cat exhibit was closed when we visited.

Although the current pandemic limits some of the attractions, there is still plenty to experience at LPZ. Several indoor exhibits are open, mask required. Most outdoor exhibits are open. Still a nice way to spend an outdoor day. Ate lunch inside the Park Place Cafe...surprisingly, it was not crowded on a Monday at lunchtime, just busy. Been almost 10 years since my last visit to LPZ...still safe, clean and pleasant. Walked here from the International Museum of Surgical Science a half block south of Lincoln Park...nice walking paths and sidewalks the whole way.

This zoo is free but parking is not! The nearby lot is $45. Howeverrrr we stayed in the lot past when the zoo closed and the parking lot gate ended up being open so we didn’t have to pay. Not sure if that normally happens.

The zoo itself is really nice! There’s a lot of up close encounters with animals which is nice. There’s also a lot of volunteers walking around that you can ask questions. I’d recommend definitely seeing the seals, lions, gorillas/apes and polar bear.

Never been to any zoo like this!! Awesome set up, and free to all(donations are accepted). The lights are beautiful, and the facilities are great!!
We obviously went at night to see the lights so we did not get to see many of the zoo’s animals, but a great experience it was.

If you walk to the park or take public transit, it is all free.
If you take a car, your admission fee is the parking fee.
The zoo is very expansive. The exhibits are spread out so you can get lots of exercise while enjoying the animals.
Food and drinks are a bit expensive but it is expected of an attraction.

This Zoo is very clean and well kept, It's completely free. We went in August and the Animals were very active

We liked Lincoln Park zoo a lot! It's fun for adults and children. Admission is free but it might be difficult to find free parking. There are vendors for food and drinks inside. We liked the popcorn! They had great exhibits and we especially appreciated the signs noting that the animals may not be on display because it's healthy for them to be able to rest away from people if they choose. The animals seemed well cared for and many were on display. We loved the employee who took the time to talk to us about the swans, ducks, and frogs we saw, too! He was great! There are also photo booths around the zoo and we enjoyed those too.

We love zoos and when it’s free, all the better. We walked all around. The zoo is immaculate with many exhibits. Definitely something for everyone, young and old. Beautifully kept and clean!

For a free zoo in city centre this is exceptional value
We visited once during day and once for zoo lights in the evening
The daytime was to see animals many of which were indoors due to the cold weather but nevertheless an entertaining hour and half
The evening of lights was superb it was very packed but well worth visit to see something never experienced in such magnitude

In December, come at night for "ZooLights", when the place is lit up with literally millions of Christmas lights. You have to get tickets online, but on Mondays they are free. This makes a great family activity!

We came up on the the CTA bus #151 from our hotel near the Mag Mile, then had dinner at the wonderful "Mon Ami Gabi" French restaurant just a block from the zoo entrance before heading in. Folks who have visited Las Vegas might know the name of this restaurant. Turns out, the original is in Chicago, and it is even more fabulous!

The lights are magical! And the place is packed with locals who enjoy this winter institution. Allow about one to two hours for you tour of the lights within the zoo.

So if you are in Chicago in the Christmas season, head north to Lincoln Park and enjoy this wonderful local winter institution. If you have the time (and don't mind spending some $$$), enjoy a dinner at Mon Ami Gabi before or after your visit.

When I got there I surprised to find that this zoo is free! However, don’t let that fool you. This zoo is massive and incredible. The employees are knowledgable and very kind. We had one employee that spoke to us for a while in the reptile house. A few hours later we saw her again by the Lions, and she remembered us. I truly hope this Zoo can stay free for as long as possible, because it truly is a fun experience and gets people excited about animal conservation.

We travelled from Central Chicago by bus. The 151 runs along the Magnificent Mile and drops you at the gates of the Zoo.

Don't get off until the announcement of the Zoo. You can see the zoo through the fencing on the right but the entrance is a bit further along.

The lions are in a good sized enclosure. When we were thee they were against the thick glass. As such visitors were about three inches from a pride of lions as they rested. Wow !!

The Gorilla house is split between the Silverback male and his ladies and their children on one side and the males without brides on the other side. They are so impressive and not shy. They were within a foot of the glass and looking directly at people as they stared back.

We were not there long as the whole Zoo was closed at 3pm for a wedding !

I saw a fair part of the Zoo. It is free to enter which is a bonus.

This is a good option for a fair weather trip out of the immediate centre of Chicago without being a major trip - maybe 20 minutes onthe 151 bus along Lake Shore Drive heading north.

I really enjoyed strolling around Lincoln Park Zoo with my significant other. It is ideal for couples, families, friends, etc. Upon visiting, there were holiday themed events going on (pumpkin carvings) and I felt like that was so interesting! It is not huge but it is definitely a great gem. We went during the Fall and the weather was lovely.

A nice zoo , at the Lincoln park . We visited just shortly, free admission. Nice lions cage . Pay a short visit if you like zoos .

What an awesome zoo. Especially considering it’s city owned and free. Went late afternoon after Christmas. It snowed as we visited animals and then saw the zoo lights. Setting is beautiful at night with city in background. Short hike to many quality restaurants after visit. Do not miss this gem. You will want to make a donation.

This is a very nice zoo, but the park grounds are just as impressive. A great effort is put into the landscaping and it is quite beautiful. The free admission makes this a very affordable activity for families.

A very interesting fact one should know is that this zoo does not carry any entry fee!! One will be mistaken to think that a “free” zoo will not have many worthwhile things to see but you would be wrong. You could easily spend a whole day here walking around different enclosures to see various wildlife.

A good walk from Av. Michigan to this more northern region was worth it, we knew all the architecture until we arrived at the park with the Zoo. To our surprise, the entrance is free and even so, it is no longer a beautiful place and very well preserved. The premises are wonderful, some well dedicated like the monkeys, lions and polar bears. It was very worth it, at the exit there is a very nice bar where we took advantage of to enjoy the end of the afternoon.

I’ve walked the Lincoln Park Zoo a number of times in the last 40 years and have always enjoyed it. Seldom has the LPZ been the destination of a visit, it just kind of happens. In this case we had a 90 minute wait at a local eatery and the weather was perfect.

As it turns out, there weren’t a lot of animals hanging around, but the polar bear’s antics filled some time. It kept the stroller rider in our group entertained, which was the most important part.

The zoo was not crowded and is very walkable. Maybe we should plan a visit?

A -free- family favorite which makes it quite crowded during the day.Animals seems well-treated but the cages/pens are not huge. Nice landscaping with lots of trees, flowers, pond make it a pleasant place to walk however.

I was disappointed.
I have been to St. Louis zoo many times and absolutely love their zoo. I thought this one would be similar. Nope!
It’s very little, the exhibits are small and outdated. Not much to see or do in this little zoo.
If it wasn’t for all the floral grounds along the walk paths I’d probably have just left. So if you like to take a nice little stroll while your in Chicago then this would be a good place but otherwise we found it a waste of our time.

Brilliant zoo and firmly up there with the best I've visited anywhere in the world, which makes it all the more impressive that it is free entry and open 365 days a year. Highlights are the gorilla and lion enclosures - the latter in particular allows you to get up close like no other zoo with multiple viewing locations. The zoo is also in a beautiful park setting with lots of places to sit and easy to get to by bus from Downtown.

Cannot believe this Zoo is free! I really appreciate the kind folks who continue to fund this stellar attraction. There are lots of exotic animals and different types of exhibits. It’s very compact for a zoo so it’s easy to see everything in a couple of hours. The setting is amazing with views of the City from the south pond area. I was a little saddened to see the Gorillas behind the glass - they definitely looked dejected and stir-crazy. This is a must visit for Chicago.

Lots of area to cover here. Bring your walking shoes. The snow monkeys were active when we were there in the afternoon. The polar bears were staying low and we didn’t catch a glimpse of them.

We had a few free hours in our afternoon, and we were excited to visit the small, free zoo in Lincoln Park with our 6-year-old granddaughter. We had barely arrived, and black storm clouds formed! We ducked into the enclosed exhibit featuring marine mammals. We were able to see one seal, several turtles, a sea otter, and a beaver! All were cute, but after almost an hour of pouring rain, we decided it was time to get an Uber back to our hotel! Maybe next time, Lincoln Park Zoo!

You don’t get much for free these days, so to get a full zoo with a great range of animals for no fee is amazing. Crucially, all the animals seemed relatively content, although one of the gorillas looked like he wanted to start some beef with me for some reason – I was just standing there minding my own business; he’d clearly just decided to choose violence on that day. Happy to report though, the safety glass is in great condition and does a great job.

The zoo is awesome and landscape is beautiful. It requires a reservation. Be sure to view the website for requirements and plan accordingly. Some areas are not operational but that’s to be expected with the current health crisis. Other areas are functional and well worth the experience. We parked in the Zoo parking which has fees associated with it but the cost definitely offsets the free admission. Save yourself some time and Google the zoo’s parking versus the zoo’s address it will save you immensely!!!! We brought in snacks so i can’t attest to the cafe cost. We will definitely visit again. 🐒 🦅

Wow what a zoo, and it is free, so go and enjoy many animals the look after. We enjoyed our walk around, inside and outside. Highly recommend. A great place to visit.

We had not planned on visiting this Zoo as our home Zoo is quite spectacular. As it turns out, we were so glad we took the time to visit. It was the highlight of our day. The Zoo area is unexpectedly huge and well maintained. There were several docents located throughout the Zoo to answer questions or just discuss the animals. The animals seem comfortable and healthy. The grounds and restrooms are clean and well marked. The staff is friendly and professional. The grounds were in bloom with tulips and other spring flowers which enhanced its beauty. We spent about 2 hours at the zoo. We were there on the perfect day. Lots of fun. A very enjoyable adventure.

I wish we could have spent all day in this zoo. The layout is wonderful and it was neat to see children and adults all having a wonderful time with the animals. It's like all the adults become kids again when they walk through the gates of a zoo.

Take public transpo. There is free parking along the drive but a matter of luck if you get a spot. Don't miss the garden next door. The zoo is great and has improved so much from the 1960's.

I haven't been to this Zoo in over 30 yrs, when I was a kid they had Mike the Polar Bear who would stand on his hind legs and beg for marshmallows and I would throw him some. This zoo is still free to the public which is awesome. I enjoyed seeing the Red Panda and the Lions but didn't stay long but next time I will. This zoo will always be my favorite because my grandfather took me to this zoo all the time as a kid.

Would highly recommend. I did not have very high expectations for a free zoo and was I very wrong. The zoo is easily accessible via bus and there was a large variety of animals. We got there early and so saw many animals being fed. The animals and their enclosures were well kept and the volunteers scattered throughout the zoo were always informative.

We were visiting our son from the Philadelphia area. Could not believe when I read this zoo has free admission. What a great day! A pretty good variety of animals and beatiful gardens in the zoo as well as in the surrounding area. The polar bear, meerkats and gorillas were the highlight of our visit however we were disappointed as there are 2 types of otters listed on their website and none were available for viewing on our visit. They are our family favorite.

We strolled through the zoo on a September weekday right after lunch. This place was almost deserted. The zoo is old but they’re trying. Not a world class destination but a neat place to walk around.

A superb zoo!!! Especially for a free zoo this zoo defies all competition. But some see a lot of animals were not in their enclosures we were not able to see them too bad!!! But a great free zoo, even if I have known better ones like the Washington Zoo (free too) with more animals but a less pretty zoo in terms of architecture. So it’s a bit of a mixed opinion between these two zoos!!!!

The lights and park are just magical. I give a five starts to the lights and park only. I really dislike the idea of this zoo, the animals are really unhappy in this place, and it just doesn’t make sense why we even have this extra zoo in the city.

This is a world class zoo in a great neighborhood in Chicago. Do not miss the lions and gorillas which can be viewed very up close in an expansive natural environment.

Wow! We're from Dallas / Fort Worth and a Zoo experience there for eight would bust $200. This Zoo is free and as nice as any you'll find. Fantastic architecture, amazing gardens, great views of the city and of course, the animals were the star of the show. I can't recommend this highly enough. One small feedback item, signs are few and far between. Parking was hard to find and getting around in the Zoo was a bit confusing. Still, a perfect experience.

Much to my surprise is that entry to the Zoo is free. How awesome is that. Yes you will have to pay for parking somewhere but that is a fair trade.

The layout of the Zoo I am sure makes sense, but at first I found it confusing to find my way around. Once I walked around a bit lost I began to figure it out. They could use much better signage throughout the Zoo.

That being said, once you go inside the exhibits/buildings, wow, they are done very nice. They have a good selection and variety of animals to see. They had decent information about the animals you were looking at.

It may have been the time of year that I went, but a lot of pens were already closed. It was also later in the day so I don't want to beat them up about that.

At any rate, I really enjoyed my time there, wish I had more time to spend there so I am looking forward to going back.

The zoo lights were a truly magical experience! The way that the entire zoo was lit up was incredible. I found the singing porta potties to be hilarious and the entire experience to be a highlight of my trip. I recommend stoping by the fires to warm up and make sure to go into the tiger building - they were sleeping right by the windows!!!

For a free admission zoo, wow, giving this park a five star. Even though the zoo itself may not have that many animals too see, it was a great experience to explore. Polar Bear was here, so it was fantastic that I have the chance to see; it was my highlight. We visited this place during Fall festival and Columbus Day holiday so it was crowded. Lots of families roaming around which I didn’t care much. They have added some kids rides and other things. There is a few restaurant here to eat so it was not a problem. I would definitely recommend this place and hopefully I will bring my family here to visit.

The Lincoln Park zoo lights for Christmas are extremely beautiful. My family and I stroll through this magnificent park and saw the incredible display of beautiful Christmas lights. Some of the lights are actually in the shape of animals of course! There is ice carving also. You can stroll enjoying hot chocolate hot coffee and other refreshments. It is great for all ages! And guess what, it is free

One of the best places you can visit in Chicago, my favorite so far, considering that I have visited many around the area, and the best thing is that it is completely free

Wonderful layout and curation with both indoor and outdoor exhibits. Clean and plenty of docents around. A great place to visit w kids.

We loved our visit to the zoo. The exhibits are nice and the animals were mostly out for viewing. I especially liked the polar bear exhibit. The lion exhibit is currently under construction, but otherwise a nice outing for the family.

I was super disappointed.
Most animals were not present, at least half of the zoo was under maintenance, which was not announced anywhere.
I only got to see the monkeys, meerkats, 1 rhyno and a couple birds, ducks & flamingos.

I went to the Lincoln park zoo light latenite We didn't know we had to pay pay $10 for myself n 1 year old grandson and the person that we were approaching this too. He was very rude and distresspectful to me and my family that I had to talk to the supervisor the service was really poor the people thre need to learn how to talk to people and Have compassion It was the worst night of my life. And I've been coming to the lights for many years. Sin my kids were lil n now , I bring my grandson there for the first time. And we had to pay so much money just to see the lights plus Your staff was very rude and the respectful.
And I will not go there again thank you

From our hotel, we walked to a bus stop and then on to the zoo. Was very clean, somewhat easy to navigate. We didn't get to see the polar bear or lion but thoroughly enjoyed everything else we saw. Restrooms easy to find and were clean.

The zoo is free and it was great to walk around. The sections with the animals were great. Saw a lion and red panda. Nice section to walk around

We went to see the beautiful lights. It was so crowded you could barely walk. Part of the problem was the huge number of people who brought in strollers many times double wide. My husband and I both were slightly injured by strollers that night. The best part was the light display that was set to music. Is was a great display but close to being dangerously crowded.

We explored the Zoo in May. While it was open, there were many Covid precautions such as specific routes that you must walk, spacing people. A few buildings were closed, a few animals couldn't be seen, so overall it was a marginal experience for the effort. Compliments to the city, free admission is appreciated- although you must have online reservations.

This is a nice small zoo in the city. There are not as many species that you would expect to see in a zoo. They have done a particularly good job on the Lion and Gorilla habitats. Admission is free but parking is $30-$40.

We visited the Lincoln Park Zoo as part of our first trip to Chicago. It is hard to believe that this zoo is actually free. We spent over 6 hours at the zoo and enjoyed it very much. Because of the heat when we visited, a number of animals were not out, or very active, but this did not detract from our visit. We really enjoyed the penguin exhibit and the bird house. The zoo is conveniently located from downtown and can be easily accessed by public transportation. We look forward to visiting again once the Carnivore house is complete.

This is a great FREE zoo in Lincoln park . The food , snacks , and parking are expensive . Bring your own food and drink and take Convienent public transportation. Nearby north pond with birds , Peggy Notebaart nature museum , and free Caldwell lily ponds . There are all sorts of gardens and green areas nearby.

Great zoo! Beautiful zoo, not too big in a great location. We visited a number of years ago and it looks like lots of work has been put into making the zoo even better.

We went in the morning and saw the zoo keepers feeding the seals, which was very cute to watch.

Love that it’s free. Definitely take advantage when in Chicago

Took a vacation to Chicago and thought the zoo would be a good way to end the trip. However, it was not a good experience and I will never go back. Many of the cages were empty, I was accepting of this because the wild cats display is being upgraded and it was a very hot day. However, when we returned to the car after 2 hours or less and found it broken in to and items missing the zoo personnel went from welcoming to dismissive. I have to pay the zoo to park in the parking lot, but I'm told it is public property so my vehicle damage and theft is not their problem. There are no cameras in the parking area. When I asked to review the footage from the entrance and exit cameras to see if it captured someone walking by or through with my property they refused and offered no help at all. There were at least 5 car break-ins during the 2 hours I was there and no one saw or reported anything, no help was offered to any of the victims, and one vehicle had its windows shattered right across from an exit where a security guard was standing and they did not see or hear anything. All the vehicles broken into were from other states. Even the police were dismissive and unwilling to come out and investigate. This free zoo trip is costing me at least $1500 in insurance deductibles and replacing the stolen items. I do not recommend this zoo as a travel location to anyone.

We spent almost a whole day in the zoo. There was so much to see. The animals all looked well looked after. The fact that it is free was amazing. We saw lots of mums and babies/toddlers which must be great for them being able to visit as often as they like because its free. We had a drink in one of the cafes which was clean .

We had only a few hours in Chicago and decided to visit the zoo in a beautiful Saturday afternoon in July. Normal hours are until 7:00. There was a sign saying the zoo was closing early but no time provided. We got three about 2:30. Aside from the gorillas and primates, everything else was closed. Bird house. Closed. Reptile house. Closed. Even all of the outside animal enclosures were empty. No rhinos. No polar bear. No explanation. Apparently their idea was to remove all animals in the afternoon to get the thousands of people to leave early. I guess at 4:00 officially they shut the zoo for some kind of private event. Horrible communication by the zoo. Nothing on their website despite the sign saying to check it. Then since everyone got booted out at the same time, we got stuck in a jam getting out of the parking lot for 40 minutes. What a joke! I gave it one star because the grounds are beautiful like a park. But a zoo with no animals on a summer Saturday afternoon is inexcusable as is the lack of consideration given to its visitors!

We visited the zoo and expected to find a well landscape park to match the rest of the beautiful city, but it was over grown. Many times you had to move to get around weeds and growth to try to see the animals. Within many cages, there was several foot high under brush. Seems like more money needs to be spent on landscaping and maintaining the large outside animal pens.

On the plus side, the zoo was free. Of the animals we saw, they seemed well cared for. The kids seemed happy.

Become mesmerized by the light displays at Zoo Lights. Look for the monkeys hanging in the tree lights and more. What a great family outing!

Fun relaxing place to come for a relaxing stroll, and it’s free. People love free things, it’s don’t to crowded during the week.

even it was already a bit cold from fall, it was prety fun lots of animals and entretainment. good place alone or with family

The entrance to the Zoo is free, lots of great exhibits. It was not crowded. About 15mins away from downtown. Take Lake Shore drive for a scenic drive. We took an Uber from the Magnificent Mile. You can spend the entire day there, so much to see!

The Lights festival has a yearly theme but it’s unfortunately not spread throughout the entire zoo. Some exhibits are open mainly the snakes, reptiles, spiders, lizards. All the other animals are not available.

They have stationary lights, lights that created arches and animals, a fun walkthrough arch, and several wonderful areas for photo ops. There were also food and hot chocolate stands and a gorgeous Christmas tree.

There are areas where you can also go inside and get warm but there is a lot of walking involved

What a nice zoo! Terrific place to walk and beautiful exhibits along with friendly and knowledgeable staff. Very much enjoyed visiting and highly recommend

I read a review titled Don't Come Early... do my title will be Don't Come Late... too closes at 5pm and despite our best efforts we didn't get up to zoo until about 3:45pm. Walked in an saw some sleeping lions (they covered cute and cuddly) and other than flock of Seaguls, a Rhino going back inside his house and a Vulture..m we walked around until zoo closed and Did Not See Another Animal Anywhere!
We were thinking maybe zoo staff bring th3 animals inside enclosures close to closing bc its odd that we walked the zoon and didn't see anything!

I went with my cousin and her two daughters on a beautiful spring morning, we'd reserved the Sunday before. It was such a treat to enjoy all the animals and birds. There's some construction on the big cat lair, and the primate house is still closed for Covid precautions, but we still had a terrific time.

The zoo is well-respected for it's conservation and research work, and you could see that in the various habitats we explored.

The carousel was open so we all treated ourselves to a ride. I've loved this zoo since my first visit as a toddler, many decades ago. Keep up the fine work!

Firstly we were surprised it was free!
I cannot think of another facility such as this which allows free access and want to give them huge credit for doing this. It gives all families regardless of social status an opportunity for their children to enjoy a day out and see some wildlife.

I would agree with a few previous reviews that a couple of enclosures seem undersized for their inhabitants particularly the rhino enclosure where the poor animal was pacing up n down with what I can only assume is boredom and a lack of stimulation. I would prefer to see animals such as this in a proper outdoor, grass laden enclosure without that being available maybe this is a species that is better off somewhere else.

That being said other animals seemed perfectly happy and interactive with each other.

It’s well laid out, easy to follow with the guide booklet and there are a selection of places to buy food and dedicated picnic areas if you prefer to bring your own.

We had an enjoyable afternoon.

I had the most fun at the zoo, roaming around like a grown up teenager. But I came into the gorilla dens and was amazed by our animal partners. They were so beautiful and splendid families. They sat quietly with their babies, or fed them when the awoke. They played and swung on the ropes. BUT...what got my total interest was the Father Gorilla in the room. He was sitting alone against the wall playing with the COMPUTER. He was playing games and responding to light questions and gladly too credit for his ability. I sure love out cousins.

Excellent zoo experience.
First off all it's a free zoo and for a free zoo it's very nice. They have all kinds of amazing animals and many areas with air conditioner where you can look at the animals.
It has many nice views at Chicago and in my opinion it's a must see if you are visiting the city.

If you are in Chicago, have a couple spare hours, looking to stretch your legs and see some animals, this is great. It is not a huge zoo, but it is free, really more like a section of the park than a separate thing. I guess there are gates, but with several entrances, it feels like you just walked into another part of the park, and suddenly animals. It is not the most amazing zoo I have been to, but is certainly nice. Has a wide variety of animals, and could totally see, if you lived in Chicago, bringing your kids there to see live animals. Like most zoos, some of the exhibits made the animals hard to find. It was also a really hot summer day, so many animals were napping in the shade of their exhibits. It was one of the last things on our itinerary, when I was planning the trip had a few hours one afternoon and thought "Sure, lets add it." I am glad we did, it was a good break from indoor museums, traffic and the rushing around that much of our trip included.