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Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, OH

Photo: Original uploader was Mind meal at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsFamily FavoriteOutdoor Adventure

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

3400 Vine St · Cincinnati, OH

Why you should go…

The Cincinnati Zoo opened in 1875 and covers 75 acres, home to more than 500 species. Its hippos include Fiona, born six weeks premature in 2017, and Fritz, born in 2022. You can feed giraffes at Giraffe Ridge, walk through Gorilla World and Jungle Trails, and visit Elephant Trek, which opened in 2024 for a herd of Asian elephants. The Reptile House dates to 1875 and is the oldest zoo building in the United States.

  • #zoo
  • #botanical garden
  • #hippos
  • #gorillas
  • #giraffe feeding

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Quirky Fun

    American Sign Museum

    Under $25

    Wander a neon-lit indoor streetscape of vintage American signs and watch neon demonstrations.

    1.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Shopping
    Foodie Favorite

    Findlay Market

    Free

    Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market, with butchers, produce, cheese and food stalls in Over-the-Rhine.

    2.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Museums
    Free

    Cincinnati Art Museum

    Free

    Free art museum in Eden Park with a collection of more than 73,000 works spanning 6,000 years.

    2.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Cincinnati Museum Center

    Under $25

    Explore three museums and an OMNIMAX theater inside Union Terminal, an Art Deco train station with a half-dome rotunda.

    2.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Cincy Region

    Free

    Official destination marketing organization for greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

    3.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Kings Island

    $50+

    Ride roller coasters like The Beast and Orion, then cool off at Soak City water park on 364 acres near Cincinnati.

    19 mi awayMore like this