Bronx Zoo: What to See and How to Get Tickets

The Bronx Zoo is where the odyssey of the characters from the hit movie Madagascar begins. If you're traveling with kids and they loved the movie, you have to go see the lemurs, one of the most entertaining exhibits at New York's biggest zoo.

But beyond the lemurs, there are more than 10,000 animals at the largest urban zoo in the world.

Keep reading to find out what to see, how to get there easily by subway, and how to score free Bronx Zoo tickets. Yes, you read that right, FREE 😉:

Bronx Zoo: Free Admission

Which day is the Bronx Zoo free?: every Wednesday you can visit without paying a cent, or pay far less than the regular ticket price.

That's because on Wednesdays Bronx Zoo tickets are «pay as you wish«. It's a free or reduced admission system used at plenty of New York attractions.

Keep in mind that every cent goes toward caring for the animals, so they'll really appreciate it if you can chip in something 😀.

How to get free Bronx Zoo tickets

To get into the Bronx Zoo for free you need to reserve tickets in advance on the zoo's website. Don't show up at the gate without a ticket already booked, because they simply won't let you in. There are no ticket booths at the entrances.

To get free tickets, or pay whatever you can, here's what you need to know:

🕔 Wednesday Bronx Zoo tickets can be booked starting at 5 pm on the Monday before your visit.

🎟️ You can only get a maximum of 4 tickets at a time.

👦👧 Everyone over 3 needs a ticket (kids under 2 don't need one).

📫 To reserve free Bronx Zoo tickets you'll need to provide a valid email address (that's where they send the e-tickets).

☀️ Tickets can only be used on the day you scheduled them for.

📱 You don't need to print the tickets, just show them on your phone.

What does free admission to the Bronx Zoo include?

The free Wednesday tickets, called Wednesday Limited Admission, only cover entry to the park.

Once inside, if you want to visit the premium exhibits I mentioned above (like JungleWorld, Bug Carousel, Nature Trek and Congo Gorilla Forest), you'll pay $7 per attraction, per person.

If you want to get into all the premium attractions, you're better off buying the reduced Wednesday ticket, the Wednesday Admission. For just $17.95 per person you get access to every premium attraction open that day (remember, they vary by season).

What animals are at the Bronx Zoo?

The Bronx Zoo is one of the most important zoos in the world and a global reference point for gradually eliminating cages and creating habitats that mimic the animals' natural environments.

Here are some impressive facts about the Bronx Zoo:

• It's the largest urban zoo in the world, with more than 265 acres to explore, roughly a third the size of Central Park and a bit bigger than the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
• The Bronx Zoo is home to more than 10,000 animals from 6,000 species from all over the world.

Below are some of the best exhibits in the park that you can visit even with the free Wednesday ticket (there are others called «premium» that require a pricier ticket, the Bronx Zoo Admission, or an extra fee):

Madagascar!

In this exhibit, open year-round and included with general admission, you'll learn that around 97 lemur species live on the island of Madagascar.

The Bronx Zoo's lemurs are very active and love interacting with visitors. You'll see them leaping from branch to branch and vine to vine.

This exhibit also lets you get up close with Nile crocodiles, mongooses, tortoises, cockroaches and other animals native to Madagascar.

World of Darkness: the zoo's nocturnal side

In July 2025, one of the Bronx Zoo's most beloved exhibits reopened: World of Darkness. It had been closed since 2009.

It's a completely darkened space where you can see how nocturnal animals live. Cricket sounds, the murmur of the jungle and very dim lighting create a hypnotic atmosphere.

In all, there are more than 20 habitats with animals as varied as vampire bats, sand cats, aye-ayes, cloud rats, sloths and even naked mole rats that live like an ant colony.

Visiting this exhibit is an excuse to slow down, look closely and marvel at creatures you rarely get to see up close.

Zoo Center

The beautiful Beaux-Arts building known as the Zoo Center is one of the park's original structures.

It was built in 1908 to look like a palace and to house the zoo's elephants, rhinos and hippos. Hence its original name: the Elephant House.

The building was decorated with various sculptures, like the rhinos, which remain intact today and have become icons of the Bronx Zoo.

These days the animals have changed, but it's still home to the rhinos during the harsh New York winter.

You'll also see some of the zoo's largest reptiles there, including the impressive Komodo dragons.

It's another space that's open year-round with no extra charge.

Sea Lion Pool

The pool with those charming sea lions has been one of the Bronx Zoo's favorite exhibits since it opened in 1899. It's also open year-round and included with general admission.

Several of the sea lions you'll see were rescued. The zookeepers work with them daily to keep them exercising and entertained.

Feeding time is one of the sea lions' favorite games, so get close because it's quite a show.

Bronx Zoo Premium Attractions and Experiences

As I mentioned, there are exhibits you can only access with the Bronx Zoo Admission ticket. It costs more, but it gets you into every experience in the park, including the electric Zoo Shuttle that stops throughout the grounds and will save you time.

Some of these standout exhibits are:

🦍 Congo Gorilla Forest

🐻‍❄️ The polar bears

🚝 The monorail through Wild Asia

🦋 The butterfly garden

🎭 4D theaters

🐰 Petting zones for kids

The good news is that if you visit on a free Wednesday, you can still get into whichever exhibit interests you for $7 per person.

Keep in mind that although the zoo is open year-round, in the colder months some outdoor exhibits close so the tropical animals aren't harmed.

So if you're after species from the African savanna or the tropics, plan your visit during summer in New York.

Attractions near the Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo, along with Yankee Stadium and the New York Botanical Garden, are the most popular attractions in the Bronx. If you have time, you could do the zoo and the botanical garden on the same day since they're very close together.

Another good idea is to combine your visit with **Belmont**, the Little Italy of the Bronx, just steps from the zoo. You'll eat incredibly well and feel like you've walked into The Godfather 🇮🇹.

How to get to the Bronx Zoo

While some Bronx neighborhoods aren't the best bet for tourists, the Bronx Zoo sits in a pretty residential area, green and leafy, right by the subway. Go without a second thought!

Address:
2300 Southern Boulevard. Bronx

By subway:
Lines 2 and 5. Pelham Pkwy station

How much does admission to the Bronx Zoo cost?

Total Experience Tickets

Prices depend on the day and entry time you pick (flex price), and you'll see the details when you buy on the official site:

13+ from US$28.95 / ages 3-12 US$20.95 / 65+ US$26.95 / under 2 free

On Tiqets you can often find total experience tickets a bit cheaper.

Remember that Wednesdays are «pay what you wish,» but you need to reserve in advance, as I explained in the earlier sections.

Hours:
November to March
10 am to 4:30 pm
April to October
Monday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm
Weekends 10 am to 5:30 pm

Closed on Thanksgiving, December 25, January 1, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January)