A zoo in the middle of Manhattan! That’s not possible, is it? The famous Central Park is so huge that you can find a whole zoo here! This zoo is very popular with families with children because even though the zoo itself is not super large, you can still see a lot of exciting animals here.
Today, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Central Park Zoo, why it is one of the most popular attractions for families in New York, and how you can save money on ticket purchases.
Ticket information
Central Park Zoo
Too much to read
- Best time to visit: It’s best to come in the morning because from early afternoon it often gets quite crowded.
- Buying tickets: To avoid long waiting times at the ticket office, you should book your ticket online in advance.
- Save money: Admission to the Central Park Zoo is already included in the New York Sightseeing Pass.
Central Park Zoo: The Story
Central Park Zoo was established in 1864 as the first officially recognized zoo in New York City. However, its origins date back even further, as citizens and sailors left exotic animals in Central Park before that time.
Over the years, the zoo evolved until a major renovation in the 1980s replaced old cages with modern, natural enclosures.
Today, the zoo covers an area of about 2.6 hectares and is home to animals such as snow leopards, sea lions, and red pandas. There is a Children’s Zoo table with a petting enclosure for children.
These are the animals you can see at Central Park Zoo
The animals you can see at Central Park Zoo include:
- snow leopards
- sea lions
- grizzly bears
- penguins and puffins
- red pandas
- snow monkeys
- sheep and goats
- mountain coatis
- fruit bats
- …and many more!
You can find a map of all the animals here on the official website of Central Park Zoo.
The sea lion and penguin feedings are particularly popular with visitors. The penguin feedings take place daily at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and you can watch the sea lion feedings at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
How to get to Central Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo is located near the southeastern entrance to Central Park, right on 5th Avenue between 63rd and 65th streets.
The closest subway station is 5 Av/59 St, which is served by the lines.
Tickets for the Central Park Zoo
You can either buy tickets for the zoo on-site or online in advance. It is definitely worth buying the ticket in advance to avoid long waiting times at the ticket office. Sometimes there may be no more tickets available at short notice because there are too many visitors.
My tip
Save money on sightseeing
If you want to visit more attractions in New York City in addition to the Central Park Zoo, then you should take a closer look at the New York Sightseeing Pass because admission to the zoo is already included. With a pass like this, you can save a lot of money!
Nearby attractions
Thanks to its very central location in Manhattan, you have some really great attractions in the immediate vicinity. Here are a few examples:
