The Zoos Worth Traveling For

The most famous zoos in the world are Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida, the San Diego Zoo in California, the Bronx Zoo in New York, and the Berlin Zoological Garden in Germany. Disney's Animal Kingdom holds the Guinness World Record as the most visited zoo on earth, with 13,888,000 visitors in a single year, according to 2019 figures.

This guide covers what makes each one worth the trip, how the modern zoo came to look the way it does, and how to bring that wild energy back to your own desk.

In this article

• Quick facts ↓
• How the modern zoo came to be ↓
• Most famous zoos in the USA ↓
• Most famous zoos worldwide ↓
• FAQ ↓

Quick Facts

How Did the Modern Zoo Come to Be?

The zoo as an institution started as a private display of power. Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna began in 1752 as an imperial menagerie assembled for Emperor Franz I, and it stayed closed to the public for roughly 25 years before opening its gates in the late 1770s. It remains the oldest zoo still operating anywhere in the world. London Zoo, founded in 1828 by the Zoological Society of London, took a different approach from the start: it was built explicitly for scientific study rather than royal amusement, making it the oldest zoo founded on scientific rather than ceremonial grounds.

For most of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, zoos kept animals behind iron bars in small enclosures. That began changing when the San Diego Zoo, founded in 1916, became the first zoo in the world to replace bars with moats, letting visitors see animals in something closer to open space. Every major zoo built since has followed some version of that idea. The modern zoo has also taken on a role its founders never intended: San Diego's Frozen Zoo stores genetic material from more than 10,000 individual animals as a hedge against extinction, and more than 44 endangered species have been reintroduced to native habitats through its breeding programs.

What Are the Most Famous Zoos in the USA?

Disney's Animal Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Disney's Animal Kingdom holds the Guinness World Record as the most visited zoo in the world, with 13,888,000 visitors in 2019. The park covers 580 acres and houses over 2,000 animals across more than 300 species. Its Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction is the largest zoological attraction ever built, 110 acres of open savanna where giraffes, lions, and elephants roam naturalistic terrain. The Maharajah Jungle Trek, where Bengal tigers live among the ruins of a fictional palace, is easy to rush through in under 15 minutes, so it's worth slowing down for.

San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California

The San Diego Zoo, founded in 1916, houses more than 12,000 rare and endangered animals across over 680 species on 100 acres, drawing roughly 4 million visitors a year. It was the first zoo in the world to replace bars with moats, a design every major zoo copied afterward. Its Frozen Zoo stores genetic material from over 10,000 individual animals, and more than 44 endangered species have been reintroduced to native habitats through its conservation programs. The free 8 AM keeper talks happen before the crowds arrive.

Bronx Zoo, New York City, New York

The Bronx Zoo covers 265 acres, making it the largest urban zoo in the United States, and it has been home to over 6,000 animals across more than 700 species since 1899. Its Congo Gorilla Forest took eight years to design and cost 43 million dollars to build, putting visitors closer to wild gorilla behavior than almost anywhere else on earth. The Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the zoo, operates field conservation programs in over 60 countries.

Also worth a look: the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington D.C., the most famous free zoo in the country and home to giant pandas since 1972; Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, which holds the world's largest indoor desert and indoor rainforest under one roof; and the Columbus Zoo, Brookfield Zoo, and Fort Worth Zoo, all regulars on best-of-America lists.

Which Famous Zoos Around the World Are Worth the Trip?

Berlin Zoological Garden, Germany

The Berlin Zoo is the most species-diverse zoo on earth, housing over 1,200 species and 18,600 animals on 80 acres. Founded in 1844, it is Germany's oldest zoo: of roughly 4,000 animals living there before World War II, only 91 survived, and the zoo's rebuilding afterward became a symbol of Berlin's recovery. Admission also covers the three-floor Aquarium Berlin, which most visitors don't realize is included.

Singapore Zoo, Singapore

Singapore Zoo replaced cages and fences with moats and rainforest starting in 1973, creating one of the most open, in-the-wild zoo experiences of any city on earth. Its Jungle Breakfast lets visitors eat while orangutans move through the trees around them. Next door, Night Safari is the world's first nocturnal zoo, home to over 2,500 animals, and the first hour after its 7:30 PM opening is one of the more distinctive wildlife experiences available anywhere.

ZSL London Zoo, United Kingdom

London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo, founded in 1828 in Regent's Park, and today it houses over 750 species on just 36 acres. In its first year open to the public, it drew 360,000 visitors, roughly a quarter of London's entire population at the time. The 1934 Penguin Pool is considered a landmark of modernist architecture and remains one of the most photographed structures in any zoo in the world.

Also worth a look: the Toronto Zoo, the largest zoo in Canada at 710 acres with an Arctic-style polar bear habitat, and Taronga Zoo in Sydney, set on Sydney Harbour with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House visible from several exhibits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most visited zoo in the world?

Disney's Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida holds the Guinness World Record as the most visited zoo, with 13,888,000 visitors in 2019. Among traditional zoos without theme park rides, the San Diego Zoo leads with roughly 4 million visitors annually.

Which zoo has the most animal species?

The Berlin Zoological Garden houses over 1,200 species, more than any other single zoo in the world. Founded in 1844, it keeps 18,600 animals on 80 acres and remains Germany's oldest and most visited zoo, drawing over 3 million people each year.

What is the oldest zoo in the world?

Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna, Austria opened in 1752 and is the world's oldest continuously operating zoo. The oldest scientific zoo is London Zoo, founded in 1828 by the Zoological Society of London, which has now been operating in Regent's Park for nearly 200 years.

Which famous zoo is free to visit?

The Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington D.C. is the most famous free zoo in the world. Operated by the Smithsonian Institution since 1889, it charges no admission and still delivers giant pandas, a world-class Great Ape House, and over 2 million visitors a year.

What is the best zoo in America for families?

Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha consistently ranks as one of the highest-rated zoos in the United States in visitor surveys, with the world's largest indoor desert and rainforest under one roof. Disney's Animal Kingdom and the San Diego Zoo rate highest for all-day family entertainment.

Where can you get wildlife decor like this for a desk?

X2Metal offers nearly 2,000 wildlife designs printed on glossy ChromaLuxe metal and sized for a desk, with matching 5mm mouse pads. Browse the Wildlife Metal Prints collection. Everything is handcrafted in North Liberty, Iowa.

About the author: Business Alchemist | Turning Ideas into Products, Brands & Businesses | Navid Malik. Navid is the founder of X2Metal, a metal print studio in North Liberty, Iowa creating bold, durable metal prints and 5mm mouse pads.

Sources: Disney's Animal Kingdom (official) ↗, San Diego Zoo (official) ↗, Bronx Zoo / Wildlife Conservation Society (official) ↗, Smithsonian's National Zoo (official) ↗, Henry Doorly Zoo (official) ↗, Berlin Zoological Garden (official) ↗, Singapore Zoo / Mandai Wildlife Group (official) ↗, ZSL London Zoo (official) ↗, Toronto Zoo (official) ↗, Taronga Zoo (official) ↗, and Tiergarten Schönbrunn (official) ↗. X2Metal is not affiliated with any zoo or organization mentioned in this post.

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