Central Park Zoo

Map & Directions
Photos & Video

The Central Park Zoo is home to over 130 species of wildlife from around the world

One of many residents living at the Central Park Zoo cc licensed photo by Stig Nygaard

Managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Central Park Zoo and Wildlife Center is part of an integrated network of four New York zoos and the New York Aquarium established to advance wildlife conservation awareness and promote the study of zoology.

Established in 1860, the grounds have since undergone extensive renovations replacing the zoo's old fashioned cages with more natural habitats. Just a few meters from the hustle and bustle of 5th Avenue, the Central Park Wildlife Center and the Tisch Children's Zoo are home to over 130 species from all from all over the world including polar bears, sea lions, snow leopards, reptiles and exotic birds. The Central Park Wildlife Center also houses an indoor rainforest exhibit with viewing platforms at various levels offering a unique perspective into the ecosystem beneath the canopy.

Animal lovers of all ages will enjoy the daily Harbour Seal, Penguin and Sea Lion feedings and a variety of small group tours and educational programs conducted by Central Park Wildlife Center staff. Limited opportunities to get up close and personal with the animals as a junior zookeeper or animal trainer are available for an additional fee. The 4-D Theatre is now showing Planet Earth: Ice Worlds, a BBC Earth film exploring the Arctic and Antarctic.

Nearby attractions inclue : The Frick Collection, Whitney Museum of American Art, The Met, American Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes

Currently Closed

Hours This Week:

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Address: East 64th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA

Phone: (212) 439-6500

Official Website: Central Park Zoo

Map of nearby accommodations: Booking.com

Directions

Subway Line	Nearest Station	Walking Time
N, R, or W	59th Street / 5th Avenue	5 minutes
F	63rd Street / Lexington Avenue	12 minutes

How to get to Central Park Zoo by Subway

Take the N, R, or W train to 59th Street / 5th Avenue, head north on Grand Army Plaza and continue on East Drive to the zoo entrance or the F train to 63rd Street / Lexington Avenue, head northwest on 63rd St towards Lexington Avenue, turn left at 5th Avenue, turn right at East 61st Street, turn right on park pathway leading to zoo entrance (12 minutes)

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Reviews

Rated 4.3 out of 5 Central Park Zoo Star Rating

A small zoo, but they do an amazing job with the space they have. It honestly didn't even feel like I was in the middle of a giant city! Great for kids and adults alike. The gift shop was also nice, if not a little pricey.

Stevi M. - 13 days ago

Small yet interesting zoo. It’s really well kept and the animals seem happy. I loved its size cause my 6 and 4 year old were able to walk it all without feeling exhausted. Great zoo for smaller kids!!

Alicia Perdomo - 16 days ago

We had an absolutely blast here. It was small, but has a very diverse selection of animals. I think we were most excited about the penguins. They were also very fun to watch, the display is very nice and well thought out. The exotic birds was a nice touch too. I was surprised that they were all loose in the exploratorium and you could walk around and see them flying about. We were also lucky enough to see the bears. We heard mutterings that they don’t come out much? I’m not sure how true that is, but they were very cool! Would definitely go back!

Justin Robichaud - 19 days ago

This is a beautiful park that you can get lost is for the whole day. Very peaceful and a good escape from the busy city. Good amount of activities to do there or if that’s not your thing then just walk through one of the most memorable parks on earth.

Mark Baklashev - 22 days ago

Amazing place to explore with or without the kids. There's a zoo and a children's zoo but you must arrive by 4pm to get tickets to get in. The carousel is so much fun. There's a theater and ice skating rink and plenty of food carts all over the park. My baby enjoyed the playground and rocks to climb more than anything. Bring plenty of cash because none of the paid attractions take cards and the ATM is a hike from the carousel. Go and have hours of fun with the family. Oh and there is carriage rides around the park for like $3 per minute. You can also rent bikes to ride and explore the park. So much going on here. Too much to do in one day. We spent a couple of days in the park while on vacation so we could experience it all. It's amazing and so beautiful.

E. Toney - 1 month ago

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Video

Enjoy some of the sights and sounds at the Central Park Zoo in this video

Photo Gallery

Polar Circle at the Central Park Wildlife Centre cc licensed photo by La Citta Vita
One cool looking red bird cc licensed photo by rynde
Cool looking bird at the Central Park Zoo - New York cc licensed photo by rynde
Central Park cc licensed photo by Phil Roeder
Central Park Zoo 19 cc licensed photo by jastrow75
sleepy snow leopard cc licensed photo by Nina A. J. G.
DSC_0034 cc licensed photo by M.Cicchetti Photography
Snow Leopard 3 cc licensed photo by ahisgett
DSC_0181 cc licensed photo by M.Cicchetti Photography
DSC_0154 cc licensed photo by M.Cicchetti Photography
Snow Leopard 1 cc licensed photo by ahisgett