Welcome to one of Cincinnati's greatest crown jewels, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, proudly ranked the #1 Zoo in the Country by USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards (2022), and consistently among the nation's top zoos and botanical gardens. Founded in 1873 and located at 3400 Vine St. in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, this is America's second oldest zoo and one of its most celebrated. With over 500 species, 1,800 animals, and 3,000 plant species, every visit is a journey of discovery, adventure, and meaningful conservation. The Zoo is home to world-famous Fiona the Hippo — born six weeks premature in January 2017 at just 29 pounds, she became a global sensation and continues to delight visitors at Africa's Hippo Cove, alongside an open-vista savanna featuring ostrich, giraffes, African lions, painted dogs, and more. Nearby, the Elephant Trek spans 5 acres and is home to a multigenerational herd of Asian elephants, featuring a million-gallon stormwater system and solar panels — anchored by the historic Elephant House, a nationally designated landmark built in 1906. Venture into Gorilla World, one of the world's first large naturalistic primate habitats (built 1978), now featuring floor-to-ceiling viewing glass for year-round visits. Stroll through Roo Valley, with its 15,000-square-foot Kangaroo Walkabout, and meet North America's largest colony of little blue penguins. At Manatee Springs, the Zoo has partnered since 1999 with the US Fish & Wildlife Service and SeaWorld to nurse injured and orphaned baby manatees back to health.

Discover even more across the Zoo's remarkable collection of habitats: Night Hunters takes you on a multi-sensory nocturnal journey featuring clouded leopards, Pallas' cats, vampire bats, and aardvarks; Cat Canyon is home to cougars, Malayan tigers, and snow leopards; African Penguin Point features endangered African penguins with underwater viewing; Wolf Woods showcases Mexican wolves and river otters; and Birds of the World immerses visitors in open-air aviaries with species from every corner of the globe. History buffs will appreciate World of the Insect — the first insect habitat in any U.S. zoo, built in 1978 and an AZA Exhibit Award winner.Beyond animals, the Zoo offers exciting rides and attractions including a new electric train, ticketed Breakfast with the Animals experiences, and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours. As an AZA-accredited institution since 1978, the Cincinnati Zoo is a globally recognized leader in endangered species conservation, groundbreaking education, and sustainable green practices — making every ticket purchase a direct investment in the future of our planet's wildlife.