Saint Louis Zoo — Attraction in St. Louis

I was in the area and figured this could be an excellent place to admire some animals I’ve never seen before. I had a good feeling about Saint Louis Zoo.

My significant other and I entered through the North Entrance, which was a building. Admission is Free, so that was a fantastic way to start. We followed the Zoo Entrance signs to be led out of the building.

Our first stop was the Grizzly Bear exhibit. I was able to see two. They were intriguing to watch.

After that, we went to Penguin & Puffin Coast. This area contained Lichtenstein Penguin Cove, in which I got to see the King Penguin, Rockhopper Penguin, and Gentoo Penguin exhibit. They were all so beautiful. There seemed to be drama between some of them. We went through the Taylor Family Puffin Bay afterwards. In there, we saw the Tufted Puffin and Horned Puffin display. These were also so beautiful. It was calming to watch them swim.

The American Flamingo display was on an island. It was nice to admire them from afar.

The Lesser Kudu and Saddle-billed Stork exhibit was fairly large. The handsome head and spiraled horns of the male lesser kudu make up the logo of the Saint Louis Zoo. Both of these animals seemed calm in their environment.

The Bird Garden had some interesting animals to see. I saw the Bateleur Eagle first. I haven’t seen anything like that one before. Right past that was the Cinereous Vulture. That one had an animated looking face and barely looked real to me. It was very cool! The Bald Eagle was huge. It seemed to be peaceful. The American Crow was the last one I saw in The Bird Garden.

Big Cat Country was quick for us to walk through. I got to see the Jaguar exhibit and that was worth it.

In the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium, I checked out the Black Mamba display first. That thing sure was long! I was impressed. The Puerto Rican Boa seemed relaxed and it was bundled up towards a corner.

After that, we headed to the Zoo Exit. Our last stop was Treetop Shop & Zoo Exit. There were a lot of different items here and it was hard to choose what to get. I ended up going with a Saint Louis Zoo SLZ Visor 4403 for $18.00, a Saint Louis Zoo magnet for $4.00, and a Saint Louis Zoo Logo Stylus Pen for $3.00. The prices weren’t bad at all. We were given a free Saint Louis Zoo reusable bag with our purchase. That was generous.

The service I had throughout my visit was amazing. I didn’t have a single issue.

Overall, I had an awesome time here and I enjoyed seeing every animal I encountered. I definitely want to come back to see more of this place.

Date of...

The Saint Louis Zoo was everything we could have hoped for in a wedding venue and more. Every single member of their team was incredible—so responsive, professional, and just genuinely great at what they do. From start to finish, they made the process easy and stress-free, and we are so grateful for their hard work.

Samantha was our first point of contact, and she was amazing at helping us navigate the zoo’s booking policies and secure our dream venues. She answered all our questions and made sure we felt confident moving forward. Sydney, the Zoo's event coordinator, was an absolute dream to work with. She was so organized and thoughtful, always asking the right questions and helping us with every step of the planning process. Her friendly, upbeat personality made it easy to trust her, and she had so many great ideas that helped bring our vision to life. She even stopped by our reception to say hi, which was such a sweet and personal touch.

Nancy was our day-of contact, and honestly, she is a total powerhouse. She also helped with our rehearsal the day before and made sure every detail was handled. She’s incredibly organized, keeps everything running like clockwork, and somehow still manages to make you feel completely supported the whole time. Nancy was also there for me emotionally—calming any stress that came up (not that there was much, thanks to how on top of things the zoo staff was).

The catering and bar staff deserve a special shoutout too. They went above and beyond to make sure everyone was taken care of, especially guests with mobility challenges, which really meant a lot. And the food—wow. So many of our guests told us it was the best wedding food they’ve ever had, and we completely agree. Everything was delicious.

The Saint Louis Zoo is truly a hidden gem when it comes to wedding venues. They offer everything you could possibly want—an amazing team, beautiful spaces, and incredible value. They’re also much more reasonably priced than other venues we looked at, and since they’re tax-exempt, you don’t have to worry about sales tax, which is a huge plus.

If you’re looking for a venue that will make your wedding day feel effortless and unforgettable, I can’t recommend the Saint Louis Zoo enough. We are so glad we chose them and will cherish the memories they helped us...

My partner and I drove three hours from Illinois to visit the St. Louis Zoo, expecting a memorable and well-organized experience. Unfortunately, our visit left us feeling frustrated and concerned.

Upon arrival, we spent approximately 20 minutes searching for parking, which we had to pay for. Once inside, we were immediately struck by the zoo’s massive layout—but not in a good way. Despite grabbing a map, navigating the grounds was incredibly difficult due to poor signage. After three hours of walking, we still hadn’t located several exhibits we were interested in.

More concerning were the conditions of many animal exhibits. Several enclosures appeared undersized and lacked proper enrichment, which was deeply upsetting. Meanwhile, it felt as though vendors, gift shops, and paid attractions were given more attention than the animals themselves. We understand the need for revenue, but when commercial spaces outnumber quality exhibits, priorities feel misplaced. For comparison, the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago—also free—manages to avoid this issue while still turning a profit.

Additionally, it was frustrating to find that the only building with strong air conditioning was the candy shop. Other indoor spaces, including cafes, gift shops, and small exhibits, offered little to no relief from the heat. Guests and staff alike seemed to suffer as a result. Indoor exhibits should serve not just educational purposes, but also as climate-controlled rest areas—especially in warmer months. The current setup gives the impression that guests are being steered toward cold treats out of necessity rather than choice.

Lastly, while the zoo’s size is often praised, size means little without thoughtful planning, adequate guest accommodations, and, most importantly, proper care for the animals.

In summary, our visit was disappointing. The St. Louis Zoo has potential, but it desperately needs better wayfinding, improved animal welfare standards, and a more guest-friendly...