Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Opened in 1875, this is the second-oldest zoo in the United States. It is known for Fiona the hippo, its breeding programs for endangered species, and its spring tulip display.
The Cincinnati Zoo covers about 30 hectares and houses more than 500 species of animals. Its reptile house is the oldest surviving zoo building in the United States. The star attraction is Fiona the hippo, who was painstakingly saved after being born prematurely in 2017. In Hippo Cove, visitors can watch the hippos swim through underwater viewing windows. Other popular attractions include the cheetah run demonstration, Gorilla World, the polar bear exhibit, and the African Savanna. The zoo is also a botanical garden, and in spring hundreds of thousands of tulips bloom across the grounds. Admission prices vary by date, and advance online booking is recommended. Parking costs extra. The winter holiday light festival is a local tradition.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–17:00 (seasonal changes)
Nearby sights
- American Sign Museum
- Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum
- William Howard Taft National Historic Site
- Findlay Market
- Eden Park
- Cincinnati Art Museum
- Over-the-Rhine
- Krohn Conservatory