Woodland Park Zoo

Visiting the Woodland Park Zoo is a must for animal lovers in Seattle, and exhibits range from the steamy heat of an indoor tropical forest to a pool where penguins dive and play. It’s so popular, in fact, that lines for purchasing tickets can be long; booking online is a time-saving strategy for avoiding the wait. With so much to see and do, the Woodland Park Zoo could easily fill a day. Focus on the exhibits that interest you most, whether you’re fascinated by Assam rhinos, flitting through the butterfly garden, or on the prowl for wolves.

• Download the Woodland Park Zoo app to skip the paper map.

• There are restaurants and snack bars at the zoo, or you can pack a picnic to enjoy in the North Meadow.

• Since visiting the whole zoo can mean lots of walking, strollers and wheelchairs are a great option.

The Woodland Park Zoo is located in Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood, close the 169/NE 50th Street exit off Interstate 5, and paid parking is available on-site. If traveling to the Woodland Park Zoo by bus, Metro Bus 5 stops at Phinney Avenue N. and N. 55th Street, adjacent to the zoo’s west entrance. If arriving by bus or bicycle, show your bus transfer or bike helmet for discounted admission.

Many of the animals at the Woodland Park Zoo are most active in the morning and afternoon, so visit during those times for the best wildlife viewing. Since the zoo can be busy on weekends, weekday visits let you ditch the crowds; according to zoo staff, Monday through Wednesday are the quietest days.

Wondering what to do when it’s rainy in Seattle? Even though some areas are outdoors, the Woodland Park Zoo is a great rainy-day activity. Pick up a “Rainy Day Map” at the entrance, and don’t miss the many indoor exhibits, which include the tropical rain forest, Bug World, nocturnal animals in the Adaptations Building, the Zoomazium play space, and more.