The Como Zoo & Conservatory in Saint Paul is a beloved destination offering free, year-round access to a diverse range of animals and stunning botanical gardens. Visitors can explore everything from big cats and primates to tropical plants and seasonal flower shows in the historic glass conservatory. Perfect for families, this Twin Cities gem combines wildlife, nature, and education in a beautiful, accessible setting.
Garden
Como Zoo & Conservatory
18552 Google Reviews
Great zoo. Great variety of animals – & educational shows. The enclosures are appropriate for the animals & they had ample access to food water & shelter. The staff seems to know each animal by name and their story & funny quirks about each one. The ring tailed lemurs absolutely loved when the zookeeper would come by. Nice souvenir area & various places to get snacks/drinks. Accessible to folks w W/Cs or using walkers. Likewise strollers. Donation box at entrance and in a few places inside -definitely worth a donation.
This is 1 of my favorite places in all of Mni Sota. I’ve visited this zoo since I was a young child. They have a plethora of inside gardens & a beautiful indoor rainforest exhibit. The outside is teeming with creatures from all over the world. Don’t forget to check out the Japanese Garden too. They have made a number of renovations in recent years & that has really spruced up the experience. Chief of these is the Sea Lion area where they put on daily shows. It’s pretty state of the art now. Did I mention it’s entirely free to the public. If you’ve never been check it out & if it’s been awhile it’s definitely worth revisiting.
Excellent family outing! Como Zoo is a wonderful place to spend the day while learning about various animals. The zoo offers scheduled feedings and shows that are absolutely worth watching, adding fun and educational value to the visit. The animals appear to be well cared for, and the overall experience is both enjoyable and meaningful. Highly recommended for families!
We enjoyed our visit. It can get busy with school groups & camps, but we were still able to find decently close parking & were able to enjoy an afternoon of seeing animals. Highly recommend catching a Sparky show and checking out the unique gift shop finds. The gardens are lovely to visit as well.
Absolutely, it’s a beautiful place. If you haven’t been there in a while, I suggest that you go back. They’ve made a ton of updates that make the place look and feel more restored and renewed. It’s definitely a place that I need to go to again, and very soon. The fact that you’re able to talk to the workers there and that they’re very helpful and kind was amazing as well. It’s very family-oriented, and it was just an all-out blast.
Open to the public… no admission ticket is required, but a small donation is encouraged.
Accessible to all abilities. Fun for all ages.
Lots of animals as you would expect for a zoo, some more active than others. Make sure to check out the (Sparky) the sea lion show. Check show times when you arrive.
Have fun and drink plenty of water.
Accessible to all abilities. Fun for all ages.
Lots of animals as you would expect for a zoo, some more active than others. Make sure to check out the (Sparky) the sea lion show. Check show times when you arrive.
Have fun and drink plenty of water.
Despite the humidity it was awesome! The combination of plants and animals makes you feel like you are in the forest or at times a jungle!
The lily pad and Japanese collection were my favorites. It was also cool to see fruit trees from different countries with the branches bearing fruit. I was surprised by the number of spices they had in their native forms too.
Hands down, one of the best FREE conservatories I’ve visted.
This zoo is big enough for you to spend several hours exploring, and the best part is, it’s free. It also has a conservatory. I’m not usually into trees or plants, but I’ve got to say it’s worth a visit. The zoo has a wide variety of animals, and they all seem to be well taken care of. If you have kids, bring them here; they’ll be excited to see so many different animals. There’s also a huge gift shop.
