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Free and amazing! Small enough to enjoy in a few hours, yet big enough to take your time and enjoy the whole day. Plenty to do and enjoy in that area. Great for the whole family. Wonderful exhibits that provide nice views of the animals. Chances are excellent that you will see all of the animals there.

This beautiful jewel of a place calls to my heart every visit to Minnesota. It is free to all but supported by donations and its gift shop and foundation. The various rooms, Fern Room, Japanese Garden, etc., always evoke a sense of serenity and energy that freshens the mind and spirit. It’s great for all ages and the gift shop is chockful of delightful take-aways. I scored three presents for Christmas there on this visit.Do donate - entrance is free, but donations help keep this beautiful place here to enjoy.

I hadn't been to Como in over two decades, my husband had gone multiple times as a kid, and we were curious about how the park had changed. Today we decided to make the 40min drive from our home in Wisconsin to Como Zoo and Conservatory with our five year old to enjoy the day outside and it was definitely worth it. There are a lot of things that still aren't open for the season but that just means we can come back another time and explore some more. We loved the Carousel and the tropical encounters along with all the animals.

If it's been a while since you've checked out the Como Conservatory, there's no more fantastic place to be on a cold winter's day then their exquisitely curated encapsulation of plants and the tropics. A reservation is required, but free. Donations are welcome and preferred. The paths are defined, and one way during COVID, but patrons were fantastic about pulling off to the side of the path when they wanted to go slower or were more comfortable having large groups pass them. You exit by the bonsai exhibit, which is on the far side from the main parking lot, so consider the weather when deciding whether or not to bring your coat along for the walk! Endless gratitude to all of the employees and volunteers for their hard work and creativity.

Como zoo is really an incredible family destination for those living in, or visiting the Twin Cities. Somehow the zoo remains free (although they do have donation boxes around and I highly encourage dropping something in). They have a wonderful range of animals and even some shows and encounters. I cannot say enough great things about this magnificent place - my parents brought me here as a child numerous times, I've taken my children here multiple times, and I can't wait to show my grandchildren someday.

Ok, it's not the best zoo you've ever been to, but it is amazing for basically a free park! There are manned stations to give donations, both in cash and with a credit card, but if you don't care to or don't have it, come on in. (Though try to give if you can!)First, there are beautiful, historic conservatory rooms with a biggish Japanese garden behind and several bonsai trees. Then, on the other side is a zoo with a roughly circular layout, with primates, big cats, giraffe, zebras, seals, and a polar bear! Not the best enclosures I've ever seen - lots of concrete and fencing, but the animals seem generally happy and there are lots of keepers around. And it's free! Or, at least cheap if you donate. Very crowded and hot the Friday afternoon I went, but there's a cafe and a big gift shop indoors.

It is one of the best places in the twin cities. There is a large park, conservatory, and a zoo by each other. A nice walking and biking path around the lake. The conservatory is fantastic. One area is seasonal, for example, Christmas. A very reasonable entrance donation.

I had the whole day to kill before my flight. I spent about 5 hours enjoying the animals, but mostly the greenery. Definitely can't beat the price of $0.00, but please make sure you give a donation. Go and enjoy, you'll love it.

One of my favorite places to visit and bring guests. And it is wonderful that it is accessible to all because they only ask for a donation.Our little zoo is the best, I have been visiting 60 years with family and friends. Como is nice and easy to move around, with a great variety of animals to visit and learn about. We met some young zoo staff who told us about the new little monkey and you could tell they really cared.The Conservatory is one of the most unique buildings I know and it's beautiful year round, but it's a special treat (along with the tropical house,) to visit someplace warm and green on the tundra in January. It's like a mini vacation!

Always a fun time at the Como Zoo! We love coming here and looking at everything! Very thankful this is a free zoo that we always can come too! It always is clean and organized! Very fun and recommend going here if your bored and nothing else to do! Fun time! We spent 3 hrs in the zoo before we even realized how long we were there!

Fanatic establishment. I like to come here when it's a bit chilly and sit in the tropical rooms to read! What a great way to get past some winter blues... As far as the zoo goes, my partner was a zoo keeper for a long span...she has nothing bad to say about the enclosures or enrichment given to the animals! She was impressed with the variety of animals they displayed as well as the level of care they were all treated to, especially given there are at least a few animals on sight with some physical "limitations". All in all I would come every day if I lived within walking distance. Just please remember to respect the plants and animals - what the workers and volunteers are doing here is amazing.

The conservatory is a wonderfully warm retreat, especially on a winter day. The zoo is comprehensive in its diversity of animals, yet it’s compact enough to allow you to visit them all in a single afternoon.In the summer, the Como Town amusem*nt park is a great place for families with young kids.The fact that all of this is available for a small suggested donation (plus Como Town ride tickets) is nothing short of amazing!

For a free public zoo, this is a good place to visit with your children, especially for the activities they provide. We spent nearly two hours at Como Zoo, saw all the exhibits, and got to watch the Sparky Show with the seals. If you're looking for a free fun activity, look no further! I will not from years past that some of the exhibits have been closed down and upkeep on the zoo has slowed. I am not sure since it's early spring if that is a contributing factor. Regardless enjoy!

There's so much to love about this zoo, but my favorite thing is how genuinely enthusiastic everyone who works there is. I remember meeting a zookeeper who said they were visiting while they weren't on shift. The joy and fun of experiencing this zoo and conservatory can be found everywhere! It's also a delight to visit during the winter blues.

There are quite a few empty exhibits right now, which is a little sad. But the zoo is free, so you certainly can't complain. The animals we did see were fun! They have a big cat spot, a primate house, and a seal/arctic area. The animals were feisty, especially that dang ostrich who kept biting the giraffe's tail. Definitely a quick walk zoo. (We went in an hour and a half before closing and still had time to see everything.) Lots of fun!

Beautiful and fun zoo to go to for all ages! There are lots of animals to see here. You can learn a lot by reading the descriptions at each exhibit as well. We went today (Monday) and it started to get really busy around 11:00-11:30 ish so be prepared for that. (We did start at 10:30 when it was still fairly quiet). The gardens were also really neat to look at so be sure to stop by there! Also, don’t forget a little souvenir at the gift shop by the main entrance. There is a little one in the zoo itself, but I recommend the bigger one where you first walk in since there are things for everyone in there (shirts, stuffed animals, stickers, lanyards, etc.)Be sure to check this zoo out if you haven’t, it’s worth a couple hours to go check everything out!

A free beautiful zoo what more could you want!!! The inside cafe is a bit of a mess and run by teens but you can’t complain! I recommend bringing your own snacks and drinks. I love coming here on nice weather

Como Zoo is an awesome place. Love seeing all the animals there. It was a hot day when I went and many animals were in the shade or den so couldn't see all of them. Some of the exhibits were having construction done also. They have cool sculptures scattered around. I like that it's free with suggested donation. Parking was not an issue and it wasn't crowded near the end of the day.

Loved this zoo! We came on a Sunday afternoon and it was busy but not too packed. You can pay with your preferred donation.The animals were still visible even with the heat. The property was clean. Parking was a mess but there are plenty of lots available and street parking if you have patience. The amusem*nt park is also nearby which is a plus. I would definitely come back! They have scheduled shows I believe at noon and 2:30. I recommend bringing your family for a nice family day. They allow water bottles and such so you’re able to stay hydrated throughout the zoo. There are also plenty of washrooms with water fountains.

We went on a Tuesday towards the end of the summer. It was perfect! First, let's start with it's free and open to the public. Please give a small donation to keep it free. We got there right after it opened, and it was already starting to get busy. The animals were lively, getting their breakfast. We were there for about 2 hours, which was the perfect time with having an 19 month. You could easily access good visibility at multiple points to see the animals. Lastly, it is easy to navigate with multiple pathways and one of the cleanest zoo's that I have been to visit.

Our party of four loved our visit today to the Como Park Zoo Conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesota! My favorite display was the Fern Room, with its beautiful waterfall fountain, near the entrance to the conservatory. The Sunken Garden display was also amazing and is a favorite place for my husband and me to capture a selfie. The Conservatory’s plants are exotic and well maintained. The volunteers are friendly and well informed. We will definitely be returning during the winter months to enjoy the warmth, delightful fragrances, and robust colors abounding. ❤️

My family and I had a great experience here! For a free zoo, there were so many animals to see, especially compared to Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. The Conservatory was so stunning and big! Lots of rooms and garden areas to walk around. Again, way better than Chicago's.

Very fun and free. There was a suggestion of $4 per adult and $2 per child. Some didn’t pay and some donated more. Animals were mostly active and gardens were great. Would suggest. Took about 2–3 hours.

This is such a great place to visit, and there is something here for everyone of every age!!When I was a small child my parents would take me here, and I have a lot of fond memories from what it was like back then. As I got older I have always continued to come here.Things look a lot different now than what they did when I was younger, but that is a good thing.Not only do I still stop by here from time to time, but over the years I have brought my son there as well from when he was very small.

Honestly, I think this zoo is better than the Minnesota Zoo. Added bonus…IT’S FREE! (donations are welcomed, not required). Prefect destination for an any occasion: casual strolls, dates, or place to take guests visiting the Cities.My only qualm is that during peak times (weekends, holidays or warm days during winter), parking is really tough to find.

This place is a hidden gem!My boyfriend and I made a "getaway trip" to St. Paul, and we stopped by this zoo before heading home. This zoo is great! There is no admission to pay, instead guests are encouraged to pay a donation (they can manage).This zoo is similar to Central Park in that it is located within the Como Regional Park. It is a really nice walk and you get to see lots of neat animals. If you're up for it there's a really nice greenhouse you can visit as well.We can't wait to visit this place again!

I’ve been coming here for almost 40 years and always love the place. Something still sad about zoos though, but at least they open our eyes to the amazing creatures we share this planet with. Doesn’t hurt that this zoo is free either! *Please make sure to donate though*I feel like they keep it in good condition too. I’m now taking my daughter here and she loves it. However, parking is a little tough and it was hard to find an exit out of the conservatory!

Wonderful way to spend an afternoon outside enjoying the sunshine. There is no admission charged but does have free will donation locations for both cash and card if you want to help the zoo out. The attached conservatory changes the Big show room seasonally and is always beautiful. Don't forget to find the sloth in the rainforest!

I am sure it would have been a much more enjoyable visit if we'd gone during warmer weather when all the attractions and exhibits were open.It also would have been nice of the advertised "orchid show" was contained to the area advertised shown online, and the rest of the green house was open as expected. Instead the entire greenhouse/conservatory was closed to the non paying public.It is sad to see a free public attraction suffer from I'll maintenance (the penguin enclosure was obviously leaking onto the floor, and several animal enclosures were small for what was being housed). It would have been nice to see more donations in the containers. I hope this doesn't go by the way side. I would love to see it flourish like similar establishments such as Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

For a free zoo this was amazing, would love to come back in the summer when the weather is better and can spend more time outside. But every thing did have an indoor option so we were able to see all of the animals. The gardens were amazing and if it hadn't have been raining would have walked though the outdoor garden.

The Como zoo and Conservatory is a really entertaining and exciting day activity to do if you are a family with children, or if you are looking for a fun and unique date night to do. The Como zoo is open 365 days a year, which is awesome if you are looking for something to do during a holiday. The zoo and conservatory is free to attend, with a suggested donation of $4 per adult and $2 per child. The conservatory is such a nice place to go during the harsh winter months of Minnesota winters. Inside its around 78 degrees and humid. Lots of educational opportunities for children throughout the zoo.

This was one of my favorite places in the Twin Cities; it's a FREE zoo and greenhouse/conservatory.I will admit the outdoor zoo portion, specifically the primate exhibit was rather depressing- the enclosures were very small. But, it's a free zoo, so I'm sure they do the best they can with the donations they receive. One highlight is they have multiple snow foxes- I have not seen these animals at other zoos.The conservatory is the best part and is a must-see. You wander through paved trails in a large greenhouse structure and view an incredible variety of flowers and vegetation from across the globe. There is also an outdoor portion where you can walk the Bonsai garden.The establishment is well-kept and the volunteers are very passionate about their work.There is a large free parking lot on site. There are public restrooms. Most of the location is wheelchair accessible.