Lincoln Park Zoo Tours and Activities

Lincoln Park Zoo featuring landscape views, a city and flowers
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This small zoo right in the heart of Chicago, Lincoln Park is an ideal family destination, popular with small children eager to see the many different animals.

Covering an area of 142,000 square metres, deep in the heart of Lincoln Park north of downtown Chicago, the Lincoln Park Zoo is a great day out for all the family. The park allows you to get up-close-and-personal with more than 1,000 animals, including monkeys, zebras, sea lions, bears, crocodiles and hippos, all at home and on display in natural-looking habitats.

Founded all the way back in 1868, when New York’s Central Park donated a pair of swans to Lincoln Park, today the zoo has grown dramatically. The zoo was once the home of a notorious bear cub who was in the habit of escaping from his enclosure and wandering the park through the night.

The largest enclosure is the Regenstein Centre for African Apes, housing chimpanzees, lowland gorillas and other primates across almost 2700 square metres. In the African enclosure you can find giraffes, wild dogs, crocodiles and hippos, as well as an indoor big cat display.

Head for the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo where you’ll find owls, beavers, black bears, wolves, turtles and ducks, as well as exhibits designed with kids in mind.

Elsewhere you can find the Farm-in-the-Zoo, housing farmyard animals like chicken, sheep, cows, pigs and even ponies. Here you can watch demonstrations covering topics like learning how to milk a cow, and finding out through talks about how families live on the farm. For kids between the ages of three and 12, a ride on the Children’s Train is a real treat.

Once you’ve had a stroll around the zoo, stop off at the Park Place Café for burgers, pasta and more. For organic food, head to the café at Wild Things, whilst pizza and drinks are on offer at the Pati at Café Brauer. The zoo is free to enter and open every day throughout the year.

Popular places to visit


Top Lincoln Park Zoo Hotel & Accommodation Deals

Chicago Getaway Hostel
Chicago Getaway Hostel
2 out of 5
616 W Arlington Pl, Chicago, IL
Chicago Getaway Hostel
Congress Plaza Hotel
Congress Plaza Hotel
3.5 out of 5
520 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
Congress Plaza Hotel
Ambassador Chicago, part of JdV by Hyatt
Ambassador Chicago, part of JdV by Hyatt
4 out of 5
1301 N State Pkwy, Chicago, IL
Ambassador Chicago, part of JdV by Hyatt
River Hotel
River Hotel
4 out of 5
75 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL
River Hotel
Claridge House
Claridge House
4 out of 5
1244 N Dearborn Parkway, Chicago, IL
Claridge House
Eurostars Magnificent Mile
Eurostars Magnificent Mile
4 out of 5
660 North State Street, Chicago, IL
Eurostars Magnificent Mile
Hilton Chicago/Magnificent Mile Suites
Hilton Chicago/Magnificent Mile Suites
3.5 out of 5
198 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL
Hilton Chicago/Magnificent Mile Suites
The Willows Hotel
The Willows Hotel
3 out of 5
555 W Surf St, Chicago, IL
The Willows Hotel
Viceroy Chicago
Viceroy Chicago
4.5 out of 5
1118 North State Street, Chicago, IL
Viceroy Chicago
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.