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San Diego Air & Space MuseumvsSan Diego Zoo
Both San Diego Zoo and San Diego Air & Space Museum are rated very highly by professional reviewers. On balance, San Diego Zoo is preferred by most reviewers compared to San Diego Air & Space Museum. San Diego Zoo is ranked #1 in San Diego with praise from 7 sources such as Lonely Planet, Where and Michelin Guide.
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Fodor's
Lonely Planet
Michelin Guide
Where
Frommer's
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101
From $0/night
Fodor's "By day, the streamlined edifice looks like any other structure in the park; at night, outlined in blue neon, the round building appears—appropriately enough—to be a landed UFO." Full review
Lonely Planet "The round building at the southern end of the plaza houses an excellent museum with an extensive display of aircrafts – originals, replicas, models and Charles Lindbergh memorabilia." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"In the International Aerospace Hall of Fame, oil portraits and biographical plaques salute notable inventors, industrialists and pilots." Full review
Where "This cavernous museum traces the history of human flight, from the earliest contraptions to military jets, all suspended from the ceiling above interactive, educational exhibits." Full review
Frommer's "The other big kid-pleaser of the museums (along with the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center), this popular facility has more than 60 aircraft on display." Full review
San Diego Zoo Fodor's
Concierge Lonely Planet Michelin Guide
National Geographic Where
Time Out
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Show All Reviews
2929 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
From $0/night
Fodor's "Balboa Park's—and perhaps the city's—most famous attraction is its 100-acre zoo." Full review
Concierge "No other local attraction is more synonymous with San Diego than the Zoo, a 90-year-old institution that lives up to its reputation."
Lonely Planet "This justifiably famous zoo is one of SoCal’s biggest attractions, showing more than 3000 animals representing more than 650 species in a beautifully landscaped setting." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"One of the largest, most diverse and most celebrated zoological parks in the world." Full review
National Geographic "World-renown 100-acre (40-hectare) facility in Balboa Park, with a botanical collection that rivals the animals. Bus tours skirt most enclosures quickly." Full review
Where "It's world-famous for a reason. Visitors can get up close and personal with more than 4,000 creatures from nearly every corner of the world. " Full review
Time Out "Nestled in Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo fully deserves its reputation as one of the finest in the world." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The expansive “habitats” include a tropical rainforest filled with gorillas, a recreated Arctic tundra with polar bears and reindeer, and a Giant Panda Research Station." Full review
Travel + Leisure "This world-famous zoo in Balboa Park houses more than 4,000 animals including giant pandas from China and many rare and endangered species"
San Diego Travel Guide
February 23, 2021
Travel + Leisure "The zoo is home to more than 12,000 animals and more than 650 species and subspecies. Plus, its wildlife alliance arm has made great strides in areas like genetic diversity, reproductive sciences."
14 of the Best Zoos in the U.S.
April 8, 2022
