Has anyone taken a subway to the Bronx Zoo? We will be visiting next week. I am dying to see the new primate exhibits--but I know some parts of the Bronx are not especially safe.We will be staying in the city. Thanks

there is a bus line that goes there--liberty, from Man. I think the train line is ok but not the greatest.
The train may go there too.
I bet Bx Zoo has a web site with travel info. The Liberty line is very nice & ac but it often comes 20 min late. If its a nice day & you pick it up on Madison its not so bad though.
Check out central park zoo if you like zoos. Its my favorite & I am a zoo fan--sort of (cages bug me).

The subway to the Bronx Zoo is perfectly safe during the day.
The Central Zoo is nice and cute and quaint, but it can't compare with the Bronx Zoo!

I live in Manhattan and know that the subways are generally safe. That does not mean that I would take the subway or suggest that others do the same just for the sake of promoting NYC's safe transit. Yes the subway will be fine but TAKE THE BUS. It picks you up in Midtown and drops you off at the entrance to the zoo! It is express to the Bronx and fairly comfortable. In fact, the last time that I went to the zoo, I took the subway, was tired when I got out of the zoo and waited for the bus. The Liberty Lines bus schedule is not yet on line, but the information can be obtained from either the signs on the bus stop (I think it goes up Madison and down 5th Av and I think it is the BxM 11) or you can forget all the "I thinks" and call:

LIBERTY LINES

Information & Schedules
(718) 652-8400

HAVE A GREAT TIME

Just re-read my reply and boy did I sound arrogant. Maybe its the slow moving clock before a long holiday weekend. My apologies to Howard and anyone reading it.

I'm not bashing the subway at all, but I too recommend Liberty Lines, especially for visitors, as you can catch it anywhere on Madison and it picks up and drops off right in front of the zoo entrance, so you don't need to worry about how to get there. It's not a long ride if you avoid rush hours, and costs $3. It is the Bx11, and stops about every 5 blocks on Madison. If you can, set asise a full day for the zoo; you need at least that to see everything. The Congo Gorillas exhibit is great. If they have the butterfly exhibit up, do NOT miss it! It is a tent filled with plants and beautiful, free-flying butterflies. If you hold especially still, you may be lucky, as I was, and have butterflies alight on you.... My boyfriend, who is squeamish about anything with 6 legs and went in under duress, loved it.

BTW, we always pick up or make something to take for a picnic lunch; beyond drinks and ice cream, it's basically bad fast food inside the zoo.

If you have any interest in exploring Arthur Avenue, otherwise known as the Bronx's Little Italy, it's close to the zoo. Don't know if people have posted about it on Fodor's - you could check a food website like Chowhound for specific recs if you're interested.

PS to Emily - we're colleagues (kind of)!

Good suggestion, Helen. Arthur Avenue's great.
And Jeff, no need to apologize. No insult felt! But, thanks anyway.

And speaking of great places near the zoo, there's the New York Botanical Garden.

I have always taken the trin to the Bx Zoo and never had a problem. It is a wonderful Zoo and will take the whole day to see. Take the 5 train (I think) and get off at Freemont Ave and it is about a block to the Zoo.

During the holiday season the Zoo decorates the entire Zoo in lights and the New York Choral Society is there to sing holiday music on the weekends, so if you are around over the holiday that is a must see.

We're headed to the Yankee Game tomorrow (against the Red Sox) and will be on the subway. Go Yanks!

NY is like every large city just use your head and you shouldn't have any problems.

Have a great trip.

gail