Best for
Families, animal lovers, a full day away from the museum district
Time needed
3–5 hours
Worth it?
Yes for families with a full day to spend — pricier for a quick visit
Skip if
You only have an hour or two free, or you're not travelling with children
About Artis Royal Zoo
Artis — full name Natura Artis Magistra ('Nature is the teacher of art') — opened in 1838, making it the oldest zoo in the Netherlands and one of the oldest still operating in Europe. It was founded by a learned society rather than a private entrepreneur, which shows in the park's original ambitions: alongside the animal collection, Artis has always incorporated a botanical garden, a natural history museum lineage, and now a planetarium, positioning itself as a broader nature-and-science institution rather than a pure animal-viewing attraction.
Today the zoo houses more than 700 species across leafy, mature 19th-century grounds studded with historic buildings — several original 1800s structures, including ornate aviaries and animal houses, survive as protected monuments alongside modern, more naturalistic enclosures built to current animal-welfare standards. The included aquarium, one of the oldest in Europe, and planetarium mean a single ticket covers a genuinely varied day rather than just animal enclosures.
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Because it shares the Plantage quarter with Micropia (built into the same site), the Verzetsmuseum and Hortus Botanicus, Artis anchors what's easily Amsterdam's most family-friendly single neighbourhood for a day trip away from the historic centre's museums.
Given the ticket price, this is a bigger commitment than most Amsterdam activities — worth it for families planning a full day, less so as a quick add-on if time or budget is tight.
What to See: Highlights
- 1The Netherlands' oldest zoo, open since 1838
- 2Over 700 species across mature 19th-century grounds
- 3An included aquarium, one of the oldest in Europe
- 4An included planetarium
- 5Historic 1800s animal houses preserved as protected monuments
- 6Micropia (microbe museum) built into the same site
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Insider Tips
Book online in advance — prices are cheaper and slots can fill on peak days
Budget a full half-day to properly see the zoo, aquarium and planetarium
Combine with Micropia, right next door, using the same complex entrance area
Arrive at opening for the calmest animal-viewing conditions
The grounds are genuinely green and shaded — a good midsummer option
Book a Guided Tour
Get the most from your visit with a local expert guide.
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Getting There
Plantage Kerklaan 38–40, 1018 CZ Amsterdam
Open in Google Maps →- 1Tram 14 to Artis, right outside the main entrance.
Where to stay
Hotels in Amsterdam
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You're travelling with children and want a full-day activity
- You want an aquarium and planetarium included in one ticket
- You're already exploring the Plantage quarter
- You appreciate historic zoo architecture alongside modern enclosures
Skip if...
- You only have a short window of time — the ticket price assumes a longer visit
- You're travelling without children and prefer museums to animal exhibits
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Amsterdam
Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance Museum)
A vivid, object-driven account of how ordinary Dutch people resisted, collaborated with, or simply endured Nazi occupation — one of Amsterdam's most underrated WWII museums.
Micropia
The world's first museum entirely dedicated to microbes — bacteria, viruses and the invisible organisms that outnumber humans by trillions — next to Artis Zoo.
Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
One of the world's oldest botanical gardens, founded in 1638, with a three-climate greenhouse and a 300-year-old cycad plant that survived being smuggled out of colonial South Africa.