Artis Zoo

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Artis Zoo, better known as ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo and historically as Natura Artis Magistra, brings flamingos, lemurs, monument architecture, and a Planetarium into the leafy Plantage quarter of central Amsterdam. Founded in 1838, it remains one of the oldest city zoos in the world and still feels woven into the neighborhood rather than pushed to the edge of town.

For most first visits, start with a straightforward zoo entry ticket: it keeps the day flexible, includes the Planetarium, and lets you decide later whether to add another museum stop nearby. Book now.

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Entry tickets

Best for most visitors: choose direct zoo entry, then move at your own pace between the habitats, the Planetarium, and the green paths around Plantage.

Amsterdam: ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo Entry Ticket

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7 tips for visiting the Artis Zoo

Buy online, not at the gate

If you want the easiest start at ARTIS, buy your zoo ticket online. You do not need a separate reservation, but online admission is cheaper than the counter and removes one queue from the first 10 minutes. That way you start with animals, not admin.

Use the morning for the zoo

If your priority is active animals and easier paths, enter the zoo in the morning and keep indoor extras for later. The first hours around Plantage usually feel lighter than midday, especially on weekends and school-holiday dates. That keeps the visit spacious instead of crowded.

Pack a light picnic

You may bring your own food into ARTIS; just keep it for your group, not the animals. This is especially useful if you visit with children or want a slower loop through the park. It saves money, avoids hunger-driven detours, and helps the afternoon stay friendly.

Pick your route from Central Station

From Amsterdam Central Station, the simplest choices are tram 14 to the ARTIS stop, metro to Waterlooplein, or bus 22/43 to Kadijksplein. Making that choice before you leave the station removes the usual first-hour transfer wobble. So the day starts clear and predictable.

Add one nearby indoor stop

If you want more after the zoo, add exactly one nearby indoor stop: Science Museum NEMO, Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum, or Rembrandt House Museum. One follow-up is usually enough after a half day in the park, especially if the weather turns or children fade. You still get variety, and you avoid turning the day into a marathon.

Arrange mobility support early

If you need a wheelchair or the mobility scooter, sort it out with ARTIS at least one day ahead. The scooter must be reserved, and the accessible parking route is much easier when you already know your entrance plan. Early setup lowers stress, so you can focus on the visit itself.

Check Aquarium status first

The historic ARTIS Aquarium is still closed for renovation and is scheduled to reopen on June 13, 2026. If marine life is your main reason for coming, verify the latest update before you travel and shift that time to the Planetarium or a nearby museum if needed. That way you avoid disappointment at the gate.

How to plan an Artis Zoo visit in De Plantage

A smooth day here comes down to three choices: buy the right zoo ticket, choose one arrival route, and decide whether you want one nearby indoor follow-up. Lock those in early, and the rest of Plantage feels much easier.

Start with simple zoo entry

Best for most first visits: choose the direct ARTIS entry ticket on this page and keep the rest of the day flexible. It gets you into the zoo and includes the Planetarium without forcing a heavier museum schedule from the start. If you still have energy later, add a second indoor stop separately. Book now.

Use one clear route from Central Station

From Amsterdam Central Station, the cleanest choices are tram 14 to the ARTIS stop, metro via Waterlooplein, or bus to Kadijksplein. If you are traveling with children, deciding this before you leave the station removes the usual first-hour wobble around transfers and exits. In practice, route certainty is the cheapest stress reduction of the whole day.

Keep the second half indoors

After animal habitats and open paths, many visitors do better with one calmer indoor follow-up rather than another long outdoor loop. Science Museum NEMO works for hands-on science, Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum for a harbor-side museum block, and Rembrandt House Museum for compact art history near Waterlooplein. Pick one, and the day stays full without becoming heavy.

Plan around the aquarium closure realistically

If the historic ARTIS Aquarium is the part you most want to see, this is not the ideal moment to improvise. Reopening is scheduled for June 13, 2026, so treat that date as a target and verify the latest update before travel. Until then, build the visit around animals, the Planetarium, and one strong nearby add-on instead.

From 1838 society zoo to Amsterdam nature campus

Today's visit feels relaxed and green, but the place underneath it is layered: a 19th-century learned society, a historic zoo, and a broader campus that now spreads across Plantage with museum spaces and restored heritage buildings.

The 1838 foundation still shapes the mood

Natura Artis Magistra was founded in 1838, and the zoo opened in 1839. That origin still matters because ARTIS never feels like a pure theme stop: science, education, and city culture are part of the rhythm from the first paths onward.

Why the Groote Museum still matters

When Groote Museum opened in 1855, ARTIS became more than an animal collection. That museum layer still changes the experience today: you are in a place that has long tried to connect nature, knowledge, and urban life in one walkable setting.

Micropia changed the modern visit

Micropia opened in 2014 and gave the ARTIS campus a clever second scale: after elephants and giraffes, you can flip to microbes and invisible life. That contrast is one reason repeat visitors often get more from ARTIS than they expected the second time around.

The 2022 reopening widened the campus again

The reopening of Groote Museum in 2022 gave the historic complex fresh depth around Artisplein. For families, couples, and curious solo travelers, that means ARTIS now works less like one zoo gate and more like a small knowledge district.

What the visit feels like now

Today, ARTIS mixes broad animal habitats, mature trees, and old institutional architecture in a way that feels unusually woven into central Amsterdam. Families usually do best with a slower rhythm and one extra stop at most, while solo visitors can move faster between interest zones. Even adults who arrive in full museum mode tend to soften a little at the lemurs, which is usually a sign the pace is working.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Artis Zoo the same place as Natura Artis Magistra?

Yes. Natura Artis Magistra is the historic full name, while most visitors and local signage use ARTIS or ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo. You are booking the same zoo complex in Plantage.

Do you need a separate timeslot reservation for ARTIS Zoo?

No separate reservation is currently required for the zoo. If you buy online, the ticket is valid for the day and you can arrive between 9 am and 6 pm, which makes planning easier than a tightly fixed slot.

What are the current opening hours?

ARTIS Zoo currently runs 9 am to 6 pm daily. Micropia usually runs 10 am to 5 pm, while Groote Museum runs 10 am to 5 pm and stays open until 10 pm on Thursdays.

Is the ARTIS Aquarium open right now?

Not yet. The aquarium is under renovation and is scheduled to reopen on June 13, 2026. Until then, plan the day around the zoo, the Planetarium, and one nearby museum if you want an indoor second chapter.

Can you bring your own food into ARTIS?

Yes. Bringing your own food is allowed, which is especially handy for families and slower half-day visits. The practical limit is simple: feeding the animals is not allowed.

Can you pay cash at ARTIS?

No. ARTIS is pin-only, so bring a debit card, credit card, or mobile payment option. That is easy to forget on a zoo day, and annoying to discover at the wrong moment.

Is ARTIS wheelchair-accessible?

Mostly yes. Much of the site is accessible, wheelchairs can be borrowed, and one mobility scooter can be reserved in advance. Visitors who cannot visit independently may bring one companion free, which makes planning much easier.

How long should you plan for the visit?

For most visitors, a half day works well for the zoo itself. Add more time only if you want a separate museum stop afterward, and give yourself extra buffer if you are visiting with children, because animal-watch pauses tend to expand naturally.

What pairs best nearby after ARTIS?

Pick one follow-up only: Science Museum NEMO for interactive science, Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum for a calmer harbor-side museum block, Rembrandt House Museum for compact art history, or Jewish Historical Museum if you want to continue toward the old Jewish quarter. One extra stop is usually the sweet spot.

General information

opening hours

ARTIS Zoo is currently open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. ARTIS-Micropia runs daily from 10 am to 5 pm, and ARTIS-Groote Museum runs daily from 10 am to 5 pm, with Thursday evening opening until 10 pm. Check the daily schedule before major holiday visits, because special events can shorten hours.

tickets

Zoo tickets currently start from EUR 29.50 online or EUR 32.50 at the counter for ages 13+, from EUR 25.50 online or EUR 27.50 at the counter for ages 3-12, and are free for ages 0-2 (checked March 2026). Combo tickets with one museum start from EUR 35.50 online for ages 13+, or EUR 41.50 online with both museums. The Planetarium is included with zoo admission, and ARTIS is pin-only.

address

ARTIS Zoo
Plantage Kerklaan 38-40
1018 CZ Amsterdam
Netherlands

ARTIS-Micropia and ARTIS-Groote Museum
Artisplein, Plantage Kerklaan 36
1018 CZ Amsterdam

how to get there

From Amsterdam Central Station, tram 14 is the simplest direct option to the ARTIS stop. Metro 51, 53, and 54 to Waterlooplein leave about a 15-minute walk, and buses 22 and 43 to Kadijksplein leave about 10 minutes on foot. Cycling from Amsterdam Central or Amsterdam Amstel takes around 10 minutes, bike racks sit on Plantage Kerklaan, and the on-site car park fills quickly on busy days.

accessibility

Most of ARTIS and the museums are wheelchair-accessible, though a few slopes and longer paths can feel tiring. Wheelchairs can be borrowed, one mobility scooter can be reserved at least one day ahead via +31 (0)20 523 3670, and a EUR 50 deposit applies to the scooter. Visitors who cannot visit independently may bring one companion free of charge, and assistance dogs with an official harness are welcome.

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