ARTIS Royal Zoo: Skip The Line

More than 700 different species of animals call the ARTIS Zoo home. Well, only the parrots can call it that, but they do all live here. You'll get the chance to visit the penguins, wolves, giraffes and more. There's also an impressive art collection, a zoological library, a planetarium and 27 historical buildings. If that wasn't enough, you can now get microscopic at Micropia and discover the secret lives of the planet's smallest creatures.
Elephants, penguins, giraffes, alligators – all the usual suspects and more can be found at the Netherlands's oldest zoo. Walk among the beautiful buildings and soak up the atmosphere and animal sightings. Built in 1838, the ARTIS campus is made up of 27 historic buildings. Their significance is sadly lost on most of the residents.
The whole experience is wonderfully wild, yet refined. There's art in its aquarium (alongside the sea creatures), an old-timey zoological library just behind the anteaters, and an excellent restaurant with a terrace overlooking the aviary. Yet another crowd pleaser is the Butterfly Garden , where you can mingle with thousands of fluttery friends.
Once you've seen all creatures great and small... it's time to go even smaller with an optional trip to Micropia. The 2016 Museum of the Year shines a tiny spotlight on the world of microbes and shows how these unsung heroes affect and influence our lives.