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The Netherlands🇳🇱 | attractionsMicropiaLive microscopes, microbe models, Kiss-o-Meter, decontamination room | things to do and best time to go

Explore EftelingExplore Eye Filmmuseum

Backpacking in Micropia
👌 Worth visitingattraction ranked #17
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

Micropia is the world’s first museum of microbes, and the live microscope feeds are what people queue for. What travelers overlook is timing: slots sell out, so booking ahead beats showing up. It sits on Plantage Kerklaan beside Artis Zoo, a short walk from Amsterdam’s Plantage district. Entry runs roughly €17 to 19, pricey for a small museum. I expected gross-out displays, but I spent ten minutes watching a tardigrade amble like a tiny, patient bear.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 The Netherlands Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #17 attraction in The NetherlandsWhat makes this attraction worth visiting

Backpackers come because Micropia is the rare Amsterdam museum where the main exhibit is invisible to the naked eye. The live microscope stations let you swap samples yourself, so you control what you see, from skin mites to yeast. The Kiss-o-Meter measures how many microbes pass between two people in a kiss, which makes a good photo and a better story. It also works as a rainy-day anchor on a city route, since it takes about 90 minutes and pairs easily with Artis next door or the Hortus Botanicus across the street.

💡 HighlightsPlaces and moments you shouldn't skip

  1. Microscope Stations: Slide a sample under a lens and watch living microbes move on a screen, with no biology degree needed.
  2. Kiss-o-Meter: Two people kiss and the machine estimates the bacteria exchanged, often in the millions.
  3. Microbiota Tunnel: A walk-through display shows the microbes living on and in the human body.
  4. Immuunsysteem Wall: Animated displays explain how your immune system fights off invaders.
  5. Fermentation and Food Displays: Cheese, bread, beer and yogurt show how microbes make everyday products.
  6. Giant Microbe Models: Oversized glass and sculpted forms make viruses and bacteria easy to recognize.
  7. Decontamination Room: The toilet-style feature in the Tour of Life exhibition shows how bacteria spread in everyday life.
Allow 1.5 to 2 hours to see everything at an unhurried pace.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Micropia

Amsterdam Free tour World War II and Anne Frank

Amsterdam Free tour World War II and Anne Frank

5.0(138) 1h 45m
From €5
per personViator
Amsterdam Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour with Fun Guide

Amsterdam Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour with Fun Guide

5.0(93) 3h
From €35
per personViator
Explore Amsterdam in 75 Minutes – Pedicab Rickshaw City tour

Explore Amsterdam in 75 Minutes – Pedicab Rickshaw City tour

5.0(73) 1h 15m
From €180
per personViator
Private All-Inclusive Cruise with Captain

Private All-Inclusive Cruise with Captain

5.0(55) 1h 30m
From €190
per personViator
Amsterdam: Private Tour to Keukenhof and Flower-Farm with Ticket

Amsterdam: Private Tour to Keukenhof and Flower-Farm with Ticket

5.0(53) 5h
From €386
per personViator
The Ultimate Craft Beer Adventure in Amsterdam!

The Ultimate Craft Beer Adventure in Amsterdam!

5.0(48) 3h 30m
From €109
per personViator
Rijksmuseum Guided Tour with a private local Dutch guide

Rijksmuseum Guided Tour with a private local Dutch guide

5.0(47) 2h
From €125
per personViator
Amsterdam countryside tour by car

Amsterdam countryside tour by car

5.0(42)
From €140
per personViator
Private Tulip Fields, Windmills and Cheese Tour from Amsterdam

Private Tulip Fields, Windmills and Cheese Tour from Amsterdam

5.0(38) 8h
From €430
per personViator
Professional Photo Shoot in Amsterdam

Professional Photo Shoot in Amsterdam

5.0(38) 1h
From €500
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Micropia

  • Winter (Nov to Feb): Micropia is open daily year-round, and winter days are short (about 7.5 hours of light in December) with highs of 4 to 7°C (39 to 45°F). Rain is common, so a museum day fits well, and prices for rooms drop.
  • Spring (Mar to May): Highs of 10 to 17°C (50 to 63°F). Tulip season and Easter bring crowds and higher bed prices.
  • Summer (Jun to Aug): Highs of 20 to 24°C (68 to 75°F), light until about 10 pm, and the busiest, priciest months.
  • Autumn (Sep to Nov): Highs of 10 to 18°C (50 to 64°F) with thinner crowds.
Go on a weekday right at opening, or after 4 pm, to skip school groups and weekend queues.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in The Netherlands

The best area for backpackers is the Center (Oude Zijde and Nieuwmarkt), about 15 to 20 minutes on foot or a short tram ride from Micropia, which sits beside Artis zoo. This part of town has the densest cluster of social hostels, so solo travelers meet people easily, and the area stays lively and well lit into the night. Expect some noise near the Red Light District edges, where pickpockets work the crowds. Quieter and still central is the Plantage neighborhood right around the museum, with leafy streets and a calmer feel but fewer hostels. The Jordaan and Leidseplein side suits those who want … read more 👉
The best area for backpackers is the Center (Oude Zijde and Nieuwmarkt), about 15 to 20 minutes on foot or a short tram ride from Micropia, which sits beside Artis zoo. This part of town has the densest cluster of social hostels, so solo travelers meet people easily, and the area stays lively and well lit into the night. Expect some noise near the Red Light District edges, where pickpockets work the crowds. Quieter and still central is the Plantage neighborhood right around the museum, with leafy streets and a calmer feel but fewer hostels. The Jordaan and Leidseplein side suits those who want bars and nightlife, with trams 9 and 14 connecting back to the museum. Book early for summer weekends.
Best hostels in The Netherlands


Best quality hotels in The Netherlands

👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

A visit to Micropia costs roughly €20 to 22 for an adult ticket, and a full backpacker day in Amsterdam runs about €70 to 130. Entry is timed, so booking online is the practical route.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Adult ticket€20 to 22Online slots sell out on weekends and holidays. Children and students often pay less.
Combination ticket with Artis zoo€38 to 45Worth considering if you want a full day in the same complex.
Museum CardFree entry with cardThe Museumkaart (about €75 for a year) is only good value if you visit several museums.
Local transport€3.40 to 9A single GVB tram ride costs about €3.40. Day passes run about €9 to 15.
Hostel dorm bed€35 to 80Prices climb in summer and on weekends.
Food€15 to 35Supermarket meals, falafel and street snacks keep costs low. Museum cafe items cost more.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours for Micropia. Science enthusiasts who read every panel and use all the microscopes can stretch it to nearly 3 hours. You can combine it with Artis next door and still have time for the Hortus Botanicus across the street.
It is worth the fee if you enjoy hands-on science, since tickets cost roughly €17 to 19 for adults. The live microscope stations and interactive exhibits are what justify the price. If you are on a tight budget or dislike science museums, a different Amsterdam attraction may serve you better.
From Amsterdam Centraal, tram 14 reaches the Artis stop in about 10 to 15 minutes, and walking takes around 25 minutes. Metro line 51/53/54 to Weesperplein is also close. Micropia is at Plantage Kerklaan 38-40, directly beside the Artis entrance.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Dutch attractions near Micropia

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Micropia suits curious travelers, science fans and anyone with a rainy afternoon to fill. Families and couples will enjoy the interactive bits most. If you prefer art, canals or big historical sites, skip it. It is compact, so it won’t fill a full day.

✈️ When did I visit The Netherlands?
Netherlands is my home base, so whenever I don’t travel, you can find me in this tiny spot on the globe. When friends from abroad visit me, it’s the time to actually explore my own country as a traveler.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in The Netherlands, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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