Zoo Antwerpen

Zoo Antwerpen sits directly behind Antwerpen-Centraal station — one of Europe's great railway buildings — which means you walk off the train and straight into one of the oldest zoological gardens on the planet. Founded in 1843, it occupies a modest ten hectares in the middle of the city, and that compression is both its charm and its limitation.

On a busy weekend you will feel the crowds, particularly around the great ape house and the giraffe paddock, so arriving early genuinely matters here.

The architecture is as much a draw as the animals. The Egyptian temple house, built in the 1850s, shelters a collection of reptiles and is the kind of building that stops you mid-step — elaborate hieroglyphic paintwork, thick columns, the smell of warm terrariums.

The ape house is large and well-lit, with good sight lines to the bonobos and gorillas, though the indoor sections can feel dated compared to newer facilities elsewhere in Europe.

The okapis are a consistent highlight: shy forest animals that Zoo Antwerpen has successfully bred for decades as part of coordinated European breeding programmes, and seeing them in person makes you understand why conservationists care so deeply about the Congo Basin.

The zoo is stroller-friendly on flat, well-maintained paths, though it gets genuinely hot in summer with limited shade in the central areas. Allow a half day minimum, a full day if you have young children who want to linger. Feeding demonstrations run throughout the day — check the board at the entrance for times.

Take the train to Antwerpen-Centraal rather than driving; weekday mornings before ten are significantly quieter than any weekend slot.