Paris: City of Science and Industry Museum Entry Ticket

Space, submarines, and hands-on science, all day. I like how this ticket gets you into the permanent and temporary exhibitions at Cité des sciences et de l’industrie, and it also lines up the Argonaute submarine visit plus the Solar Impulse simulator.

The only real catch is that the Planetarium show and the Argonaute time slot depend on what’s available when you arrive, and Cité des enfants is not included, so you may want to plan around those extras.

Key things to notice before you go

• All exhibits access, including permanent displays and the listed temporary exhibitions
• Argonaute submarine (1950s), with an audio-guide, but you need an on-site voucher and subject to availability
• Planetarium access, also on availability, with on-site reservation required
• Solar Impulse flight simulator, including landing on big screens and trying it yourself
• Family-friendly science, with strong areas for younger kids (including play-and-learn style zones)

How your Paris science museum ticket really plays out

This is an all-in-one day pass for one of Europe’s biggest science-and-technology museums. Your Expositions entry gives you access to the permanent and temporary exhibitions, plus daily entertainment, so you are not locked into one single gallery.

There are also two “big draw” experiences tied to this museum complex: the Planetarium show and the Argonaute submarine. Both are included in the broader ticket experience, but you do not just walk in. You request a voucher (and then you reserve directly on-site), and what you can do depends on availability the day you visit.

One practical point: the ticket explicitly does not cover Cité des enfants. If you’re traveling with toddlers or preschoolers, that can matter for your day plan, because this museum is famous for family zones. You can buy tickets for Cité des enfants on-site, but it’s an extra step and extra cost.

Getting there and choosing the best time window

The museum sits by Porte de La Villette, which makes it fairly straightforward to reach by public transport. Use metro line 7 to Porte de La Villette, then take bus lines 71, 139, 150, or 152 to Porte de La Villette, or take tramway line T3B to Porte de La Villette.

Timing matters because your day hinges on the Argonaute and Planetarium reservations. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It’s closed on Mondays, and also closed on January 1, May 1, and December 25.

If you want the smoothest experience, I would aim to arrive in the early part of the opening window. That gives you the best shot at grabbing a Planetarium slot and an Argonaute time without having to rush your exhibition time at the end.

Entering the exhibits: what you’ll get from this museum day

Once you’re inside, the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie is built for action. You should expect a mix of permanent and temporary spaces, plus interactive elements where you can try, test, and play with science ideas rather than just read panels.

I especially like this kind of museum because it works for mixed ages. One review highlighted how great it was for a 4-year-old, with learning activities for young children and even creative play like making animation. Another comment praised the scale of the museum and how quickly it can eat up time, with people spending over six hours and still not finishing everything.

You’ll also find interactive areas that appeal to elementary-school kids. One example from the reviews: a 7-year-old loved the E-lab. That’s the sort of clue you can use even before you arrive. If your kids like hands-on experiments, you’ll probably gravitate toward those interactive zones first.

A smart strategy: pick your “must-do” experiences first (Argonaute, Planetarium, Solar Impulse), then let the rest of the building fill the gaps. With this museum, trying to do every single exhibition in one pass can turn into a sprint.

Argonaute submarine from the 1950s, and why it hits hard

Argonaute is a real submarine from the 1950s, and that authenticity is the main reason people get hooked. This is not a theme-park model. You get access to the submarine itself, plus an audio-guide, so you can understand what you are seeing as you walk through.

Because the submarine visit is part of your ticket experience but not guaranteed at any exact time, you’ll want to handle it with care. You request the voucher on-site, and reservations are subject to availability on your visit day. Translation: if Argonaute is a top priority, treat it like the anchor point of your day.

What makes it memorable is the contrast between “big science” and the human reality of life aboard a submarine. Even if you are not a naval-history person, you can still connect with the practical details, like how tight the living conditions feel and how systems have to function in confined spaces.

If you’re visiting with kids, this is also a good activity to pair with a curiosity mindset. Ask them what would be hard about life down there, then use the audio-guide to connect the dots.

Planetarium show: good odds if you plan for the waiting line

The museum includes Planetarium access through your ticket experience, but the Planetarium is another “availability-based” stop. You need to reserve directly on-site, and the show happens when slots are open.

People do rate the Planetarium positively, with comments that the show selection is broad. One review also called out a downside: the Planetarium can be massively over-subscribed, and the waiting process can feel chaotic. That matches the reality of a major attraction in a huge family museum.

So here’s how to handle it. First, treat Planetarium as something to fit around your day, not something you assume you’ll get instantly. Second, keep some buffer time. If you arrive later in the day, the Planetarium can become the thing that slips.

If your group loves astronomy or just wants a change of pace from hands-on experiments, it’s worth prioritizing. The payoff is a seated, focused experience, and it gives your legs a break after all the walking.

Solar Impulse simulator: the fuel-free flight you can try

Solar Impulse is the first airplane to fly without fuel, and this ticket includes time with the simulator. You watch the plane land on big screens, and then you can try landing it yourself using the flight simulator.

This is a great middle ground for families. Kids often enjoy the game-like controls, while adults like the engineering angle of a technology story that is about light, energy, and real-world limits. Even if you know nothing about solar aircraft, you can still follow what you are doing and feel the logic behind the design.

Also, simulators are usually a good way to keep everyone engaged at the same time. That matters in a museum where one kid might want every hands-on station, while another wants to sit and do something focused.

The key is to treat the simulator as one of your day’s “high energy” stops. Do it when your group is still fresh, because it can be tempting to chase exhibitions afterward and then realize you ran out of time for the fun stuff.

Temporary exhibitions that can change your whole day

One reason this ticket feels like a better deal than a single-gallery museum is that it covers temporary exhibitions too. The temporary lineup you can encounter on your visit includes several that sound made for different moods.

If you are traveling when Chiens et chats is on, it runs until June 28, 2026. It’s about how dogs and cats perceive the world, what their postures and behaviors might mean, and how they share daily life with people.

There is also a quieter, more introspective option: Silence until August 31, 2025. This one is headphone-guided and built around exploring different types of silence through voice recordings, testimonies, and readings. If you like science that connects to psychology and the way we experience spaces, this kind of exhibit can be a welcome change.

For archaeology and science fans, there’s La grotte Chauvet, une aventure scientifique until May 11, 2025. It uses the Chauvet Cave as a scientific adventure and focuses on how researchers work to reveal mysteries that remained untouched for about 21,500 years.

For families with younger kids, there is a children-focused temporary show called Dance (from 4 years old) until June 28, 2026. The idea is simple and active: turning, jumping, walking, meeting, tied to different techniques and cultures.

If your goal is to get value from this ticket, check what is running on your exact date. Then build your order of operations around those temporary shows, instead of trying to see everything at random.

The tradeoffs: what can slow you down inside the museum

A big museum always brings tradeoffs, and this one is no different. The museum is huge, and even people who say they saw almost everything in one visit often describe long stretches of exploring, with time disappearing fast.

One review also pointed out that practical basics can become a bottleneck. They suggested there should be more toilets and food outlets. Even if you plan for breaks, expect some waiting during busy periods, especially near popular areas like the Planetarium waiting line.

So I’d do two things:

1) Build in short breaks instead of expecting a nonstop visit.

2) Use your “anchor stops” to pace the day, then fill with exhibitions between them.

And remember, Cité des enfants is extra. If that’s a must for your family, make that decision early, so it does not steal time from the submarine and simulator.

Price and value: why $15 can be a good deal

The listed price is about $15 per person for a one-day visit. On its face, that sounds inexpensive for a major science museum. The reason it can feel like a strong value is what it includes: access to permanent and temporary exhibitions, plus daily entertainment, plus your route to both Argonaute and the Planetarium and the Solar Impulse simulator experience.

The part to watch is the “subject to availability” piece. If Planetarium slots or Argonaute time windows are fully booked for your arrival, you might not get every included experience in one day. That doesn’t make the ticket bad, but it does mean you should show up early and plan to prioritize what your group cares about most.

If you’re visiting with kids, the value can be even higher because interactive science museums like this can keep young people engaged longer than many adult-oriented exhibits. One review praised how much there was to do for children, including areas for younger ages, and how they completed the museum in about four hours while still wanting to return.

In other words, you’re not just buying entry to look. You’re buying a day of doing.

Who should book this ticket

This is a smart choice if you want a science-focused day that works for different ages. It’s especially good for families with children who like hands-on learning and interactive tasks. The reviews gave multiple signals that kids respond well here, including appreciation for young-kid areas and longer-than-expected stays.

It also works for adults who want more than a single theme. You get science ideas across exhibitions, plus the grounded, real-world experience of seeing the Argonaute submarine. The simulator adds a modern technology layer that keeps the day from becoming too static.

If you are using mobility aids, this experience is listed as wheelchair accessible, which matters for a place this large.

A simple decision guide: should you book?

If your top priorities include hands-on exhibitions, the Argonaute submarine, and a high-interest tech moment like the Solar Impulse simulator, then yes, I would book this ticket. It is built for a full day, and the mix of permanent, temporary, and interactive experiences gives you a lot of options when you are inside.

Skip or at least adjust expectations if your group needs guaranteed Planetarium or Argonaute times at a specific hour. Because those require on-site reservations and can be limited by availability, you should plan for flexibility and aim for early arrival.

And if you have preschoolers who will insist on Cité des enfants, budget for the extra ticket. This isn’t hidden. The museum is clear that Cité des enfants is not included, so you can plan your day with open eyes.

FAQ

What does the Expositions ticket include at Cité des sciences et de l’industrie?

It includes access to the permanent and temporary exhibitions and daily entertainment, plus access to the Planetarium and the Argonaute submarine through a voucher you request on-site when you arrive.

Is Cité des enfants included in this ticket?

No. Cité des enfants is not included, and you can purchase those tickets directly on the museum’s website or at the museum as an extra ticket.

Do I need reservations for the Planetarium and Argonaute?

Yes. Planetarium reservations and the Argonaute submarine voucher/reservation must be made directly on-site, subject to availability on the day of your visit.

How long should I plan for this museum visit?

The ticket is valid for 1 day, and the museum is big enough that many people spend several hours exploring.

What are the museum opening hours?

The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It is closed on Mondays and on January 1, May 1, and December 25.

How can I get to the museum by public transport?

Use metro line 7 to Porte de La Villette Station, then take bus lines 71, 139, 150, or 152 to Porte de La Villette Station. You can also take tramway line T3B to Porte de la Chapelle to Porte de Vincennes direction and get off at Porte de La Villette.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Are reduced tickets or free entry available for children?

Yes. Children ages 2 to 5 years have tickets available on-site for €4, and free entry is available for kids under 2 years old, disabled people, and an accompanying person when you present valid documentation. Reduced entry is also available with valid documentation for youth under 25 and students.