Best for
Families with kids, science enthusiasts, a rainy-day full-day option
Time needed
3–5 hours for a proper visit including the submarine and Géode
Worth it?
Yes for families especially — one of the best kid-friendly museums in Paris
Skip if
You have limited time and are focused on the historic centre only
About Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
Opened in 1986 inside a converted 1960s abattoir and meat market building — itself a huge structure that had been left unfinished when Paris's meat market relocated — the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie was built as part of a wider redevelopment of the Parc de la Villette in the city's northeast, and quickly became Europe's largest science museum by floor area.
The museum's most recognisable feature is La Géode, a mirror-clad geodesic sphere housing an OMNIMAX cinema with a hemispherical screen, standing in a reflecting pool outside the main building. Inside, the collection covers space, the human body, digital technology, energy and the environment across genuinely hands-on, interactive exhibits designed as much for engagement as information — a philosophy that shows in the museum's dedicated children's areas, including the Cité des Enfants, aimed at different age groups.
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Docked alongside the museum is the Argonaute, a decommissioned French Navy submarine that visitors can tour inside, walking through the actual control room, torpedo bay and crew quarters of a vessel that served from 1957 to 1982.
Set in the Parc de la Villette, one of the largest parks in Paris with canals, gardens and a planetarium nearby, the museum works well as a half-day or full-day outing for families, and its location on the northeastern edge of the city means it draws a different, more local crowd than the historic-centre museums.
What to See: Highlights
- 1La Géode's mirrored geodesic dome and hemispherical OMNIMAX cinema
- 2The Argonaute submarine, open to walk through in full
- 3Genuinely hands-on exhibits on space, the body, energy and technology
- 4Dedicated children's zones (Cité des Enfants) for younger visitors
- 5Set inside the vast Parc de la Villette, with canals and a planetarium nearby
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Insider Tips
Budget a half day if you want to see the Argonaute submarine and Géode cinema too — both cost extra
Book Géode cinema tickets and submarine tours in advance on busy days
Great option for families — the Cité des Enfants areas are split by age group
The wider Parc de la Villette is worth combining with, especially on a nice day
It's outside the historic centre — allow real travel time via Metro line 7
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Getting There
30 Avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019 Paris
Open in Google Maps →- 1Metro 7 to Porte de la Villette, right outside the entrance.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You're travelling with children and want a genuinely hands-on museum
- You're interested in science, space or technology
- You want to tour a real decommissioned submarine
- You have a half or full day free outside the central tourist zone
Skip if...
- You have very limited time and prioritise the historic centre
- You're not travelling with kids and prefer art or history museums
- A trip to the 19th arrondissement doesn't fit your itinerary
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Paris
Musée des Arts et Métiers
France's oldest science and technology museum, set inside a former medieval priory, tracing three centuries of invention from early scientific instruments to Foucault's original pendulum.
Musée de la Musique — Philharmonie de Paris
A museum of more than 8,000 musical instruments and objects tracing 500 years of music history, set inside the Philharmonie de Paris concert hall complex in the Parc de la Villette.