If you’re visiting Paris with kids, one of my favourite museums to take them to is the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie. Nestled in the green space of Parc de la Villette, this huge Paris science museum is full of interactive exhibits and hands-on experiments that keep kids of all ages curious and engaged. When we visited recently, my kids were so absorbed they didn’t want to leave and honestly, neither did I.
What I love about the Cité des Sciences in Paris is that it’s not just about looking at things behind glass — kids actually get involved. Almost every display invites you to press buttons, pull levers, test ideas, and discover new things. As a parent, it’s great to see science presented in a way that feels fun and accessible, not overwhelming.
I’ll share what we enjoy most, including the the children’s play area called Cité des Enfants, the real submarine you can explore, and the planetarium. Plus, I’ve got some tips to help you make the most of your visit. There are plenty of family-friendly options in and around the museum, so whether you have a couple of hours or a whole day, you’ll find something new to enjoy every time you visit.
The museum at a glance
The moment you enter Cité des Sciences, you immediately feel its family-friendly vibe. The museum sits in a huge, modern building in Paris’s 19th arrondissement. It features glass walls and high-tech exhibits spread across several floors. Inside, permanent galleries cover everything from outer space to the ocean depths. Temporary exhibitions ensure there’s always something new to discover.
The main goal here is to make science accessible through play and hands-on experimentation. You won’t find any “Do Not Touch” signs. Instead, the exhibits encourage kids to push buttons, test gadgets, and ask ‘why?’ at every turn. Teens and parents will find plenty to engage them as well. Exhibits explore current issues and the big ideas behind the fun. For example, a climate change exhibit challenges older visitors to think about solutions. The space exploration hall lets you step into an astronaut’s shoes.
There are cloakrooms and lockers on the ground floor where you can store coats and bags free of charge. If your child gets tired, you can grab a free stroller at the cloakroom by leaving an ID — super handy for little legs. Most show areas and signage are trilingual (French, English, Spanish) and include visual or audio guide options.
In short, the Cité des Sciences anticipates family needs so you can focus on enjoying the experience. And enjoy it you will — the place is huge and exciting. It’s easy to spend a full day here and still not see everything. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, it helps to plan your visit (more on that at the end). But no matter what your kids are into, there’s a part of the museum that will light up their eyes.
Cité des Enfants: A Play Zone Just for Kids
This Children’s Area is the main reason we keep coming back to the Science Museum. It’s genuinely a lot of fun. If you only have time to do one thing with your kids at the museum, book a 90-minute session here.
To enter Cité des Enfants, you need timed tickets, which are separate from the main museum admission. Each session lasts 1.5 hours — just the right amount of time to explore all the zones before sensory overload kicks in. But honestly, time flies! Be sure to book your session in advance, especially on weekends and holidays. It sells out quickly due to its popularity with both local families and tourists. Both children and their accompanying adults need tickets. There are five sessions per day, running from morning through late afternoon, and it’s recommended to arrive 15 minutes early to get oriented. If you didn’t book online, you might still get tickets on site for a later session, but that’s a gamble. We usually book a few days ahead for the coming weekend.
What to expect inside
Once inside, let your kids take the lead. The designers created the space so kids can roam freely and choose the activities that catch their interest. There’s no strict schedule. Children can spend 20 minutes damming a water channel or launching foam balls in a wind tunnel if they want. It’s all about exploring at their own pace. Parents often get just as involved, whether it’s helping build a bridge in the workshop or timing each other on the balance course in the funfair zone. And if you need a quiet moment, you can relax in the chill-out corner.
Age groups
Traditionally, Cité des Enfants has had two sections — one for ages 2–7 and another roughly for 5–10-year-olds (previously up to 12). Right now, the 5–10 zone is open after a complete redesign and reopened on 1 July 2025, while the 2–7 zone is closed for renovation until summer 2026. This means the youngest toddlers don’t have a separate play space for now. However, children under 5 are still allowed in the 5–10 zone if they’re with an older sibling, as long as you buy a reduced-rate ticket for them. Babies under 2 enter free when accompanied by a paying child and adult. So, if you have kids of different ages, you can still all enjoy the session together. The activities mainly suit early elementary ages, but I’ve seen toddlers having a blast splashing in the Water Games or chasing lights on the floor — with parental supervision, it works well.
We visited the newly reopened 5–10 age group zone in July 2025 and loved it. They changed everything except the Water Games area, which stayed the same — and that’s fine because it’s always been a hit with the kids. The new Children’s Area features five immersive “worlds” filled with hands-on fun. Kids can splash in water experiments, climb and crawl through an “Upside Down” nature zone, challenge their agility at a zany funfair, and build contraptions in a tinkering workshop — all in one visit!
Museum Galleries: Hands-On Science Wonders
Permanent exhibitions
One of the best parts of the Cité des Sciences is exploring its permanent exhibit halls. These large themed spaces offer interactive stations where kids and adults experiment freely and learn by doing.
If your family is curious about space, don’t miss the Space Mission exhibition. Here, you can operate model Mars rovers, step inside a mock-up Moon base, and even see a replica of the Orion spacecraft. The space gallery suits kids aged 8 and up, but younger children still love the shiny rockets and interactive buttons.
For those interested in earth and environmental science, there’s the Earth and Climate zone. Through games and displays, families learn how cities, food, and travel impact our planet and discover hopeful solutions that are already underway. The museum usually also includes sections about technology and society. For example, there was a popular Robots exhibit where kids could interact with real robots and understand how automation shapes our lives. Exhibits rotate regularly, but you can expect a good balance of physical science, life science, and technology at any visit.
Temporary exhibitions
Don’t forget to check what temporary exhibitions are on during your visit. These special shows come with your ticket and bring fresh adventures even for repeat visitors. Past themes have ranged widely, from a fun exhibit on the science of Cats & Dogs, letting kids test if they’re more “cat person” or “dog person,” to interactive exhibits on dance and movement, where families can try out rhythm and balance exercises together. Other exhibits have explored silence, the history of technology (like the transistor radio), and even art-science installations.
Step Inside a Real Submarine: The Argonaute Experience
Not many visitors to the Cité des Sciences in Paris know that just a one-minute walk from the museum, there’s a real submarine you can actually go inside with kids. It’s a bit tucked away and not heavily advertised on the museum website, but tickets are available and it’s a fantastic, educational experience for both kids and parents. We went, and really enjoyed this unique visit.
The Argonaute is a 1950s French Navy submarine, permanently docked right next to the museum in Parc de la Villette. Launched in 1957, it served through the Cold War and sailed the Mediterranean for over 25 years before being decommissioned in the 1980s. Since then, it has become one of the museum’s most unusual and fascinating attractions.
What to expect inside
When you tour the Argonaute, you guide yourself through its narrow corridors and cramped quarters at your own pace. This really brings home what life was like for the roughly 40 crew members living under the sea. My kids went wide-eyed as they saw the tiny bunk beds where sailors slept in shifts and ducked through the tight passageways lined with pipes and equipment.
The submarine is about 40 meters long and includes different sections like the control room, crew quarters, engine room, and torpedo bay. Throughout the tour, photographs, period objects, and interactive elements help bring the history to life. Your museum ticket gives you access to the Argonaute tour at no extra cost. However, since space inside is limited, you may need to reserve a time slot. When you arrive, ask at the entrance or ticket desk for a timed pass or advice on when to line up.
Just outside the submarine is the Under the Ocean exhibit, a small interactive display that’s worth a quick visit, especially for kids fascinated by marine life.
Nearby movie theatre
After emerging from the sub, take a moment to look around. You’re right in the heart of Parc de la Villette, with the modern science museum on one side and the gleaming Géode dome on the other. That giant mirrored sphere is an iconic landmark housing a 4K IMAX laser cinema — the biggest screen in Paris. After a six-year renovation, the Géode reopened in late 2024, showing immersive films ranging from nature documentaries to astronomy features. If your family still has energy after a day of exploring, catching a show here is a perfect way to end the visit (note: Géode tickets are separate). Even if you don’t go inside, the Géode’s futuristic reflective surface makes a fantastic spot for family photos.
Reaching for the Stars: The Planetarium
If your family includes space lovers, the Planetarium inside the Cité des Sciences is an absolute must-see. This isn’t a small corner tent. It’s a full-sized domed theater that immerses you in a journey through the cosmos.
Shows usually last around 30 minutes and project stunning 360° images of stars, planets, and galaxies overhead. Sitting back in the comfy seats and gazing up at the simulated night sky is a perfect way to rest your feet during a busy day of exploring the museum (and let’s be honest, a great way to sneak in a little downtime!).
Planetarium shows are very popular and seating is limited, so it’s best to reserve your slot when you book your museum tickets or as soon as you arrive. When buying general admission online, you often have the option to select a showtime. Do this if you can to avoid missing out. If you forget, head to the information desk early; they sometimes issue tickets for shows on the hour, depending on availability. The good news is that the Planetarium is included with your museum admission, so there’s no extra charge.
What will you see inside? The program changes regularly, but usually there are a couple of different films or live presentations. Even if the narration is in French, non-French speakers will still enjoy the stunning visuals. The imagery is universal, and key terms like planet names are easy to follow. Some shows may even be available or subtitled in English – check the schedule on the day of your visit.
Where to eat and drink nearby
There is a café onsite at the museum, but honestly, I wouldn’t recommend eating or snacking at the Cité des Sciences Paris with kids. Instead, just a minute’s walk outside you’ll find the entrance to Boom Boom Villette – a large, informal food court with a wide variety of cuisines to choose from. It’s a relaxed spot where you can grab whatever you like and sit down as a family without fuss.
Exit through the gift shop
Before you leave Cité des Sciences in Paris, don’t miss a quick stop at the boutique with kids. You’ll find science kits, cool toys, books in multiple languages, and unique souvenirs. If your child has become fascinated by a particular exhibit, this is the perfect place to pick up something like a mini solar system kit or a submarine model to keep their curiosity alive at home. The shop opens during museum hours and non-ticketed visitors can access it from the lobby as well.
Address: 30 Avenue Corentin-Cariou, 75019, Paris
Nearest metro: Porte de la Villette (Line 7) is a 5-minute walk to the science centre
Opening hours: 10am to 6pm Tuesday to Saturday; 10am – 7pm on Sunday
Prices: Buy your tickets for Cité des Enfants here in advance of your visit. The combined ticket for all the exhibitions, the Planetarium and the Argonaute submarine costs €15 for adults and €12 for those under 25.
Head to the nearby playground in Parc de la Villette
Just a few minutes walk from the Cité des Sciences in Paris, is a very fun playground. It’s suitable for all ages and especially fun for older kids who can enjoy sliding down a 25-metre-long dragon slide. You can read more about the playgrounds in the area in my post on Best Playgrounds in Paris.
More on Paris with Kids
Best toy stores in Paris – French themed gifts to bring back home and interesting finds.
Best museums in Paris for kids – smaller museums that are less overwhelming for younger children.
What do do in Paris with kids on a rainy day – options for keeping children entertained and dry in the city.
If you’re looking for Paris itineraries with kids, then check out my free Paris Itineraries with Kids. My Ultimate Guide to Paris with Kids is also packed with family-friendly tips and recommendations on things to see and do in Paris.
Join me on Instagram to get more inspiration for things to do and see in Paris.
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