OCEANOGRAPHIC MUSEUM

MONACO

Monaco's Oceanographic Museum invites you to discover and interact with fish.
It's the ideal way to get up close and personal with the most majestic marine species.
For two hours, it's a total immersion in the world of the oceans, right in the heart of the Rock of Monaco.
Discover sea-themed activities to round off your visit in style!

Oceanographic Museum © S_Péroumal

Admire 4 marine ecosystems

Discover the life of our blue planet, from Mediterranean to tropical waters! With the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, dive into the depths of the sea, explore and admire marine life! The Museum has recreated four ecosystems where each species has its own function:

• The Shark Lagoon
• The Mediterranean Basin
• Tropical Seas
• The Odyssey of the Marine Turtles

The Shark Lagoon, ann incredible encounter

Experience a face to face encounter with these giants of the sea thanks to the panoramic pool. 6m high, you will have the impression to swim next to these predators. In order to reconstitute its biotope, rays, turtles, coral reef and other species are present. The huge glass walls allow you to live a captivating experience!

The Mediterranean Sea Basin

Octopus © F. Pacorel - Oceanographic Museum

Explore the tropical seas

Mandarin fish © Musée océanographique de Monaco - Thierry Ameller

The Odyssey of the Marine Turtles

Turtle Odyssey © Musée océanographique M_Dagnino

 

As part of your tour of the Monaco Oceanographic Museum, visit the outdoor Turtle Odyssey pool.
In this open-air area, admire the sea turtles collected by the Centre Monégasque de Soin des Espèces Marines (CMSEM).
Here you can learn more about these endangered species.
You can even watch the caretakers prepare food for these animals!

Our tips

To take full advantage of your visit, choose the least crowded times
. Visit the museum in the morning or after 4pm.

Visit the Museum, its 3 spaces and its exhibition

• Monaco and the ocean
  
• Océanomania
• The Whale Room

Area 1: Monaco and the ocean

Espace Monaco et l'Océan - from exploration to protection © Cédric Fruneau - Oceanographic Museum

Relive 100 years of history with a retrospective on the oceanographic expeditions of the 3 sovereigns involved:

• Prince Albert 1st, nicknamed the "Prince of the Seas",
• Prince Rainier III,
• H.S.H. Prince Albert II

These three princes were aware of the major issues of their time and the need to safeguard marine species.
An immersive digital scenography is integrated into a reconstructed 27m long exploration ship.
New technologies make the tour stimulating: optical theaters, LCD screens, interactive board or touch screens ... You become an actor of your visit!

We love what we marvel at, and we protect what we love.
Quote from Jean-Yves Cousteau, Director of the Oceanographic Museum from 1957 to 1988

Space 2: Whale Room with the exhibition IMMERSION

At the heart of Monaco's Oceanographic Museum, the Whale Room hosts the IMMERSION exhibition. The exhibition features a unique and impressive device:

• 250m2 of interactivity
• 650m2 of projection
• 40 video projectors
• 9m high projection walls
• 60 species to discover

Since June 2022, the Polar Mission exhibition has been offering a virtual and interactive dive into the Arctic World.
In a faithfully reconstructed environment, explore the surface and underwater landscapes, and meet its most emblematic species.
You'll even be able to see the polar aurora!

SPACE 3 : Oceanomania, the curiosities of the marine world

Oceanomania Cabinet © M. Dagnino - Oceanographic Museum

Discover the world's largest cabinet of unusual ocean-related objects!
Created by artist Mark Dion, you'll find rare and historic objects such as diving suits, model boats and books.
These objects used for ocean exploration are real treasures.
Discover their stories and anecdotes.

What are the activities, animations to do?

Learn more about the oceans, while having fun. Make your visit original and atypical by adding animations. Don't forget to book in advance.

ESCAPE GAME : A space-time journey on board the Princess Alice II

Solve the various riddles to return to port safe and sound.
This mix of adventure and history is suitable for adults and children over 7.
2 game rooms, 2 scenarios, 2 difficulty levels.

Duration: 30 to 60 minutes. In teams of 3 to 6 people.
Price: From 45€.

IMMERSEAVE 360°: Immersion with a virtual reality helmet

Learn in an unusual way and vibrate with a helmet in 360° vision. Two exclusive films on the oceans are shown:

• Little Big Whale: discover the giants of the sea.
• Tubbataha 360°: dive in the marine park of Tubbataha, Philippines.

Duration: 30 minutes - translated into French and English - Children from 12 years old
Rates: 8 €/person (from 12 years old) or 28€/family (2 adults + 2 children)

Our tips

Our advice: reserve your seats to guarantee your participation

ANIMALS OF THE SEASIDE

Become a seabed expert! This fascinating discovery workshop lets young and old touch and hold starfish, crabs, sea cucumbers...
The aim: to learn while having fun.
When you visit, ask for the "animals by the sea" option to reserve your place. 

Duration : 30 minutes
Price: 38€/family

OCEANO CLUB

Is your child passionate about the deep sea? Monaco's Oceanographic Museum offers your children the chance to put themselves in the shoes of marine scientists.
For 5 days during the school vacations except Christmas, your children from 6 to 12 years old can discover the secrets of the marine world.
Various games and activities dealing with the theme of the oceans are proposed.

did you know that?

If you have children who are fans of the sea. You can celebrate their birthday surrounded by their favourite animals. On the programme: activities, games, a visit to the museum and a snack on the terrace, supervised by an animator.

One of the Museum's missions, the Care Center

The Monaco Oceanographic Museum is also a marine species care center!
How can we ensure that turtles can live better in these oceans?
This is at the very heart of the Oceanographic Institute's mission: to be a refuge for marine species in difficulty.
Here you'll find tips on how to protect turtles in your daily life.

Robert Calcagno Director General of the Oceanographic Institute:
"We are developing marine protected areas to allow turtles to breed, lay their eggs, feed. The approach is to improve the health of the oceans is a long-term approach. The museum has therefore decided to set up a rescue center for sea turtles, a hospital, an infirmary and a pond in which the turtles will be able to develop, to be in a convalescence phase.
This rescue center will allow us to welcome and feed injured, sick and weakened turtles in a more systematic way, so that we can finally release them.

 

Eating at 85m high at "La Terrasse

Turtle Island on the roof terrace © M. Dagnino - Oceanographic Museum

Enjoy a meal on the roof of Monaco's Oceanographic Museum, 85m above sea level, at "La Terrasse".
It's the ideal place to enjoy a coffee break or lunch and soak up the Côte d'Azur sunshine. Lhe restaurant offers a panoramic view of the sea and Monaco.

You have 3 spaces:
1. Outdoor restaurant
2. Indoor lounge area
3. A secure playground "Turtle Island", located in front of the outdoor restaurant.

If you don't want to eat there, we invite you to take a tour! The view is incredible.

Prices

Adults (18 and over): €19
Students (valid card must be presented at the ticket office): €12
Children (4 to 17 inclusive): €12
Children under 4: Free of charge

Your ticket gives you access to all areas:
- Aquariums,
Museum,
- Collections,
- Turtle Odyssey (open-air section),
- Permanent and temporary exhibitions (including IMMERSION)
Some activities are not included in the ticket price and are subject to a charge.
Find out more on site or on their website.

Purchase your ticket on site or online (e-billet is the preferred option)

How to book your ticket?

Buy your ticket online to avoid the line.
Tickets can be presented on any electronic medium.

How to get to the Museum?

To reach Monaco:
By car: Consult the itinerary on our map.
By bus : Use the 602 and 607 bus routes from Nice. Click here for more information on bus timetables.
By train : Take the TER. Click here for more information on the SNCF TER website.

Once in Monaco:
By car: Park at the Parking du Chemin des Pêcheurs, located beneath the museum at Le Rocher, Avenue de la Quarantaine. Monaco parking lots offer the lowest rates in the region.
By bus: Take lines 1 or 2 to the Monaco Ville (Le Rocher) terminus.

Where can I park to go to the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco?

To visit the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco by car, the Parking du Chemin des Pêcheurs offers a practical and economical option.
Located directly beneath the museum on the Rocher, at Avenue de la Quarantaine, this parking lot is ideal for easy access.
Take advantage of Monaco's competitive parking rates, the most affordable in the region, for a hassle-free visit.

Opening hours

The Monaco Oceanographic Museum is open every day.
Except on December 25 and the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend (end of May).

January to March: open 10am to 6pm
April to June: open 10am to 7pm
July and August: open 9:30am to 8pm
September: open 10am to 7pm
October to December: open 10am to 6pm