Unspecified/General

Often called Cineaqua, the Aquarium de Paris occupies a remarkable spot carved into the hillside of the Trocadero gardens, directly across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. Its origins are extraordinary: first built for the Universal Exhibition of 1878, it is regarded as the ancestor of all the public aquariums in the world, and it was greatly enlarged for the 1937 exhibition, when it ranked as the largest in Europe. After closing in 1986 the site fell quiet for two decades before a major redevelopment, and it reopened in 2006 in its present form, the historic nineteenth-century structure rethought with modern displays while keeping its underground, grotto-like character. Today it holds dozens of tanks containing millions of litres of water and presents thousands of fish and other creatures, with a particular emphasis on sharks and on a large pool where children can stroke koi carp. As the name Cineaqua suggests, the aquarium combines marine life with cinema and live entertainment, screening films and staging shows and activities for families alongside the displays of tropical fish, jellyfish, rays and Mediterranean species. Its position beneath the Palais de Chaillot, a few steps from the Seine and the Pont d'Iena, makes it one of the most conveniently placed attractions in the city, easily combined with a visit to the Trocadero, the views of the Eiffel Tower and the nearby museums. Open daily and entirely indoors, it offers a welcome refuge on a hot or wet day. People come for the close encounters with sharks and other sea life, for the family-friendly mix of aquarium and entertainment, and for the chance to break up a day of monument-spotting with something cool, calm and absorbing in one of the most famous corners of Paris. Booking online in advance saves time at busy periods, and the aquarium stays open late on certain days, which can make for a quieter, atmospheric visit. Allowing an hour or two lets families enjoy the shows and the koi pool as well as the tanks. Set so close to the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadero, it slots neatly into a day in the heart of Paris and offers a cool, calm contrast to the monuments outside.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 5 Avenue Albert de Mun, Paris, France

Telephone: +33 1 40692323

Website: https://www.aquariumdeparis.com

Opening Date: 01/01/1878