The 10 best aquariums in France

Want to dive into the seabed and discover aquatic fauna? Discover the best aquariums in France!

Aquariums plunge small and large into another universe: that of the seabed. Hippocampes, clown fish, jellyfish, sharks... Explore the variety of the aquatic world in its natural environment. In France, there are more than 50 basins to admire the fauna and marine flora. To help you choose, Wanderlix has designed a guide to the best aquariums in France. The Great Blue is within your reach!

1. La Rochelle Aquarium

Near the old port, the La Rochelle Aquarium is one of the largest in Europe. With its 12,000 fish including 600 species, the La Rochelle Aquarium attracts more than 800,000 visitors each year; which makes it the most visited aquarium in France.

This exceptional aquarium transports you in the heart of the oceans of the planet: Caribbean, Atlantic, Pacific, Red Sea, etc. During your visit, you will be subjugated by the “Galerie des Lumières”. Dive into the dark, you will see the different marine species light up on your passage.

In addition to its tourist activity, the Aquarium de la Rochelle represents a privileged place for scientists specializing in marine culture. The study centre and the Marine Turtle Care Centre promote the protection of species. If you spend your holidays in Charente Maritime, visit one of the best aquariums in France. You won't be disappointed!

2. The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

Discover one of the best aquariums in France; direction Monaco ! This museum of the sea, founded by the Prince Albert I in 1910, was conceived as a true palace of science and art. An entire room was dedicated to the Prince’s browser career.

A total of 4,000 species are present in this oceanographic institution. The goal is to preserve the ecosystem by limiting any marine sampling. To do this, the aquarium has a coral culture and a chicken. There are many births each year.

The Monaco Sea Museum offers several activities to its visitors. In the touch basin you can touch the sea stars and even feed the different fishes and other invertebrates. ImmerSEAve 360° transports you completely into the marine universe thanks to helmets in virtual reality. The objective of these activities: you immerse yourself completely in the Great Blue.

3. Nausicaá

Direction les Hauts-de-France , and more precisely Boulogne-sur-Mer to discover one of the best aquariums in France. Every year, it attracts 850,000 visitors to explore the secrets of the marine world. The national centre of the sea of Boulogne-sur-mer is the fourth best aquarium in the world. A total of 1,600 species.

Nausicaá proposes to explore two distinct universes:

• Travel to the high seas: here, you face the immense oceans. You will discover sharks, turtles, clown fish, surgeon fish, murene, and many other species;
• The shores and men: the goal is to focus on the relationship between man and the marine world. To do this, a touch basin has been installed. You can touch the sea stars and other fish present.

Animations are also planned such as sea lions training or fish meal. L’ Unsco has given the Centre the Label of Excellence for its playful and educational work.

4. The Oceanopolis

Located in Brest , the Oceanopolis offers a scientific approach to the marine worlds.

The centre is divided into four pavilions:

• Polaire: between the Arctic and Antarctica, discover a colony of manchots and the Great North seals;
• Tropical: direction the hot seas of the tropics to discover many colorful species, coral reefs or sharks;
• Brittany : the Breton coasts have an exceptional biodiversity that is presented to you in this dedicated space. Observe the marine calf seal, the meduse Aurélie, the European lobster and even the depths of the abysses;
• The trail of the otters: the otter of the seas and the otter of Europe are represented in an environment reconstituted to the identical.

In addition to these basins. the Oceanopolis offers its visitors different explanatory materials. Videos, interactive terminals and panels provide you with information on the functioning of the marine world. Visiting the Oceanopolis is an opportunity to take a full eye while learning the marine ecosystem.

The Oceanopolis also has its own clinic. Each year, they treat about 20 species that were unsuccessful on the Breton beaches. Once healed, they are returned to sea.

5. The City of the Sea

The Cité de la Mer is among the best aquariums in France. Located in Cherbourg in an old marine station, this aquatic museum takes you on a fun and scientific journey.

The maritime centre has the deepest basin in Europe with 11 m of depth. You will discover the Polynesian seabed and the richness of the biodiversity that lives there: black-point sharks, clown fish, surgeon fish, etc. You will be marvelled by the colors that emanate from the bottom of the oceans.

In total, more than 1,000 tropical fish evolve in this abyssal space. And if you're afraid of sharks, make sure, a 33 cm thick window separates you. La Cité de la Mer also offers a submarine gallery. It is on board these exceptional devices that the oceans around the world have been able to explore marine depths. You will also discover the French nautila or the American Alvin who have travelled the wreck of the Titanic in the late 1980s.

6. Planet Ocean Montpellier

See you at Montpellier to visit Planet Ocean. This aquarium presents you not far from 400 marine species from all over the world. With its 24 basins, Planet Ocean guarantees a total disbursement. Evade in the seas of Polynesia or the Mediterranean, and even in Amazonia.

The ancient Mare Nostrum aquarium immerses you completely in the Great Blue. A storm simulator makes you discover marine life in difficult climatic conditions. Another submarine exploration simulator transports you into abyssal depths.

Planet Ocean has a theatre offering panoramic views of the seabed. Many other animations are planned to promote man’s interaction with the maritime world: a touch basin to touch the rays, a virtual encounter with sea lions, feeding a colony of manchots.

7. The Grand Aquarium of Saint-Malo

The Grand Aquarium of Saint-Malo welcomes you for a seabed exploration. With 11,000 fish and invertebrates representing 600 species, the aquarium hosts more than 350,000 visitors every year.

Several animations immerse you in the sea :

• Nautibus: this submarine transports you into the marine world;
• The Abbyssal descend: descend even further into the depths of the abyss with this descent simulator.

You can also discover the backstage of the aquarium by offering your children the opportunity to treat the animals in the centre. The time of a day, your bambins will follow the steps of an aquariologist.

8. Sea Life from Paris Val d’Europe

One of the best aquariums in France is located near the capital. This is the Sea Life located in Marne-la-Vallée.

Discover more than 350 marine species from all over the world; from French coasts to the heart of the Atlantic to tropical seas or the great coral barrier.

Among the fish present, observe several species of hippocampus, balloon fish, piranhas, rays, Hâ sharks, etc. Sea Life has a special feature: several very old fish live there to enjoy a quiet retreat.

In addition to the observation of marine fauna, your visit to the Sea Life in Paris will also be an opportunity to attend turtle feeding.

9. The Seaquarium

For over 30 years, the Grau-du-Roi Seaquarium has been the first shark aquarium in France. Within it, the sharkarium is entirely dedicated to the scariest marine species. On the program you will find exhibitions on sharks, a 360-degree tunnel and an observation gateway. But you will also discover all the secrets of the squales.

In addition to sharks, the Seaquarium hosts many fish and invertebrates. Admire the sea lions and seals in their environment, tropical and Mediterranean fish of all colors, or turtles.

In order to promote the interactions between man and the sea, an imaginarium has been set up. The objective is that visitors question all beliefs around the maritime world.

10. The Océarium du Croisic

Opened in 1992, the Océarium du Croisic hosts fish from all over the world; cape manchots, sharks Australia , Pacific rays, and of course, the seahorses of the Atlantic Ocean.

During your visit, you can discover the nursery. It is here that marine animals make their “first not”. And because all species are not visible to the naked eye, the Océarium offers you to observe micro-organisms, such as bridges or larvae, through a microscope.

This institute of the sea is engaged and serves as a structure for the CAPOERA program (Ray Egg Capture) to cope with the decline of this species on the Atlantic coasts.