Standing proudly on a cliff facing the Mediterranean, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, founded in 1889 by Prince Albert I, offers you a dazzling immersion into the marine world. 90 tanks, 350 fish species amongst the 6000 animal species presented, a sensorial exhibition on sharks, a 400,000-litre lagoon, educational activities and workshops… a programme that will delight the entire public. Children can have fun on Turtle Island while their parents savour the magnificent panoramic views over the sea and Monte-Carlo.
A terrace lounge and the gourmet restaurant “La Terrasse” invite you to prolong this exceptional moment.
To conclude your visit, the boutique offers a wide selection of books, souvenirs and collections of sea objects.
The Oceanographic Museum was inaugurated in 1910 by Monaco’s modernist reformer, Prince Albert I. Jacques-Yves Cousteau was director from 1957 to 1988. The Museum celebrated its centenary in March 2010, after extensive renovations.
From the flourishes on the façades to the décor in the halls, every aspect of the Museum’s architecture evokes the marine world. Since it was opened on 29 March 1910, this Temple of the Sea, 6,500 square metres of which are open to the public, has been an international benchmark for loving, protecting and raising awareness of the oceans.
A journey through the tropics: the tropical zone reveals the hectic life of a coral reef and the species which inhabit it, featuring enchanting shapes and colours. Come face to face with sharks and piranhas, observe the clownfish and the awe-inspiring stonefish with its lethal spines, and admire the captivating boxfish or bizarre sea horses.
Dive into the Mediterranean Sea: discover more than 200 species of invertebrate in the pools representing the Mediterranean, a sea which is home to hidden treasures. Come and meet our clever octopus, tremble before our sinister moray eels, or admire the soothing ballet of the jellyfish.
Whale Room and Prince Albert I Room: a voyage of oceanographic discovery, with many mounted specimens, photographs and archive documents, models, marine mammal skeletons, etc.
Oceanomania: the largest ever cabinet of marine world curiosities, created by artist Mark Dion. More than 1,000 objects from the Oceanographic Museum’s collections are displayed in a 180-square-metre space: fossils, chimaeras, diving gear, valuable books etc.
Wednesdays: Touch tank, feeding the animals in the touch tank, and light and sound show in the Whale Room.
Weekends: touch tank, ImmerSEAve 360°, and light and sound show in the Whale Room.
Travel vlog Playlist “French Riviera”:
Travel vlog Playlist “France”:
Travel vlog Playlist “Europe”: