Aquarium Tropical de la Porte Dorée, Paris's historic aquarium

Created in 1931 for the Colonial Exhibition, the Aquarium is located in the 12th arrondissement, in the Palais de la Porte Dorée. It is home to over 750 species of small fish and, best of all, admission is free for under-26s!

We're off to the basement of the Palais de la Porte Dorée, a stone's throw from the zoo, to discover theAquarium Tropical. The aquarium is accessible and child-friendly, with viewing windows at the height of the youngest visitors, and benches and steps for hours of fish-watching...

TheTropical Aquarium boasts more than 80 aquariums, with over 550 species of freshwater and saltwater fish, coral, marine life, turtles and crocodiles.

Piranhas, seahorses, rays, albino alligators, electric fish, surgeon fish and clown fish are all on the menu for this original outing, which can be enjoyed with children, teenagers or on your own. The best part is that under-26s get in free: at that price, you might as well enjoy it all year round, and immerse yourself in seabeds from the four corners of the globe!

From the great coral reefs to the rivers of Amazonia and Asia, not forgetting the great African lakes, the caves of Central America and the mangroves... This is your chance to take a world tour of the planet's oceans, seas, lakes and rivers, right from the Porte Dorée.

And let's not forget the Aquarium's most entertaining attraction: the Spot, an interactive wall where you can immerse yourself and dance with the whales. So, shall we take a trip to theTropical Aquarium ?

Practical information :

Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 10am - 5:30pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am - 7pm
Last admission 1h before closing time
Closed Mondays, January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.

Prices:
10€ Full price
7€ Reduced price
Free for children under 26

Access:
Porte Dorée station (line 8)
Bus 46, 201
Tramway Line T3
Vélib Porte Dorée station

News from the Tropical Aquarium :

All Saints’ Day 2026: The Day of the Dead and the Living at the Tropical Aquarium
For the All Saints’ Day holidays in 2026, the Tropical Aquarium at Porte Dorée offers workshops, a quiz and storytelling tours themed around the Day of the Dead and the Living. Family-friendly sessions, suitable for different ages. [Read more]

The Spot, an immersive Madagascar-like experience at the Porte dorée Tropical Aquarium
Fancy an immersive family visit? Join us at the Aquarium du Palais de la Porte dorée for a behind-the-scenes look at a scientific expedition to Madagascar, in an immersive installation. [Read more]

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.