Montreal Planetarium

The Planetarium is the youngest of Montreal's Space for Life museums and the easiest to fit into a busy trip. It opened in 2013 in the Olympic Park, next to the Biodome, replacing the city's older downtown planetarium, in a building recognisable by its two large cones clad in metal and wood, each housing a dome theatre. One theatre is used for scientific shows that explore the night sky and the universe, the other for more artistic and immersive productions, and between them they offer a changing programme of films projected across the whole dome, with seats tilted back so that the image surrounds you. Current programming, listed by Tourisme Montreal, includes Encounters in the Milky Way, running from October 2026 to September 2027, and a dome show built around Pink Floyd's album The Dark Side of the Moon, running until the end of November 2026. Between shows, a permanent exhibition on astronomy and the search for life beyond Earth lets visitors explore meteorites, planets and the scale of the cosmos with interactive displays. Shows last under an hour, the exhibition takes about thirty to forty-five minutes, and a typical visit runs to around ninety minutes. Tickets are mid-priced, with reduced rates for children and combination tickets with the Biodome and the other Space for Life museums. Book your show time in advance, especially on weekends and school holidays, and check the calendar for language: shows alternate between French and English sessions. The Planetarium is accessible and fully indoors, so it works in any weather and on winter afternoons when darkness falls early.

What makes it different: rather than a single traditional star show, the Planetarium runs its two theatres with complementary programmes, one closer to science communication, with live or recorded guided tours of the night sky, and the other closer to art, with multimedia works that use the dome as a canvas. The result appeals to a wider audience than many planetariums: children enjoy the sense of flying through space, adults appreciate the scientific content, and the music-led shows draw people who would never normally book an astronomy film. Its sustainable architecture and location next to the Biodome make it part of a coherent science campus in the east of the city.

How to plan: choose your show and time online before you go, then arrive twenty minutes early to explore the exhibition. If you are combining with the Biodome, the most efficient order is the Biodome first, when you have the most energy for walking, then a Planetarium show to sit down and rest. Check the language of each session; English and French sessions alternate through the day. The Planetarium also hosts special events, such as observation evenings and an annual astronomy festival in late spring, when telescopes are set up outside.

Getting there: the Planetarium is at 4801 Avenue Pierre-De Coubertin, a short walk from the Viau metro station on the green line, with paid parking on site. The Botanical Garden and Insectarium are a short walk across the Olympic Park and Rue Sherbrooke. Note that the observatory at the top of the Olympic Stadium tower is closed for renovation until spring 2027. The Planetarium accepts the Montreal Museums Card. For families with young children, check the age recommendations for each show, as some are better suited to older kids. If you are visiting in winter, a late-afternoon show is a good way to end a day in the east end, when darkness falls early and the outdoor gardens are under snow. Afterwards, the restaurants of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, along Rue Ontario, are a short ride away for dinner, or the green metro line takes you back downtown in about twenty minutes.