The Cité de l’espace in Toulouse takes at least a full day to visit, and the site itself recommends two days to see everything: tickets from €22.50, valid all day with exit and re-entry allowed. In 4 hectares (10 acres) of gardens and several buildings, you can see a full-size 53 m (174 ft) Ariane 5 rocket, the engineering model of the Mir station, an Apollo lunar module, as well as a planetarium, an IMAX screen and the LuneXplorer simulator. Here are the actual opening hours (the park closes in January), the prices, how to get there and our tips for organizing your day.
The Cité is one of the big visits in the Pink City: find all our ideas for visiting Toulouse in one, two or three days.
Our travel deals for Cité de l'espace
Affiliate links: we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
FlightsKiwi.comCompare flights and airline combinations to Cité de l'espace.Compare flights
Cité de l’espace: key facts
- Hours: generally 10 am – 5 pm on weekdays and 10 am – 6 pm on weekends and during school vacations; closed on some Mondays outside vacations — checked on 23 October 2026 on cite-espace.com
- Annual closure: the official calendar shows the park closed from January 4 to 31, 2027 (and on December 25, 2026).
- Price: tickets « from €22.50 » according to the official home page; free for children under 5 and for French state-school teachers (with proof) — checked on 23 October 2026 on cite-espace.com
- Booking: not required; the Cité advises buying online, but tickets are also sold on site on the day.
- Time needed: 2 days advised by the Cité to do everything; a full day at minimum.
- Parking: free on site.
Opening hours of the Cité de l’espace: reading the calendar
The Cité does not publish fixed year-round hours but a day-by-day calendar. We recorded it for late 2026: it lets us draw out some simple rules, but always check the date of your visit.
| Period recorded | Hours | Closing days |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (outside vacations) | 10 am – 5 pm on weekdays, 10 am – 6 pm on weekends | Mondays October 5 and 12 |
| French school fall break (October 17 – November 1) | 10 am – 6 pm every day | None |
| November 2026 | 10 am – 5 pm on weekdays, 10 am – 6 pm on the weekends of the 7–8 and 14–15 | Mondays November 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 |
| December 2026 (until the 24th) | 10 am – 5 pm | Mondays December 7 and 14, December 25 |
| December 26, 2026 – January 3, 2027 | 10 am – 6 pm | None |
| January 4 – 31, 2027 | — | Closed all month |
Tickets and prices
The official home page shows tickets « from €22.50 ». The price details (adult, child, 2-day ticket, combined tickets, annual pass) are on the Tickets & Stays page, whose price grid is displayed dynamically: our tool could not read it, so we do not copy it. What the official FAQ confirms:
- Validity: the ticket is valid all day, from opening to closing; you can leave and come back.
- Free entry: children under 5 (ticket issued at the turnstiles) and French state-school teachers on presentation of the Pass éducation or a payslip less than 6 months old.
- Included in the ticket: the « Pokémon x ESA » exhibition (October 2, 2026 to April 30, 2027, no timed slot) and the LuneXplorer experience, at no extra charge.
- Options: 1-day ticket, 2-day ticket, combined tickets, annual pass and stays with partner hotels.
- Payment: bank card, American Express, cash and checks; French holiday and gift vouchers are also accepted at the ticket desk.
Buy on cite-espace.com: it is the official ticket office. Resellers give no particular advantage, since there is no timed slot to book for entry.
What to see at the Cité de l’espace
In the gardens: the space walk
- Ariane 5: 53 m (174 ft) tall; a tactile bas-relief of the rocket is accessible to visually impaired visitors.
- The Mir station: the engineering model, which you can visit inside.
- The Apollo lunar module (7 m, or 23 ft), the Soyuz capsule, the XMM-Newton telescope, a Sentinel satellite.
- The James Webb telescope mirrors at full size (8 m, or 26 ft, tall), behind Ariane 5.
- The planets flowerbed and the Alley of Infinity, to gauge distances in the Solar System.
In the buildings
- The Carré de l’Actu: a control center linked to daily life on the ISS.
- The Solar System Quay, the observatory, the Launch Center and the exhibition Moon – Episode II.
- Vaisseau Terre: a new 500 m² (5,382 sq ft) exhibition announced for late 2026, on satellites.
- LuneXplorer: simulation of a lunar mission in a 4-person capsule, 4-minute dynamic phase, acceleration of 2 to 3 g. Minimum height 1.30 m (4 ft 3 in); not recommended for pregnant women and people prone to motion sickness, vertigo or claustrophobia.
- IMAX and planetarium: timed screenings (the day’s program is in the « Ma Cité de l’espace » app, published 48 hours ahead).
- La Cité des petits: area for children from age 4.
Organizing your day: our decision tree
The Cité advises two days. If you only have one, here is how to choose, based on the official information (hours, access conditions for the attractions).
- You are coming with children under 1.30 m (4 ft 3 in): LuneXplorer is off limits for them; focus on La Cité des petits, the gardens and the planetarium.
- You want to see everything in one day: arrive at opening (10 am), check the screening times in the app the day before and put IMAX and the planetarium first; the gardens can be visited freely between screenings.
- You are prone to motion sickness: skip LuneXplorer, which cannot be interrupted mid-mission except in an emergency.
- You are visiting on a Monday outside vacations or in January: check the calendar, the Cité is often closed.
- You have two days: take the 2-day ticket and keep the second for the indoor exhibitions.
When to visit the Cité de l’espace
A large part of the visit is outdoors, in the gardens. The table combines the Météo-France normals for Toulouse-Blagnac with the sunset time (the usual closing time was recorded from the official calendar for late 2026).
| Month (15th) | Max temp in Toulouse | Rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | Days ≥ 30 °C (86 °F) | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.7 °C (49 °F) | 9.2 | 0.0 | 5:42 pm |
| February | 11.2 °C (52 °F) | 7.8 | 0.0 | 6:23 pm |
| March | 15.0 °C (59 °F) | 8.2 | 0.0 | 6:59 pm |
| April | 17.6 °C (64 °F) | 9.3 | 0.0 | 8:36 pm |
| May | 21.4 °C (71 °F) | 9.9 | 0.6 | 9:11 pm |
| June | 25.7 °C (78 °F) | 7.1 | 6.0 | 9:37 pm |
| July | 28.2 °C (83 °F) | 5.7 | 11.5 | 9:33 pm |
| August | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 5.9 | 11.3 | 8:58 pm |
| September | 24.8 °C (77 °F) | 6.6 | 3.5 | 8:04 pm |
| October | 19.7 °C (67 °F) | 7.5 | 0.1 | 7:11 pm |
| November | 13.5 °C (56 °F) | 10.0 | 0.0 | 5:29 pm |
| December | 10.4 °C (51 °F) | 8.7 | 0.0 | 5:17 pm |
How to read it: July and August are the driest months (about 6 rainy days) but also the hottest, with 11 to 12 days at 30 °C (86 °F) or more on average; bring a hat and water for the gardens. May is the wettest month (9.9 days). April, June and September offer a good compromise for the outdoor part. The Cité publishes no attendance statistics; it only flags school-vacation periods in France in its calendar through longer hours.
Getting there without a car
- Metro + Linéo 12: metro line A to Roseraie or line B to Rangueil, then bus L12, « Cité de l’espace » stop (every day except May 1).
- From Matabiau station: metro line A toward Balma to Jolimont, then bus 37 to the « Cité de l’espace » stop.
- From Toulouse-Blagnac airport: shuttle to Jean-Jaurès, bus L8 to Sicard Alaman, then a 10 to 15-minute walk; about 25 minutes by car (ring road toward Montpellier, exit 17) according to the Cité.
- Linéo 1: Collège Vernant stop, then a 15 to 20-minute walk.
- By bike: VélôToulouse station « Cité de l’espace » and a free bike shelter.
- By car: free parking on site, 3 Révéo charging points. The Cité recommends the Balma-Gramont park-and-ride, then metro A and L12.
Rules and accessibility
- Security check: sharp objects, roller skates, skateboards, alcohol and animals are refused (except guide dogs).
- Minors: under-16s must be accompanied by a legal guardian or an adult with written authorization; 16–17-year-olds may come alone with parental authorization.
- Luggage storage: lockers in the entrance hall for suitcases and large bags.
- Picnics: covered rooms on site. The whole site is non-smoking.
- Accessibility: the whole site is accessible; strollers, wheelchairs and folding seats can be borrowed at reception (ID required), audio description in the show room, braille documents. LuneXplorer requires an independent transfer to the seat.
What to see nearby
After the Cité, extend your stay with our guide to Toulouse (Capitole, Saint-Sernin basilica, the banks of the Garonne), then the medieval city of Carcassonne. For entry requirements, see entry requirements for France.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Cité de l’espace?
The Cité shows tickets « from €22.50 ». Children under 5 enter free. Price details are on the Tickets & Stays page of the official website.
How long does it take to visit the Cité de l’espace?
The Cité advises two days to enjoy all the activities. In one day, arrive at 10 am and choose your IMAX and planetarium screenings in advance.
Is the Cité de l’espace open in January?
Not in 2027: the official calendar shows it closed from January 4 to 31. It is also closed on some Mondays outside school vacations.
Can you leave and come back with your ticket?
Yes: the ticket is valid all day, from opening to closing, with exit and re-entry allowed.
How tall do you need to be for LuneXplorer?
1.30 m (4 ft 3 in). Between 1.30 and 1.40 m (4 ft 3 in and 4 ft 7 in), the child must be accompanied by an adult; so must any minor under 16. The experience is included in the ticket.
How do you get to the Cité de l’espace by public transport?
Metro line A to Roseraie (or line B to Rangueil), then Linéo 12 bus, « Cité de l’espace » stop.
Our sources
- Cité de l’espace (cite-espace.com): home page, calendar, FAQ, « Preparing your visit », « How to get here », « Tickets and stays », « A space walk », consulted on 23 October 2026
- Toulouse tourist office (toulouse-tourisme.com): « Cité de l’espace » page, consulted on 23 October 2026
- Wikipedia: « Cité de l’espace » article (opened in 1997), consulted on 23 October 2026
- Météo-France: 1991–2020 climate sheet, Toulouse-Blagnac station (31069001)
- Sunset: Destination de Voyage calculation, NOAA solar algorithm, Europe/Paris time zone, approximate coordinates of the Cité, on the 15th of each month (year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access rules may change: check the official website before you go.