I've been sooo many times to the Planétarium I think it's about time I write a little something about it. I usually visit with my kids, we've been to numerous shows that were very interesting, however, I have this kind of love/hate relationship with this attraction because on one hand they really have a lack of content (yes they do have a permanent exhibition but it's very basic) and on the other hand some of their shows are really great... I'm a curious person and what I'd like to see while visiting such attraction is for example, how Canada has been doing in this sector or the latest technology improvements... you know, I just rarely get the wow factor. This being said, that time I went for their new double program, the first part was good but I really enjoyed Kyma which really made me think of a Fantasia from space :-) read more

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Boy Yelpers weren't kidding about this place! We dropped in after lunch only to be told that the shows were sold out. The only shows remaining are the French ones at 4! Well I don't want to wait around forever, so we said we'll look at the exhibits. They don't charge you if you're just here for the exhibits. That's a good thing considering the exhibits are for the younger set. I wish they made this more interesting for adults. I wish there we more viewings of the English shows. Not really a loss for us because we bought a packaged deal. Real bummer that there isn't much to see here. read more

Awesome experience!! The show continuum and Aurora was amazing! It was my first time at a planetarium & I really enjoyed it. read more

Planetarium Rio Tinto Alcan - Inside exhibit - Planetarium Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

We went to see two multimedia shows, Continuum and aurōrae, on a Thursday night. The ticket is only 8$ for Thursday night. You can buy ticket on line or on site. The show is in the milky way theater. You can wait in the line or not, because the theater is half empty and no certain best seats. The first show is really impressive. However, the second show is relatively boring. The shows last about 40 mins. There are some free exhibition. I could feel and see the difference between a meteor rock and a rock from earth. A lot of fun worth a try if you are nearby. read more

For English Speaking patrons: Good luck getting information out of anyone who works here. Extremely frustrated and misdirected about the length of the show and what we were doing. read more

While we enjoyed our time at the planetarium, a trip to Montreal can be fully enjoyed without a stop here.

Arg, it pains me so much to give 2 stars, honestly. As a child I remember going to the Planetarium and being dazzled by it all. But it closed, and 10 years later, here it is, again, sponsored by a steel giant. I was very enthusiastic. Space! Joy! The layout is very awkward. To my surprise, very little is exhibited, a couple of meteorites, a half-hidden telescope.. The planetarium wants to attract children, and only children. The displays are touch screens, interactive games etc.. The displays are incredibly bright and become hard on the eyes after a while. Another unpleasant thing is the focus of the place: life in space. That, coupled with the kid-friendly tone of the exhibit makes for a grating experience as an adult. You can learn to name planets, see them in space, retrace the timeline of the Earth, what water is made out of, and are asked ad infinitum "IS THERE LIFE IN SPACE?" but nothing gets in depth ever. No Big Bang Theory, no up-to-date feed on the Mars rover, what is a nebula? Where is our very own Commander Hadfield? Julie Payette? Whatever. The architects banked on both the immersive cinemas which mimic the night sky and space itself. The projections are booked at certain times, and you should either buy tickets online, or come a full hour before your desired projection time. The first presentation "Continuum" is stellar, you lounge around, while space opens up around you, to the sound of classical music. Epic. The second is alright: your guide introduces you to constellations, and then the space surrounding the Earth. I could have enjoyed myself if two teenaged airheads next to me hadn't decided otherwise. You can easily skip this. I think Continuum is worth seeing, but the entry price is too steep for that alone. If ever you crave space-stuff, and are on the American West Coast, go to the Griffith Observatory. read more

Planetarium Rio Tinto Alcan - Planetarium Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Viau metro station I believe. Close to BIodome and Olympic place. I always enjoy watching milky way movies. Love their solcafe read more

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A disappointing way to spend a Saturday. I *love* science and space and was prepared to really enjoy myself. Sadly, the only part I can recommend is the "From Earth to the Stars" interpreted show. Tip: Be sure to buy your tickets online in advance. We thought it would be easy to fill a 2-hour wait in a museum before the show started. Not so, my friends. Not so. (Not to mention the 40-minute wait in between shows). A museum should have things to do and learn. Sadly, the planetarium had neither. For example, how about some information about how stars form? About our solar system? About the galaxy? About where we are in the universe? Go to the Biodome instead. read more

I think, going to the Planetarium would be worthwhile if you make a package deal out of the whole Olympic garden experience. So doing the Biodome and the Insectarium with the Botanical gardens will give your trip to the Planetarium more variety and something different to do. Just sitting back and relaxing on the nice and comfy beanbags was a great way to just hang out and look at the stars and planets. It was very relaxing. The other show was pretty educational too. You get about 30 minutes in between the two shows. Just enough to look at the exhibits. But you would have better time spent on your iPhone browsing the internet...yes they have free wi-fi so no need for roaming if you're from out of town. read more

The Planetarium is an interesting and relatively-new attraction that can be a fun addition to your trip in this area of Montreal (Botanical Gardens, Biodome... etc). There are two shows to attend. Both shows, "Continuum" and "From Earth to the Stars" last about 30 minutes each and in between both shows there are a few expositions to keep you busy. I didn't find them overly interesting, so I waited in line and chatted. The first show "Continuum" was by far my favorite where you get to sink into a comfortable bean bag and watch an immersion show up above you. The first 15 minutes of the show was absolutely fantastic! The other show "From Earth to the Stars" is intended to be more informative and educational where the narrator teaches practical knowledge of how to identify constellations in the night sky and explains certain scientific facts about objects of the universe. there were several problems with this, firstly, I missed my bean bag as the chairs were stiff and half the presentation was over my shoulder. Secondary, the french accent of the narrator was extremely thick and my friend couldn't understand him, as a Montrealer it was difficult for me as well. Lastly, their projector broke down not once but twice during the presentation. Furthermore, plan your visit accordingly, there are A LOT of children about. read more

Three stars because of the two showings I only really loved one. The first, in the chaos theatre, was amazing. You sit down on a beanbag and watch the amazingness evolve above you. The second show was more educational, the problem was that half of the things shown we couldn't see because they were situated behind us, and the chairs don't really give. It was also not a graphically impressive, so it was kind of a let down after the previous one. It would have been better if the shows were reversed, I think "continuum" would be a good way to end the visit, because then you would leave more impressed. But, I don't regret my visit. I would go again just for the first show. read more

Had an event at the planetarium today(so this was gratis no pay) for my family and myself today. We had the opportunity to watch their movie (40 min long) on the North Star (en francais) in the very cool dome screen theatre where you look up. Super cool 4/5 If you are tired you could easily fall asleep. They had these comfy bean bag chairs which were super comfortable. This was a cool experience. However I cringe on thinking if they hygenically wipe down these been bags after each showing. It's winter and people are coughing like crazy. Sorry, not a germ phobe but the thought crosses my mind. Outside the theatre they also had a display of rocks and interactive touch and see activities. The display is a bit weak in my opinion and very not wow. Super you see a few rocks and some tiny pieces of meteorites but it's easily a 2/5 on this. Very bleeeeh. If you don't pay much come here. The 40 min movie is good for young kids say 4-9 years old. Restrooms were clean and of no issue. Otherwise save your money! read more

New addition to the awesome sightseeing complex that's comprised of Biodome, Insectarium, Botanical Gardens and the Olympic Tower - the super high-tech planetarium. The interior decor is beautiful, walking into the planetarium is like walking into outer space with stars. A visit to the planetarium is mainly comprised of two shows - the "Continuum" and "From Earth to the Stars". During the waits between the showings - there is an area with a lot of interactive technologies with touch screens that teach basic knowledge about the universe. The "Continuum" is an immersion show where everyone gets to cuddle up to their own bean chair and spend 23 minutes traveling through the universe, from planets to stars to galaxies. There is absolutely no disturbance, just an complete display of elegance of the universe. "From Earth to the Stars" is an informative and educational show where the interpreter teaches practical knowledge of how to identify constellations in the night sky and explains certain scientific facts about objects of the universe. They are two complementary and completely different experiences. Loved both shows! Both are fun, interesting and educational. Both shows are included with admission and can be combined with admissions with other attractions at a discount. Look up the show times for both shows because they are either in English or French. For "Continuum", there is really no talking besides the instructions at the start. read more

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Maybe 3.5 stars. Price of admission was not too expensive. The permanent exhibit was not as large as I had hoped for. The highlight was the show. I was fortunate enough to grab a beanbag chair in a good spot on the floor so that I could look up comfortably at the ceiling. Adirondack chairs are available on the edges of the room otherwise. read more

Definitely not something to go out of your way for. The place was OVER-RUN by large camp groups (we were there on a weekday in the summer) which made for a less than ideal experience during the two shows. The two shows were interesting and enjoyable enough, but there really isn't anything else in the building to keep you occupied for long. I thought the first show "Continuum" was a very unique experience. I wish that the aforementioned camp children hadn't stampeded in and quickly taken all available bean bags, leaving my hubs and I having to sit on the adirondack chair which weren't nearly as comfy. While the concept was unique and overall enjoyable, the graphics are rather weak and the accompanying music is played at an uncomfortable level for the duration of the show. Please do not bring your little ones hear and damage their hearing! read more

Beside the Biodome, the Planetarium looks like nothing special on the outside. Contrastingly, it's nice, new, and sleek on the inside. There is an exhibition hall with interactive exhibits (ie. touch screens) explaining various topics, including: meteorites, the solar system, dark matter, etc. The exhibition is mainly geared towards kids. The main attractions are the 30-45 mins "Double Feature" shows in the round projection theatres. As of today, there are two double features available: 1. Tempo/Vertigo, and 2. Dark Universe/Aurorae. I saw the second option. DARK UNIVERSE WAS CRAAAY AMAZING. The images are projected onto the round dome of a ceiling, and there is, I believe, surround sound and 3D images. The planetarium provides large beanbags for you to lie down on, which allows you to look into the 'sky' in the dome without craning your neck. It was like viewing the universe from the window of a spaceship. I'm not gonna lie - I got a little motion sickness during the part where we zoomed in close to a supernova. The second feature, Aurorae, was alright. I thought it was a nice addition to the Dark Universe feature, but could've done without it. I strongly recommend purchasing tickets online before visiting. We showed up on a Monday (granted, during winter break) around 2pm and the show we wanted to see ("Dark Universe/Aurorae") was already sold out. We ended up buying tickets for another day and returning. The Planetarium is a great place to spend 2 hours during a day with bad weather. read more

Mistake on my part for not understanding there were only two short shows to watch. The permanent exhibit was fine for passing the time before the show started. Of the two shows we saw at the Planetarium, Astroid and Mars, Astroid was much better. The person narrating the Mars feature was informative. I also appreciated the facts that were presented and how clearly they spoke about evolution. Evolution in the US get a bit convoluted. This was an add on from the Botanical Garden. We would not have done it solo. read more

A major critique I'll leave is that the planetarium only has a small handful of english language showings--a ratio of about 2:1 for french showings. This is kind of ridiculous given the prevalence of english visitors, and supported by the fact that the english shows are consistently sold out. Here's an idea--offer closed captioning. How hard is that? read more

The exhibit itself isn't that amazing. It would appeal to small kids. It only takes a short time to see. The shows in the theatre are quite good though and unique as they are projected on a round done ceiling and you watch fro bean bag chairs. read more

Welcome to the plane'arium. Wanna cool docs about space in a full 360 experience... This is the place. Plus there's a mini space museum on hand. Oh and nerds a plenty to explain stuff, things. Went a few times and it's never boring. On of the smaller domes has huge bean bags you can lie on and watch starring up. Pretty nifty. read more

The museum itself is free but not worth going to, the exhibits are all in one small space and it's mostly interactional videos describing various aspects of space, most of the 'exhibits' are for kids, such as a colouring station, an interactive mars rover simulation etc, it will take 10 min to see it all. The main interesting element that is actually worth going there for is definately the shows, especially the one in the chaos theatre, which has bean bags for you to lie and watch the space shows. They are about 30 minutes each. read more

Terrible system. Can't buy tickets online. We drove out and paid for parking only to be told SOLD OUT. No message on their phone line letting people know. Waste of a trip. read more

This new, high tech planetarium in Montreal just opened to the public on April 6th, 2013. It;s located next to other Montreal land marks (Olympic Park, BioDome and Botanical Gardens). It's very new, modern and high tech. They have two theatres. One you view the "sky" from bean bags on the floor or Muskoka chairs. Here they were showing a about 12 min artistic interpretation of the universe with a great music but there were no words, explanations. We saw this film first and loved the visual and overall experience of it but I was disappointed that there wasn't more information and description even though it was an artistic interpretation - but it was very beautiful. The second film is what I think of as a traditional planetarium. It's a theatre with adjusted chairs that allow you to see the "sky". this presentation kind of has two parts. First they show and describe the constellations of the seasonal Montreal night sky and then they go deeper into the far reaches of the universe to show nebulas, galaxies and all the rest. I really, really enjoyed this portion and felt it was very informative and is probably what most people expect/want when they visit a planetarium. They also have an exhibit type area that is very interactive with touch screens, and puzzles and talks from staff. I found this area a bit of a disappointment but also amazing. I felt like it was a bit more about how advanced and 'techie' it was then the information and there were some bugs in some of the touch screens closing things before you had finished reading and the 3 different talks that happened in the 2.5 hours we were there were all in French meaning we didn't participate. I get that they probably need this time of presentation space to draw in young learners but I felt like the science and knowledge wasn't as important in the process. Overall I was impressed with the space, the theatres, the exhibit hall and the cafeteria was great. However it seems like they are still going through some growing pains (like lake of signage, non operational exhibits for example). parking is expensive ($15 flat rate) so take advantage and see other things near by (ie olympic stadium or biodome) or take the Metro. read more

Maybe good for primary school children, not so for anyone older. I have visited many planetariums in different cities, and this is by far the least interesting. In particular, it is very much worse than the previous Montreal planetarium. read more

The bean bags in the first show were a great touch and the narrator of the second show, Simon, was very funny and entertaining. I would have liked a more educational and scientific presentation, but overall I enjoyed my experience. read more

Great place for the kids! They have an excellent video presentation where you have a panoramic view of our solar system that's worth the admission alone. There are additional activities for children that will take an hour of time. Lunch options are limited and pricey- pack a lunch before coming. read more

In response to all the grown-ups complaining about children here, I can only say good luck with that adults-only planetarium business concept. Maybe I'm not as cranky as you all because we found it's possible to visit the museum part of the planetarium without paying the exorbitant prices for a planetarium show. There is an underground tunnel which connects this to the Biodome (which also has a large free exhibit downstairs). Our two kids were happily entertained (probably not educated) here for an hour or so, which made us happy. It's a nicely designed space with a reasonably priced cafe, and I can imagine it would be a great place to spend time in the colder months. So yeah: free, kid-absorbing, clean bathrooms, easy to get to, and therefore not really anything to complain about... read more

FYI this is more of a space-themed movie theater -- they have good shows, but the rest of the museum is literally one small room. We were kinda shocked that's all there was to it. But we enjoyed the shows very much and obviously they're not the type of shows you can see elsewhere! read more

Beautiful and fascinating look at just how tiny we truly are. Lots of amazing sights and plenty to do. If you go, see the shows, look at the exhibits, make a day out of the Olympic Park. This stop was a highlight. The ability to contact actual meteorites, for example, is a cool experience that not just everyone gets to do. The atmosphere is nice and while there can be kids, there's a great deal of experience to be had. read more

I was incredibly disappointed with the Aurora screening in the Milky Way Theatre. The missed opportunity to discuss Aboriginal Peoples' long histories of aurora interpretations was borderline offensive. There is a scene where a group of boys pass a soccer ball back and forth, and this is briefly compared to aboriginal legends of gods playing soccer with a skull. Such a tragic comparison to a rich and beautiful history. The filmography of auroras is shot in Yellow Knife, and the Milky Way theatres projection system does a wonderful job of displaying it. The percussion used throughout the presentation is irksome. The host and presenter we had for the show in English was tiresome and annoying. A very unfortunate production, for something that could be so simply beautiful. read more

Save your money. You can see the best of what this planetarium has to offer for free. What you pay for in purchasing a ticket is to see the films - the first two are interesting but they are quite short. The third is about 30 min and is basically an artistic interpretation of the waves in space...sure cool if you are going to see an art exhibit but for a science exhibition it is just sad. The quest to discover what is out there is fascinating and involves some incredible scientists but clearly this museum has an agenda which is quite political...note the various choices to focus on Quebec scientists and the focus on a Quebec driven artistic interpretation of the science of space. Oh and heads up...if you speak only English be prepared for a choice of 2 early evening (between 3 and 5pm) showings for each show. I'd recommend saving the ticket price and walk through the free stuff then head over and buy a ticket for the biodome and then go up the tower at Olympic place. read more