Visitor FAQs

By train

La Rochelle SNCF station is a 5-minute walk from the Aquarium

(TGV lines Paris – La Rochelle)

With Intercités :

From Bordeaux, 4 return trips per day (10.00am, 2.51pm, 4.55pm, 6.51pm). Journey time is around 2h15 (depending on stops).

From Nantes, 3 return trips per day (journey time 2h30 depending on stops).

By car

Head towards the city centre/SNCF station

(GPS: Quai Louis Prunier – latitude 46° – 9′ – 37” – longitude 1° – 9′ – 4”)

The Encan 1 and 2 or Vieux Port Sud municipal car parks are just a short distance from the Aquarium.

By bus

Illico lines 3 and 4 – “Aquarium” stop

The Aquarium La Rochelle does not have a private car park.

You will find various parking options in the area around the Aquarium.

We would like to draw your attention to the possible difficulties of parking in high season in a tourist town like La Rochelle and invite you to take this into account when choosing your time slot for your visit.

Encan car park:

Pay car park located in front of the Aquarium. Info and rates here.

Vieux Port car park:

Covered municipal pay car park, located next to the Aquarium, opposite the Hôtel Mercure. Info and rates here.

P&R car park :

Park-and-Ride car parks are located on the outskirts of the town (linked to the town centre by shuttle bus). They allow you to avoid the traffic problems of getting to the Aquarium, especially during the school holidays

From the Ile de Ré: P+R Les Greffières – 300 spaces including 8 PRM. Served by the Illico 3 line.

From Paris or Niort: P+R Beaulieu – 130 spaces including 5 PRM. Served by the Illico 4 line.

From Bordeaux: Jean Moulin local car park – 460 spaces including 10 PRM – 15 minutes’ walk from the Aquarium.

For more information, visit the City of La Rochelle website.

Motorhome parking:

All the information on the city of La Rochelle website.

The municipal car parks around the Aquarium are limited in height, so access is not possible for motorhomes and other vehicles of this type.

For more information, visit the La Rochelle city council website.

The Aquarium has a cloakroom service reserved for visitors. Prices range from €0.50 per jacket/coat to €4 for cabin suitcases.

Small bags and carry-on suitcases are accepted, but large suitcases or travel bags (exceeding 56*45*25 cm) are no longer accepted.

Concierge services available near the Aquarium La Rochelle :

Option 1: Nanny Bag offers several concierge points near the Aquarium, see drop-off points.

Option 2: Hôtel La Fabrique :

Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm: see address.

Outside the above times (bank holidays, weekends, before 9am and after 6pm): see address

The large family price applies either :

On presentation of the large family card, with no minimum number of participants

On presentation of proof (family record book, health insurance card, etc.), for a minimum of 2 adults and 3 paying children.

The discount is €2/ticket.

In order to benefit from the reduced rate, you need to book full-price tickets online.

When you come, please arrive 15 minutes before the start of your visit by following Access B.

On presentation of your ticket and proof of entitlement, the €2 per ticket will be refunded to your bank card by contactless payment. Does not work via payment applications with your phone or connected watch.

As a private site, the Aquarium La Rochelle does not offer discounts to jobseekers.

The Aquarium apply a reduced rate to disabled people of all types and ages (adults, children) on presentation of proof of disability.

The reduced rate is granted to accompanying persons if the disability card mentions “accompanying person required”.

The subscription allows unlimited visits to the Aquarium for one year.

The subscription is individual and the cards are nominative and non-transferable.

The advantages and privileges linked to this card: 10% discount at the Brasserie Là-Haut and at the Mémoires d’Océans shop, €2 discount for accompanying persons.

For season ticket holders: access is possible without prior reservation. We strongly advise you to book your accompanying person’s ticket on the website before you arrive to ensure that they are able to visit the site. The €2 will be refunded when the season ticket is issued.

No, tickets are not personal.

Audioguides and booklets can be collected from the dedicated counter just after the visitor access terminals.

Once your order has been validated and paid for, your tickets will be sent to your email address. You can also find your purchased tickets by logging into your customer account on the Aquarium’s online ticketing service and then accessing your personal space under the heading “Your orders“.

If you still cannot find your tickets, they may be in your “junk mail” folder or your payment may have been refused (in this case, you will receive a payment failure email).

You do not have to print your tickets to visit the Aquarium.

You can present your tickets printed out or on your smartphone or tablet. Remember to increase the brightness of your screen to make it easier to read the barcodes or QR codes at the control terminals.

Time-stamped tickets purchased on the Aquarium’s website can only be changed once in terms of date and/or time.

To do this, go online to your personal space to the “Change ticket date” section.

The exchange must be made at least the day before your visit and is subject to availability on the date of your choice. Once your exchange has been validated, you will immediately receive your new tickets by email.

This message appears if you have already made a previous exchange attempt that was not finalised.

In this case, please wait 30 minutes for the ticket to become active again.

Aquarium La Rochelle tickets are non-refundable.

However, you can change the day and/or time of your visit at least 24 hours before the date initially chosen.

Go online to your personal space and click on “Change ticket date”.

We recommend that you book your ticket online to guarantee your entry to the Aquarium La Rochelle. Only the purchase of a time-stamped ticket will guarantee your entry on the day and at the time of your choice.

The following are accepted

• Cash in euros
• French bank cheques
• Bank cards

For ticket sales, the Aquarium La Rochelle is not authorised to accept luncheon vouchers or lunch vouchers, which by their nature are intended for professional lunches and not for leisure activities. It should also be noted that American Express, Diners Card and Eurocheques are not accepted.

The Aquarium is open 365 days a year. You can find opening times on this page.

On average, the tour lasts 1h30 to 2h. However, there is no time limit.

Please note that all exits are final and it is not possible to eat or drink in the exhibition.

The visit must be completed in one go. Leaving the visit is permanent. For information, the average length of a visit is 1h30 to 2h.

During school holidays, we advise you to come early in the morning or in the evening, when the weather is fine. Outside these periods, the least frequented times are in the mornings from the opening or at the end of the day.

Only the purchase of a time-stamped ticket can guarantee your entry on the day and at the time of your choice. For your safety and the comfort of your visit, you may be refused access at certain times and on certain very busy days, if you have not booked in advance.

You can visit the Aquarium La Rochelle on your own from the age of 14. Young people under 14 must be accompanied by an adult (over 18).

In the event of inappropriate behaviour, minors aged between 14 and 18 may be asked to leave the site by the supervisory staff.

To reduce your waiting time at the entrance, we recommend that you buy your ticket online.

Only the purchase of a time-stamped ticket guarantees access to the visit in the chosen time slot. You can present your E-tickets either in a printed version or in a digital version on your smartphone.

The Aquarium has a cloakroom service reserved for visitors. Prices range from €0.50 per jacket/coat to €4 for cabin suitcases.

Small bags and carry-on suitcases are accepted, but large suitcases or travel bags (exceeding 56*45*25 cm) are no longer accepted.

Concierge services available near the Aquarium La Rochelle :

Option 1: Nanny Bag offers several concierge points near the Aquarium, see drop-off points.

Option 2: Hôtel La Fabrique :

Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm: see address.

Outside the above times (bank holidays, weekends, before 9am and after 6pm): see address

It is not possible to eat during the visit. A visit to the Aquarium lasts an average of 1h30. It is not possible to leave for lunch to re-enter the exhibition. Plan to eat before or after your visit.

Access to the Brasserie Là-Haut is independent of the visit, as is the takeaway area located in front of the Aquarium entrance.

The Aquarium La Rochelle does not have a special picnic area. Benches on the forecourt and areas around the Aquarium are available to visitors.

Cameras are permitted during the visit.

However, in the interests of the animals’ health, flash photography is strictly prohibited.

Seating is available throughout the visit.

Pushchairs and wheelchairs are allowed on the tour, but bicycle trailers, walking bikes and tricycles are not allowed.

The Aquarium has a number of pushchairs and wheelchairs which can be made available free of charge to our visitors in exchange for a deposit (proof of identity), subject to availability.

The Aquarium La Rochelle does not offer guided tours.

To complete your visit, we recommend hiring an audio guide. You’ll have no more secrets about underwater life! The junior/adult audioguide is available in French, English, German and Spanish.

For children aged 4 and over, an audio guide is also available to follow the adventures of the little Antioche Turtle (in French only).

Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in the Aquarium La Rochelle.

This measure was imposed on us by the decree of 25 March 2004, published in the Journal Officiel on 1 April 2004.

This prefectoral decree lays down the general rules for the installations of zoological establishments of a fixed and permanent nature, presenting live specimens of local or foreign fauna to the public and falling under heading 2140 of the nomenclature of classified installations for the protection of the environment.

Article 13 of this decree concerns our dog friends in particular:

“Animals must be protected from predation by animals not belonging to the establishment. They must not be disturbed or excited by animals not belonging to the establishment. Where necessary, establishments must implement programmes to control these undesirable animal populations”.

The only animals we can accept are dogs that accompany the visually impaired.

No, due to the health and safety constraints imposed by the Aquarium La Rochelle.

The caretakers and divers at the Aquarium La Rochelle must comply with various standards, and have undergone extensive training to be able to approach sharks and dive in the aquariums.

As the Aquarium La Rochelle is unable to recreate their optimal living conditions, it does not wish to present marine mammals in captivity.

Yes, reserved spaces are available in the municipal pay car parks for people with disabilities.

The Aquarium apply a reduced rate to disabled people of all types and ages (adults and children) on presentation of proof of disability.

The reduced rate is granted to accompanying persons if the disability card states “accompanying person required”.

The entire 2-storey site is accessible by wheelchair and unglazed lifts.

At reception, you can borrow a wheelchair for the duration of your visit on presentation of proof of identity as a deposit. These wheelchairs are limited in number and can be booked in advance. Please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone to make a reservation.

Two magnetic loops are also in place at the ticket office and in the amphitheatre for hearing-impaired visitors.

Yes, article 88 of law no. 87-588 of 30 July 1987, amended by the law of 5 August 2015, allows guide dogs and their handlers access to all public transport, places open to the public and those used for professional, training or educational activities, without extra charge. Guide dogs in training, accompanied by foster families and/or guide dog trainers, enjoy the same rights.

Article 53 of the Law of 11 February 2005 no. 2005-102 states that dogs accompanying disabled people whose owners can prove that the animal has been trained are exempt from wearing a muzzle.

The site is air-conditioned, but it can feel hot on busy days. The tropical greenhouse also has a high level of humidity to ensure that the plants thrive.

Yes, a soft soundtrack is played throughout the exhibition.

For everyone’s comfort, and so that you can see the aquariums in good conditions, the light level in the exhibition is not at its brightest.

You should allow around 1h30 for a visit with a school group. To this must be added the time needed to pass through the cash desks, toilets, shop, etc. and all the delays inherent in organising and moving a group of more than 10 people.

During the visit, pupils remain the responsibility of their teachers.

To avoid disturbing the peace and quiet, they are asked not to run and to speak softly in the exhibition halls.

To avoid frightening the animals, flash photography is not permitted and it is forbidden to bang on the windows.

If pupils have to fill in a questionnaire during their visit, they should be provided with a writing surface so that they do not lean on the aquarium windows.

Yes. Inside the exhibition, all informational texts are provided in French and in English. Audio guides in French, English, German and Spanish can also be reserved. They make for a perfect supplement to a self-guided tour, providing a great deal of information and anecdotes in addition to the written information about the animals and environments on display.

It is recommended to prepare the visit with the children in order to make the most of it. A teaching team is at your disposal on 05 46 34 00 00 to help you in this process by offering you work ideas, accompanying documents and a teacher’s file.

Yes. Special activities are available for nursery school to secondary school groups only in French. They are designed by a team of teachers and scientists and are adjusted for suiting the different levels of study.

During the visit, children are under their teachers’ responsibility.

So as not to disrupt the calm of the Aquarium, we ask our visitors not to run around and to speak in low voices in the exhibition spaces.

To avoid frightening the animals, we do not allow flash photography, and visitors are prohibited from rapping on the windows.

If the children are going to have a questionnaire to complete during their visit, please provide them with something to write on so that they do not use the aquarium windows as a prop.

The access to the technical areas is not suitable for the general public.

The Aquarium La Rochelle does not offer any specific shows or activities during the visit.

Likewise, we don’t organise a “caretaker for a day” type day or diving in the tanks.

The shop is open all year round at the same opening times as the Aquarium. Access is independent and no admission ticket is required.