On the outskirts of Paris is one of the world’s finest aviation museums, Le Bourget Air and Space Museum. The museum is housed inside Le Bourget Airport, Paris’ first airport, which is still in use for flights operated by the French government and private flights. This airport was also the site of Charles Lindbergh’s famous transatlantic flight in 1927.
If you are looking for something different from the popular day trips from Paris, this museum is a good option. The Air and Space Museum Paris – Le Bourget is a must-visit for anyone interested in aviation, space exploration, and technological history. The museum boasts one of the world’s largest collections of aircraft and spacecraft, featuring an impressive collection of almost 20,000 items! It also has many interactive exhibits that delight children and adults alike.
Keep reading to learn all about the Museum of Air and Space Paris – Le Bourget and why this is a fantastic museum to discover.
Opening Hours and Ticket Options
Opening Hours
The Le Bourget – Paris Air and Space Museum is open all year round, from Tuesday to Sunday.
From 1 October to 31 March, it has the following working hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; From 1 April to 30 September, it is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Ticket Options
The “Check-in + Boarding Pass” ticket will allow you access to the museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions. With this ticket, you can also jump aboard four legendary aircraft: a Boeing 747, a Douglas C-47 Dakota, and the two Concordes – Prototype 001 and Concorde Sierra Delta.
The Paris Museum Pass includes access to the Air and Space Museum without reservation. Just make sure to have your digital pass with you during the visit.
Check out my Paris Museum Pass review to see if it is an interesting option for you.
The Museum often offers optional activities like the Planet Pilot, the Planetarium, and temporary exhibitions. These activities have a ticket apart.
The Air and Space Museum is one of the museums in Paris free to visit on the first Sunday of the month for everybody.
Other categories of people who can enter the museum free of charge are children under 7, European Union residents under 26 (with an ID), and visitors with disabilities (and their accompanying caregiver).
How to Get to Le Bourget Air and Space Museum
You can easily reach Le Bourget Air and Space Museum by public transport. There are several bus lines that stop in front of the museum (#610, #350, #152, and #148), which has a dedicated bus stop named “Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace.”
The most convenient options are the bus lines #152 and #350.
Bus #152 departs from Porte de la Villette, which you can reach by Metro line 7 or tram T3B.
Bus #350 departs from Porte de la Chapelle, where you can arrive by Metro line 14 or tram T3B.
The cheapest combination is tram + bus, as this ticket only costs 2€ one way. Instead, if you combine metro + bus, the cost will be 2.50 € one way. Click here to read about the best Paris metro tickets and passes for tourists.
Highlights You Can’t Miss at the Air and Space Museum Paris – Le Bourget
The Air and Space Museum Paris – Le Bourget is divided into several exhibition halls and an outdoor area (Tarmac), each displaying the human journey through air and space. The exhibition halls are organized in chronological and thematic order: Pioneers Hall, Great War Hall, Space Hall, Interwar Hall, Helicopter Hall, Cocarde Hall, Prototype Hall, World War II Hall, and Normandie-Niemen Hall.
If your time is limited, here are the most interesting ones you shouldn’t miss:
Pioneers Hall
The Pioneers Hall celebrates the early days of aviation, from the first ascent in a balloon to modern aviation. This permanent exhibit features early flight models, including the Blériot XI (the first plane to cross the English Channel!) and the elegant 1912 Morane-Saulnier G-type, which are true wonders!
Pioneers Hall traces the beginnings of aviation technology, and it offers a fascinating insight into the groundbreaking work of aviation pioneers.
World War II Hall
This is one of the best World War II sites in Paris. As the name suggests, this hall offers an immersive look at the aircraft and technologies used during WW2, documenting the strategic role of air power during the conflict.
The exhibition showcases iconic aircraft used by the Allies, such as the British Supermarine Spitfire, the American P-51 Mustang, and the Douglas C-47A Skytrain Dakota.
Besides aircraft, the hall also displays flying bombs and parachute drops.
Helicopter Hall
This area of the museum focuses on the history and development of helicopters, featuring both military and civilian models that have been crucial to aviation’s progress. The exhibit is well-made as it traces the journey from Étienne Oehmichen’s early tests to modern high-altitude rescue helicopters.
Space Hall
The Space Hall is one of the most interesting parts of the museum, especially if you are fascinated by the human conquest of space.
The collection includes rockets, satellites, spacecraft, and astronaut equipment that help better understand the challenges and triumphs of space exploration. Make sure not to miss the Vostok capsule, a replica of the Apollo 11 command module!
Tarmac
Le Bourget Air and Space Museum also features a fantastic outdoor exhibition area, the Tarmac. Here, you can explore various historic aircraft thanks to the extensive collection of civilian and military planes.
Among the most interesting planes on display are two life-size models of the Ariane I and Ariane V rockets built by the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Mirage III, the legendary French military fighter jet that played a crucial role in many air forces around the world.
Besides admiring the remarkable planes that have made aviation history up close, at Tarmac, you can also get a glimpse of a VIP arrival, since Le Bourget is still a busy airport for private flights. This is not part of the museum’s “show” but the neighbor VIP piste, only separated by a simple fence, always attracts a bunch of curious visitors ;-))
Aircrafts Inside
In addition to the different exhibition halls and the Tarmac, at the Paris Air and Space Museum, it is also possible to see some aircrafts from the inside by boarding iconic planes!
To access these aircraft, you will need to scan the barcode on your “boarding pass,” so make sure to have it with you at all times.
The planes you can access are the Boeing 747, the Douglas C-47 Dakota, and the two Concordes, the famous supersonic passenger jets.
The Concordes were very cool, but I especially recommend getting on the C-47 Dakota (WW2 Hall), an aircraft that played a massive role in the Normandy landings, dropping paratroopers and then ensuring the supply of the troops. Sitting on the benches, you’ll experience the landings as if you were an Allied paratrooper. Stress, noise, images… You’ll be spared nothing!
Dining Options Inside the Museum of Air and Space
To visit the Air and Space Museum Paris-Le Bourget, you will need at least half a day, if not more, so at one point during the visit, you will surely be hungry.
There is a restaurant-cafeteria inside the museum, the Hélice Café, that serves a variety of light snacks and a couple of mains. However, the prices are a bit high, and at lunchtime, the line is pretty insane, so if you want to grab food quickly, you should plan wisely when to arrive at the cafeteria.
You can also bring a packed meal and eat it at one of the picnic tables in the Tarmac area. Just remember that there is a security control with scanners at the museum entrance, so avoid bringing sharp objects like knives with you; otherwise, you will be denied entry.
When I went to the museum, I also found a food truck at the exit of the Concorde Hall selling sandwiches, cookies, and drinks for a cheaper price than the Hélice Café. The food truck will also make for a faster option, so I suggest checking it out for your lunch break.
