Cosmodôme (Space Science Centre)

The Cosmodôme in Laval is Canada's only museum entirely dedicated to space science and astronautics, and it is well worth the 30-minute drive from downtown Montreal for families with curious kids. This is not a passive museum experience — it is an interactive, hands-on space adventure that gets kids genuinely excited about science, exploration, and the universe.

The museum's signature experience is its virtual space missions. Families work together as a crew, taking on different roles (pilot, engineer, mission control) in a simulated space flight. The missions are designed to feel real — there is genuine problem-solving, teamwork, and excitement as your crew navigates through challenges.

Kids take these missions seriously, and the sense of accomplishment when the mission succeeds is palpable. These experiences run on a schedule and can fill up, so sign up as soon as you arrive.

The permanent exhibition halls are packed with interactive stations covering the full spectrum of space science. Kids can learn about the physics of rocket propulsion, see genuine meteorites and space artifacts, try on replica space gloves to understand the challenges of working in a spacesuit, and explore how astronauts live in the International Space Station — from eating dehydrated food to sleeping in zero gravity. The exhibits are bilingual and designed for kids ages 4 and up, with enough depth to engage tweens and teens.

The Cosmodôme also operates space camps ranging from single-day experiences to multi-day immersive programs. The parent-child camp is particularly special — families train together as astronaut teams, completing missions and challenges that build teamwork and scientific understanding. These camps book up well in advance, especially in summer.

The facility recently received a significant renovation with updated exhibits and technology, keeping the experience fresh and modern. The building houses a small snack area, gift shop, and comfortable common spaces.

Getting to the Cosmodôme requires a car or a bus from Laval metro (it is not directly on the metro line). The drive from downtown Montreal takes about 30 minutes via Autoroute 15. Plan the visit as a half-day outing, or combine it with other Laval attractions like Funtropolis or the Laval Nature Museum to make a full day of it.