Discover the Cité de la Mer during your camping holiday
The park is dedicated to underwater exploration and discovering the deep sea.
The Redoutable, a submarine you can visit
The centrepiece of the Cité de la Mer, Le Redoutable is the first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine built by France. Measuring 128 metres in length, this 8,000-tonne giant can be explored from the inside: you’ll discover the submariners’ living quarters and the facilities that enabled them to live and work at sea. The tour is accompanied by an audio guide and offers a better understanding of the crew’s daily life aboard this iconic vessel of the French Navy.
The Ocean of the Future and its aquariums
With ‘L’Océan du Futur’, the Cité de la Mer offers a journey into the depths of the sea. The aquariums allow visitors to observe numerous species, whilst the exhibition combines scientific discovery s and interactive displays. It’s a way to explore the oceans and gain a better understanding of this still largely unknown world.
Titanic, back in Cherbourg
The Titanic holds a special place at the Cité de la Mer, as the famous liner called at Cherbourg on 10 April 1912. The exhibition traces this stopover, the crossing and then the sinking, through reconstructions, images and eyewitness accounts. In the Baggage Hall of the former ferry terminal, part of the exhibition also explores emigration to the Americas and the many travellers who passed through Cherbourg.
Since 2025, the exhibition has also featured a collection of 42 objects recovered from the Titanic wreck site: personal effects belonging to passengers and crew members, everyday items and tableware from the White Star Line. This collection is on display until spring 2027.
Cherbourg Transatlantique, an immersive experience
New since 2025, Cherbourg Transatlantique invites you to step back in time using a mixed-reality headset. For around 35 minutes, you’ll relive the excitement of the former Transatlantic Maritime Station during the Queen Mary’s maiden call on 14 April 1937. In the former train hall, the experience blends the building’s real-life setting with digital elements to bring the golden age of the great transatlantic liners back to life.
Ocean on Audio
The ‘Ocean on Listen’ exhibition invites visitors to discover the sounds of the underwater world. Contrary to popular belief, the ocean is not a silent world: marine animals communicate, navigate and interact using sound. This exhibition adds a more sensory dimension to the exploration of the oceans.
The Grand Gallery of Machinery and People
The Grand Gallery of Machinery and Man traces the history of underwater exploration through the machinery and inventions that have enabled humans to venture into the depths. It highlights the pioneers of underwater exploration and the technologies developed to explore a world that was long inaccessible.
Which campsite should you stay at?
In order to organise your camping holidays in the Manche, discover around ten campsites around the Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.
Among them, we particularly recommend the L’Anse du Brick***** campsite in Maupertus-sur-Mer, which boasts direct access to the sea and a water park. This allows you to combine the fun and comfort of a holiday surrounded by nature with exploring the Cotentin and Cherbourg.
Practical information:
Open every day from 7 February to 3 January. Closed on Mondays in March, November and December.
Opening hours: 10.00–18.00 the rest of the year, 9.30–18.00 in May, June, September and during short school holidays, and 9.30–19.00 in July and August. The ticket offices close 1½ hours before the site closes.
Prices 2026: Adult: €21, children (aged 5–17): €15, students and visitors with reduced mobility: €16, free for under-5s.
Cherbourg Transatlantique: €11 surcharge
Contact details:
Transatlantic Maritime Station
50100 Cherbourg-Octeville
Tel: + 33 (0) 2 33 20 26 69
Website: citedelamer.com