Biosphere
Speciality MuseumsScience MuseumsArt Museums
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
One of Montréal’s iconic architectural landmarks since Expo 67, the Biosphère’s geodesic dome is the most widely recognized architectural work by the famous Richard Buckminster Fuller. Erected in the heart of Jean-Drapeau Park, a true natural oasis, it offers breathtaking views of downtown Montréal and the St. Lawrence River. This museum dedicated to the environment explores major contemporary issues through art, science, and citizen action. Exhibitions, art installations, immersive experiences and films invite visitors to linger in reflection. A historical site focused on the future!
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • TheMahdi
    Boracay, Philippines248 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not a Major Destination but Go if You Have Extra Time
    Its an archtectural landmark with a beautiful view to sunset while facing the Montreal City. It has direct access via City Metro. Though we arrived late in the afternoon and the bulding which i think consist of museum or gallery like place was closed but the vicinity itself was beautiful. I suggest you to use the Metro since in the winter not all buses in Montreal function. We went to bus stop and waited for bus #777 which didnt show up. Later as we asked the locals they say if a bus route doesnt have passengers along the way either they reschedule the bus hours or just cancel their trip and that happen to us qhen we wanted to ride bus #777. It has very cold breezy nights so cover up well and wear your cloths accordingly. Since its an open area and windy the tempreture is lower than the city.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 17, 2023
  • Moefry
    New York16 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not particularly engaging
    The exhibits were rather limited and maybe even more curtailed than normal due to weather and the changeover of an exhibit on another floor. The one staffer heading up a craft or some sort of engagement opportunity in the hallway did not bother to look up from her phone on the couple of occasions I or my children walked by, and it was pretty dead - we were the only ones there for a while. Did we confuse this for the Biodome? Possibly. Was just hoping for a bit for than 30-40 mins tops of time spent.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 4, 2024
  • LondonLockwood
    Loughton, United Kingdom926 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Enjoyable and informative..
    This was our first full day in Montreal so have a vague itinerary...This area including the Biosphere was a starter. It's a very impressive structure and I thought the entry fee was more than fair.The staff could not have done more to make our stay pleasurable. We learnt a lot .. Were not kids either ! The views from the 3rd floor were magnificent. The morning sunny and cloud free sky helped us get out bearings a bit. The surrounding park was well kept and I'm guessing the pool and ferry will be opening real soon. A great beginning to our time here..gets a thumbs up from me !👍
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 29, 2024
  • japanresident2015
    Tokyo, Japan7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Landmark building with some nice museum content
    The dome was constructed for an expo long ago. The building inside is a museum of the environment with artistic presentations. The individual exhibitions are good but it is a bit incoherent as a whole museum. Great views from the top of the building.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written June 8, 2024
  • Andrew W
    Santa Monica, California508 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nothing special and it's a long way from downtown
    This is one of the things you're supposed to see in Montreal. I would just say, no. Unless you have a lot of time to kill. Remarkably underwhelming and a long way to go for not much. Unless you're the world's biggest Buckminster Fuller fan, you can skip it. And even then, you still might want to.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 11, 2024
  • traveltheworld012
    Rochester, Minnesota16,986 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Absolutely wonderful, be sure to see all 5 levels and don't miss the views at the top.
    We went to experience the Biosphere on Saturday, August 3, 2024. There are 4 ways to get here from the city of Montreal. 1. drive your car across the bridge to the island. If you don't have a car then.. 2. walk across the pedestrian bridge, but it is a long walk from the city. 3. take the ferry, inexpensive and a nice short ride with views of the surroundings. 4. Take the Metro subway. Yes, you can easily board at Berri-UQAM station and it actually goes under the St. Lawrence River and drops you at the station near the center of the island. My wife and I took the ferry, it is a significant walk from the ferry dock to the Biosphere, but very well worth it. I'm really not sure why this place has so many bad reviews. In reading some reviews it seems they didn't know of or neglected to view all that is there. It is quite a lot and well worth the admission cost. This Biosphere actually burned to the ground in the 1970s. It was rebuilt even better. From the flower garden/water feature and photo exhibits outside to the many multiple rooms of interactive nature, environmental reuse/recycling exhibits, well done videos including a beautiful large screen one showing underwater microcosms enlarged in full color. There are multiple floors of exhibits with an elevator or stairs. Don't miss the top two floors. In Air Conditioned comfort, you can sit and relax on couches and comfy chairs and admire the scenery from floor to ceiling glass. Or go to the top floor outside within the geodome and admire the 360 degree views above downtown Montreal and all the surrounding countryside. This is an amazing place, great for everyone, kids will love the interactive activities. Very highly recommended.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 20, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles686 reviews
Excellent
207
Very good
288
Average
133
Poor
45
Terrible
13

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EuropeinNewYork
New York City, NY274 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
While seeing the giant Bucky-ball was very cool, the other parts of this "museum" were not really worth the money we paid. While there is some thought that has gone into the exhibits, the curation and design doesn't lend itself very well to large groups of people, nor was there much to do. Walk through the park and see the sphere form the outside. Don't waste your money....
Written September 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LnS2004
Cypress, CA8,940 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Couples
I adore the simple, elegant design of this repurposed former US Expo 67 pavilion gifted to Canada and was happy to get a close-up look of the highly visible iconic structure located in Parc Jean Drapeau on St Helen’s Island on the St Lawrence. Parking was easy. The surrounding environment was very serene, clean and green. I found myself mesmerized by this towering majestic globe, designed and built in a simpler time. Long passage of time has not withered its magnificence as it stood stoically there silently bearing witness to crises through the ages from Vietnam War then to Climate Change now.
Written June 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Thomas V
Oakland, CA17,767 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Left over from Expo 67, and a tribute to Buckminster Fuller, this curious globe now contains a museum devoted to the environment. For free, you can read about the history of the building, which is interesting, with very good pictures. Right outside a Metro station.
Written October 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LouiseeDM
Melbourne, Australia35 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Solo
Extremely small and underwhelming museum. This was definitely overhyped on their website. They had an indoor garden area with a pond which essentially looked like a puddle and not really any interesting info. I think I spent about 20 mins here wandering around trying to find an interesting exhibit. I wouldn’t waste my time or money, especially as I had to wait for the ferry to and from the museum.
Written June 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BeLaZe
Penfield, NY404 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022 • Couples
Historical site, beautiful construction, nice views, decent exhibits. Relatively small exhibition place, but important message.

Hua Jin’s open air photo exhibit in front of the entrance is mesmerizing.
Written September 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SusanKava
Lisbon, Portugal22 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
Good views but you can get those elsewhere for free. The exhibition was OK but nothing special. On the way in we were invited to take a free ticket for a "meditation" which did not appeal to us, but it turned out to be a virtual reality experience which I would not have minded doing. We had purchased a passport which includes all the Espace pour la Vie sites so this didn't cost us any extra, if we'd paid for it separately I would have felt cheated.
Written April 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jason Sun
Ithaca, NY44 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Solo
The steel net grabbed my attention. The exhibition was great with a lot of educational purposes about the protection of the environment. I think this museum is more for kids than adults. One thing that can be improved is the access on the top of the building, where some parts are closed due to the malfunction of the stairways, but great experience overall.
Written July 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KangKang
Tainan, Taiwan17,575 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
The Montreal Biosphere was the pavilion of the United States Pavilion at the Montreal Exposition in 1967. The huge sphere with a diameter of 76 meters is quite eye-catching. It is still open to the public and is suitable for taking photos whether during the day or at night. There is a seven-story exhibition building inside the spacious sphere, which displays the ecosystems of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, allowing the public to have a deeper understanding of environmental and ecological protection. Interested parties can pay to enter.
Google
Written December 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DrJimmy33982
Fort Myers, FL96 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023
Absolute waste of time and money. Nothing to do there. The most interesting activity (VR experience) would be an additional $30. No food, concessions, or even vending machines. Parking area has very limited spaces. The place is literally a shell of its former self (see May 1976 fire).
Written April 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Helen B
6 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
The Biosphere structure is nice and the people at the entrance helpful. First part is like a testlab and very interesting for children and adults. It explains with a questionnaire all toxics and bacteria the impact on peoples health and environment etc. Next room is about snow geese also nice and interesting. Third room is about an artist who well known and creates his art with the help off spray paint. I don’t mind his art but totally do not get it that his art is included in the Biosphere and environmental museum. I don’t understand the promotion of an anti environmental way of art at this place.
Written August 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Biosphere - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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