Go to the discovery of the Atomium in the Belgian capital, the famous monument built during the 1958 Universal Exhibition.
If there was a podium of the 3 biggest and memorable tourist attractions in Belgium and especially in Brussels, L’Ouest Atomium Probably would be part of it. Today, you can discover this fantastic work of art originally designed for the 1958 Universal Exhibition.
Tickets, Rates, Schedules
Our 3 ways to visit the Atomium :
- attention to availability
Book a combined ticket :
- Recommended
L’avis de la rédaction
“From the exploration of the mysteries of the atom to the discovery of the Musée de la Bande Dessinée, discover the Belgian capital thanks to the City Pass Brussels! »
Atomium times
- 🕛 The Atomium is open daily, from Monday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed ticketing and last entrance to the building at 5:30 p.m.). During the end of the year, the hours may vary. The Atomium is thus open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on 24 and 31 December, and from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 25 December and 1 January.
Getting to the Atomium
📍 The Atomium is at the following address: Pl. de l’Atomium 1, 1020 Brussels, Belgium. To get there, you have several options:
By metro : This is the most convenient way to get to the Atomium! Just borrow the metro line n°6 until the stop Heysel (before-last stop of the line).
By car : the Atomium does not have private or guarded parking, but several parking spaces are located near the monument.
By bike : more and more Brussels use this ecological means of transport to avoid traffic density at peak times. Getting to the Atomium by bike is therefore an ideal way to discover Brussels otherwise!
A monument-phare in Brussels
The escalator inside the Atomium – Flickr – Harald Hoyer
It's hard to miss and not notice it! L’ Atomium , from the top of its 102 meters with a weight of around the 2400 tons is an original construction that should not survive the exhibition of 1958 but which has become since the very symbol of Brussels. It is even the most popular monument in Europe to date. The Atomium personifies the main concern of the 1950s when we discover that the atom was a source of a new energy almost inexhaustible... a symbol of modernity.
Today, this work of art created by architect André Waterkeyn is composed of 9 spheres (1 sphere in the centre and 8 others at different summits). Each sphere is connected to others by tubes that are based on 3 pillars. Some think that these 9 spheres represent the 9 Belgian provinces of the time.
A visit out of time
The 9 spheres of the Atomium represent the atoms of the iron crystal. While in 1958, this gigantic work wanted to focus on the importance of the atom in our daily life, today it offers in its central sphere a permanent exhibition on what was the 1958 Universal Exhibition plus other temporary exhibitions and multimedia installations in each of the other spheres.
There is even a sphere that is strictly reserved for children where urban pedagogical workshops are met with the possibility of sleeping on site. Another sphere is dedicated to a restaurant with a breathtaking view of all Brussels.
The Atomium was renovated to give it shine and its original appearance with lighting and blinking that symbolize the path of an electron in an atom. Visit the Atomium , it is to travel outside time and space, in a place quite unreal, futuristic, magical.
The strengths
Flickr – Stephane Mignon
The Atomium cannot leave marble when you see it from the outside but when you enter its interior, you can easily understand why it is one of the favorite attractions of tourists but also Brussels. Today, to visit the Atomium, it is possible to take a surreal walk through tubes and metal spheres, it is also possible to enjoy a fantastic panorama on Brussels and its surroundings. For history lovers, it is an opportunity to understand the Universal Exhibition, to understand the history of the building but also to participate in concerts, conferences, and ephemeral exhibitions. Finally, after a visit to a shop filled with all the original ideas as well as the others, it is the opportunity to take height and breathe a little while taking a break in the panoramic restaurant at 95 m altitude.
Practical aspects
Adults can visit the Atomium for 11 euros each, while children over 5 years of age benefit from a rate of 5 euros.
The ticket price for the Atomium is valid for one day, between 10:00 and 18:00, throughout the year. Except for access to the upper sphere, the rest of the other spheres can be difficult to access for people with reduced mobility. For information, the Atomium has the fastest lift in Europe.
Have you ever visited L’Atomium?
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