Atomium

See the Atomium’s unusual design from the outside, then head up to its highest sphere, which stands at around 300 feet (92 meters), has a glass roof, and offers 360° views of Brussels. This level also houses the Atomium Restaurant, which serves brasserie-style dishes with the finest views in Belgium.

Visit the Atomium’s permanent exhibit to learn about the structure’s history, and explore the temporary exhibits hosted in the spheres—which range from an exploration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to three-dimensional versions of paintings by Bruegel. For priority access, pre-book a guided tour of the Atomium; you can also access the sight with a Brussels Card, which gives you unlimited access to a huge number of city attractions.

• The Atomium’s highest sphere is accessible by elevator, and the attraction has video guides in French and international sign language for the hearing impaired.

• Pre-book skip-the-line tickets to save time.

• You don’t need a ticket to visit the restaurant, but you do need a reservation.

• You can purchase combo tickets that also give you access to ADAM—Brussels Design Museum and Mini-Europe.

• Large bags and backpacks aren't allowed in the structure, but there are free luggage lockers next to the ticket office.

The Atomium is a few minutes' walk from the Heizel/Heysel metro station (on line 6). City tours and hop-on, hop-off buses also stop right in front of the Atomium; those with passes get reduced admission to the attraction.

The Atomium is open daily from late morning until early evening, with reduced hours on Dec. 24th, 25th, and 31st, and January 1st. The Atomium stays open late on select days in July and August for the annual five-night Laeken Fireworks display.

There's plenty to do in the area right around the Atomium. After you’ve visited, head to The ADAM—Brussels Design Museum or to Mini-Europe. The ADAM is noteworthy for its focus on the design of everyday objects, while Mini-Europe presents a whimsical, scaled-down collection of many of Europe's landmark structures. Both attractions are within a five-minute walk from the Atomium.