Atomium

If you’ve never been to the Atomium, it’s absolutely worth a visit—especially if you enjoy unique architecture and panoramic city views. As one of Brussels’ most iconic landmarks, the Atomium blends retro-futuristic design with a sense of playful wonder, making it stand out from more traditional European attractions. Even just approaching the structure is impressive: the massive, reflective spheres rising above the surrounding park have a surreal, almost sci-fi presence that immediately captures your attention. The real highlight, though, is the view from the top sphere. On a clear, sunny day, the outlook over Brussels is genuinely stunning. The city stretches out in every direction, and the sunlight reflecting off the metal surfaces adds a bright, almost cheerful atmosphere to the entire experience. It’s definitely the kind of place where the weather can make a big difference, so visiting on a day with good visibility is ideal. That said, the Atomium becomes truly magical at sunset. As the sky shifts from gold to deep blue, the structure’s lights begin to glow, giving the entire monument a soft, dreamlike quality. Watching the city transition into evening from up high is a moment that feels both peaceful and memorable. Whether you're a photographer, a casual tourist, or someone who simply enjoys a beautiful view, sunset at the Atomium is something special. Overall, the Atomium is a unique blend of history, design, and atmosphere—well worth the trip if you haven’t been before.

Spectacular structure. They take you to the top level by elevator where you have a panoramic view of the city. Then you work your way down each atom. In one of the atom, they have light and sound show which is very cool. Finally you come back to the lobby level and gift shop. Overall it was a great experience and highly recommend it when in Brussels. It’s conveniently located close to a train station so you can reach it from any location in the city.

​The Atomium is, without a doubt, one of the most stunning and unique pieces of architecture in Europe. Even getting to the site in Brussels, the massive, gleaming structure—a representation of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times—is absolutely breathtaking. For that external view alone, the trip is entirely worth it. Taking the elevator up the central axis to the top sphere is a thrilling experience, and the panoramic views from 92 meters up offer a fantastic perspective over the city and the surrounding Heysel area. ​However, the overall experience inside the spheres was very different from what I had anticipated. I went in expecting a straightforward science museum, perhaps a deep dive into atomic structure and the history of the 1958 World Expo it was built for. While there is a permanent exhibition dedicated to Expo 58, which is genuinely interesting for history buffs, the rest of the tour felt like a delightful, if slightly jarring, contrast. ​Moving between the spheres via those long, tunnel-like escalators—which are a spectacular sight themselves, illuminated with dancing colored lights—felt less like moving through a museum and more like exploring a futuristic spaceship. One sphere, in particular, was home to a completely immersive, psychedelic digital art installation. It was loud, pulsing with light, and utterly captivating, turning the space into something like a high-tech art gallery rather than a historical exhibit. ​In the end, I'd say the Atomium is a good visit, but be prepared for an unexpected journey. You go for the iconic, monumental architecture and stay for the strange, often trippy, contemporary art installations hidden inside. It’s a wonderful landmark, just a wonderfully strange museum.

Visiting the Atomium in Brussels was one of those iconic “we have to do it” moments and I’m glad we did! We went on a Sunday without pre-booked tickets, and thankfully it wasn’t an issue. We waited about 15 minutes to purchase tickets and begin the experience. Just a heads-up: the visit is split into two parts, and you’ll receive two separate tickets per person. The first part of the tour takes you up a series of escalators and stairs through the spheres, where you can learn about the history and construction of the Atomium. Most of the informational signs were in French, so we moved through this part fairly quickly, admiring the architecture more than the displays. At the end, you’re guided through the gift shop and outside — which felt a bit confusing, because you then need to rejoin the crowds to continue on to Part 2. The second part involves queuing again inside the building — about 20 minutes for us — before taking the futuristic elevator to the top sphere. The view from above is definitely the highlight, especially if you love snapping photos and videos. There’s also a restaurant at the top, and free restrooms (a lifesaver after all that waiting and cold weather!), but we didn’t have the chance to dine there since we were catching a flight later that day. Once you’re done enjoying the panorama, there’s one more line for the elevator back down — so yes, a bit of a queue-athon overall. 😅 In the end, it was a good experience and I’m happy we visited — the Atomium is unique, quirky, and a standout piece of Brussels history. That said, the flow of the tours could definitely be improved to reduce all the waiting. If you’re planning to visit, be prepared for lines and maybe book ahead if you can, but the views certainly make the effort worthwhile!

It's a sculptural genius, we had been there just to view it in the evening and walked around in the park nearby. The ambiance is calm and cosy, definitely recommended to visit with friends and family.

This is a very fun and interactive activity for travelers of all ages. There are concurrent and subsequent additional places like other museums that you can attend while here to include “LITTLE EUROPE AS PICTURED”. This place is perfect for gathering souvenirs as well as picture taking which is professionally available and opted to you at the ending of the activity. We did not get to frequent the restaurant at the top due to them only having one section of the restaurant open at the time; however, other reviewers have stated the food is not good.

Getting a ticket online is recommended, as the venue can get quite busy. The presentation collection is impressive, but the view is hidden by coloured glass. However, the breathtaking and impressive stairs with the light show are worth the wait.

Beautiful tourist destination is Brussels, Belgium. There was a steady line of tourists enjoying the beauty of this modernist building. It is an important landmark in Brussels. It was originally constructed as the center piece of the 1958 Brussels Expo. Now it is a museum and an art center. When one stands under it one is likely to marvel at the huge symmetrical structure. The huge globes are interconnected symmetrically giving the building the shape of an atomic structure. Atomium is built in a very beautiful location, surrounded by fine gardens and a nice row of trees.

Beautiful place to experience in Brussels. It was super crowded no matter what time of the day. The lines to the top observation was too long so I didn't get a chance to see it or the views. I took pictures outside and take the exhibition inside without the observation deck. Tickets are purchased online.

Atomium is super neat in the Brussels skyline, whether you go up into the orbs or just stroll around the outside. It was built for the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels, and served its purpose there, falling into disrepair afterward. But in the early 2000s, it was luckily renovated and re-opened, looking brand-spankin' new. The modernist structure is almost 350 feet high, made of steel, and weighs over 5 million pounds - that's a lot of Atomium! The orbs each house different galleries of cultural and artistic merit, all connected by escalators and elevators that soar through the tubes. Being such an iconic piece of Brussels history, definitely make it a point to visit Atomium, whether you go inside or just view the gigantic structure from outside/below!

This was such a pretty place especially when the sun hits it correctly. With the tour it's 16 euros per person and 8.5 for kids. A little pricy but you can combine it with the Little Europe tickets! I definitely recommend for a good view and lovely photos! Overall a 4.5 just because the top is a little boring as you will probably only stay up there for a 10 minute experience. But the light shows and the glowing escalators made up for it and was absolutely beautiful!

The Atomium was neat to see but would I say that it is a must see attraction? No. We had limited time here to explore so we were able to visit most of what was to see inside. I do not think that my opinion would have changed with seeing the other areas that we were not able to explore. It is worth passing on if you have limited time in Belgium.

Waste of time and money. The only redeeming feature is the light fixtures towards the top of the museum, but it's hardly worth the cost, the lines, and the time getting to/from the site from the CBD.

I had my suspicions this was a tourist trap, but I never imagined how terrible it would be. The view from the top is nice and the light & sound exhibition was fun, but altogether not worth the 16€ and long waits. Architecturally is definitely a curiosity and you should take a picture of yourself with it on the background, as it is a landmark, but it is nothing remarkable on the inside. For the panoramic view there is a fast elevator that only takes 22 seconds to go up (it just takes quite a while to get into the elevator). For the exhibitions there are escalators for the first 3 levels then you must clim 80 steps. There are no escalators to go back down to the ground floor and must descend 160 steps.

Unfortunately I have to say this spot is a bit of a tourist trap. We were excited to visit the Atomium to see the views of Brussels but it was a bit of a letdown and we had to wait over an hour to take the elevator up to the top. When we first got into the Atomium building we didn't know that the escalators only take you to the middle and so we went through that portion of the exhibit first before realizing that we had to join a very long line to take the elevator to the top. We ended up waiting in the line for over an hour only to get to the top and spent less than 10 min up there as the view was pretty blocked by the windows and other obstructions. Perhaps it would have been nicer and quicker if we visited early in the day but at least it's a quick train ride from the city center so if you have time it might be worth a visit.

The Atomium! I am a science nerd and loved physics going through school. So, a huge atom with fun escalators? I had to check it out with my family. Aside from being very social-media-photo-worthy, this place is definitely worth a visit inside. I recommend coming early as possible to avoid lines for the elevator. Also, hopefully you're not there when there are hundreds of school kids on a field trip!

It's beautiful! Especially at night. Definitely worth it. Lots of parking on the street leading up to it & additional parking lots past it. Buy tickets in the small bit building then put your coats & bags in a locker. Not a super long wait upon entry, but the wait for the elevator was kind of grueling. They first send you up escalators to side spheres each with a different cool light show & some historical info & pictures. Eventually there are stairs to go up & a lot to go down. There are tons of flashing lights & not much warning about it. After the side spheres you wait in like for the elevator to go up to the top which is strictly an observation. Then you have to wait in line to go back down.

The Atomium was just as the title says, better than expected! To be quite honest, I didn't really know what to expect other than a big structure. You can book tickets on sight, but I highly recommend booking before you go to cut down on waiting time. It can get busy. Make sure to purchase the ticket that also includes Mini Europe and another nearby museum. Mini Europe is a must. The views from the top of the Atomium are absolutely amazing. Not only can you see great views, you can learn more about the history of Brussels. Make sure that you stop and enjoy the other floors too for more history and interactive light shows. It's all very cool! Can't go to Brussels without visiting!

The customer service of this place is terrible. Waiting with an elderly person and a toddler at the counter for the restaurant reservation, as instructed by multiple unfriendly agents at Atomium AND the restaurant FAQ page, we were told to wait by the counter for a restaurant staff to show up at 12 to give access to the restaurant. Ten minutes after reservation time and no one from the restaurant even showed up. The agents for Atomium made it crystal clear that the restaurant is NOT part of Atomium despite the name ... And they were less than interested in helping unless you buy a ticket to see Atomium itself. Very disappointed with how this attraction is managed and operated. Being that Atomium is a well known attraction in Brussels, this frustrating experience left such a bad impression on the entire city.

Need a touristy thing to do in Brussels? Visit the Atomium! There are bus and metro stops so close to the Atomium, so it's easily accessed by public transport. It's also close to mini Europe. There was a long line to purchase tickets, so I recommend getting them online. Students get discounted tickets with ID. The restroom inside costs 0.50 Euros lol. The tickets get you admission to go up the Atomium. The escalators go to all the floors, so you get views of the city from the top. There's information at each stop telling of construction and history, etc. Next to the ticketing office is a cafe to get waffles and ice cream. There are outdoor tables. If you walk toward the bus stop, there's a water fountain. You'll get a nice view of the Atomium from the grassy area.

I'm really thrilled we chose to come late in the day on a whim. Crowds were light, which made the experience enjoyable. It's a cool tourist site. Beautiful views from the top. We spent less time in the "museum" part, but the music/light section of the interior was funky and fun. Last, we were happily surprised to stumble across the "outside my window" pandemic photo art exhibit inside. There was much more one could enjoy if time weren't an issue. Walking through the park across the way was lovely. Wish we could've spent more time there, but we had to get back. Getting there was an easy Metro ride to/from the Grand Plaza area.

This place was on my bucket list for places to visit in Belgium. We took the train to station and walked a few minutes to the museum. Masks were required and the entrance was nicely organized. We actually purchased our tickets online ahead of time so didn't have to wait at the long lines for tickets. We took the escalators to all the floors and got to see a spectacular view of the city from the top. The structure is so unique. And there are placards that display all the information about its history and construction. The display inside is wonderu Lastly, upon completing the tour, we saw a nice cafe downstairs and couple of other snack shops. Got some waffles and ice cream and coffee for a nice afternoon snack.

This is a must see attraction when in Brussels. We arrived in the afternoon and there wasn't a long wait. You can order your tickets online or in person; prices are reasonable at $17 € an adult and kids 6-11 are free. It's good to note that there is a small fee to use their restroom. There is a cafe located outside and a nice little gift shop inside when you exit. When you enter they take pictures of you and your group that you can purchase when you leave. We didn't know what to expect but when we got to the higher levels there is an awesome light exhibit with music. My kids said it reminded them of the TV show, Stranger things. We would highly recommend to anyone visiting Brussels to make a stop here. Very family friendly

What can I say about this place? Total waste of time and money. I had been told it wasn't worth it, but because the advertisement was so good, I decided to go anyway. My suggestion: Just take a picture from the outside and save yourself 16 euros (around $18) There is basically nothing inside it. Well, some lights in one of the pavilions and some, mostly black and white, pictures in another. The restaurant had no a/c, and it was hot. There are no facilities for handicap people. I explained to them that I had a knee surgery that I couldn't climb stairs and the said "no problem, take the escalators and then ask the person in charge to call the elevator for you. They will make the exception for you because it's required to climb down 167 steps. Well, I took the escalator, but when I got to the pavillion, there were still 2 levels of steps to climb.

While visiting Brussels for work this place was on my to-do list to visit. I stood in a few different lines with a about 30 minutes in waiting and got in to go up. The architecture was cool but but what really showed me how massive this place is the cleaning crew that was hooked up with ropes dangling from the structure. There were some nice views to the city although this is outside of the city center. In my opinion the best part is the view from the top. There is not much to see on the way down except for the cool lights in tunnel while decending the escalator. Three stars!

If you're in Brussels, not a drinker, it's pouring rain and you are so bored that there's nothing to do then this is a great option. If any of those other things are untrue, then run the other direction. You will expect nothing but lines to get to elevators with no way out, no air and pushy people. Oh and it's expensive and way out of the city centre costing more time and money. It is a cool, architectural structure so I would recommend seeing it and taking pics much like you'd do at a haunted house. Just don't go in.

Too bad it started pouring on the one day I got to visit Brussels... couldn't snap as much pics as I hoped for. But wow! This structure is quite a view. Easy to get to and a lot of cheap options for transit here. I think the back side may look better than the front, but it's pretty cool overall!

What a cool structure. If only we could climb up some of the spheres, it was closed by the time I got there, so I wasn't able to climb the stairs to the 7th sphere. Bummer. Next time. It's great for photos. It would be cool to zip line from the spheres across the city. Just a thought. It's definitely easy to spot once you are upon it. They have tour busses the hop on and off that stop by there.

A must if visiting Brussels, but be aware its quite a jaunt to get to it, but very possible by metro. First and foremost, this attraction is either loved or hated, but I thought it was great! I will say that I did not go inside as I felt it was a tad overpriced for just a viewpoint. I ended up taking the metro which drops you off nearby, which ended up being about a five minute walk to Atomium. Get ready for some great photo ops when you get there as there are several iconic shots. With all of the said, understand this attraction is quite a bit out of the city and in really an abandoned area, so most likely not the safest at night. It was built for the World Expo, which is explained in the bottom floor of the attraction along with a gift shop and ticket office, so at least you can get some info without paying the large fee to go up for the view at the top. All and all, a fun site to stop at temporarily to see, but would not suggest going up to the top, but that is just my opinion.

Pretty cool to look at from the outside, but I would save my money going in. Not much but a look out point. Lines get long to go to the top. Elevator takes you all the way to the top, then you have to come all the way back down and take the stairs or escalators to the other floors. Toilets at the very top are free. Downstairs by the ticket booth, you have to pay to use the toilets there.

Since being one of the most bizarre buildings to visit in Europe, I placed the Atomium second on my list to do in Brussels. I'll tell yeah it's a really cool site and it's something you don't see in Disney's Tomorrowland. On our taxi ride from a few miles away you can see it's tall unique structure in plain site leading down the street. It's not just a gigantic atom it's a museum. I had no interest in paying the admission to tour inside, I was only in it for the picture taking. I'm fascinated on how the tubes between the spheres are lifts or elevators. At the top of the sphere it allows you to see a panoramic view of Brussels and there are exhibit halls in other places as well. There's a cafe on the ground level. To use the restrooms you would have to pay. If you're doing the Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour throughout the city, this is part of the stop.

"A world for a better life for mankind" - Expo 58 slogan. International expositions (commonly referred to as World's Fair) are held all across the globe to celebrate the achievements of nations. Each Expo has a theme that attempts to "improve humankind's knowledge" by "highlighting scientific, technological, economic and social progress". Each country adheres to this theme and showcases it through building a pavilion or dedicated space. Many iconic landmarks of cities exist because they have been built for a World's Fair - specifically the Eiffel Tower (1889), Space Needle (1962) and more recently the China Pavillion (2010). In the case of the 1958 Expo, the most recent expo to take place in Brussels, the iconic structure is the Atomium. Expo 58 is notable that it is the first Expo to take place after WWII. The European economy was booming and the people were optimistic that the future would be even brighter thanks to achievements in science. The mindset back then was that pure science would provide salvation for humanity and would solve all our problems. This was embodied by the atom, the smallest property of matter. The engineer André Waterkeyn, one of the directors of Belgium's metalworking companies, was tasked to design the structure to showcase the Belgian metalworking industry. His idea was to take the structure of the unit cell of iron and multiply it 165 billion times. Housed inside was the international exhibition "Atom = Hope", which was intended to popularize atomic energy. The Atomium wasn't meant to survive past the expo, but Belgium loved it so much that it became a permanent part of the city. From 2004-2006 it had undergone an extensive restoration where the original aluminum was replaced by stainless steel, which was more structurally sound and resistant to corrosion. In addition, a new visitors center adds a more contemporary touch to the experience. LOGISTICS Location: Outside Brussels city proper. Best method to get there is via HOHO bus or the metro (line: Heizel/Heysel, 15 minutes from Grand Place). Hours: Open 7/365 with most hours 10am-6pm. There is a skip-the-line option if you buy your ticket online but I didn't find this necessary as I went right when it opened. Cost: Adult (18-65) €15. Seniors €13. Students €8. Children under 3'9" FREE. (Note: I got a €2 discount as part of a special promotion if I went to the Belgian Comic Strip Museum - apparently it was a tie-in with the 60th anniversary of the Smurfs). You can also combine this visit with Mini-Europe for an additional cost. Requires moderate physical fitness: the entire tour takes 3 escalators and 80 steps to go up and 167 steps and escalator to get down. Allow 1-1.5 hours for the visit. You can also download an app for a free audio tour of the permanent exhibition. Each number corresponds to a particular stop and track on the tour. I found this to be very informative. The visitor experience consists of three sections covered over five spheres. - An elevator takes you to the first section: the panorama 360 on the topmost sphere. It provides a 360 view of Brussels and posted signs compare today's view with that of 1958, the year the exhibition took place. - Upon arrival to the ground floor via elevator stairs then take you to the bottommost sphere, which is the home of the permanent exhibition. Here you can learn about the Atomium and Expo 58 to your heart's content. The exhibition is spread out over 2 floors. - After the permanent exhibition stairs and escalators take you to the two spheres containing the temporary exhibitions. One whole sphere was an immersive experience on light and sound while the lower half of the central sphere was dedicate to the 80th anniversary of Spirou, an investigative journalist who advocates against inequality and the 70th anniversary of the creation of the UN's "Universal Declaration of Human Rights". Walking through the gift shop was quite cool since there was a lot of tie-in merchandise that celebrated the 60th birthday of the Atomium and the Smurfs. One of Brussels' most symbolic icons and a more respectable icon than Manneken Pis, the Atomium is worth visiting. Though it's worth it to even looking at it from the outside, the inside rewards the visitor with one of the best views of the city. It's certainly worth going out of the way considering that outside of Grand Place and Manneken Pis, there isn't that many notable attractions in the city proper.

I was totally prepared to be underwhelmed by what I assumed was gonna be a lame tourist trap geared toward kids. But it was pretty awesome. It's an interesting mix of history (the World's Fair site), cool architecture, great views, and awesome visuals with the unexpected laser show inside. The nearby Design Museum is included and I'd totally recommend a stop. The main exhibit when we were there was "Club Design". Very interesting and engaging displays. Our 17yo liked it too.

I enjoyed going here. The lines to get in were long but bearable. We first got our tickets and waited in a small line, then waited in the long line across the way to enter the atomium. I enjoy the historical pictures inside and the dark room with the strobe lights. The location is in a good place and very easy to get to. We took the hop on hop off bus to get there. Overall great experience on our trip to Brussels.

Please note this is a review about the waffles only not the Atomium. There's a little food truck near the Atomium that makes this stop spectacular. The waffles in Brussels, Belgium are heavenly especially the ones from this little truck (I don't remember the name of the food truck) I purchased a handful of waffles for only $4! Oh my gosh, it was so warm and sweet, syrup not needed! The waffles literally melted in my mouth. I wish I could find a replica in LA, sigh. Still day dreaming about it, that's how delicious it was!

Fantastic! Awesome tourist spot for all those who visit Brussels. Atomium is a must see. You'll be amazed when you see the structure itself. It is worth the admission ticket as well to go inside. Bring walking shoes and your own water and snacks. The visit up the Atomium can be quick or if you want visit all the areas, it'll take you a couple of hours. Make sure you visit every sphere (a lot of walking up and down stairs and escalators...FYI). Take the trip all the way up to the top for a 360' view of Brussels (the line to get into the elevator can be 20-30 minutes long). It's a great Brussels landmark every tourist to Brussels should see. The Atomium is about 3 miles from downtown Brussels. The light rail train stops right at Atomium or you can take a taxi from downtown (I recommend the light rail). My 6 year old son loved it.

This place is kind of out in the middle of nowhere so check which train goes there hop on and take like a 30-45 min ride to see Atomium. I think it's actually on the Hop On Hop Off bus tour as well. I would recommend seeing this first if you're on the Hop On/Off bus since it takes like 45 mins to get there and you can get a combo ticket with Mini Europe and hit two attractions and get the most of your train ticket. This place is kind of like the Space Needle in Seattle but for Brussels. Both were built for the World's Fair for each of the cities and both are shining (no pun intended) examples of phenomenal architecture and design. This was on my lists of things to see while in Brussels and I'm glad I got to see it. It's really cool structurally and provides awesome views of the surrounding area. There was a lot of stair climbing after the initial escalator to the top floor. Also some of the orbs were closed so we didn't get a chance to see the view from all the orbs. The who thing is very well maintained though and the people there provide a lot of good information on the World's Fair and the construction process. On the last escalator on the way out, it's almost completely dark, but there is a cool light show on the ceiling which makes you feel like you're in an episode of Star Trek or about to warp into another dimension once you reach the exit. I was actually kind of sad when we got off the escalator but after all the other steps within Atomium I was too tired to walk all the way back up all the steps just so I could ride the escalator again. I believe it was only about 20-22 Euro for a combination ticket for Atomium and Mini Europe. One think I did fine a little odd was that they make you take a picture with this odd cartoon character that I'm not familiar with (they make you do it at Mini-Europe too, so be prepared) and the way the place is set up, you have to go through the gift shop before you leave. They of course try to sell you the pics, but honestly if you don't already have enough photos throughout Brussels, they have a deal for 3 photos for like 12-15 Euros, which I of course gave in to and now I've got something to laugh at forever. Also, I have a picture of my sister and I together on the adventure of our lifetime through Europe. Somehow the cost just didn't matter.

Pretty cool site in Brussels. You can go up and inside. We chose to view mini Europe instead but there are bundle tickets if you want mini Europe and the Atomium. Really unique structure and probably a better view on a bright sunny day

Ok... this was not on my list of things I wanted to see on my day trip to Brussels. I usually try to stay away from cheese unless it's edible. However, I had finished what I wanted to do in the morning super fast and had about 2 hours to kill until I met with my tour group. I love taking the subway in new places and decided to make this trek because it's pretty far. And I have to say, this was not a terrible idea. At first, I was just going to walk around and take pictures of the building and the surrounding grounds (which must be absolutely beautiful in the summer when in full bloom) but I decided to take a look inside. I'm glad I did. As cheesy as the exhibition was, it was fascinating to be inside. The escalators were worth the expense themselves (escalators are a guilty pleasure of mine). There was also an interactive Rene Magritte exhibition going on at the time I came and I really really enjoyed that. Unexpected and fully delightful. The entrance ticket also came with an entrance to the ADAM which wasn't nearly as cool but hey I WAS trying to kill time...

Atomium is must visit and a unique building. It's located right next to train station so very easy to reach. Tickets are cheap and cheaper for students. Elevator goes all the way up and you walk down on nice fancy escalator and stairs. There are 3-4 accessible round spheres with different themes which is good. Center sphere has lighting show.

After seeing this structure as a keychain I had to come and check it out. Took the bus there from the city which was a rather Tivoli quick ride. It is an amazing structure, quite impressive actually. Got here early so there wasn't a line, elevators and escalators to get around. A lot of history to be learned, was part of the World Expo which is interesting and I could say I've been here. I was looking forward to exploring all the spheres, but that's not an option, just an illusion.

This was really cool and did not cost much to enter. I don't recall how much the exact ticket was as a student but for both the atomium and mini Europe it was not more than €30. I took the train from the city centre and was a short walk from the station. The rooms were cool but extremely hot inside. I spent a total of an hour in all the rooms. This isn't something I would visit again but was a nice day trip from the city center.

Captain's Log, star date 9012014... we come across another of Earth's Landmarks... Athens = Acropolis Rome = Colliseum Paris = Eiffel Tower San Diego = Nothing Brussels = ATOMIUM This is perhaps the most underappreciated landmark in the world. C'mon people, its a GIANT fricken atom! Its just...AWESOME! At 102 meters high, you get a great view of Brussels. Its easy to get to on the metro. €11 for Adults, but I got in for €8 with my community college Student ID. Well worth it at any price. The Atomium's current advertising company should be fired, and the company that advertises Manneken Pis should be hired. I am absolutely baffled and confounded as to why that little boy peeing statue is more famous. The Atomium is the "must see" landmark of Brussels! Oh Earthlings...we'll never fully understand you...

Super cool design. Loved the historical images and information about the Atomium's architect and Sabena's influence. But logistically a big fail. Stairs closed, poor directional signage among other things. Gift shop closed when we came down so no souvenirs.

The Atomium is a 102 meter tall model of an iron crystal. Such a crystal would need to be magnified 165 billion times to reach this size. For those who care about materials science (puts up hand, waves it frantically, I do! I do!) iron has a body centred cubic structure, meaning that eight atoms sit at the corners of a cube and a ninth sits at the cube's centre. In The Atomium, the nine spheres are 18 m in diameter and are clad in shiny stainless steel. They're connected by stainless steel tubes that are 3 m in diameter. Inside the tubes there are escalators, stairs and an astonishingly fast lift - these connect the five spheres that you can go inside and walk around in. These five spheres hold exhibits about the atomic age and the design and construction of The Atomium. There's a sphere for workshops for kids and there are some pretty psychedelic art installations. There's a viewing platform at the top sphere, as well as a restaurant (which we sadly didn't visit because restaurants at the top of landmarks are traditionally extortionately expensive). Apparently they also do events like film screenings and concerts, which must be one of the most bizarre and wonderful experiences. From the viewing platform you can also see Mini Europe. I enjoyed the reflection there, sitting in an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times, looking down at a 1:25th model of Europe. Someone has a sense of humour.

This is one of Brussels' important landmarks. It's free so expect lots of tourists and crazy drivers. I dodged one car only to get almost hit by another. My jump shot profile pic would've been my last photo taken. Alas, the cat has 9 lives! There are plenty of good spots to take pictures from. There's a roundabout with tulips if you want a picture of Atomium + flowers - and dodging cars is your thing. This explains why nobody has their picture taken here - you'll have the space all to yourself. Then there's a long grassy strip right in front of this metal structure. That's where you can expect tourists to photobomb you but you get to live. Overrated! Underneath the Atomium, there's a be.WELCOME sign and a red metal sculpture. Expect lots of people there too.

2 stars for the Atomium. 5 stars for the Rene Magritte exhibit. The Atomium is a very cool structure, but going to the top doesn't really do anything. The only reason you should consider going up is to learn more about the structure and its history, to which I'd recommend you reading the Wiki article. Additionally, the Magritte exhibit inside was interactive and explained some of his more famous works, which was an unexpected surprise. Being a fan of his work, this saved the Atomium experience for me. Views from the top are unfortunately boring.

Honestly I'm not sure I would go back here, once you've seen it you've seen it. But it was pretty cool to go even standing in line with 3 kids. Parking seemed to be along the street so be grabbed a spot when we saw one. There was a line for tickets that we stood in for probably 25 minutes. You can buy tickets online and I was actually going to buy them online while I was standing in line, but I wasn't sure how they sent them so was worried I would have to print them or something and wouldn't be able to. Online you pick a time and go in then, but that doesn't mean you avoid the line to get in the elevator, you just enter the building then I guess. The tickets bought on-site could be used immediately. We went in and got in line for the elevator. Their posted signed said about 40 minute wait, but we only waited about 25 before we got on the elevator. You first go up to the top and can walk around and look out the windows on all sides. If you are into souvenirs they have a few pressed penny type things up there but towards the place that you get back on the elevator they have a bill worth nothing, but in purples/blues and featuring the Atomium. It's probably one of the coolest souvenirs I've ever seen and only 2 Euro each. After you go up you come all the way back down and then can wander into about 4 other balls through stairs and escalators. They have different displays in each. This was probably my favorite part. Overall this cost us 30 Euro since our 3 kids under 6 were free. Kind of high, but worth the experience and photos I guess. They do have another gift shop you have to walk through before you exit that has lots more things inside. We didn't look or buy from here. If you need to go to the bathroom I suggest waiting until you are at the top ball. Down below they charge .50 Euro but up top there is no charge and no line. There was at least one place to eat here that looked like it had hamburgers and similar fare. We didn't eat there.

Okay, this is more a review of Atomium's surrounding area and as a landmark more than an inside adventure. We took a boatload of photos outside this thing. Honestly, wasn't even sure I'd get to see this prior to the trip, but when our guide/friend was (semi-aimlessly??) taking us around via metro we came upon it. I think she meant to come here all along which is cool! It was rather enjoyable and fun to see. It's definitely really touristy. Tons of photo ops. Was in an open area, so enjoy those cold blasts of wintery wind too. The building/structure is made of stainless steel and is super shiny. Easily seen as an art installation and is one of the more unexpected structures I'd figure to see in Brussels. Visitors can go to the top where there is a restaurant and museum or I think you can explore parts of the structure. We were tourists on a budget so we opted for plenty of cute photos in front and behind Atomium... anything from jumping in front of it to just getting wacky selfies in the reflected steel. Nearby, there are several decent restaurants and a Quick. Some other tourist attractions like Mini Europe. So we scoped that out. There are a few combo tickets involving some of the attractions. If we had been more prepared they definitely were appealing. Our guide mate wasn't particularly ready to shell out money for such things and given we had barely gotten any euros ourselves made it for such a poor adventure. However, despite that... I think it's still a nice trek and adventure. I certainly don't regret having seen it once. Hoping if I ever return I'll be better prepared and able to actually climb up instead of just spend several hours looking up at it with a camera. Ha.

Honestly, this place is probably not worth it at all. Okay, it is probably Bruxelle's version of the Eifel Tower, but I'm not actually a huge fan of that particular Parisian monument myself, despite all of the hype that goes into it. It is probably one of those places where you go, look around, take a photo of yourself in front of it, and then go and look for something much better to do. Inside isn't all that great, unless they have an expo on. Basically they have a couple of levels about the design and construction of it, a viewing platform at the top, and a light and sound extravaganza, which is cool, but certainly not worth the money to go inside. If there was actually more in here it would be worth it, but there isn't. See it if you must, but don't make it a priority.

Honestly, this attraction is extremely overrated. I came here on my second trip to Brussels because I was absolutely gutted that I missed it the first time around. I bought a ticket at the hotel I was staying in to go into the actual musuem (and was over charged and cheated out of 10€, but that's another story and I am not including that consideration as part of my review). Located on the outskirts of the city, near the stadium, it takes a bit of effort to get to using public transportation and there's not much else around it. I visited during the week, in the middle of the day, so crowds were minimal. Of course, I took a selfie outside with the structure in the background before going up inside, and in retrospect, I could have just done that and been equally as satisfied. The best part of the whole afternoon was the Marguerite exhibition, which is only a temporary attraction. Other than that, I was pretty underwhelmed. There are a number of artifacts and photographs from the World's Fair when the structure was originally built, which were enjoyable in their own kitschy way but... Again, really nothing to write home about. I'd suggest to others that they go see the structure, snap a selfie, and save their time/money for other sight-seeing in the city.

The Atomium is a landmark symbol in Brussels that was originally constructed for the 1958 Brussel's World Fair. The top floor, which features a restaurant/cafe/bar offers a place to rest and panoramic views of the city. The ticket also allows entrance to the museum or you can bundle the ticket with the other nearby attractions. The building is unique and historic.

Fun for kids, but adults can skip. A very weird place that hasn't really aged well. On busy days, you must wait an hour to go to the top. The other exhibits aren't anything to write home about. Note that you can buy your tickets online ahead of time. Not worth the schlep our here unless you have relatively young children. I preferred mini-Europe which is nearby.

As a structure it's certainly fairly impressive, if a little incongruous. It's only a few minutes walk from the metro and close to Mini Europe so you can do both in quick succession if you really want to conform to the tourist stereotype. We didn't bother to go inside, a wander around the bottom was enough to satisfy my curiosity. There is a restaurant at the very top, if you eat there then you don't have to pay to ascend to the top. It's popular though, we tried to make a reservation once we were already in town and the whole weekend was already fully booked, so if you want a table then plan ahead!

Worst thing ever! $54 for myself, spouse, teen and child to enter. There was nothing in the balls! There was one ball that had lights in it and that was it! The kids museum ball was for schools only and it was locked! Useless space! Escalators go up to an empty ball with three frames on the wall and then you go into another! Biggest waste of time and money! You can't even get a picture of the view because there's no windows!! Scam!

The place and the view are AMAZING but the food SUCKS. The organic chicken is in a stew and it was undercooked. They took that back and I ordered a steak very well done but I guess they tried to rush my order and it was undercooked as well. The view is amazing but I would definitely not recommend this to anyone.

It's so big and so crowded even the -3° weather!!! It's very convenient that you can use the tram to go so close but it's not in the center of the city :( it's kind of far and our assess literally freeze until we get there. Having photos and walking around was so much fun and totally worth to freeze in this weather. I recommend you to go before sunset so you can see the city