You have got to visit the Brussels Atomium! We visited Belgium with kids a few years ago but didn’t visit the Atomium as we had just one short day in Brussels. In June, I was able to spend a few days in Brussels and it was number one on my list of sights to visit. I can’t believe we didn’t bring the kids!! I absolutely loved both the Atomium and nearby Mini-Europe and together, they’re well worth a half day visit.
How to get to the Atomium?
The Atomium and Mini-Europe are next to each other and easy to get from one to the other in a very short walk. That said, getting to the Atomium is not walkable from the Grand Place area or Royal Palace area. This is part of the reason we didn’t visit when we had a day in Brussels with the kids.
I decided to visit the Atomium on my arrival day. I’d actually never travelled on my own before so this in itself was an experience! To make things easier, I did something that I’ve never done …. I did a hop-on hop-off bus! I never book hop-on hop-off tours for family holidays. The price for five of us is outrageous and it’s usually so much easier to explore on your own. This time, I was by myself, and thought the information from the hop-on hop-off, known here as TootBus (blue line to get to the Atomium), might be worth a shot. The advantages, I was able to easily get to and from my one stop at the Atomium (remember, you can reach Mini-Europe from here by walking a short, flat distance). Plus, I didn’t have to deal with Brussels transit which, for a last-minute short visit on my own, intimidated me a little. For 35 euros, in my circumstances, it was worth it. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend it if you are more than one person and are hoping for a wonderful amount of information.
Obviously, there are other ways to get to the Atomium and you can find information about public transportation on the Atomium website. At the present time, it takes two changes from Grand Place area. It is also accessible by bicycle. There are no parking facilities at the Atomium so public transportation is recommended.
History of the Atomium
The Atomium was built for the Brussels World Fair in 1958. Each World Fair had a theme and the theme for the Brussels World Fair was Science. At the time of its creations, people were still in shock by the use of the atomic bombs in Japan in 1945. The Atomium was meant to represent the peaceful use of atomic energy to provide an optimistic future to help mankind. The shape of the Atomium is an elementary iron crystal magnified 165 billion times.
Like the Eiffel Tower which was not intended to exist beyond the Paris World Fair, the Atomium wasn’t meant to exist beyond Expo 58, but it has become an international symbol.
What can I see at Brussel’s Atomium?
After the bus ride, and likely due to jetlag, I was dying for something to drink immediately on arrival. I dropped into the small kiosk just outside the Atomium entry and had a look around while I downed my very expensive bottle of water. It is hard to describe the Atomium but from the ground, it is absolutely stunning! I can’t imagine what it took to build this incredible structure. It is massive!
It was fairly easy to purchase my ticket at the outside kiosk. There are combo tickets available including Mini-Europe and/or the Planetarium but I didn’t really know how long visiting the Atomium would take so I opted to just get the single entrance ticket.
Bypassing several school and tour groups, I decided to start at the top and work my way down. The Panorama is located at the top, the seventh level, and is accessible only by elevator. There are exhibits in several of the other spheres which are accessible only by escalator or stairs.
The elevator to the top is fantastic.
The Panorama has incredible views over all of Brussels, including the nearby Planetarium, Mini-Europe and Brussels Expo building.
Mini-Europe
As you explore the sphere and its views, use the explanatory panels to find the sights of Brussels now and back when it was built. If you’re hungry, the Atomium Restaurant is in the 8th, very top, sphere.
Take the escalator down a floor to level six for another incredible viewing space that photographers love.
The interior architecture is stunning. If I wasn’t so concerned about the flights of stairs, I would have loved to explore each and every sphere just for that.
As you go to levels 1 and 2, you’ll find the permanent exhibitions which include information on the history of the Atomium and Expo 58. I was starting to wane from jet lag and opted instead to head outside to explore the exterior of the Atomium and head towards Mini-Europe.
Make sure you walk towards the Expo building for more amazing views of the Atomium from a totally different angle.
If you’re heading towards Mini-Europe, make sure to turn around and look back at this magnificent structure.
What else can I visit near the Atomium?
Mini-Europe is an absolute ‘must-do’ location. I loved it and it brought back so many memories from earlier European visits with the kids. I can’t wait to bring them here the next time we’re in Brussels.
The Planetarium is also very close. I really wanted to visit but I spent way more time at Mini-Europe than I expected and I never made it back to the area. Next trip!
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