Atomium

About the museum

The Atomium was designed for the Brussels World's Fair, which opened in April 1958 on the Heysel plateau. It represents an iron crystal enlarged billions of times, made up of nine spheres linked together. Studies began in 1955; the steel structure, clad in aluminium, was assembled like a construction kit from highly standardised parts and completed a month before the Expo opened. Originally the building was not meant to survive the exhibition, but it quickly became an emblem of the capital.

Over the decades the tarnished cladding and waterproofing problems weakened the building, which came close to being demolished in the late 1990s. A major renovation, carried out between 2004 and 2006, replaced the aluminium cladding with stainless steel, installed LED lighting and added a reception pavilion at the foot of the monument, housing the ticket office and facilities. It reopened in February 2006.

Today the visit combines the panorama in the upper sphere, reached by lift, with a route through the other spheres by escalators and stairs. The permanent exhibition tells the story of Expo 58, the construction of the monument, its decline and its revival, with archives, photographs, period films, models and a large model of the exhibition site made by an enthusiast. Several spheres also host temporary exhibitions, mainly devoted to digital arts. The entrance ticket also gives access to the Design Museum Brussels, very close by.

Highlights

• 360° panorama in the upper sphere, 92 m above the ground
• Permanent exhibition on Expo 58 and the history of the monument
• Detailed model of the site of the 1958 World's Fair
• Route by escalators and light tubes between the spheres
• Side viewpoint at 36 m to see the city through the structure
• Panoramic restaurant in the upper sphere

Permanent exhibition

• Du symbole à l'icône – exposition permanente sur l'Expo 58 – Documents, photographs, period films, models and interactive screens trace the history of the 1958 World's Fair and the monument, with a large model of the Expo site.

Founded

1958

Operated by

asbl Atomium

Director

Julie Almau Gonzalez

Admission & discounts

The ticket also includes entry to the Design Museum Brussels, 150 m away. Transaction fees apply when buying online. 10% discount on presentation of a ticket for the Meise Botanic Garden (1 July to 31 December 2026) or the immersive Tutankhamun exhibition (until 17 January 2027).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Because of the building's architecture, only the panorama in the upper sphere, served by lift, is wheelchair-accessible. The rest of the route involves 80 steps up and 167 down, with escalators. People with reduced mobility and one accompanying person have priority access. The lift may cause dizziness; some light tubes and installations may bother people with epilepsy. Only guide dogs for visually impaired people are admitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly: not available

The digital game AtomiumPlay, featuring the character Zoé, guides children through the spheres. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult; strollers are not admitted to the monument and are left in a designated area behind the ticket office.

Getting there & parking

Villo! bike station no. 281 nearby. The Brussels-Capital Region is a low-emission zone (LEZ): check whether your vehicle may enter at lez.brussels.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Panoramic restaurant in the upper sphere (independently run; bar and lunch during the day, dinner by reservation) and a snack bar with terrace at the foot of the monument, open from 10:00 to 18:00. A restaurant reservation does not give access to the visit. Lockers cost €1 (refunded) in the reception pavilion, which also houses the ticket office and toilets.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 500 guests.

Several spaces for hire: the Ilya Prigogine side sphere, the central sphere, Waterkeyn, the panorama (from 19:00) or the entire building (up to 500 people for a cocktail or banquet).

Plan your visit