Atomium and Design Museum Combined Ticket Brussels

The Atomium and the 1958 World's Fair

The Atomium is the symbol of Brussels: an iron crystal magnified around 165 billion times, made of nine shiny spheres joined by tubes and rising about 102 metres above the Heysel plateau. It was designed for the 1958 World's Fair and was meant to stand for only six months, but it proved so popular that it stayed.

For anyone planning an Atomium visit, the ticket gives you entrance to the spheres open to the public and the tubes between them. The Atomium tickets in this booking also cover the exhibitions inside, so you do not need to buy anything extra for those exhibitions once you have your voucher.

Inside the spheres: exhibitions and panoramic views

Inside the Atomium, the permanent exhibition tells the story of the building, its creation and its restoration. You also see the installation called CENTRALE and the light rings of the Visual Systems artwork in the central sphere, plus two temporary exhibitions that can include the immersive light-and-sound show RESTART and a photographic look at the great World's Fairs.

The top sphere is the highlight of any Atomium visit, with 360-degree views over the roofs of Brussels and the surrounding municipalities. A restaurant with the same view sits up there, and there are stairs in some parts of the structure, so wear comfortable shoes.

Design Museum Brussels

The second half of this ticket is Design Museum Brussels, close to the Atomium and about an 8-minute walk away. It presents the history of Belgian and international design from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with permanent and temporary exhibitions.

The Plastics Design Collection is a major draw, with around 2,000 plastic objects that show how everyday products from chairs to radios changed shape. It suits design fans, families with older children and anyone who wants a quieter indoor visit after the Atomium crowds. Labels and displays explain how materials, colours and production methods shaped the objects, so the visit works for design lovers and casual visitors alike.

Planning your visit and the Heysel area

Wondering how to get to the Atomium? Take metro line 6 to Heysel station, and the Atomium is a few minutes on foot. Opening hours change by season, and the best time to visit the Atomium is right after opening or after about 15:30, when visitor flow tends to reduce compared with the busy period from 10:00 to 15:00.

The wider Heysel area also has the Mini-Europe miniature park nearby, so you can combine the attractions in one day. Bring headphones and a charged smartphone for the included game, and remember that the Atomium is not suitable for wheelchair users.