Cities
Belgium Brussels Central Brussels Tourist attractions

Atomium

Atomium
About

Rising above the Heysel Plateau in northern Brussels, the Atomium is a striking symbol of Belgian ingenuity and postwar optimism. Built for the 1958 World’s Fair (Expo 58), this futuristic structure represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times, with nine gleaming spheres connected by tubes housing escalators and stairs. Designed by engineer André Waterkeyn and architects André and Jean Polak, the Atomium stands 102 metres tall and offers panoramic views from its top sphere, which also hosts a restaurant. Originally intended as a temporary installation, it became a beloved landmark and was fully renovated between 2004 and 2006. Today, the Atomium functions as a museum and cultural venue, with exhibitions exploring science, design, and digital art. Its surreal silhouette has become an enduring icon of Brussels, blending architectural daring with a celebration of human progress. Whether admired from below or explored from within, the Atomium invites visitors to experience a unique fusion of science, art, and imagination.

Brussels Belgium
Location

The Atomium is located at Place de l’Atomium 1, 1020 Brussels, in the Laeken district on the Heysel Plateau in the northern part of the city. Originally built as the centerpiece of the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair (Expo 58), this striking modernist structure stands 102 meters tall and consists of nine interconnected stainless steel spheres arranged to represent an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Today, the Atomium is Brussels’ most iconic landmark, offering panoramic views from its top sphere, a restaurant, and a series of exhibitions inside its futuristic spaces. The Atomium is surrounded by several major attractions, making the area a vibrant destination for visitors. Just next door is Mini-Europe, a park featuring miniature replicas of famous European monuments, while the Brussels Expo exhibition halls and the lush Parc de Laeken are also within easy walking distance. The Royal Castle of Laeken and its famous greenhouses are nearby, as are the Museums of the Far East, including the Japanese Tower and Chinese Pavilion. The site is easily accessible via the Heysel/Heizel metro station on line 6, connecting visitors to the rest of Brussels. With its unique architecture and proximity to cultural, historical, and family-friendly attractions, the Atomium is a must-see highlight for any trip to Brussels.

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium Brussels Magritte Museum Magritte Museum Brussels Belgian Comic Strip Center Belgian Comic Strip Center Brussels Musical Instruments Museum Musical Instruments Museum Brussels Autoworld Autoworld Brussels BELvue Museum BELvue Museum Brussels Train World Train World Brussels Museum of the City of Brussels Museum of the City of Brussels Brussels Brouwerij Cantillon Brouwerij Cantillon Brussels Royal Palace of Brussels Royal Palace of Brussels Brussels Palace of the Nation Palace of the Nation Brussels Castle of Laeken Castle of Laeken Brussels La Monnaie La Monnaie Brussels Théâtre Royal du Parc Théâtre Royal du Parc Brussels Royal Flemish Theatre Royal Flemish Theatre Brussels Palais du Coudenberg Palais du Coudenberg Brussels Parc de Bruxelles Parc de Bruxelles Brussels Parc du Cinquantenaire Parc du Cinquantenaire Brussels Bois de la Cambre Bois de la Cambre Brussels Botanical Garden of Brussels Botanical Garden of Brussels Brussels Mont des Arts Garden Mont des Arts Garden Brussels Grand Place Grand Place Brussels Manneken Pis Manneken Pis Brussels Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral Brussels Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert Brussels Place Royale Place Royale Brussels Statue of Everard t'Serclaes Statue of Everard t'Serclaes Brussels Brussels Town Hall Brussels Town Hall Brussels Fashion & Lace Museum Fashion & Lace Museum Brussels Art & History Museum Art & History Museum Brussels Old Masters Museum Old Masters Museum Brussels Constantin Meunier Museum Constantin Meunier Museum Brussels Wiertz Museum Wiertz Museum Brussels Design Museum Brussels Design Museum Brussels Brussels House of European History House of European History Brussels Jewish Museum of Belgium Jewish Museum of Belgium Brussels Royal Belgian institute of Natural Sciences Royal Belgian institute of Natural Sciences Brussels Brussels Museum of Industry and Labour Brussels Museum of Industry and Labour Brussels Erasmus House Erasmus House Brussels Museum of Ixelles Museum of Ixelles Brussels Van Buuren Museum & Garden Van Buuren Museum & Garden Brussels Choco-Story Brussels Choco-Story Brussels Brussels Belgian Brewers Museum Belgian Brewers Museum Brussels Sewer Museum Sewer Museum Brussels Parlamentarium Parlamentarium Brussels Royal Observatory of Belgium Royal Observatory of Belgium Brussels MIRA Public Observatory MIRA Public Observatory Brussels Atelier 34zero Muzeum Atelier 34zero Muzeum Brussels Boghossian Foundation Boghossian Foundation Brussels BOZAR BOZAR Brussels Centrale for contemporary art Centrale for contemporary art Brussels Etablissement d’en face Etablissement d’en face Brussels Eté 78 Eté 78 Brussels Fondation A Stichting Fondation A Stichting Brussels Fondation CAB Fondation CAB Brussels Galila’s P.O.C. Galila’s P.O.C. Brussels Moonens Foundation Moonens Foundation Brussels n0dine n0dine Brussels Vanhaerents Art Collection Vanhaerents Art Collection Brussels La Verrière La Verrière Brussels Wiels Wiels Brussels Rodolphe Janssen Rodolphe Janssen Brussels Xavier Hufkens Xavier Hufkens Brussels Mendes Wood DM Mendes Wood DM Brussels Harlan Levey Projects Harlan Levey Projects Brussels Meessen De Clercq Meessen De Clercq Brussels Galerie Greta Meert Galerie Greta Meert Brussels Galerie Nathalie Obadia Galerie Nathalie Obadia Brussels Espace Art Gallery Espace Art Gallery Brussels Galerie d’YS Galerie d’YS Brussels Galerie VidalCuglietta Galerie VidalCuglietta Brussels ZSenne artlab ZSenne artlab Brussels Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles Brussels Théâtre Des Galeries Théâtre Des Galeries Brussels Théâtre de Poche Théâtre de Poche Brussels Théâtre Varia Théâtre Varia Brussels Théâtre Le Public Théâtre Le Public Brussels Théâtre Les Tanneurs Théâtre Les Tanneurs Brussels Théâtre des Martyrs Théâtre des Martyrs Brussels Le 140 Le 140 Brussels

User attributes