Att besöka Atomium i Bryssel - och Belgiens Mini-Europa

Writer: Helena Bergström

Are you curious to visit the Atomium in Brussels, or perhaps see Belgium's Mini-Europe, which is right next door? The Atomium has become one of the symbols of Brussels, and we wanted to explore this unusual building. It was an exciting excursion!

Table of contents

What is the Atomium?

Located in Brussels, the Atomium is a 102 metre high building, often seen as a symbol of Brussels. It was created by André Waterkeyn for the 1958 Brussels World Fair (Expo 58). The monument, which consists of a bunch of interconnected 'balls', actually depicts an iron crystal, magnified 165 billion times.

When it was built, it was intended as an exhibition piece to be dismantled at the end of Expo 58, but due to the popularity of the monument, the decision to demolish it was postponed. And so it simply stayed!

Unwilling to spend money on maintenance, the Atomium's future was eventually jeopardised, but then the non-profit group 'Save the Atomium' was created. With funds from the City of Brussels, the Belgian government, private donations and the sale of pieces of the fading aluminium shell (which needed to be replaced), the project succeeded. Today, the monument is a popular tourist attraction with a restaurant, viewpoint and exhibitions.

Besöka Atomium — In front of the Atomium in Brussels

Visiting the Atomium in Brussels

We got to the Atomium by metro, and from the metro it was only a short walk. After getting tickets at the ticket office, we queued for the lift. You start your visit by taking the lift to the highest "ball".

The guy in the lift asked us to look up through the glass roof, and it was actually a bit breathtaking to see how quickly we moved the 92 metres to the top. When the Atomium was created, this was apparently the fastest lift in the world to take people this high up. Read more on Atomiums website.

There is a restaurant in the top ball, but when we were here it was full, so it might be a good idea to book well in advance. From the top you also have a fantastic panoramic view of Brussels. When we were here it was raining, but we could still see the city. We could also see Belgium's Mini-Europe, which is located right next to the Atomium, with famous European buildings in miniature. We wanted to take a closer look at that!

atomium utsikt — View of Brussels and of Mini-Europe

Little Europe Brussels — Below we see Belgium's Mini-Europe.

After visiting the top, you take the lift all the way down again, and then continue your visit with escalators and stairs to see some of the other balls. In the first ones there were exhibitions, including photos from the construction and the inauguration. The ball we liked the most was one that was lit up in different lights, accompanied by music. Even though the Atomium is from the 1950s, the feeling in this room was futuristic!

Atomium invändigt — Inside the Atomium in Brussels

Atomium Bryssel — View from one of the "intermediate balls"

READ MORE: We try Belgian waffles in Belgium
READ MORE: Belgian beer - and breweries in Belgium

Visiting Mini-Europe in Belgium

We never took the time to visit Adam - Brussels Design Museum, which is also located here and was actually included in our ticket. However, we were a bit curious to take a closer look at Mini-Europe! In a relatively large area, famous buildings from around Europe have been built in a mini format. Nice and fun to look at! You can also take a thick brochure with you to read about the different countries and buildings. Read more at Mini-Europe's website.

Stockholm mini — The town hall in Stockholm! When you press the blue button you will hear "Du gamla du fria".

Finland Mini — Finland is represented by the Olavinlinna castle

Peter som viking — Peter as a Viking ...

Brussels airlines mini — Brussels Airlines (which we flew with) in mini format

Bryssel mini — What beautiful city is this? Brussels, of course!

Dinant Mini — This church looks cool! Apparently located in Dinant, Belgium.

Sacre Coeur Paris — Sacre Coeur in Paris, France

Atomium Brussels — Atomium in the background, and Mini-Europe in the foreground

Travelling to Atomium

Underground railway: The Atomium and Mini-Europa are located at the Heysel/Heizel metro station in Brussels.
Walking: From Heysel metro station, it's a 300-metre walk to the Atomium, and another few hundred metres to Mini-Europe.

guide: Opening hours and prices

Opening hours: The Atomium is open 10-18 almost every day. Please note that the building may be closed a few days a year for restoration.
Prices: Atomium, Adam Design Museum + Mini-Europa is €27.50 for adults (2018), Atomium and Adam only is €15, and Mini-Europa only is €15.50 (2018). Children shorter than 115 cm enter for free, and taller children, students and seniors have some discounts.
Accessibility: The first part of the visit to the Atomium is done by lift, but the second part includes stairs. Mini-Europe can be visited without stairs.

15 Comments

Add yours →

Ama de casa says:

What cool places! Cool with a mini Europe that can make most people feel at home 🙂 .

What I don't understand is why they insist on taking down all the fun buildings after these world exhibitions. It's a good thing they don't always succeed. For example, what would Paris be without the Eiffel Tower? 🙂

12 December 2018 - 8:28

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, it's really lucky that they don't take down the Eiffel Tower, haha!
  
  12 December 2018 - 15:57
  
Madeleine Krans says:

Atomium was cool, but what steep escalators, you really got dizzy! I unfortunately missed the Mini Europe completely when I was there, strange.

12 December 2018 - 10:03

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you found the Atomium, but it's a shame you missed Mini-Europe!
  
  12 December 2018 - 15:58
  
Maria / Magnolia Magis says:

What a cool thing! Although I'd probably get vertigo!!! I would love to walk around and look at Mini Europe. Miniatures are my favourite! I also see that Peter took the tip about dressing up as a terrible Viking!!! Good job! ;D

12 December 2018 - 11:26

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I had no major problems with vertigo here, even though I'm hysterically afraid of heights 😉 And haha, yes Peter has probably practised a bit 😉 .
  
  12 December 2018 - 15:59
  
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:

Although I've been to Brussels several times, I've never managed to visit the Atomium, although I've been very keen to go there. It would be interesting to read more about it.

12 December 2018 - 13:52

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  An interesting visit! 🙂
  
  13 December 2018 - 6:32
  
World by Tina says:

But typically, I managed to miss you at the Aruba event too!

What an exciting mini-Europe, I thought it was in Hamburg. You learn new things all the time about the world=)

12 December 2018 - 15:14

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Typical, but surely there will be more opportunities? Maybe there are more mini-Europes?
  
  13 December 2018 - 6:32
  
Ditte says:

Very nice with a return visit here. And if you are in Brussels, these are some of the "musts". And the "old" Atomium is very special. I had when I worked an EU exchange some countries and Belgium was included so then there were some trips here and many experiences - "Adam" is also worth visiting but you can't do everything in a weekend.

12 December 2018 - 17:25

Emma, Sol som sol? says:

Haha, you know what! When we drove down from Sweden to Spain, my husband was in contact with a friend/client/colleague he has in Belgium, a Belgian. We wondered if there was anything special we should look at, if he could recommend something in his country.
- Drive by!!! was his answer! So we did, it rained the whole journey through Belgium.

But look, you found fun! I wonder if I haven't been to that tiny little place when I was a kid. Or maybe it was somewhere else. I'm sure there are more.

Those balls were really delicious. I wondered when I saw the first picture if it was hollow/visitable. And it really was!

12 December 2018 - 17:31

Rolle o Carina says:

What places there are there, have just flown over that city!

Take care.....

12 December 2018 - 18:30

BP says:

I actually missed Mini-Europe too, strange! But I have visited the Atomium. It seems that they have cleaned the balls lately. When I was there they were extremely dirty. Fun!

12 December 2018 - 19:28

Lena - gott för själen says:

The balls don't look big at all in the pictures. It's nice that there is still room for some exciting things there. And glad that it was allowed to remain.

Hug Lena

14 December 2018 - 6:40

Visiting the Atomium in Brussels - and Belgium's Mini-Europe

Writer: Helena Bergström

What is the Atomium?

Visiting the Atomium in Brussels

Visiting Mini-Europe in Belgium

Read more about Brussels

Travelling to Atomium

guide: Opening hours and prices

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15 Comments

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Madeleine Krans says:

Helena says:

Maria / Magnolia Magis says:

Helena says:

Ann-Louise Paulsson says:

Helena says:

World by Tina says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Emma, Sol som sol? says:

Rolle o Carina says:

BP says:

Lena - gott för själen says:

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