Atomium

Brussels, Belgium

LEFT: The Atomium is most impressive at night, when lights switch on and off in a pattern that suggests revolving atoms.

At first glance, the Atomium looks like a candidate for the World's Largest Roadside Attractions. And why not? It puts the World's Largest Baseball Bat and the World's Largest Bicycles to shame. Yet the city fathers of Brussels would hasten to tell you that, far from being an example of kitsch, the Atomium is a lasting symbol of the 1958 Brussels World's Fair and Belgium's answer to the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty.

Tastes obviously differ regarding the aesthetic appeal of a giant molecule. Still, the Atomium is an impressive structure when viewed from close up. It stands 332 feet (102 meters) high and consists of nine spheres of 59 feet (18 m) diameter connected by tubes measuring 94 feet (29 m) in length and 10 feet (3 m) thick.  Escalators connect the spheres, most of which contain science exhibits. An elevator (said to be Europe's fastest) leads to an observation gallery and restaurant in the topmost atom.

Season and prices

The Atomium is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily from April through August, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. September through March. The basic ticket price is €6 for adults and €3 for children between 1,2 meters in height and 12 years of age. (Smaller children are free.) You can also buy combination tickets for the Atomium and nearby attractions such as Mini-Europe, Oceade, and an IMAX large-screen movie theatre.

Reaching the Atomium

The Atomium is on the Boulevard du Centenaire in Heysel, on the northwestern edge of Brussels. The easiest way to reach it is by Métro; the Heysel (Heizel) station is on line 1A.

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