Brussels Sightseeing Essentials
The landmarks everyone photographs in Brussels come with real gates behind them: timed tickets, seasonal closures, and one very specific summer window worth knowing about before you build a schedule around it.
Grand-Place and the Town Hall
Free to enter any hour of the day, the guildhalls around the square are best seen lit at night. The Hôtel de Ville interior is a separate €15 guided tour, 55 minutes through the aldermen’s rooms and council chambers, booked in advance through visit.brussels ; there is no independent walk-up access and the tower is not open for casual climbing.
The Atomium
Metro 6 to Heysel. A 102-meter model of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times, built for the 1958 World Expo, with six of nine spheres open via escalators and light installations, plus a top-sphere observation deck at 92 meters. Open daily 10:00-18:00, last entry 17:30. Adult €17, seniors 65+ €15, students and children over 115cm €9, under 115cm free. Every ticket includes the adjacent Design Museum Brussels, 150 meters away. Book Atomium tickets ahead on GetYourGuide to skip the entry line in peak season.
Magritte Museum and Old Masters
Rue de la Régence 3, on Mont des Arts. The Magritte Museum holds 230 works by René Magritte, adult €13, senior €10, ages 18-25 €5, under 18 free, open Tuesday to Friday 10:00-17:00, weekends 11:00-18:00, closed Mondays. A combined ticket with the Old Masters Museum (Bruegel, Rubens, Van Dyck, Bosch) runs €20 adult, €15 senior, €8 youth, and permanent collections are free on the first Wednesday of each month from 13:00. Both are included with the Brussels Card.
Musical Instruments Museum
Rue Montagne de la Cour 2, in the Old England Art Nouveau building. Over 1,200 instruments, played through infrared audio headphones as you walk past each one. Adult €15, seniors €13, ages 18-25 €8, under 18 free. Tuesday to Friday 9:30-17:00, weekends 10:00-17:00, closed Mondays, and the rooftop restaurant has one of the better skyline views in the city.
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
Place Sainte-Gudule. Brabant Gothic, founded in the 11th century and completed in 1519. Free entry to the main nave; the archaeological Romanesque crypt is €1, the Treasury €2. Open Monday to Friday 7:30-18:00, Saturday 7:30-15:30, Sunday 14:00-18:00.
Royal Palace, summer only
Place des Palais. This is the working monarch’s administrative palace, not a residence, and it is open to the public strictly during a short summer window rather than year-round: in 2026 that window runs 3 July to 16 August, following a three-year restoration closure. Entry requires advance online booking and a €10 ticket for anyone 13 and older, and the palace closes Mondays plus a few extra dates around state visits, confirmed against monarchie.be . Outside that window, admire the facade from Place des Palais and move on.
Before you go
Most of the museums above close Mondays, Cantillon brewery closes Wednesdays and Sundays, so a Monday itinerary should lean on the Atomium, the Cathedral and outdoor squares rather than museum interiors. Compare hotels within walking distance of these sights on Booking.com , and pair a museum day with the self-guided Brussels walking tours for the routes between them.