A Sightseeing Guide to Brussels
Most Brussels sightseeing runs on gates rather than open hours: a timed slot, a closed Monday, or a summer window that shuts again in mid-August. Knowing the gate matters more than knowing the address.
Grand-Place, free, any hour
The square itself costs nothing and looks best after dark, when the 1690s guildhalls are lit gold. The Hôtel de Ville interior is a separate matter: a 55-minute guided tour through the aldermen’s rooms costs €15, booked ahead through visit.brussels , with no independent walk-up access and no public climb up the tower.
The Atomium, book ahead in summer
Metro 6 to Heysel. Built for the 1958 World Expo, six of nine spheres are open via escalators and light installations, with a top observation deck at 92 meters. Adult €17, seniors 65+ €15, students and children over 115cm €9, under 115cm free, open daily 10:00-18:00, last entry 17:30. Every ticket includes the adjacent Design Museum Brussels. Skip-the-line Atomium tickets are bookable on GetYourGuide for summer weekends, when the entry queue runs long.
Royal Palace, one window a year
Place des Palais. This is the monarch’s working administrative palace, not a full-time residence, and it opens to visitors only during a short summer window: in 2026, 3 July through 16 August, after a three-year restoration closure. Entry needs advance online booking and a €10 ticket for anyone 13 or older, and it closes Mondays plus a handful of extra dates around state visits, confirmed against monarchie.be . Outside that window, the facade from Place des Palais is what there is to see.
Magritte Museum and the Old Masters
Rue de la Régence 3, Mont des Arts. The Magritte collection runs 230 works for €13 adult, €10 senior, €5 ages 18-25, free under 18, open Tuesday to Friday 10:00-17:00, weekends 11:00-18:00, closed Mondays. A combined ticket with the Old Masters Museum next door is €20 adult, and the permanent collections are free on the first Wednesday of each month from 13:00.
The Musical Instruments Museum
Rue Montagne de la Cour 2, inside the Art Nouveau Old England building. Over 1,200 instruments, heard through infrared headphones as you pass each display case, plus a rooftop restaurant with one of the better skyline views in the city. 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.
The Cathedral, mostly free
Place Sainte-Gudule. The main nave of this Brabant Gothic cathedral is free; the Romanesque crypt is €1 and the Treasury €2. Open Monday to Friday 7:30-18:00, Saturday 7:30-15:30, Sunday 14:00-18:00.
Planning around Mondays
Magritte, Old Masters, the Musical Instruments Museum, Coudenberg, Train World and the Natural Sciences Museum all close on Mondays, so a Monday itinerary works better around the Atomium, the Cathedral and outdoor squares than around museum interiors. Compare hotels within walking distance of Grand-Place on Booking.com , and for guided access to the interiors a self-guided visit cannot reach, see the Brussels attraction tours guide .