Royal Belgian institute of Natural Sciences

A successful day at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences starts with a bit of preparation. Located in Brussels’ leafy EU Quarter, the museum welcomes school groups, travelers, and even neighborhood locals. Tickets move quickly on weekends or rainy holidays, but quieter mornings let visitors wander at their own pace. Most exhibits are indoors, offering a comfortable escape from the city’s weather swings.

• Best time to visit: Weekday mornings, especially outside Belgian school holidays or during the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn)
• How to get there: Metro line 1 or 5 to Maelbeek (Maalbeek) station; trams 81 and 92 or buses 34 and 38 stop nearby
• Accessibility: Fully accessible for strollers and wheelchairs; family-friendly facilities and quiet spaces for breaks
• Average visit duration: 2 to 3 hours for highlights; up to 5 hours for deeper exploration or with children

The museum’s three towering Iguanodons greet every visitor, but there's more to discover beyond those legendary bones. Halls fill with shimmering minerals, dioramas of wild Belgian countryside, and interactive science corners. The Living Planet gallery introduces creatures from rainforests to Arctic snows, while the evolution-focused Gallery of Humankind draws curious eyes with ancient skulls and clever hands-on games. Those who pause in quieter corridors find fossilized sea lilies, strange insects, and even Belgium’s oldest meteorite.

• Key sights or features: The Dinosaur Gallery (Europe’s largest), Gallery of Evolution, Gallery of Humankind, and BiodiverCITY urban biodiversity exhibit
• Unique experiences: Touch real fossils, experience immersive VR stations on ancient Earth, take a peek behind the scenes during "Science Sundays"
• Photo-worthy locations: Dinosaur Hall with its 29 mounted skeletons, the view down the Timeline Staircase, and the sunlit atrium by the whale skeletons
• Cultural or historical facts: The famous Iguanodons were discovered in Bernissart, Belgium, in the 19th century and radically changed paleontology