Magritte Museum
Quick answer
Magritte Museum in Brussels, Belgium — the Magritte Museum opened in 2009 in the neoclassical Hôtel Altenloh on Place Royale, adjacent to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts. Open Tuesday–Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday–Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM; closed Mondays. Admission: €10 standalone; included in the RMFAB combined ticket (€15). Allow 90 minutes.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Magritte Museum at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Tuesday–Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday–Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Closed | Mondays |
| Admission | €10 standalone; included in the RMFAB combined ticket (€15) |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 90 minutes |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings at 10 AM — the surrealist galleries on Level 2 are quiet before lunchtime. |
| Getting there | Metro: M1/M5 to Parc or M2/M6 to Trône — 5-minute walk to Place Royale |
| Address | Place Royale 1, 1000 Brussels, Belgium |
| Official website | fine-arts-museum.be |
Checked 2026-06-30 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Magritte Museum known for?
The Magritte Museum opened in 2009 in the neoclassical Hôtel Altenloh on Place Royale, Brussels — part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium complex. It holds the world's largest collection of works by René Magritte (1898–1967), the Belgian surrealist whose visual paradoxes became among the most reproduced images of the 20th century.
The three-floor museum presents approximately 230 original works across all periods of Magritte's career: his early commercial work and Impressionist phase, the surrealist breakthrough of the 1920s and 30s, and the mature Renoir Period and final masterworks. Personal letters, photographs, and home movies contextualise the life and method of one of art history's most cerebral painters.
While the most famous version of The Treachery of Images ('Ceci n'est pas une pipe') is at LACMA in Los Angeles, the Brussels museum holds other major works from the same conceptual series, as well as The Empire of Light, The Dominion of Light, and numerous gouaches and drawings that reveal Magritte's working process.
Place Royale sits atop Brussels' historic Coudenberg hill, near the Royal Palace and Brussels Park. A combined ticket covering all six Royal Museums of Fine Arts museums offers excellent value for a full day of art in the Belgian capital.
Best for: Art Lovers · First-timers
How long do you need at Magritte Museum?
Allow 90 minutes. A focused route through 4 must-see highlights at Magritte Museum without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
The Empire of Light
📍 Level 2, Surrealist Gallery
A house at night beneath a bright daytime sky — one of Magritte's most poetic paradoxes.
- 2
The Dominion of Light
📍 Level 2, Surrealist Gallery
A companion to The Empire of Light — a darkened street scene beneath a luminous blue sky.
- 3
The Return
📍 Level 2, Surrealist Gallery
A bowler-hatted man seen from behind, facing a mirror that reflects nothing — one of Magritte's 'men in bowler hats' that became his visual signature and a symbol of bourgeois anonymity.
- 4
Scheherazade
📍 Level 3, Late Period
Floating spheres against a twilight sky — part of Magritte's 'Renoir Period' when he deliberately adopted a softer, more painterly style as a challenge to his own surrealist reputation.
What are the must-see works at Magritte Museum?
4 highlights that define the collection: The Empire of Light, The Dominion of Light, The Return and more.
The Empire of Light
René Magritte · 1954
📍 Level 2, Surrealist Gallery
A house at night beneath a bright daytime sky — one of Magritte's most poetic paradoxes. He painted over 20 versions of this motif; the Brussels museum holds several, each with subtle variations in mood and light.
The Dominion of Light
René Magritte · 1954
📍 Level 2, Surrealist Gallery
A companion to The Empire of Light — a darkened street scene beneath a luminous blue sky. The juxtaposition of day and night in a single image is Magritte's most enduring visual motif.
The Return
René Magritte · 1940
📍 Level 2, Surrealist Gallery
A bowler-hatted man seen from behind, facing a mirror that reflects nothing — one of Magritte's 'men in bowler hats' that became his visual signature and a symbol of bourgeois anonymity.
Scheherazade
René Magritte · 1950
📍 Level 3, Late Period
Floating spheres against a twilight sky — part of Magritte's 'Renoir Period' when he deliberately adopted a softer, more painterly style as a challenge to his own surrealist reputation.
Collections and highlights
- • 230 original Magritte works — world's largest collection
- • The Empire of Light series — day/night paradox paintings
- • Bowler-hat men — Magritte's signature motif
- • Personal archive — letters, photographs, and home films
- • Early commercial work — wallpaper and advertising designs
- • Surrealist gouaches and drawings — working process revealed
- • Combined ticket — all six Royal Museums of Fine Arts
- • Place Royale setting — neoclassical Hôtel Altenloh
Tips for visiting Magritte Museum
- 1.
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings at 10 AM — the surrealist galleries on Level 2 are quiet before lunchtime. Saturday afternoons are busiest.
- 2.
Crowds & busy periods
A compact museum that rarely feels overcrowded. Level 2 (main surrealist works) draws the most visitors. Combined ticket holders from other Royal Museums may arrive mid-day.
- 3.
Tickets & booking
€10 standalone; €15 combined ticket for all six Royal Museums. Buy at the door or online at fine-arts-museum.be. Under-18s free.
- 4.
Food & cafés nearby
Place Royale has cafés; Sablon district (10 minutes) has excellent chocolate shops and restaurants. Museum has no café.
- 5.
Accessibility
Elevator to all three floors. Wheelchair accessible. Compact layout makes it manageable for visitors with limited mobility.
How do you get to Magritte Museum?
- metro M1/M5 to Parc or M2/M6 to Trône — 5-minute walk to Place Royale
- tram Lines 92 and 93 to Royale — stops on Place Royale beside the museum
- walk 10 minutes from Grand Place via Mont des Arts; 5 minutes from Royal Palace
Address: Place Royale 1, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Magritte Museum: frequently asked questions
Where is 'The Treachery of Images' (Ceci n'est pas une pipe)?
The most famous version of this painting is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). The Magritte Museum in Brussels holds other major works from the same conceptual series and period, as well as Magritte's personal archive.
Is the Magritte Museum part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts?
Yes — it is one of six museums that make up the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium complex. A combined ticket covers all six museums.
How long should I spend at Magritte Museum?
Plan 90 minutes for the highlights of Magritte Museum. Our 4-stop route — The Empire of Light, The Dominion of Light, The Return and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
What is Magritte Museum best known for?
The Magritte Museum opened in 2009 in the neoclassical Hôtel Altenloh on Place Royale, adjacent to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts. It holds the world's largest collection of works by René Magritte (1898–1967), the Belgian surrealist painter whose image-language subversions — including The Treachery of Images ('Ceci n'est pas une pipe') and The Son of Man — became among the most reproduced images of the 20th century. Key highlights include 230 original Magritte works — world's largest collection, The Empire of Light series — day/night paradox paintings, Bowler-hat men — Magritte's signature motif.
How do I get tickets for Magritte Museum?
Admission: €10 standalone; included in the RMFAB combined ticket (€15). Tickets are usually available on the day, but booking online saves queue time in peak season. Official site: https://www.fine-arts-museum.be/en/museums/magritte-museum
Where is 'Ceci n'est pas une pipe'?
The most famous version is at LACMA in Los Angeles. The Magritte Museum holds other works from the same conceptual series, including paintings and gouaches that explore the pipe motif. The museum's strength is breadth across Magritte's entire career rather than any single iconic work.
Is the combined Royal Museums ticket worth it?
At €15 for all six museums (Old Masters, Fin-de-Siècle, Magritte, Modern, Meunier, and Wiertz), it is excellent value if you plan to visit two or more. The Magritte Museum alone is €10. The Old Masters Museum and Fin-de-Siècle Museum are within 5 minutes on Rue de la Régence.
How long should I spend at the Magritte Museum?
Plan 90 minutes for the highlights of Magritte Museum. Our 4-stop route — The Empire of Light, The Dominion of Light, The Return and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
Is Magritte Museum open on Mondays?
No — Magritte Museum is closed every Monday. It is open Tuesday–Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday–Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Plan a different museum for that day, and check the official website for holiday changes.
What are Magritte Museum's opening hours?
Magritte Museum is open Tuesday–Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday–Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM, and closed Mondays. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
Is Magritte Museum free to visit?
No — standard admission is €10 standalone; included in the RMFAB combined ticket (€15).
