René Magritte spent most of his life in and around Brussels, and the museum devoted to him is one of the city's great draws. Part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, it fills several floors of a neoclassical building on Place Royale with more than two hundred works and documents: paintings, drawings, sculptures, posters, photographs and films that trace his path from early commercial art through the surrealist puzzles that made him famous. The museum reopened in 2023 after a renovation that brought new lighting, floors and multimedia, and the displays now feel bright and clear. Visitors enter at Place Royale and leave through the Old Masters Museum, so it is easy to add the collection of Flemish painting next door, including works by Bruegel. A combined ticket covers both.
What to expect: you start at the top and work down through his life, with quotes and letters alongside the paintings. Expect the famous motifs — clouds, bowler hats, apples, mirrors — and plenty of lesser-known works that show his range.
Working the visit: allow ninety minutes for Magritte alone and longer if you add the Old Masters. The museum is closed one day a week, usually Monday, so check before you go. Weekends are busiest; weekday mornings are calmer.
Fans can also visit the house in Jette where Magritte lived and painted, a separate museum in a residential suburb.
What to expect
The experience
A multi-floor museum devoted to Magritte, inside the Royal Museums of Fine Arts on Place Royale.
Best time
Weekday mornings for the calmest galleries.
How long
Ninety minutes for Magritte, half a day with the Old Masters.
Tips
Check the weekly closing day and buy a combined ticket if you want the Old Masters too.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers and anyone who knows Magritte from posters and wants the real thing.
- Families
- Older children enjoy the visual puzzles; younger ones may prefer the Comics Art Museum.
- Couples
- A thoughtful morning followed by coffee on the Mont des Arts.
- Pair with
- The Musical Instruments Museum next door and the Comics Art Museum.
- Time needed
- Ninety minutes to two hours.
Good questions
Where is the Magritte Museum?+
On Place Royale, part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in the upper town.
Is it open every day?+
It is open six days a week; check the official site for the closing day and holidays.
Can I combine it with the Old Masters?+
Yes, the exit leads through the Old Masters Museum and combined tickets are available.
How many works are there?+
More than two hundred works and documents across several floors.
Is it worth it if I do not know Magritte well?+
Yes, the layout follows his life, so it is a good introduction.