It’s summertime in Europe! And as more and more people get vaccinated and get the chance to travel, they jet towards monarchic state capitals and big cities. Naturally, this means a visit to a Royal Palace is almost mandatory!
This will be the case for any tourists who will land in Brussels between the 23rd of July and the 29th of August. As the tradition mandates, the Royal Palace of Brussels will open its doors to the public during the five weeks of vacation the government has.
Due to current restrictions still in place, however, you may want to revisit your last-minute plans: it is actually mandatory to book your tickets for the visit in advance on the Royal Palace’s website (or here https://www.koninklijk-paleis-palais-royal.be/fr/reservations). Tickets are free, and, pending availability, can be reserved until 8pm the night before your visit.
It is not permitted to go in groups bigger than five people, and all social distancing measures have to be observed.
To prevent big gatherings inside the palace, the Royal Household has decided to avoid theme exhibitions this year.
However, visitors can still enjoy looking at the Vestibule of Honour and the majestic Staircase of Honour, which will lead you to the first floor of the Palace, where you will be able to get a sense of the workplace of the Belgian monarchs by going through many reception rooms.
For those who are not able to travel yet, the Royal Palace has created the possibility for virtual visits, which can be accessed here: https://virtualtour.monarchie.be/fr/vue-aérienne-du-palais. The virtual tour offers the advantage of showcasing some rooms which are not part of the in-person tour.
The Royal Palace will open two days after Belgium National Day (which falls on the 21st of July), which is also the anniversary of King Philippe’s proclamation as King. That day, eight years ago, the Royal Palace of Brussels became his official workplace.
