European Parliament

Sightseers at the European Parliament are encouraged to begin at Station Europe, the visitors' center in the original Brussels-Luxembourg train station building, where there's an augmented-reality model of the parliament campus. Other points of interest include the House of European History, a museum dedicated to Europe through the ages, and the Parlamentarium, a 360-degree cinema featuring multimedia exhibits and even the chance to participate in a parliament role-playing game (advanced booking required). When parliament is sitting, the public is allowed to watch proceedings from the public area of the Hemicycle, where debates are held.

• The European Parliament is a must-visit for anyone interested in politics.
• Visitors' information is available in all 24 EU languages.
• Travelers should bring their passports, as ID documents are required for certain areas.
• The parliament buildings are wheelchair accessible.

The EU Parliament is spread out across a few buildings. If you plan to start your visit at Station Europe, then your best bet is to take a bus to Luxembourg Square (bus numbers 34, 38, 71, 80, and 95 stop here); all the other EU buildings are within a 5-minute walk from here.

Station Europe is open from morning to early evening on weekdays, and opens slightly later in the morning on weekends. The Parlamentarium and the House of European History follow the same hours, except on Mondays, when they open in the afternoon. Hemicycle visits aren't available on weekends or during public holidays or other office closing days; check the website in advance.

The EU's best-known symbol is its flag, a blue backdrop with 12 yellow stars arranged in a circle. It was originally designed back in 1955 and used as the flag of the Council of Europe, then later adopted by the European Community (EC), a predecessor of the EU.