Travel
The 17 greatest issues to do in Luxembourg
From exploring the commercial historical past of the Belval quarter to touring big-hitting museums and visiting the Palais Grand-Ducal in Luxembourg Metropolis, there are many rewarding methods to spend time in Luxembourg.
Past Luxembourg Metropolis, this tiny European nation is a spot of fairly woodland footpaths and quaint, castle-topped villages. This will likely come as a shock to first-time visitors, due to frequent perceptions of Luxembourg as a business-oriented hub for banking and EU establishments.
For foodies, there’s a thriving wine business on the banks of the Moselle River, and an excellent eating scene, which ranges from easy native delicacies drawing on rural traditions to a glittering firmament of Michelin stars within the capital.
With plentiful issues to see and do, and modest distances between attractions, Luxembourg is nice for vacationers with restricted time. Even on a brief break, it’s potential to hit the entire nation’s highlights. Begin planning your subsequent journey to Luxembourg with this record of one of the best issues to do.
1. Stroll by Luxembourg Metropolis’s Outdated City
Luxembourg City’s UNESCO-listed Outdated City, aka the Haute Ville, is a layer cake of bastion partitions, viewpoints and paved footpaths winding by parks and the stays of medieval fortresses poised above the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers.
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The atmospheric Grund quarter lies on the riverside beneath, whereas the contrastingly brash European Quarter – house to many of the metropolis’s authorities establishments – sits on the Kirchberg Plateau, throughout the crimson Pont-Grande-Duchesse Charlotte.
Whereas exploring the Outdated City, you’ll want to go to points of interest such because the Musée d’Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame and the biweekly Stater Maart market on Place Guillaume II. In between, cease at eateries resembling Ville Haute’s Pizzeria Bacchus for a fast lunchtime pizza or Restaurant Clairefontaine for upscale French delicacies.
Planning tip: Since 2020, public transport in Luxembourg Metropolis has been free to make use of, together with the helpful tram linking the practice station and the European Quarter, with an extension to the airport due for completion in 2025. The Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg funicular and two tall public elevators are helpful for coping with the steep cliff ascents when touring between the higher and decrease metropolis.
2. Stroll Luxembourg Metropolis’s Chemin de la Corniche
Close to the Musée d’Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg, it’s value taking a sublime stroll alongside the fantastic Chemin de la Corniche pedestrian promenade. Hailed as “Europe’s most lovely balcony,” this pedestrian walkway traces town’s Seventeenth-century ramparts.
There are beautiful views throughout the river canyon in the direction of the hefty fortifications of the Wenzelsmauer (Wenceslas Wall), constructed to guard the valley within the 14th century. The rampart-top stroll continues alongside Blvd Victor Thorn to the Dräi Tier (Triple Gate) tower, an iconic metropolis landmark.
Planning tip: Alongside the route of the Chemin de la Corniche, you’ll discover the spectacular Dinselpuert gate, topped by the well-restored Tour Jacob which has a video presentation in regards to the metropolis partitions and their historic significance (April to October solely).
3. Discover the casemates of Luxembourg Metropolis
Luxembourg Metropolis’s fortifications are well-known for his or her casemates – navy emplacements set in a honeycomb of tunnels and synthetic caves overlooking the valley. Pre-booked tickets to the Bock Casemates require you to enter inside an allotted 15-minute time slot, however as soon as inside, you’ll be able to discover this atmospheric warren of passageways at your individual tempo.
On the south aspect of the Palais Grand-Ducal, the Pétrusse Casemates are accessible on 45-minute guided excursions, with snazzy new lighting results including to the ambiance; purchase tickets from the vacationer workplace on Place Guillaume II.
4. Discover the European Quarter
Luxembourg Metropolis’s European Quarter is a robust engine for presidency and finance, and whereas many of the banking and EU buildings are closed to the general public, it’s nonetheless an intriguing space to discover, with some attention-grabbing hidden points of interest.
At weekends, a lot of the district is eerily abandoned, however you’ll discover loads of life on the Philharmonie, an attention grabbing modernist live performance corridor that appears like an optical phantasm in three dimensions. You can too discover some attention-grabbing exhibitions on the BnL (Nationwide Library), and extra artwork on present on the Mudam, a ground-breaking gallery of up to date artwork.
Planning tip: Utilizing the free funicular is a enjoyable approach to get right here, and there are good views from the Pfaffendal Elevator, a glass raise operating as much as the Outdated City throughout the river. Return to the outdated city by way of footpaths amid a collection of Vauban-era fortifications, together with Fort Thüngen.
5. Go to the Palais Grand-Ducal
Luxembourg’s head of state, Grand Duke Henri, has his workplace within the Palais Grand-Ducal, a palatial constructing that’s photogenically a-flutter with pointy turrets. Inbuilt 1572 because the city corridor, the Palais was expanded in 1860 with an annex that as we speak homes the nationwide parliament.
The principle constructing has served as Luxembourg’s royal palace since 1890 and the facade is a well-liked backdrop for selfies. The view of the facade will be appreciated at leisure over espresso on the Chocolate House terrace cafe. Contained in the palace, the decor morphs from medieval Gothic within the extravagant eating room to luxurious gilded Romanticism within the chambers upstairs.
Planning tip: To enter the palace, you’ll must prebook a 75-minute guided tour (mid-July to early September solely) by way of the Luxembourg City Tourist Office. The humorous excursions present a lot of insights into the colourful story of Luxembourg’s royal household.
6. Find out about pictures within the Am Tunnel
For an uncommon artwork expertise, enterprise into the Am Tunnel, a 350m (1148ft) subterranean gallery with photographic displays that change yearly or so. On the far finish, you’ll be able to view a 14-minute movie in regards to the pioneering Luxembourgish photographer Edward Steichen. Extra of Steichen’s portfolio is exhibited on the National Museum of History and Art (MNHA), the excellent nationwide artwork gallery north of the Palais Grand-Ducal..
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Planning tip: The Am Tunnel is a part of the spectacular Spuerkees Complicated, whose centerpiece is the tower-topped palace on Place de Metz, constructed in 1913. Reached by way of a separate entrance, it incorporates a fantastic banking museum, open to teams with advance reservations.
7. Go wine tasting alongside the Moselle Valley
Simply half an hour exterior Luxembourg Metropolis, the River Moselle varieties the Luxembourg–Germany border between Wasserbillig and Schengen, and its banks are pillowed with emerald-green vineyards. The vines produce the wonderful crémants (glowing wines) that give Luxembourg its fizz and pop, in addition to a variety of high quality white wines – a particular delight are softly balanced pinot blancs, nearly distinctive to Luxembourg.
If you wish to tour in addition to style, the winery to go to is Bernard-Massard by the bridge in Grevenmacher, with its art-filled reception space and humorous guides. Many vacationers are additionally drawn to the wine-making commune of Remich, the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in river-boat journeys and a wide variety of eateries, however it may possibly get very crowded right here, significantly on Sundays in summer season.
A greater approach to spend a Sunday afternoon is to affix a charmingly time-warped wine dance in one of many cellar rooms at Domaines Vinsmoselle’s Poll Fabaire premises. For tastings and light-weight snack boards in a modernist salon with unbeatable poolside views over Schengen, go to Caves Henri Ruppert.
8. Find out about WWII on the Luxembourg American Navy Cemetery
About 4km (2.5 miles) from central Luxembourg Metropolis at Hamm, the Luxembourg American Military Cemetery is a deeply transferring place. Greater than 5000 white grave markers and commemorative pillars pay tribute to the US servicemen and servicewomen who gave their lives for the liberation of the Grand Duchy.
Actually, the Grand Duchy was liberated twice, first in September 1944 and once more in the course of the Battle of the Bulge that Christmas. Among the many useless is Normal George Patton, famed for his swagger, ivory-handled pistol and foul-mouthed pronouncements, who died after a automotive accident in 1945.
9. Wander the commercial Belval quarter
Within the industrial Belval quarter, southwest of Luxembourg Metropolis close to the French border, two gigantic blast furnaces from town’s former steelworks have been imaginatively revamped because the centerpiece of a powerful regeneration undertaking.
Restored from post-industrial decline, the furnaces are fused into a recent
facade and you may go to the outdated workings inside each day besides Tuesdays.
When you’re right here, cease contained in the ’60s-retro-styled Café Saga, set inside Furnace B.
Music followers are lured to Belval by Rockhal,
Luxembourg’s greatest live-music venue, set on a
avenue named Avenue du Rock’n’Roll. The Belval quarter additionally has an
eye-catching practice station that appears like a Sixties UFO.
10. Discover Luxembourg’s backcountry castles
To step off the mainstream vacationer circuit, a scenic driving or biking route hyperlinks a few of Luxembourg’s lesser-known castles. In Koerich, the hefty ruins of the Gréiweschlass citadel have been became a efficiency house that hosts an attention-grabbing program of cultural occasions, together with the Beautiful Decay festival in July.
The idyllically fairly route continues alongside the Eisch Valley with water meadows and small timber lining the roadside and verdant woodlands blanketing the encompassing hills. Hold an eye fixed out for the austere citadel (as we speak a non-public house) rising above Septfontaines.
The subsequent cease is at Ansembourg, the place the elegant Grand Château
permits free daytime entry to its fantastically manicured formal gardens.
Take the steep lane veering left between the château’s two spired
turrets to succeed in Hollenfels, descending in the direction of the village’s fantastic
medieval citadel tower.
Planning tip: If you happen to’re completely satisfied to discover on foot, bus 823 runs from central Luxembourg Metropolis to Koerich; you’ll be able to join again to the capital from Hollenfels by way of Mersch.
11. Discover the Italian Quarter in Dudelange
Lower than 25 minutes from Luxembourg Metropolis by practice, Dudelange (aka Diddeling) is a energetic occasions hub. The city hosts essential music festivals resembling Like a Jazz Machine (Might), Usina (early June) and Fête de la Musique (mid-June). Dudelange’s cultural renaissance is doubly spectacular when you think about that this former industrial city was as soon as divided in half by mountainous piles of slag from the native ironworks.
At present, the Italian Quarter overlooks a graffiti-daubed manufacturing unit space that
varieties the centerpiece of the Neischmelz regeneration zone. Right here you’ll
discover VEWA, a artistic house for artists and crafters, a cool up to date cafe, and the Kantin microbrewery, plus the plush new National Audiovisual Center (CNA) cinema and exhibition house.
Planning tip: Don’t miss Dudelange’s twin-towered Église Saint-Martin; outwardly, it is a typical Luxembourg church, however inside, you’ll be able to view a blinding assortment of murals and stained glass above a gilded altar.
12. Tour the Nationwide Mining Museum in Rumelange
For an immersive industrial expertise, tour the National Mining Museum (MNM) in Rumelange. Coming into this former iron ore mine is now a enjoyable vacationer expertise, however excursions give a touch of the powerful situations skilled by miners within the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
The sweat of native coal miners and metal employees fuelled huge infrastructure growth in Luxembourg, together with the development of continental Europe’s first railway and a community of canals lined with exceptional boat lifts that are actually UNESCO-listed.
Planning tip: Costume for the chilly as temperatures dip when you enter the mine. Ebook forward, as visiting slots are restricted, with few accessible dates exterior of the height summer season months.
13. Discover architectural delights in Echternach
Set in a bend of the River Sûre, Echternach is Luxembourg’s oldest metropolis, and it’s a worthwhile day journey from the capital. The expansive Abbaye d’Echternach website is partly used as a college however it additionally incorporates an attention-grabbing museum.
Stroll by the north arcade gateway to peek by wrought-iron gates on the splendid 18th-century Orangery, set in formal French-style gardens. Then, wander east between tennis courts to discover a rococo pavilion from 1761 within the riverside gardens.
Essentially the most distinctive construction in Echternach’s bustling city middle is the Dënzelt,
a stone-fronted former legislation courtroom relationship again to the 14th century. In
reality, the photogenic arcade, statues and nook turrets that give it its
present neo-Gothic look date from an 1895 rebuild. Buses run from
Luxembourg Metropolis to Echternach, taking about 1½ hours.
14. Discover the path by the Müllerthal forest
There’s loads of lovely countryside in Luxembourg, however no space is extra magical than the Müllerthal forest, with its fairly beech timber, mossy rocks and streams winding by micro-canyons. The E1 strolling route winds for 6km (3.7 miles) from Echternach to Berdorf passing the Wolfsschlucht (Wolves’ Canyon), the place a stone staircase results in a stunning viewpoint.
Additional on, the path traverses the so-called Labyrinthe, a collection of dramatic cliffs and tight ravines, and there’s a small cave system referred to as Hohllayust simply earlier than you attain Berdorf.
Planning tip: To proceed the stroll, loop again to Echternach by way of the Geierslee viewpoint or take bus 191 or 211.
15. Step right into a fairytale scene in Vianden
A revived fairytale castle dominates the loveable outdated city of Vianden within the north of Luxembourg, with chairlift entry for individuals who don’t wish to wrestle up the scenic however steep cobbled Grand Rue. The towers and battlements have been restored to their medieval grandeur, and interiors function picture galleries exhibiting the painstaking reconstruction course of.
Detour: Vianden city additionally has a bit of Victor Hugo Museum in the home the place the author as soon as stayed, an interesting hydroelectric plant you’ll be able to go to, and family-friendly zip-line adventures.
16. Discover a trio of castles in Beaufort and Larochette
Don’t miss the dual valley-side castles – one an atmospheric medieval damage, the opposite a Seventeenth-century Renaissance-style château – within the city of Beaufort, northwest of Echternach. Close by, the interactive Naturpark Expo highlights the pure options of this area, which varieties a part of the Mëllerdall UNESCO International Geopark.
Extra spectacular than both of Beaufort’s castles is Château de Larochette,
a hulking damage that towers above the marginally worn city of Larochette.
Up shut, the citadel is much less full than it first appears, however it’s properly
value exploring its lawns, partitions and stairways. The four-story hold,
raised in 1385, gives toe-curling vertiginous views.
17. Find out about WWII in Diekirch and Ettelbruck
To study extra in regards to the WWII battles of the Ardennes, head to the National Museum of Military History (MNMH) in Diekirch and the mural-fronted General Patton Museum in Ettelbruck. From Ettelbruck, an interesting driving route takes in a number of different relics from the ferocious battles of 1944.
Begin by heading northwest from Ettelbruck by way of the picturesque village of Esch-sur-Sûre, then take the backroad over the hill in the direction of Wiltz. Cease to survey the surroundings from beside a US tank – this was the one Allied tank to outlive unsuccessful makes an attempt to defend the city when German forces counter-attacked in late 1944.
On the backside of Wiltz’s Grande Rue, the Château de Wiltz constructing incorporates a small WWII museum in addition to a microbrewery and a fabulous outdated bar, now a part of a museum of brewing – all worthy spots to finish this historic tour.
This text was tailored from Lonely Planet’s Belgium & Luxembourg guidebook, printed in July 2024.