Bock Casemates
Tunnels and gun galleries carved into the Bock rock, the cliff where Luxembourg began. Visited on a guided tour, they are the most atmospheric way into the story of the old fortress.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg City
Luxembourg City is the small capital with the big view: a fortress town on a rocky plateau, cut through by the deep green gorges of the Alzette and the Pétrusse, with church spires, bridges and old ramparts stacked above riverside quarters like the Grund.
For centuries it was one of the strongest fortresses in Europe, and its old quarters and fortifications are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can walk the Chemin de la Corniche, often called the most beautiful balcony in Europe, go underground into the Bock Casemates, ride a glass lift down to Pfaffenthal and spend a rainy afternoon in museums that are compact, excellent and often free. Beyond the city, the fairy-tale castle of Vianden rises above the Our valley in the Ardennes. Public transport is free across the country, so getting around costs nothing. This guide books the tickets worth booking, points you to the free sights that matter most, and matches you to the right hotel, from a Relais and Châteaux hideaway on the Place d’Armes to a good-value base by the station.
Don't miss
Bock Casemates
Tunnels and gun galleries carved into the Bock rock, the cliff where Luxembourg began. Visited on a guided tour, they are the most atmospheric way into the story of the old fortress.
Old Town and the Chemin de la Corniche
The UNESCO-listed upper town, from the Grand Ducal Palace and Place Guillaume II to the 600-metre Corniche promenade above the Alzette gorge. Free, compact and the heart of every visit.
Notre-Dame Cathedral of Luxembourg
A former Jesuit church of the early 1600s with slender spires and a crypt where members of the Grand Ducal family and John the Blind rest. Free to enter and a short walk from the palace.
Vianden Castle and Castles and Countryside Day Trip
A full-day bus tour from Luxembourg City to the fairy-tale castle of Vianden, Beaufort Castle, Echternach and the rocky Mullerthal, with castle entry and an audio guide included.
Things to do in Luxembourg City
FreeOld Town and the Chemin de la Corniche
The UNESCO-listed upper town, from the Grand Ducal Palace and Place Guillaume II to the 600-metre Corniche promenade above the Alzette gorge. Free, compact and the heart of every visit.
Half a dayDetails →
The Grund and the Pfaffenthal Panoramic Lift
The riverside lower town of stone houses, bridges and pubs beneath the cliffs, and the free glass lift that drops from the upper town to Pfaffenthal. The best free hours in the city.
2 to 3 hoursDetails →
FreeNotre-Dame Cathedral of Luxembourg
A former Jesuit church of the early 1600s with slender spires and a crypt where members of the Grand Ducal family and John the Blind rest. Free to enter and a short walk from the palace.
30 to 45 minutesDetails →
Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart (National Museum of Archaeology, History and Art)
Luxembourg’s national museum on the old Fish Market square, with archaeology galleries cut into the rock, a Roman mosaic and fine and decorative art. The permanent collection is free.
1.5 to 2 hoursDetails →
City Train in Luxembourg’s Old Town
A little road train that loops around the old fortress city and down into the valleys, with an audio guide in several languages. An easy first hour, especially with children. Runs late March to early November.
Luxembourg City Pass: 7 Museums and Self-Guided Tour
One 48-hour pass for the seven museums of the capital, from Mudam and Villa Vauban to the City Museum and the Dräi Eechelen fortress museum, with an audio guide app. The rainy-day plan.
Luxembourg: Guided Food Tour and Tasting
A three-hour walking tour with a local English-speaking guide and five food stops, a friendly introduction to Luxembourgish cooking and the city’s multicultural table. Small groups.
Luxembourg City E-Bike Rental
Four hours on an electric bike with an audio guide, the easiest way to ride down into the Pétrusse and Alzette valleys and back up again without breaking a sweat.
Vianden Castle and Castles and Countryside Day Trip
A full-day bus tour from Luxembourg City to the fairy-tale castle of Vianden, Beaufort Castle, Echternach and the rocky Mullerthal, with castle entry and an audio guide included.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Hotel Le Place d’Armes, Relais and Châteaux
Ville Haute (Old Town)
A Relais and Châteaux hideaway on the city’s main square, with 28 rooms and suites, quiet terraces and courtyards and the French restaurant La Cristallerie. The splurge of Luxembourg City.
Check rates →Sofitel Luxembourg Le Grand Ducal
Gare and Petrusse Valley
A modern five-star hotel on the edge of the Pétrusse valley, with panoramic views of the UNESCO old town from its top-floor bar L’Observatoire and restaurant Mu. Steps from the station.
Check rates →Hotel Simoncini
Ville Haute (Old Town)
A small art hotel on Rue Notre-Dame in the upper town, with 35 individually furnished rooms, breakfast included and covered parking. Great location, good value for the old town.
Check rates →Meliá Luxembourg
Kirchberg
A four-star hotel on Kirchberg between Mudam and the Philharmonie, with sauna and Turkish bath, a gym and park views. Ideal for art lovers and anyone visiting the European quarter.
Check rates →ibis Styles Luxembourg Centre Gare
Gare
A budget-friendly hotel a two-minute walk from the central station, with air-conditioned rooms, rooms for up to five, a bar and a garage. The value base for day trips.
Check rates →Luxembourg City guides
First Time in Luxembourg City: What to Book, How to Get Around & How Many Days
The practical primer for a first visit: the few tickets worth booking, the closing days that catch people out, free public transport and how to fit the Old Town, the Bock Casemates, the Grund and Vianden into two or three days.
Where to Stay in Luxembourg City: Upper Town, Gare or Kirchberg
How to choose your base in Luxembourg City, from a Relais and Châteaux hotel on the main square to valley views by the station, a modern stay beside Mudam and a budget base for day trips.
