Luxembourg City is one of the easiest capitals in Europe for a short break. The upper town is compact, the gorges below it give the city its drama, the museums are small and excellent, and public transport is free across the whole country. Many visitors pass through in a day; give it two or three and it rewards you. Here is how to shape a first visit.
How many days
One full day covers the Old Town, the Corniche and the Grund at a brisk pace. Two days let you add the Bock Casemates, a museum or two and an evening in the lower town. Three days are ideal, with a day trip to Vianden Castle or the Mullerthal. Add a fourth if you want to explore the Moselle wine villages or spend longer in the museums.
What to book ahead
Very little sells out, but a few things are worth securing. The Bock Casemates are visited on guided tours in set slots, sold by the tourist office, so book one, especially at weekends. The castles and countryside day tour, which includes entry to Vianden and Beaufort castles, has limited seats. A guided food tour is a good early booking, because the guide’s tips will shape the rest of your meals. In season, the City Train needs no advance planning, and the seven-museum pass can be bought on the day.
Watch the closing days
Mondays and Tuesdays are the traps. The Nationalmusée, the Lëtzebuerg City Museum, the Natural History Museum and Dräi Eechelen close on Mondays, while Mudam, Casino Luxembourg and Villa Vauban close on Tuesdays. Vianden Castle closes on Mondays in November. The City Train runs only from late March to early November, and the Grand Ducal Palace opens for guided tours only in summer. Keep Monday for the Corniche, the Grund, the cathedral and the panoramic lift, which are all free.
Getting in
Luxembourg Airport is close to the city, and buses link it with the centre and the station; taxis are quick but expensive. Trains from Brussels, Metz, Trier and other neighbours arrive at the central station in the Gare district, about fifteen minutes on foot from the upper town, or a few minutes by bus or tram.
Getting around
Public transport is free nationwide, including buses, trams and second-class trains, so you never need a ticket in the city. The tram runs from the station area through the centre and over the Red Bridge to Kirchberg for Mudam and the Philharmonie. Lifts connect the plateau with the lower town: the Pfaffenthal panoramic lift is free and runs from early morning until past midnight, and a public lift links the Holy Ghost plateau with the Grund. Otherwise, walk, but expect steep slopes and stairs, and wear shoes with grip.
Day one: the Old Town and the Corniche
Start at the Place d’Armes and walk past the Grand Ducal Palace to the Fish Market. Visit the Nationalmusée for free, then walk the Chemin de la Corniche to the Bock and take a casemates tour. Head down to the Grund for the evening and finish with a drink by the river.
Day two: cathedral, museums and the valleys
Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral and its crypt, then walk to the Adolphe Bridge for the view into the Pétrusse valley. In the afternoon, take an e-bike through the valleys or ride the tram to Kirchberg for Mudam and Dräi Eechelen on the museum pass. On a wet day, swap the bike for the City Museum and Villa Vauban.
Day three: Vianden
Take the castles and countryside tour from Boulevard de la Pétrusse, or go independently by free public transport. Vianden’s castle is the highlight of any trip to the Grand Duchy, and the tour adds Beaufort Castle, Echternach and the sandstone gorges of the Mullerthal.
Money and manners
Luxembourg uses the euro, cards are accepted almost everywhere, and service is included in restaurant bills, though rounding up is appreciated. Luxembourgish, French and German are all official languages, and English is widely spoken. The city is expensive, so the free museums, lifts and transport help balance the budget.
