Luxembourg is a small country in Western Europe that attracts many Europeans as a great place to work. The capital of Luxembourg is very business-like and, what is very important, multilingual. You can communicate well in English, German and French throughout the whole country. Also, there is a cosmopolitan atmosphere, omnipresent order, high minimum wages and a tolerant attitude, and for example free public transport and very low fuel costs. Well, we already know, you can easily emigrate, but how is it with tourism?
It turns out that Luxembourg is also a perfect place for a city break. Visiting the country is super easy due to its small size – everywhere is close, during a short trip, you can visit most of the top attractions both in the country and the capital. And there is so much to see! Because although the capital is very business-oriented, there are many beautiful panoramic views, photogenic buildings and places for art connoisseurs.
The rest of the country delights with green landscapes, vine terraces and… castles! After all, Luxembourg is called the country of castles, because nowhere else in such a small area you will find so many.
Does it sound interesting? We are happy to reveal even more! We invite you to read the post about the best attractions in Luxembourg 🙂
Agenda
Organisational information
How to get here
Driving to Luxembourg from Poland is quite challenging. It takes about 1,200 km from the centre of Poland. If the road trip is something you are drawn to though, we highly recommend it. On the way, you can, for example, visit the beautiful city of Dresden (more about it here), stop for the night close to the border and then explore Luxembourg with fully revived. That’s exactly what we did.
Of course, you can also decide to fly. LOT and Luxair fly directly to Luxembourg. From the airport you can get to the city centre by bus number 16 or 29.
Public transport
As of March 1, 2020, Luxembourg is the first country in the world to introduce free public transport. It applies to both the city and intercity connections, except for the 1st class. Great, right?!
Parking
Parking costs in the capital are very high, especially in car parks close to the city centre. There is an extensive paid parking zone, which you can read more about here. But there are Park&Ride car parks in the outskirts, in most of which parking is free. On this page, you can see the current number of free parking spots in the city.
Accommodation
In Luxembourg, you will find super nice accommodation options. In the capital itself, the Hotel Simoncini will be a good base, as it’s located right next to Guillaume II square. In the region of the Moselle, however, we recommend HĂ´tel de l’Ecluse located right next to the river.
If you prefer to sleep in an apartment, we always recommend you to check out the Airbnb or booking.com.
Tourist Card
In Luxembourg, sightseeing is a pleasure. Not only is public transport free, but you can also use the Luxembourg Tourist Card (LuxembourgCard).
With the card, you have access to many discounts and free admissions, for example to the City Museum and the Casemates in the capital, or the Vianden or Bourscheid Castle. You can also purchase the digital version by downloading the free application from the App Store or Google Play and make your sightseeing easier by creating an itinerary.
The cost of the card for one day is EUR 13, a two-day card costs EUR 20, and a three-day card is EUR 28 (the price has not changed since 2020 and for 2023 it will still be the same).
Sightseeing
Luxembourg City
We start our guide from the capital, Luxembourg. You may not know that the name of the country is the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and that it’s the last duchy in the world!
The head of state here is the Grand Duke, who appoints the government headed by the prime minister. Luxembourg is a very progressive country. The Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, has married his partner and is currently the only head of government among the European Union countries who officially is in a homosexual relationship.
We have to admit that this tolerant atmosphere makes a real difference. There is an extremely low chance that you will experience unfriendly glances. The truth is, we felt at home! We were enchanted by the whole country, especially the capital. Even though it is full of contrasts, everything somehow works, which you will feel while walking around the city.
Chemin de La Corniche
The city of Luxembourg is divided into levels – lower city and upper city. Chemin de la Corniche is a scenic route called the most beautiful balcony in Europe. It runs along the Alzette Valley on ramparts – built by the Spanish and French in the 17th century. From here there is a magical view of the lower town (Grund district) and the Rham plateau.
A great way to experience exceptional views of the city, from both Chemin de La Corniche and other key sites, is to take a walk through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of fortifications and historic quarters of Luxembourg. The walk called Wenzel Walk passes through the most picturesque spots in the city, more details and a map can be found here.
Bock Casemates
Bock Casemates, an underground defence system made up from kilometres of tunnels, are today one of Luxembourg’s most important tourist destinations. Casemates were built from the 17th century when Luxembourg was under Spanish rule. Thanks to that, it became known as the Gibraltar of the North.
The Casemates and the impressive historic Old Town have an international reputation: in 1994, UNESCO inscribed them on the World Heritage List.
Unfortunately, Covid interrupted our plans and we couldn’t see them from the inside. Entry is normally 7 EUR, free with LuxembourgCard.
Pfaffenthal Lift
The lower and upper town is connected by the panoramic Pfaffenthal lift, which everyone can use for free. It is open to both pedestrians and cyclists. A ride in the glass elevator guarantees amazing views. After reaching a height of 71 m, both the Kirchberg district and the charming Grund appear in front of your eyes.
Grund
Grund – the old district of Luxembourg, through which the Azlette River flows. It is also a place where you will find many restaurants, bars and boutiques. Fans of nightlife will also find something for themselves here.
Kirchberg
Kirchberg, one of the districts of Luxembourg, famous for its modern architecture. This is where the Mudam – Museum of Modern Art, Philharmonie, modern sculpture and art in public areas are located.
The area is also home to one of the numerous seats of the European Union. The European Court of Justice, the European Investment Bank and the European Court of Auditors are located here.
Schlaiffmillen
Schlaiffmillen is an artists’ house, located along the Alzette River, which is a home, workplace and inspiring spot for artists whose work can be seen in local art galleries.
30 years ago, artists took over the old fabric factory, with the consent of the city mayor. Real estate in the capital is very expensive, so it was a perfect opportunity to create a place where they could create and share ideas, opinions or work techniques. Together, they take care of this place, which is picturesquely situated right next to the Alzette River and the cliffs.
The atmosphere here is honestly incredible and so inspirational. We had the opportunity to visit this place and feel the unique energy that radiates from it. We saw the works of the resident creators and also just chatted. We were so delighted that our cheeks hurt from smiling!
Plaza Guillaume II
Located in the city centre and close to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Plaza Guillaume II is a place that brings together a variety of restaurants and bars. The weekly food and flower markets are also held right here. You can read more here.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Notre-Dame Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral. Originally it was a Jesuit church, and its foundation stone was laid in 1613. The church is a notable example of late Gothic architecture, it also has many Renaissance elements and decorations. In the crypt of the cathedral are the remains of the Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses of Luxembourg.
Palace of the Grand Dukes
Palace of the Grand Dukes – the official residence of the Grand Dukes of Luxembourg. The palace undoubtedly has one of the most beautiful facades in the city (Flemish Renaissance, 16th century). The majestic interior can only be visited in the summer.
LĂ«tzebuerg City Museum
The LĂ«tzebuerg City Museum is a museum that brings the capital’s over 1,000-year history to life. The Luxembourg Story is a permanent exhibition that shows the city’s development through countless original artefacts and models. The LĂ«tzebuerg City Museum is housed in four historic buildings that were built between the 17th and 19th centuries. Admission is EUR 5, free with LuxembourgCard.
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Moselle Region
The Moselle River is one of the main rivers of Luxembourg, which forms the natural border with Germany. Driving along the river on the Luxembourg side, on the map we could see the border running through the middle of the river, and on the other side, Germany. The Moselle is a very picturesque, green area, covered with vine terraces and charming towns.
Remich
This area is the birthplace of Luxembourg wines, mainly white varieties such as Riesling, Auxerrois and Pinot Gris, and the perfect place to visit one of the vineyards. We went to the family vineyard Domaine Kox in the town of Remich. It was at the Kox vineyard that we’ve tried the CrĂ©mants – Luxembourg sparkling wines for the first time. The wines were delicious, created with passion and definitely niche. We regret that they cannot be bought in Poland, because our stocks will surely disappear soon.
The Moselle region is known as a culinary destination (apart from the vineyards there are also great restaurants), but it also attracts sports enthusiasts. First, and in a way the easiest thing to do is to rent a bike and ride along the Moselle – simply wonderful! But that’s not all, because you can also try swimming or water skiing. And for those looking for relaxation, we recommend a cruise on the river.
Schengen
Did you know that it was in the Moselle region of Luxembourg, in the village of Schengen, that the treaty bearing its name was signed in June 1985? The Schengen Agreement is one of the most important agreements in the history of Europe – the treaty provided for the abolition of all border controls between 5 European countries under the name of the Schengen Area. Currently, 26 countries belong to the Schengen Area!
Mullerthal
Often referred to as Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland, the Mullerthal region – or MĂ«llerdall in Luxembourgish – owes its name to a hilly landscape reminiscent of Switzerland. In 2016, Natur- & Geopark MĂ«llerdall was established to protect the natural and geological heritage.
Ramborn
During this trip, for the first time, we got to know the secrets of cider production, as it has been done a long time ago. At the Ramborn farm, they restored the tradition of cider distilling and thus saved many of the local… apples. They create varieties of cider, as well as perry and quince wine! Currently, Ramborn is one of the top producers of niche ciders in Europe, so it is worth coming here for a guided tour and tasting.
Country of Castles
Anyone who appreciates ​​castles and palaces will love Luxembourg. You can discover the Valley of the Seven Castles in the Guttland area, and a great option will be to organize a road trip around 25 km of the Valley of Seven Castles. More on that here.
Vianden
We dreamt of a castle in Vianden. One look at the pictures of the castle overlooking the town and the Our River valley was enough to get us excited. The castle was probably built around the 11th century as the seat of the princes of Vianden. Later it came under the rule of Luxembourgs, and in 1977 the castle became the property of the state, it was restored and made available to the public. Admission is EUR 8, free with LuxembourgCard.
Where to eat
Beet
We begin with burgers in Beet. Vegan, with interesting flavour combinations and very aromatic. Of course, they serve lots more, including salads and falafels, but we kept coming back for burgers.
Onesto
Do you fancy Italian? Ciao Pizza, Pasta, Gnocchi and other traditional Italian dishes! In Trattorii Onesto you will eat authentically – the place is run by Italians and the food is delicious!
Bazaar
How about getting dressed up and going to a popular place? For a drink or a mezze, go to Bazaar. We tried challah, halloumi and avocado salad and baked zucchini. Warning! They serve great G&T and the menu is only available by scanning the QR code!
Koeppchen
A restaurant with a stunning view of the Moselle River and wine terraces?Koeppchen. You can try Tarte Flambee, grilled fish or a bowl of Asian-style goodness, and of course Luxembourg wines. If the weather is good, be sure to sit in the garden!
Ancien Cinema Café-Club
You will most probably leave the Vianden Castle hungry. Nearby is the Ancien Cinema Café-Club run by a couple of Poles! The menu includes a variety of teas served in traditional Polish jugs. And finger foods, pizza or schnitzel. Inside, there are film screenings, concerts and theatre performances.
Do you have any favourite places in Luxembourg? Let us know in the comments!
Watch our video about Luxembourg:
Experience with us!
Brought to you by: Julia & Przemyslaw
