Luxembourg Travel Guide: Best Things to do & Day Trips

It’s easy to think of Western Europe as a series of monuments and museums to check off your list, but there seems to be an entire country that has slipped under the radar, Luxembourg.

Whenever I mentioned it as my next destination, even to my well-traveled friends, no one knew where or what it was. This tiny country sandwiched between France, Germany, and Belgium, has a unique blend of cultures and landscapes that even with a few days there, I only scratched the surface.

Within Luxembourg you can visit the city, wineries, hiking trails, castles, and the list goes on and on. Now with all public transportation being free, there’s no reason not to take advantage of their efficient trains and buses to see everything you can.

Fair warning though, you can hardly find a taxi anywhere, and there is no Uber or Lyft, so bring your walking shoes or rent a car to visit some of the smaller towns.

The best way to start your visit to Luxembourg City is at Chocolate House. The hot chocolate was so good here we craved it for the rest of our trip.

Pick your flavor from the wall of wooden spoons dipped in an array of flavors (I recommend going for a boozy one!) and absolutely grab a few more as souvenirs for friends. Take your time to enjoy one there, and then you’ll be ready to take on the rest of the sights in the city.

There is a great shopping street nearby, but don’t get too distracted, major sights include Place d’Armes, Casemates du Block, the Palace of the Grand Dukes, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the scenic walks in Le Chemin de la Corniche and Grund. All around you’ll see evidence of their French occupation as much of the architecture looks like it belongs in Paris.

In complete contrast to the city are the Mullerthal Trails in their ‘Little Switzerland’ area. There are a few trails of varying difficulty and length, so be sure to check out the visitors center for more guidance and to borrow a pair of hiking shoes.

Along the trails you can see rock formations, caves, waterfalls, and even castles. Here I am pictured on the hike to Schiessentümpel Waterfall. This was a welcome break from the marathon of museums and cities that formed the rest of our trip.

Unfortunately since our plane to Luxembourg was delayed by an entire day, we had to cut out our plans of a day in the wine region of the Mosel Valley where you can bike along a string of wineries and town or visit the German side for some of the busier areas. There are also a number of lovely towns we didn’t get to visit but I found this post helpful for planning.

Day trips are where Luxembourg shines even brighter.

Strasbourg

We spent one day visiting Strasbourg, France, approximately 2-3 hours away, which is truly a small provincial town that feels closer to Beauty and the Beast than reality. A day passes too quickly there as you could wander the little streets of La Petite France forever.

Our first stop was for croissants, of course, at a great little bakery, L’Atelier 116, where we came again later for an incredible sandwich and dessert.

We checked out the main square, Place Kebler, climbed Notre Dame Cathedral, and learned more about how people used to live in the area at the Musee Alsacien. If you have more time here then there are the museums at the Palais de Rohan, boat tours, the wine cellar beneath the hospital, and a free walking tour.

Trier

Germany is also a short train ride away, so we chose to explore Trier. This town is a gem if you love Roman ruins. There is the incredible Porta Nigra, a roman amphitheater, and roman baths, all of which you can explore pretty openly for a nominal entrance fee (4 euros).

Trier is also the birthplace of Karl Marx and there is an interesting museum dedicated to him housed in a home in which he actually lived. Other interesting sights to pass by are the House of the Three Magi, St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Electoral Palace, and the bustling main square Hauptmarkt.

Continuing your trip after Luxembourg in Europe

Clearly there are a lot of sights to see when you venture off the beaten path in Europe and explore Luxembourg and it’s surrounding neighbors. It’s also easy to continue into Belgium and Holland from there, which is what we did before heading to London. Feel free to ask me any questions below or let me know if you’re inspired to add these stops to your travel plans!