Perfect Luxembourg Itinerary For One Day According To Locals

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The last European duchy is a landlocked state positioned in the very centre of Europe. It’s known for the high living standard, many European institutions and free public transport. But it has many other qualities as well. High safety records, beautiful countryside dotted with castles and multilingual population enriching the variety of already numerous languages officially spoken there (three to be precise!). Usually overlooked by tourists that prefer seaside areas or bigger metropolises, Luxembourg is a hidden gem with many choices to offer for different visitors. It’s positioned between Germany, Belgium and France. This position makes Luxembourg easily reachable from any angle of central Europe. And an excellent choice for a stopover on a longer route across the continent. To get the best experience follow our 1 day Luxembourg itinerary. If you decide to stay for longer, we have included many useful suggestions on things to see and do In Luxembourg and possible day trips from Luxembourg. 

1 Day Luxembourg Itinerary And Beyond

Best time to visit Luxembourg

With a mixture of continental climate and some oceanic influences, Luxembourg is characterized by a mild climate year-round. It means warm summers and not too cold winters, and snow happens only very occasionally. Due to a lack of extensive mountain range in the country or nearby, windy days and rain occur pretty often. Be sure to pack an umbrella and a warm jacket regardless of when you are visiting. The best time to visit the country is from May to October. These months offer a pleasant climate, the longest days and the most colourful nature. Most significant events and traditions (apart from the Christmas market) happen during this time. The Duke’s Day takes place in June regardless of the gentleman’s birthday taking place in January. The reason is that January is not considered a month for outside celebrations and festivals.

How many days to spend in Luxembourg?

When deciding on a visit to Luxembourg, one has to bear in mind the priorities of the stay. The entire centre of Luxembourg City, classified as the UNESCO world heritage site, offers enough for one day or weekend stay.  

If you want to explore the Grand Duchy beyond its capital limits, add another two to four days to this Luxembourg itinerary. This way, you can enjoy many hiking trails, visit castles in the countryside, discover the country’s industrial heritage in its red rock south, and explore the wine traditions. Or you can take a trip to the north for kayaking and visiting a renowned exhibition, The Family of Man.

How to travel to Luxembourg?

Luxembourg is situated between three major European countries. The chances are that travelling to Luxembourg by car would be your easiest option. It’ll also give you the freedom to explore the country at your own pace. Oh, not to forget, fuel in Luxembourg continues to be one of the cheapest in Europe. Another option to travel to Luxembourg is by train. While the nearby European railway network looks pretty decent on the map, the reality is that travelling by train will cost you a lot of time. The comfort of being on a train instead of behind the wheel and reasonable pricing can be convincing.  If coming from further away, Luxembourg has many flight connection across Europe. You can choose between the national carrier Luxair or low-cost airlines. Flying to Luxembourg as a tourist can be cheaper than the other way round. The airlines adjust their pricing around the dates when foreigns fly out. So this is your chance to get cheap tickets!

How to get around Luxembourg?

All public transport (trains, tram, buses, city shuttles, funiculars) being for free within Luxembourg. Getting around Luxembourg is cost and hassle-free for any visitor or tourist. You can check the timetables here or download the app. The only mode of transport costing euro or two are electric city bikes Vel’Oh. How great is that? But if you need to take a taxi, be prepared for a hefty bill. The country’s high standard manifests in the pricing of all private services, with taxies being no exception to this.

Luxembourg Itinerary: 1 day in Luxembourg City

The city might be small in terms of population, but the variety of choices it offers is simply immense. The UNESCO World Heritage Site spreads over most of the city centre making it easy to fill your Luxembourg itinerary. Its lower and upper parts are connected with (panoramic) elevators to ease the moving around. Make sure to pay attention to the opening hours. The shops tend to close at 18h and restaurants only work for lunch and dinner.

City centre

If stationed around the train station, start your visit to Luxembourg by walking the Avenue de la Liberte towards Pont Adolphe. Arriving at the city’s main bridge, make a turn to the right. Here you can admire the iconic tower building of the country’s leading commercial bank. You can also quickly reach the bridge from Place Hamilius. This area is one of the must-see things in Luxembourg.

Walking onwards to Place Emile Hamilius, you will see different architecture. New glassy and metal buildings that host many multinational banks have taken over the focal intersection of the city’s commute. Head past the charming old headquarters of the Post to reach Place d’Armes and Grand Rue, where the restaurants and shopping prevail. Continue further inside the centre and pay a visit to the Luxembourg City’s Museum to learn about its history.

Pause for a lunch of your choice: everything from Michelin-starred restaurants (upfront booking is required) to food trucks (just standing in the line required) awaits to serve you some delicacies. Next, find the city’s most important establishment not far from the museum.

The Grand Ducal Palace is the official seat of the Grand Duke. The Luxembourgish parliament occupies the adjacent building. If you are lucky, the guards will be just finishing the shift and perform a little marching show. If you are visiting in the summer, you can go inside on a guided tour.

Grund

Continue by heading towards what the locals claim to be Europe’s prettiest balcony. On the way there, take a tour of the Bock casemates to get a glimpse into the city’s medieval history. At the top of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, enjoy some panorama vistas of the charming old quartier Grund below and descend there. When down there, take a stroll along the river Alzette past the Neumunster Abbey and towards the quartier Clausen. Remember this place if you want to experience some nightlife, as many clubs reside just here. Even if not, having a pint of locally crafted beer is a good daylight option.

Kirschberg

Take a bus ride to the European quartier Kirchberg. This area is home to European institutions, countless banks and multinational corporations. But it also hosts the national theatre, philharmonic, library, and convention centre.  Take a stroll from the theatre to the philharmonic, observing the city below you from the bridge. Crossing it, you will arrive at the museum of modern art (Mudam). After the visit, return to the Place Emile Hamilius using the tram.From there, head to Place de la Constitution, locally known as Gelle Fra. Catch the sunset from the meticulously maintained gardens below the triangular square above the valley of Petrusse. Realizing that the evening has come, make a dinner decision and taste some more of what Luxembourgish chefs have to offer. If you want to try a local take away, search for a potato cake or a toast with warm cheese and pickles. Finish off the day either in one of the known places in Clausen or one of the bars or clubs in the city centre.

What to visit beyond the Luxembourg City?

There is so much things to see and do in Luxembourg beyond the capital. Most people would tell you that the charm of Luxembourg actually lies in its countryside. Below are some suggestions on what to include if you decide to prolong your Luxembourg itinerary. 

For history lovers

The best way to explore the old history days outside the capital is by visiting one of the must-see castles in the Luxembourgish countryside. The ones in Beaufort and Bourscheid are in particular worth a visit. But their most famous sibling in the town of Vianden further to the north is an absolute stunner. It’s one of the most popular things to see in Luxembourg according to tourists and locals. In the summer months, you can observe the performances demonstrating the medieval ages in the courtyard. An absolute must! To explore Luxembourg’s role in forming the modern European community, you have to stop in Schengen. This small town lies on the border with Germany and France. As such, it represents a perfect place to learn about the European Union, its members, ideas and aims. Combine a visit to the thematic museum with the open-air exhibition.

For culture lovers

The majority of the cultural life is concentrated in the capital. However, major cultural venues are also in the second biggest city Esch sur Alzette. The city located on the southern tip of the country, almost on the border with France, hosts the Rockhall. This is the country’s major concert venue, with Beyonce and Rihanna already performing there. Also, the city is hosting the European Capital of Culture in 2022, hence a further lot more to expect down there!

For nature lovers

Visiting Luxembourg without tasting its beautiful nature is a sin. As the capital is centrally located, a drive to each of its sides takes no longer than an hour. The best hikes are in the eastern part of the country, in the region called Mullerthal. Locals refer to it also as Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland. This area offers many hiking trails, which are very easy and often on wooden paths. The most famous trail is from the waterfalls Schiessentumpel and Kalektufquellen. With some imagination, you can recognize heads in giant rock formations along the trail.

When it comes to water, driving to the northeast or northwest gets you to the country’s two lakes. Lake Echternach is a popular picnic and walking destination. The Lake Haute Sure (which is actually a widened part of a meandering river behind a dam) offers excellent hiking trails and a beach in the summer months. If you are looking for water sport activities, look no further than the river Moselle on the German border. 

Luxembourg itinerary: Recommended day trips from Luxembourg

You can make a day trip from Luxembourg to any of the neighbouring countries (Germany, Belgium, and France) or to the Netherlands. The latter is still in a driving reach of less than three hours.  

Germany

The most popular day trip many Luxembourgish residents do on a weekly (shopping) basis is to Trier. The oldest German town has a charming and lively old centre. You can admire the oldest German cathedral, the famous Porta Nigra, Karl Marx house and museum.  Saarburg is another picturesque German town not far from Luxembourg. It’s known for the waterfall on the river Saar in the very centre of the town. The fences along the river are always decorated with colourful flowers (not in winter, of course). You can also make a trip to the German countryside – Saarschleife. This is a place where the river Saar makes a 180-degree turn. You can find plenty of hiking trail and a viewing platform making it a nice and relaxed day behind the border.  

Belgium

Less than two hours drive from Luxembourg you will reach Dinant. A birthplace of saxophone and the famous Leffe beer with a citadel on a majestic rock formation above the river. If you visit in the summer you can also relax and read a book along the river or lunch in one of the cosy restaurants. Progressing further to the north, to make it a three-hour drive, one reaches Brussels. The Belgian capital hosts all the most important European institutions, the famous Mannequin Piss statue, fantastic museums and the variety of beer, waffles and fries available in countless takeaway spots. Not a day trip anymore, unless you want to spend the majority of your time driving. But, if you continue your Eurotrip, Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp and Ostend need to be part of your itinerary.

France

The most popular day trip to France is to Metz. With its majestic cathedral, the island on the river, chilly cafes and some shopping opportunities this old, but charming city is well worth visiting. The nightlife is pretty lively too, in case you prefer a cheaper cocktail than in posh Luxembourgish establishments. Another interesting option is Nancy.

France

If you are ready to sit behind the wheel for a little longer, then the Netherlands could be your choice. In fact, a drive to Maastricht is not longer than the one to Brussels, but the one to Amsterdam will take you another hour and a half. Maastricht is calmer and smaller, and Amsterdam is a real metropolis that would not let you down. 


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