Luxembourg Travel Guide: The Complete Guide to Visiting Luxembourg

Introduction

Luxembourg is tiny — about the size of a major metropolitan area — but rewards the traveller who gives it proper attention. The Grand Duchy is one of the world’s wealthiest countries (highest GDP per capita in the EU), and this wealth is reflected in an outstanding quality of infrastructure, food, and cultural institutions. Luxembourg City’s fortified old town — built on a dramatic rocky promontory above two rivers — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of genuine beauty. The Moselle Valley produces excellent white wines. The northern Ardennes forests, castles, and villages are among the Benelux region’s most picturesque.

Luxembourg also makes an excellent hub for a Benelux or Greater Europe road trip: it borders France, Belgium, and Germany, and is reachable from all three capitals within 3 hours. A two-night stop slots naturally into multi-country itineraries.

Who is this destination for?

• Travellers combining Benelux with France and Germany
• Wine enthusiasts (Moselle Luxembourgeoise is underrated)
• Castle and fortress architecture lovers
• History enthusiasts (WWII General Patton connections)
• Luxury travellers seeking a sophisticated, crowd-free destination

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Why Visit Luxembourg

Luxembourg City’s UNESCO heritage — the “Gibraltar of the North,” a fortress complex of casemates (23km of underground tunnels and galleries carved into sandstone cliffs), ramparts, and towers above the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers — is architecturally and historically fascinating. The Grund (the valley neighbourhood below the city walls) is charming. The MUDAM contemporary art museum and the Casino Luxembourg are outstanding cultural institutions for a city this size.

Moselle Wine Valley

The Luxembourg Moselle Valley — running along the French and German borders — produces elegant, aromatic white wines (Rivaner, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Riesling) and excellent Crémant (sparkling wine). The wine route between Schengen (where the Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985) and Wasserbillig passes riverside villages and family-run wineries open for tastings. Bernard-Massard in Grevenmacher offers good cellar tours.

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Best Time to Visit

Spring and Summer (May–September): Ideal — outdoor terraces, Moselle cycling, and walking in the Ardennes. Autumn (October): Wine harvest season in the Moselle; beautiful colour in the Ardennes. Winter: Christmas market in Luxembourg City’s old town is charming and less crowded than Brussels or Bruges.

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Top Things to Do

1. Luxembourg City: Casemates and Old Town

The Bock Casemates — a network of underground tunnels once housing troops, workshops, and slaughterhouses, carved into the cliff by Vauban engineers in the 17th century — are Luxembourg’s most distinctive attraction. The Chemin de la Corniche (dubbed “Europe’s most beautiful balcony”) is a promenade walk along the old city walls above the Alzette valley. The Grand Ducal Palace (open for guided tours in summer) and Notre-Dame Cathedral are also worth visiting.

2. Vianden Castle

The Château de Vianden — a magnificently restored Romanesque-Gothic castle above the Our River — is Luxembourg’s finest castle and one of the most impressive in the Greater Region. The village of Vianden below is charming; Victor Hugo lived here briefly in 1871 (the Victor Hugo House is a small museum). The chairlift above the village provides panoramic views of the castle and valley.

3. Moselle Cycling Route

The 73km cycling route along the Luxembourg Moselle River (from Schengen to Wasserbillig) is flat, well-signposted, and passes through a succession of wine villages with cellar doors open for tastings. An excellent one-day cycling experience; bikes can be rented in Remich or Grevenmacher.

4. Clervaux: Abbey and WWII Memorial

The northern Ardennes town of Clervaux has a Benedictine abbey, an 18th-century castle housing Edward Steichen’s “Family of Man” photography exhibition (UNESCO-listed as a documentary heritage), and strong WWII connections — the Battle of the Bulge swept through this area in December 1944. The American Military Cemetery at Hamm (near Luxembourg City) holds General George Patton’s grave — he requested burial among his men who fell in Luxembourg.

5. Müllerthal Trail — Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland

The Müllerthal — known as “Little Switzerland” for its sandstone rock formations, gorges, and forested valleys — offers 112km of waymarked hiking trails through Luxembourg’s most dramatic landscape. The Mullerthal Trail (37km, divided into three loops) passes natural rock arches, clear streams, and medieval ruins near the town of Echternach.

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Where to Stay

Luxembourg City: The old city is small; most hotels are within walking distance of the main sights. The Grund neighbourhood (in the valley) has boutique accommodation. Vianden and Clervaux: Charming small hotels and guesthouses for Ardennes-focused stays.

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Food & Cuisine

• Judd mat Gaardebounen — Smoked collar of pork with broad beans in cream sauce; Luxembourg’s national dish.
• Bouneschlupp — Green bean soup with potatoes and smoked bacon; the most common traditional Luxembourgish soup.
• Riesling Paschtéit — A pastry shell filled with pork and veal in a Riesling jelly. Quintessentially Luxembourgish.
• Moselle Crémant — Luxembourg’s excellent sparkling wine, made by the traditional method but at a fraction of Champagne prices.

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Getting Around

CFL Trains and Buses: All public transport in Luxembourg is free (since 2020 — the first country in the world to offer this). Luxembourg City to Vianden: 2h (bus). Luxembourg City to Clervaux: 1h40m (train). Free public transport includes the railway network connecting major towns. Car: Recommended for the Moselle wine route and Müllerthal.

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Sample 2-Day Luxembourg Itinerary

Day 1 — Luxembourg City: Bock Casemates. Chemin de la Corniche. MUDAM museum. Dinner in the Grund. Day 2 — Vianden or Moselle: Bus to Vianden (castle and Victor Hugo House) or drive/cycle the Moselle wine route (Remich to Grevenmacher).

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Related Guides

• Belgium Travel Guide — Brussels to Luxembourg City: 3h by train
• France Travel Guide — Paris to Luxembourg City: 2h15m by TGV
• Germany Travel Guide — Trier (Germany) is 50 minutes from Luxembourg City
• Netherlands Travel Guide — Benelux combination
• Europe Destinations Overview