Luxembourg —
the tiny Grand Duchy that genuinely surprised us
Our complete city guide: what to see, do and know before you go.
We flew into Luxembourg from Dublin expecting a pleasant but unremarkable city break. What we got was one of the most visually stunning and historically rich small capitals in Europe — a place that packs an extraordinary amount into a very compact space. Dramatic fortifications carved into cliff faces, a gorgeous lower town in the river valley below, a beautiful grand ducal palace and a bar scene that kept us very happily occupied for several evenings. Luxembourg is criminally underrated as a city break destination — this is everything we'd tell a friend who was thinking of going.
Take a virtual drive through Luxembourg City
Want to get a feel for Luxembourg before you visit? Our friends at Drive From Home let you take a virtual drive through Luxembourg City — real dashcam footage paired with local radio, so you can wander the streets, glide past the fortifications and get a proper sense of the city before you book a thing.
They've also put together their own written guide to Luxembourg City — a great companion piece to plan alongside our notes below. Explore virtually, then come back here when you're ready to plan the real thing.
A few nights in one of Europe's most underrated capitals
We first visited Luxembourg back in 2010, flying direct from Dublin to Luxembourg Airport — one of the easiest city break journeys you can do from Ireland, barely two hours in the air and you're practically in the old town before you've finished your in-flight coffee. We spent a few nights there and between a city tour, plenty of wandering and a very thorough exploration of the local bar scene, we felt like we got a proper feel for the place.
Luxembourg City sits dramatically on a plateau with deep river valleys on three sides — the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers carve their way around the rock below, giving the city its extraordinary vertical character. Standing on the Chemin de la Corniche — dubbed the most beautiful balcony in Europe — and looking out across the Grund and the fortification towers rising from the cliffs is genuinely one of the great urban views in Europe.
The city does something that very few European capitals manage — it is simultaneously ancient and thoroughly modern, multilingual and cosmopolitan, and yet it retains a sense of human scale and warmth that bigger capitals often lose. It is a place that invites you to slow down and explore on foot.
A network of underground tunnels and galleries carved into the sandstone cliffs — part of the city's extraordinary UNESCO-listed fortifications. The views from the top over the Alzette valley and the Grund below are breathtaking.
The valley quarter below the old town — accessible by lift or by winding paths and staircases. Full of restaurants, bars and café terraces along the river, with dramatic views up to the fortifications towering above. One of the loveliest neighbourhoods in the Benelux.
Nicknamed "the most beautiful balcony in Europe" — a walkway along the top of the old ramparts with jaw-dropping views over the Grund, the Alzette valley and the fortification towers rising from the cliffs. Do it at sunset if you can.
The official residence of the Grand Duke sits right in the middle of the old town. An ornate Renaissance building that looks almost impossibly grand for such a small country — a reminder that Luxembourg punches well above its weight in every respect.
The lively main square of Luxembourg City — lined with café terraces, surrounded by beautiful architecture and full of locals and visitors enjoying the atmosphere. The perfect place to sit with a coffee or a beer and watch the city go by.
The iconic bridge crossing the Pétrusse valley — a stunning piece of early 20th century engineering with beautiful arches that frame the valley below. The views from either end of the bridge are some of the best in the city.
Luxembourg has a surprisingly lively and cosmopolitan bar scene — a multilingual, international crowd, good local beers and wines, and bars ranging from traditional to very modern. We gave it a thorough examination and can confirm it stands up very well.
Two nights is our sweet spot for Luxembourg City — enough time to see the big sights without rushing, and enough evenings to enjoy the bars properly. Here's how we'd play it if we were going back tomorrow.
Day 1 — The Old Town & the Grund
- Morning: Start in the old town — wander around the Grand Ducal Palace and Place d'Armes with a good coffee.
- Late morning: Head to the Chemin de la Corniche for that famous view over the Grund and the fortifications.
- Afternoon: Take the lift or walk down into the Grund. Lunch by the river, then wander the winding streets of the lower town.
- Evening: Back up top for dinner in the old town, then find a bar in Place d'Armes or the Grund for a proper Luxembourg night out.
Day 2 — Fortifications & the Pétrusse Valley
- Morning: Explore the Bock Casemates — the underground tunnel network is genuinely fascinating and the views from the top are unmatched.
- Late morning: Walk across the Adolphe Bridge for that iconic Luxembourg view of the Pétrusse valley.
- Afternoon: Wander the Pétrusse valley below, or take a city walking tour to fill in the historical detail. Coffee stop wherever takes your fancy.
- Evening: One last dinner and drinks in the old town — try somewhere new so you leave with a reason to come back.
Luxembourg made public transport free — and it's brilliant
Here's a fact that most people don't know: since 1 March 2020, Luxembourg has been the first country in the world to offer free nationwide public transport. Buses, trams and second-class trains are all completely free — for residents and visitors alike. You just get on. No ticket, no fare, no faff. (First-class rail and journeys crossing the national border are the only exceptions.)
Practically that means Luxembourg City is exceptionally easy to move around, and it's also easy to get out to smaller towns like Vianden or Echternach for a day trip without spending a cent on transport.
On foot: The old town itself is completely walkable — you can cover the main sights in a day. Just know that the city is genuinely hilly, with the plateau of the old town sitting high above the Grund and Pétrusse valleys. Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable.
Between upper city and lower: The Pfaffenthal Panoramic Lift connects the old town plateau directly to the Pfaffenthal valley below — free to use and worth doing just for the view on the way down. There are also winding paths and staircases if you fancy the walk.
From the airport: Luxembourg Findel airport is only 6km from the city centre and connected by (free) bus and tram. You can be in the old town within about 30 minutes of landing.
Two options at slightly different price points and locations — both booked easily through Klook. And because public transport is free, staying slightly outside the centre is much less of an issue in Luxembourg than in most cities.
Meliá Luxembourg ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: Staying in Luxembourg City
A stylish 4-star hotel in the Kirchberg district — the modern European quarter of Luxembourg City, well-connected by tram to the old town. Contemporary rooms, good facilities and a genuinely convenient base for exploring the city on foot and by (free) public transport.
Book Meliá Luxembourg on Klook →LÉGÈRE Hotel Luxembourg ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: A quieter base outside the centre
A modern 4-star design hotel in Munsbach, a small town just outside Luxembourg City. Because Luxembourg's public transport is completely free, the location is less of a compromise than it would be elsewhere — you can be in the city centre by bus or train in around 15–20 minutes without paying a cent. A good option if you want somewhere quieter to come back to at the end of the day.
Book LÉGÈRE Hotel Luxembourg on Klook →Disclosure: These are Klook affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Book a Luxembourg tour through TourRadar
Luxembourg is brilliantly positioned for wider Benelux or Rhine Valley tours — combining it with Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany makes for a fantastic multi-country trip. TourRadar has excellent options covering the region.
Disclosure: Affiliate link — if you book through it we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Book Luxembourg experiences with GetYourGuide
City walking tours, Casemates visits, Grund quarter tours, day trips to the Ardennes and more.
Disclosure: If you book through these links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Planning your own Luxembourg trip?
Luxembourg is one of Europe's best kept travel secrets — small enough to explore properly in a few days, beautiful enough to keep you staring at your photos for years afterwards. Fly direct from Dublin, walk the Corniche, descend to the Grund and raise a glass in one of the city's excellent bars. You'll wonder why you didn't go sooner.
Affiliate disclosure: if you book through our links we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. We only recommend trips and experiences we'd be happy to stand over.