Luxembourg is a tiny country with only half a million inhabitants. Despite being smaller than many cities in Europe, Luxembourg has many interesting places to visit.
Luxembourg is the second country with the highest GDP per capita in the world, after Qatar and is considered one of the best countries in the world to live.
Traveling the country is very easy as well as free. It is the first country in the world to offer totally free public transport.
In this article I tell you the 30 essential things to see and do in Luxembourg You will also find related articles such as; where to stay in Luxembourg and travel tips.
30 ESSENTIAL THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN LUXEMBOURG
1. Start getting to know Luxembourg with a free tour
The historic center of Luxembourg is one of the most beautiful places to see in the country. You have the option of doing a free tour with a guide. On this free tour you will get to know the most emblematic places of the city such as the Grand Ducal Palace, the church of San Miguel, the Grund neighborhood... It is an excellent activity!
Remember to tip the guide at the end of the free tour, he sure deserves it.
2. Stroll through the historic center of Luxembourg
The historic center of Luxembourg is a place full of charm. 5 centuries ago the historic center was part of one of the most powerful fortresses in Europe. The walls were demolished in the year 1883.
One of the best things to do in the historic center is to wander around and discover the different emblematic buildings of the city, enjoy its cafeterias, do some shopping and photograph every detail.
3. Visit the Doge's Palace
Luxembourg is the only Grand Duchy in the world. The Grand Duke is the head of state and his official residence is an impressive building.
The Doge's Palace is a Renaissance palace that was originally built as the town hall for the city, but later became the residence and workplace of the Grand Duke. During the summer months of July and August, you can visit the interior with a guided tour that you must book in advance.
4. Tour the Grund neighborhood, a very charming place in Luxembourg
The grund is one of the most charming places in Luxembourg. It is a very quiet area, mostly residential, with pretty little houses in tan colours. Despite not having places of cultural interest as such in the neighborhood, it is a good option to disconnect, wander aimlessly and photograph all the houses with their traditional facades. You'll love it!
5. Go up the Chemin de la Corniche, one of the best viewpoints in the city
If you fancy enjoying good views of the city in the center of the capital you will find a viewpoint overlooking the river and the lower part of the city.
6. Visit the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Luxembourg
The Cathedral of Santa María is one of the most important religious buildings in the city. You will find in it a mixture of original elements of the Jesuit construction dating from the 17th century that combine with modern elements in the interior. It stands out for its crypt where some of the members of the royal family of Luxembourg are buried.
7. Casemates du Bock, an essential thing to see in Luxembourg
One of the most essential places to see in Luxembourg is the fortress. It is a clear example of military architecture.
The Fortress has more than 23 kilometers of underground galleries where, long ago, stories of soldiers with their horses could take refuge.
Virtually the entire city is built on top of these galleries. The entrance costs 7 euros and if you have the Luxembourg Card the entrance is included.
You can buy the Luxembourg card at the tourist office or online on its official website.
8. Cross the Adolfo Bridge
With the unevenness between the upper and lower city, bridges are essential to move around the capital. The Adolfo Bridge is one of the most popular bridges in the city for its beautiful views. It was built in the year 1900.
9. The Gran Duque Juan Museum of Modern Art
If you are an art lover, one of the interesting sights to do in Luxembourg is to visit the Grand Duke John Museum of Modern Art, known as Mudam.
In it you will find more than a hundred works of contemporary art. The artists that are exhibited are mainly Luxembourgish artists, but there are also other international artists such as Andy Warhol.
The entrance to the museum costs 8 euros and if you have the Luxembourg card you have the entrance included.
10. The town hall and Plaza Guillermo II
We could say that this square is located in the heart of the historic center of Luxembourg. Here you will find the city hall, the tourist office and an equestrian statue of William II, who was Grand Duke and gives the square its name. It is an area where there are many cafes, bars and places to have a drink.
11. The National Museum of History and Art
This museum deals with the history of the country through objects related to its past, mainly from the Gallo-Roman Empire. In it you will find exposed objects such as jewelry, coins, sarcophagi, ceramics and archaeological remains.
There is also a space dedicated to art where works by national artists from the 18th century to the present are exhibited. Admission costs 7 euros and is included with the Luxembourg Card.
12. The Place d'Armes
In the historic center one of the most emblematic squares is the Place d'Armes. It is a regular meeting point where to go to eat or have a drink. There are many bars and restaurants.
If you travel at Christmas time, this is where they put up the Christmas market.
This square in its beginnings was a parade ground for the troops that defended the city. Following a fire in 1554 that destroyed much of the Ville Haute, plans were made to build a square in the center of the fortified city. After several plans for this place, the square as it is known today, a paved square surrounded by lemon trees, was finally built.
13. Find The Church of San Miguel
The oldest religious building in the capital of Luxembourg is the church of Saint Michael. This church was built in the year 987, although it has been destroyed on several occasions. Its current appearance is a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque elements.
14. The Luxembourg Philharmonic
The Luxembourg Philharmonic is one of the most renowned concert halls in Europe, where prestigious artists and orchestras from around the world perform. The building has a modern design and stands out for having more than 800 white steel columns.
15. Fort Thüngen
Right next to the museum of modern art you will find a photo that dates back to the 18th century. Although it cannot be visited (at least it was closed when we visited Luxembourg) it is a sample of the defensive importance of the city over the years.
16. Mondorf-les-Bains
Leaving the city, near the border with France you will find a complete set of thermal waters, it is one of the most important in Europe. It is a very relaxing activity to do in Luxembourg.
17. Vianden Castle, one of the best preserved castles in Luxembourg
Despite the fact that Luxembourg is a small country, you will find many castles and palaces. One of the most popular castles is in Vianden, a beautiful town very close to the German border.
Vianden Castle was built between the 11th and 13th centuries, although it has had an important restoration to be able to visit it and revive it as it would be in ancient times. The entrance costs 8 euros and if you have the Luxembourg Card you have the entrance included.
18. Visit the town of Vianden
Since you arrive in Vianden to visit its castle, do not miss enjoying a walk through its small town. You can visit the "Victor Hugo" Literary Museum, the Ville de Vianden museum, the National Museum of Military History, Veiner Konstgalerie, the Caricayure museum... It will be through museums.
There is a beautiful walk through the vegetation that goes parallel to the river, a perfect activity to disconnect and enjoy the Nature of Luxembourg. You can also take the cable car to reach the top of the mountain, from where you will have spectacular views of the castle, the town, the river and the emerald green mountains that surround the place.
19. Echternach and its abbey
Echternach is another beautiful town to visit in Luxembourg. You will find cobbled streets and buildings from medieval times. This population is very popular for its musical festivals that go from the beginning of May to the end of September. The most popular are the international classical music festival, which occupies the months of May and June and if you visit Echternach in September you can enjoy the jazz festival.
One of the most essential places to visit in Echternach is the Benedictine abbey. It dates from the 7th century and has great religious importance. In this abbey is the tomb of Saint Willibrord, which attracts many pilgrims.
20. Do the Müllerthal Route
The best option to explore the towns and natural environments of Luxembourg is to rent a car. The Müllerthal route is perfect for those nature lovers who need it on their trips (I am one of these). This route measures about 112 km. And it is divided into 6 sections. You will pass through forests, rocky landscapes, lakes and of course you will see many castles along the way.
The Schiessentümpel waterfall is an essential stop on this route. It has three small waterfalls and is surrounded by dense vegetation.
21. Clervaux Castle, one of the most curious castles to see in Luxembourg
One of the most curious castles to see in Luxembourg is the Clervaux castle. You will find it in the north of the country and it stands out for being white.
During the Second World War the castle was practically destroyed and thanks to a major remodeling we can see the castle today.
22. Visit the town of Clervaux
Apart from the castle in Clervaux you will find a beautiful villa.
You can visit its Clervaux abbey, the Musée the Family Of Man, the Bataille des Ardennes musée, the Saint-Maurice Abbey and the historic center.
23. Beaufort Castle
Yes... we continue with more castles. On the Müllerthal route you will find the Beaufort castle. This castle is not in such a good state of restoration. What does not detract from its charm, on the contrary. The castle dates from the 12th century.
24. Larochette
Larochette is another town in Luxembourg that you cannot miss. It is tiny, it is located in a valley surrounded by lush forests and it is quick to dress. It has a beautiful medieval square and narrow streets that take you back in time. It is one of the most welcoming and charming places in the country. And of course, it also has a castle.
25. Bourscheid Castle
This medieval castle is one of the most beautiful in Luxembourg. In addition to being very well preserved. It is located in a privileged place, at the confluence between two rivers. The construction is from the year 1000 approx. And you can visit the interior with an audio guide in Spanish.
It is built on top of a 150 meter high rock with a wall with 11 towers, so the castle dominated the Sûre valley. The castle was expanded throughout history and therefore we can appreciate different architectural styles.
26. Tour the Valley of the Seven Castles
If you like castles in Luxembourg you are in luck, because yes, there are more castles to visit. It is estimated that there are more than 50 castles recognized as such throughout the country, and some similar palaces.
You will find the valley of the seven castles in the Guttland region, north of the capital.
It is not a very long route, it is only about 24 km where, in addition to a beautiful setting, a total of 7 castles in the towns of Asembourg, Mersch, Schoenfels, Koerich, Hollenfels and Septfontaines.
27. Visit Esch-Sur-Alzette
On the border with France you will find the town Esch-sur-Alzette. The town itself is not very charming, however, if you decide to visit Luxembourg by car and you come from Spain, you will most likely enter the country through here.
In case that is the case and you are encouraged to visit this town, do not forget to visit the beautiful Saint-Henri church, Gaalgebierg and the National Museum of the Resistance.
28. The Monument of Remembrance
You will find the Monument of Remembrance in the capital. It is a marble obelisk dedicated to all the Luxembourgers who lost their lives during the First World War. It is an emotional and moving thing to visit in Luxembourg.
29. Combine your visit to Luxembourg with Belgium
Luxembourg can be visited in about 7 days if you want to cover the entire route of the castles, valleys, the capital... So if you still have time, adding a visit to a city in Belgium is a good idea.
From the capital of Luxembourg to Brussels you only have 2 and a half hours by car. And to Bruges you have a journey of 3 hours and 20 minutes.
If you dare to visit any of these destinations, you have several articles on cities and places to visit in Belgium at this link.
30. Combine Luxembourg with Paris
Making a route through Luxembourg and Belgium seems the best idea since they are two small countries and you can do a great route in 12 or 15 days. However, if you prefer, a very good option is to combine Paris with Luxembourg.
To give you an idea, from Paris to Luxembourg you only have 4 hours by car. And if you prefer, you have several transport options, if you do not want to go by car.
The ideal way to combine Paris and Luxembourg and see all the essential places is to take a route of about 10-12 days.
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A hug and see you soon!