LUXEMBOURG CITY, LUXEMBOURG

Are you looking for what many refer to as a hidden gem? Luxembourg City, located smack dab in the middle of Western Europe, fits the bill. It’s gorgeous, elaborate, historic, and also left off nearly all travel itineraries. And what a shame that is! The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site with an old, medieval feel palpable throughout its cobblestone streets and classical architecture. Whether fun for you means reading on a bench alongside the flowing Alzette River, exploring castles, or embarking on wine tours, I assure you Luxembourg City has it all!

Attractions:

Visit the Grund: Located in a valley below the center of Luxembourg City, the Grund sits on the banks of the Alzette River. It is extremely picturesque and one of the city’s main quarters! There are plenty of bars and restaurants here, but be sure to visit Scott’s Pub for a local beer (Bofferding, Battin, or Diekirch)!
Gëlle Fra: The Golden Lady sits on top of a 21-meter high granite obelisk. This war memorial commemorates Luxembourgers who served for the Allied Forces in the World Wars.
Explore the Countryside: A trip to Luxembourg is not complete without a rendezvous to its idyllic countryside; the scenery will bring you pure bliss! The European sun shines brightest here in the summer and when autumn comes, it brings multi-colored leaves to the landscape full of trees. There is no prettier place in the continent! Out here you will find wine tours aplenty, as well as charming, quaint towns well worth a visit - Bigonville, Clervaux, Wormeldange, Diekirch, Mamer, and Vianden to name a few.
Free Walking Tour: As with many European capitals, Luxembourg City has a tip-based walking tour taking you to all the city’s main spots. The 2-hour tour picks up daily at 11:00am and 3:00pm at Monument to Dicks et Lentz. Reserve your spot here!
Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial: This grandiose, 50-acre cemetery is located on the outskirts of the city and modeled after Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC. More than 5,000 Americans are buried here, most of whom fought in the surrounding area. It is free to enter and open daily from 9:00am-5:00pm; guided tours are offered for free as well.
Grand Ducal Palace: A visit here is likely the closest you will ever get to meeting the Grand Duke of Luxembourg! This iconic, magnificent building is a must-see staple of the city. Guided tours are offered hourly between 9:00am-5:00pm from mid-July through the end of August; tickets cost €14.
Other attractions include: Cathédrale Notre-Dame, Adolphe Bridge, Casemates du Bock, Place Guillaume II, and Fort Thüngen.

Accommodation:

Hotel - Hotel Parc Belle-Vue: Beautiful and peaceful are two words I would use to describe this hotel. Located in the lovely Hollerich neighborhood, Belle-Vue lives up to its name as it overlooks the scenic Pétrusse Valley. The best part though is that it is only 10 minutes walking from the city center. This short walk will save you nearly €100/night!
Hostel - Luxembourg City Hostel: At the “2020 Hostelworld.com Awards”, this hostel was awarded “Best Hostel in Luxembourg”! It has a great common space and is located in the center of town. On foot, it is 30 minutes from Gare Centrale (Luxembourg City’s main train station) and 45 minutes from P+R Bouillon (Luxembourg City’s main bus station).

Transportation:

Luxembourg City’s main train station is Luxembourg Gare Centrale; all trains below leave from here. The main bus station is P+R Bouillon; all buses below leave from here.

Paris, France is 3 hours by train from Lux City and costs €53. The bus ride is 7.5 hours and costs €30.
Brussels, Belgium is 3.5 hours by train from Lux City and costs €44. The bus ride is 3.5 hours and costs €21.
Amsterdam, Netherlands is 7.5 hours by train from Lux City (indirect) and costs €50. The bus ride is 7 hours and costs €24.
Berlin, Germany is 8.5 hours by train (indirect) from Lux City and costs €70. The bus ride is 14.5 hours and costs €46.

Luxembourg Airport (LUX) is 7km (4.5 miles) northeast of the city center and accessible via bus and taxi.

Buses 16 & 29: The ride to Gare Centrale is free and lasts 20 minutes; buses run every 15 minutes from 5:15am-12:00am. From Gare Centrale, the walk to the city center is 20 minutes.
Taxi: The ride to the city center is 15-20 minutes and costs €30-€40 depending on the time of day.

A few of the photos on this page were taken by my sister, Antoinette. Thank you, Ant!