Europe's Hidden Gem: Luxembourg
How to Spend Two Amazing Days in Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a small city (yes - the capital of Luxembourg is Luxembourg!) but there is a lot to see. A lot of people stop off in Lux for a day which is just not enough. The city is clean, modern, and stylish with distinctive steeples and architecture, meaning there is so much to see. Europe's true hidden gem!

Language: Luxembourgish, French, German

Population: 662,000

Currency: Euro €

Average price of a coffee: €4

HOW TO USE THE MAP

Tap the icons on the map to learn more about each point of interest. To save this map for later, click the star next to its title to add it to your Google account. Then, open the Google Maps app, go to ‘Saved’, and select ‘Maps’. You’ll now see this map listed under its title.

If you only have one day to spend in Luxembourg then this itinerary is able to be condensed. You will need to read through the itinerary and decide what to emit in order to fit everything in that you want to see. However, if you can, two days in Luxembourg is perfect. The city and country is small, sure, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't take up time on your itinerary! Luxembourg has so much culture and history and truly is a hidden gem.

Getting here

You can get to Luxembourg either by car, train, or plane. We arrived by car and decided to park out of the centre near our Airbnb at a park and ride. This was super handy as score! - the ticket machine was broken so it was free. Luxembourg has a major congestion problem as many workers travel in to the city by car from other European countries so all public transport is free for residents and tourists as of October 2024. Parking in the centre can mean you are in long congestion queues and also can be expensive. Consider your options of parking out of the centre.

Day 1: Casemates, Palaces and Churches

Start your first day in Luxembourg off by visiting the Casemates. The casemates are a complex of underground tunnels and galleries that were once used to defend the city from various wars and as bomb shelters during the second world war. You can explore them on different levels and take the free lift down to the lower level of the city.

Here you will get some of the best views of the city!

One of the view spots

View from standing in the casemates

Next, head to Église Saint-Michel, the oldest religious building in Luxembourg. The distinctive yellow colour will help you identify it!

Your next stop is Palais Grand-Ducal, where the Grand Duke of Luxembourg resides. If monarchy and royal buildings are your thing, you can enter this palace and tour the palace grounds. Tickets are not available all year around, it depends on the Duke's calendar. Click here to check the palace's opening times and tickets.

For the remainder of the afternoon, explore the old town. Particularly Place d'Armes. There are lots of places to stop for dinner and a view or go shopping if that is your vibe. For food and drink recommendations, check out our Luxembourg food and drink guide.

It was West's birthday on this particular day so we treated ourselves to a skyline bar experience.

Sofitel Luxembourg Le Grand Ducal

35 Rue du Laboratoire, 1911 Luxembourg

Day 2: Big bridges, Cathedrals and the European Union HQ

Your second day in this gorgeous city starts in the Place de la Constitution, a memorial for the fallen soldiers during WWII.

Next up, head to the Cathédral Notre-Dame. It is open for visitors between 8am and 6pm. If you go inside, check out the crypt. Click here for more info.

Right next to the Cathedral Notre-Dame is the ‎⁨Statue de la Grande Duchesse Charlotte⁩.

After some lunch, head on over to the EU Parliament to see the EU headquarters, or if that's not to your taste, you can spend some time in one or both of the museums: Luxembourg City History Museum (to learn about the history of the country and city) or National Art and History Museum (for the art lovers).

Later, you can visit La Passerelle, an impressive bridge/viaduct that connects the parts of the city together. It really is quite something!

If you're anything like us, we spent a lot of time exploring the gastronomy and bar scene in Luxembourg and we were really impressed. See our food and drink guide for some solid recommendations.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Luxembourg, even if it was only two days. We wished that we could have stayed longer but we had just moved our beloved older cat, Lola, from the UK to the Netherlands so an extended trip was not an option. Luxembourg is truly a fantastic country, one of our favourites in Europe and we hope you enjoy your trip!

Can I visit Luxembourg as a day trip? One of our most commonly asked questions! This itinerary is definitely possible to be cut down into a day trip. Look through the page and decide what sights and activities are the most precious to you and skip the rest.